Zicam® and Orajel™ Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Nasal AllClear Swabs, Baby Teething Swabs recall: Microbial contamination
Microbial contamination
The hazard: Microbial contamination
The problem here is microbial contamination, so the recall covers the production codes listed rather than the brand as a whole.
What the notice says: Swabs found to contain microbial contamination can potentially present a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers including serious and life-threatening blood infections in users whose nasal mucosa may be compromised due to inflammation and mechanical injuries.
Why it matters: The product was found, or is suspected, to carry a harmful micro-organism. The agency notice names the specific organism and that detail matters, because the illness it causes and the people most at risk differ from one to the next.
Symptoms and when to call a doctor
Most foodborne infections cause stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea and sometimes fever, starting anywhere from hours to weeks after exposure depending on the organism. See a doctor for a high fever, bloody diarrhoea, vomiting that stops you keeping liquids down, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, or signs of dehydration. Infants, pregnant people, adults over 65 and anyone immunocompromised should seek advice earlier.
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
- Published
- June 6, 2025
- Risk level
- Elevated risk
- Issued by
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Brand
- Zicam® and Orajel™
- Product type
- Prescription & OTC drugs
- Distribution
- Nationwide
- UPC codes
- 732216301205, 732216301656, 310310400002
- Reports of harm
- To date, no serious adverse events associated with the affected product have been reported.
Products covered by this recall
Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Nasal AllClear Swabs, Baby Teething Swabs
What the company announced
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is voluntarily recalling all lots within expiry of Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, and Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs to the consumer level. The products are being recalled due to potential microbial contamination identified as fungi in cotton swab components. Swabs found to contain microbial contamination can potentially present a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers including serious and life-threatening blood infections in users whose nasal mucosa may be compromised due to inflammation and mechanical injuries. The risk is highest (potentially severe or life-threatening) among children and individuals with compromised immune systems or other underlying medical conditions. To date, no serious adverse events associated with the affected product have been reported.
The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States and in Puerto Rico.
Recalled Product Information
Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, with UPC 732216301205, all lots: A zinc-free, homeopathic cold remedy swab designed to shorten the duration of the common cold.
Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, with UPC 732216301656, all lots: A nasal cleansing swab product ( discontinued in December 2024) .
Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs, with UPC 310310400002, all lots: Pre-moistened swabs designed to soothe teething discomfort in infants and toddlers.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products should stop using the product immediately. Please visit www.churchdwightrecall.com or call its Consumer Relations team at (800) 981-4710 for a full refund. Any additional questions can also be directed to its Consumer Relations team Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm ET.
Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.
Complete and submit the report Online
Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1- 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.
This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
This recall is limited exclusively to Zicam and Orajel swab products. All other Zicam and Orajel products, including Zicam RapidMelts, are not affected by this recall.
About Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is a leading manufacturer of consumer household and personal care products. For more information, visit www.churchdwight.com .
Media Contact:
Keith Walsh
Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.
Check your product
The notice names 3 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.
UPC / barcode
Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.
- 732216301205
- 732216301656
- 310310400002
Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.
What to do about Contamination
Zicam® and Orajel™ — The problem here is microbial contamination, so the recall covers the production codes listed rather than the brand as a whole.
- Stop eating it and keep it separate from other food.
- Bag and bin it, or return it to the store for a refund.
- Clean and sanitise the fridge shelf, container or surface it was stored on.
- Read the official notice for the organism named — the advice for Listeria, Salmonella and hepatitis A is not the same.
Refunds, and what else you can claim
The purchase price is the floor, not the ceiling. Where a recall caused you a real cost, say so.
- Claim the refund at the store first; it is the fastest route and needs the least paperwork.
- If you bought several packs over time, list them. Firms routinely settle for more than a single unit when a customer asks.
- Medical costs, lost earnings or a spoiled event are not handled at the service desk. Write to the company contact on this page instead, with dates and documents.
- Keep copies of everything you send. If a recall caused harm, that file is what any later claim rests on.
Remedy named in the notice: Please visit www.churchdwightrecall.com or call its Consumer Relations team at (800) 981-4710 for a full refund.
Company contact: Church & Dwight Co., Inc. — Consumers: Consumer Relations Team, (800) 981-4710 — Media: Keith Walsh, [email protected]
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 — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls
Questions people ask about this recall
Why was Zicam® and Orajel™ prescription & otc drugs recalled?
Microbial contamination Swabs found to contain microbial contamination can potentially present a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers including serious and life-threatening blood infections in users whose nasal mucosa may be compromised due to inflammation and mechanical injuries.
How do I know if I have the recalled product?
Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 732216301205, 732216301656, 310310400002. 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?
Stop eating it and keep it separate from other food.
Can I get my money back?
The notice says: Please visit www.churchdwightrecall.com or call its Consumer Relations team at (800) 981-4710 for a full refund.
Where was the recalled product sold?
It was distributed nationwide.
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