The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for over 2,000 liquid Benadryl bottles due to risk of child poisoning.
The recall involves Benadryl Liquid Elixir which is sold in a round dark plastic bottle with a pink and white label on the front with the word ‘Benadryl’ printed in blue text.
The agency stated that the cold medication contains diphenhydramine – an antihistamine that is used to mitigate the symptoms of allergy, hay fever and common cold.
But according to the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, products containing diphenhydramine need to be in special child-resistant packaging to avoid poisoning.
The official recall notice read: ‘The packaging, however, does not meet these standards, posing a possible risk of poisoning.’
The recall involves Benadryl Liquid Elixir that is sold in a round dark plastic bottle with a pink and white label on the front with the word ‘Benadryl’ in blue text
The PPA defines ‘special packaging’ as a package ‘designed to be significantly difficult for children under five years of age to open within a reasonable time and not difficult for adults to use properly’.
It is meant to protect children from accidentally consuming dangerous amounts of a medication that can cause poisoning or in some cases, death as they are more susceptible to toxic substances due to their smaller and underdeveloped bodies.
Poisoning can affect many parts of the body, including the lungs, heart, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and kidneys.
Some of the symptoms include difficulty breathing, vomiting, drowsiness, seizures, abdominal pain, breath that smells like chemicals, such as gasoline or paint thinner and falling over.
Each year, poison control centers receive over a million calls about accidental child poisonings of toddlers aged five and younger that occurred at home.
In 2020, 63 children below the age of five died of unintentional poisoning. Out of this, 45 toddlers (73 percent) had developed poisoning due to medicinal drugs.
Multiple health experts recommend immediately calling 911 or Poison Help at 800-222-1222 if you suspect poisoning.
Despite warnings of poisoning, no such incident has yet been reported to officials.
The agency noted that the recalled bottles were sold on Amazon from July 2023 through October 2024.
In 2020, 63 children below the age of five died of unintentional poisoning
The bottle also has a white label on the bottom with the code X003VRIGU written in black text.
Arsell, the company listed as the product’s importer, has asked buyers to keep the recalled Benadryl ‘out of the sight and reach of children’ and
Consumers have also been asked to contact the company for a full refund.
The company also stated in the notice that customers will be asked to submit their Amazon order number and a photo demonstrating disposal of the recalled Benadryl to recall@arsellsupport.com.
The notice clarified: ‘Only the bottle is being recalled, not the medicine itself, but both should be disposed of. All known purchasers are being contacted directly.’
