Class II U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Bell Pharmaceuticals, Inc Leader, Carbamide Peroxide 6.5%, 0.5 Fl Oz recall: SubPotent Drug: low pH and significantly reduced assay (~0.6% vs expected ~6

Recall published 3 months ago

SubPotent Drug: low pH and significantly reduced assay (~0.6% vs expected ~6 7%).

The hazard: Potency, impurity or stability failure

An out-of-specification result prompted this notice — potency, an impurity, or stability over the shelf life.

What the notice says: SubPotent Drug: low pH and significantly reduced assay (~0.6% vs expected ~6 7%).

Why it matters: The product failed a specification test: it may contain more or less active ingredient than the label states, carry an impurity, or degrade before its expiry date. A sub-potent dose can leave a condition untreated; a super-potent one can cause an overdose.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The risk depends entirely on the drug. For a medicine where dose matters closely — a blood thinner, an anti-epileptic, a thyroid or heart medicine, insulin — talk to your prescriber before changing anything. Seek urgent care if you have symptoms that suggest too much drug, or if the condition the medicine controls starts breaking through.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Recall number
D-0685-2026
Published
July 22, 2026
Risk level
Class II
Status
Ongoing
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Bell Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Product type
Prescription & OTC drugs
Units affected
5, 471 units
Distribution
Nationwide
Made in
United States
Lot / code info
Lot: a) 1505333, expires: 2027-04; b) 1505144, 1505302, expires: 2027-04.

Products covered by this recall

LEADER, Carbamide Peroxide 6.5%, 0.5 Fl Oz (15 mL), a) Kit -1 RUBBER BULB SYRINGE, 0.5 FL OZ DROPS, (NDC 70000-0689-1); b) 1 bottle (NDC 70000-0688-1), DIST. BY CARDINAL HEALTH, DUBLIN, OH 43017.

Check your product

The notice names 7 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • 2027-04
  • 2027-04. — 5
  • 471 units

NDC number

On the carton and again on the bottle or blister label.

  • 70000-0689-1
  • 70000-0688-1

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 0.5 Fl Oz
  • 15 mL

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Drug enforcement notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Potency

Bell Pharmaceuticals, Inc — An out-of-specification result prompted this notice — potency, an impurity, or stability over the shelf life.

  1. Check the lot number on your pack against the codes listed above before you do anything else.
  2. Call your prescriber or pharmacist and ask whether to swap the lot, re-test, or change nothing.
  3. Keep the carton and the leaflet — the lot number is usually printed only on the outer pack.
  4. Report any change in how the medicine is working to FDA MedWatch, which is where most of these signals originate.

What the company owes you

A recalled medicine is the manufacturer’s cost to carry, not yours or your pharmacist’s.

  • The purchase price or co-pay is refundable, and so is the cost of returning the product if they ask you to ship it.
  • Ask the pharmacy to handle the claim where they can — they process recall returns in bulk and it saves you the correspondence.
  • Keep the carton, the leaflet and the pharmacy label together until the claim is closed.
  • Costs beyond the price of the medicine need to go to the company directly, in writing, with the recall number quoted.

Company contact: Bell Pharmaceuticals, Inc — 200 W Beaver St, Belle Plaine, MN, 56011-1894

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Drug enforcement record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Bell Pharmaceuticals, Inc prescription & otc drugs recalled?

SubPotent Drug: low pH and significantly reduced assay (~0.6% vs expected ~6 7%). SubPotent Drug: low pH and significantly reduced assay (~0.6% vs expected ~6 7%).

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: best-by date 2027-04 or 2027-04. — 5. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Check the lot number on your pack against the codes listed above before you do anything else.

Can I get my money back?

The purchase price or co-pay is refundable, and so is the cost of returning the product if they ask you to ship it.

Where was the recalled product sold?

It was distributed nationwide.

Related recalls