{"id":280252,"date":"2026-01-12T03:19:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T03:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/280252\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T03:19:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T03:19:11","slug":"a-recall-of-4000-cold-medicine-bottles-reveals-a-telling-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/280252\/","title":{"rendered":"A Recall of 4,000 Cold Medicine Bottles Reveals a Telling Warning"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the aftermath of the holidays has gifted you a case of the flu or a pesky cold, well, you\u2019re in good company. In fact, national health experts reported<\/a> on January 5 that the number of Americans seeking medical help for acute respiratory illnesses\u2014which can include the common cold, COVID, or RSV<\/a>, among others\u2014has hit \u201ca very high level for the first time in the current 2025-2026 season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Often, we turn to over-the-counter solutions when certain sicknesses sideline us, but sometimes a prescription is needed to better address symptoms. On that note\u2014and exactly one year after its initiation\u2014a cold medicine recall affecting drugs distributed in Ohio has finally come to a close. According to an updated January 7, 2026 report<\/a> from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 4,080 bottles of the prescription drug Guaifenesin and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution were pulled from pharmacy shelves beginning in January 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The recall involved bottles manufactured by Greenville, South Carolina-based PAI Holdings, LLC, which was doing business as Pharmaceutical Associates Inc., per the report. The 100 mg\/10 mg per 5 mL doses were packaged in 16-fluid-ounce bottles, bearing the National Drug Code (NDC) 0121-0775-16, lot number 4B07, and expiration date of 2026-OCT-31.<\/p>\n

The firm voluntarily initiated the recall after the medication was found to be \u201csuperpotent,\u201d meaning it contained higher-than-approved levels of its active ingredients. Because the drug combines guaifenesin with codeine\u2014an opioid\u2014excess potency could significantly increase the risk of side effects.<\/p>\n

Health experts stress that even properly manufactured opioid-containing medications require careful use. The Cleveland Clinic<\/a> advises patients to take combination cough suppressants containing codeine \u201cexactly as prescribed and for the shortest time possible,\u201d noting that higher doses or prolonged use can raise the likelihood of serious complications.<\/p>\n

The FDA report also appears to indicate that the combination drug\u2019s superpotency issue may have been tied to sodium benzoate preservative. Often added to food, cosmetics, and drugs to extend shelf life by preventing the growth of mold and bacteria, this manufactured compound is generally considered safe in small amounts\u2014a fact reflected in the incident\u2019s status as a Class III<\/a> recall, the lowest risk level the agency assigns recalls. However, experts have raised questions of safety when sodium benzoate preservative is present in higher doses.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the Environmental Working Group<\/a> (EWG), the preservative \u201chas been linked to a variety of health harms, including damage to DNA, hormone disruption and reduced fertility. The group also says sodium benzoate can pose as a cancer risk, \u201cbut only if combined with the use of ascorbic acid, citric acid or vitamin C as a preservative, and is added at larger amounts as well as stabilized.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

When exposed to elevated temperatures or excessive sunlight, sodium benzoate can also cause the formation of benzene, \u201ca chemical associated with blood cancers,\u201d the EWG warns.<\/p>\n

For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy <\/b>newsletter<\/a> and follow The Healthy<\/b> on Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. Keep reading:<\/p>\n

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