200,000 bottles of supermarket own-brand cough syrups are recalled

Health officials today recalled 200,000 bottles of blackcurrant cough syrups for children sold in supermarkets amid fears they may contain mould.

Parents were urged to return any affected own-brand bottles by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Cheap syrups sold at Tesco, Asda Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Superdrug and Wilko are among those affected.

The MHRA, which polices the safety of medical products, warned that a colouring agent used in the syrups may allow mould to grow.

Sainsbury’s had one batch of its own-brand Children’s Dry Cough 0.75g/5ml Syrup affected

In a precautionary move, it recalled the syrups because of the risk that mould could cause a child to become unwell, or even trigger a reaction. 

Dr Sam Atkinson, director of the Inspection, Enforcement and Standards Division at the MHRA, urged parents to check their medicine cabinets.

He said: ‘Check if you have any of the listed cough syrups and if you do, please don’t use them. Take them back to where you bought them from.

‘The mould is not always visible, so return any of the affected cough syrup bottles, even if it looks okay to use.’

Parents were urged to take their children to the GP if they have endured a reaction or become unwell after taking one of the affected syrups.

Fifteen batches of syrups sold at eight different stores are affected. They all contain anthocyanine.

Three batches of Tesco’s Children’s Dry Cough Syrup are affected by the MHRA recall

Superdrug had two batches of its own-brand Children’s Dry Tickly Cough Glycerin 0.75 g/5 ml Oral Solution affected by the recall

One batch of Children’s Dry Tickly Cough Glycerin has been recalled from Morrisons

It comes after MHRA officials warned parents in March that head lice lotion used on thousands of children could catch light and cause serious burns. 

Adults were urged not to smoke around treated youngsters or let them near naked flames. 

Even being close to a cigarette the morning after having lotion applied could be dangerous, health officials warned. 

And the MHRA also issued an alert in February to advise patients taking a Chinese medicine to combat their eczema or psoriasis they should stop taking it.

Yiganerjing cream was branded ‘dangerous’ as an analysis found the natural remedy contains a ‘potent’ steroid called clobetasol propionate.

UK law states it is illegal to sell products containing this ingredient to the public, and it can only be dished out on prescription. 

In a precautionary move, the MHRA recalled the syrups because of the risk that mould could cause a child to become unwell, or even trigger a reaction. Numark had two batches of its Children’s Dry Cough 0.75 g/5 ml Oral Solution affected

Fifteen batches of syrups sold at eight different stores are affected, including one batch of the Tickly Cough 0.75g/5ml Oral Solution at Wilko

Bell’s Healthcare had one batch of its Children’s Dry Cough Glycerin 0.75g/5ml Syrup affected