Cough Medicine Has Been Recalled Nationwide Due to Potential Bacteria Contamination
When your kid’s sick, you’ll do anything to make them feel better: feed them chicken soup, surprise them with sweet-tasting ice pops, and, of course, give them a spoonful of child-friendly medicine.
One type of children’s cough medicine, though, is the subject of a new recall.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is notifying consumers about the recall of five lots of Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup due to “Potential Foodborne Illness – Bacillus cereus.”
Healthcare product distributor Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. announced the recall on Tuesday, June 17, and shared that its company Medtech Products Inc. voluntarily initiated the recall, attributing it to the “presence of Bacillus cereus and loss of shelf-stability.”
The recall announcement notes that Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) could potentially lead to two different food-borne illnesses. “One type is characterized by nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps that can start 1 to 6 hours after eating or drinking contaminated food,” the notice reads. “The second type can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea that can start 8 to 16 hours after eating or drinking contaminated food.”
It also states, “Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term illness, exposure to high levels of foodborne B. cereus can cause death.”
This information appears to be supported by an explanation of Bacillus cereus shared by the Cleveland Clinic.
As of the notice’s publication, no “serious adverse events have been reported.”
Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. reports that the recalled products—which are safe to use for kids who are at least 1 year old and adults, per a product listing on the Little Remedies website—were shipped nationwide at retail locations and online between December 14, 2022, and June 4, 2025.
While no specific retail locations were listed in the press release, a quick online search suggests that Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup is sold at Walmart and H-E-B, as well as on Amazon.
Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. shared these details:
- Packaging: 4 FL OZ (118 mL) amber bottle sold in an outer carton
- UPC: 7-56184-10737-9
- Lot #: 0039, 0545, 0640, 0450, 1198
- Expiration date: 11/2025, 01/2026, 02/2026, 05/2026, 12/2026
Each product’s lot code is apparently featured on the bottle’s label and on the bottom of the carton in which the bottle was packaged.
The recall announcement does not state how many bottles that each lot contained.
Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. urges consumers to stop using the product and encourages them to reach out to their doctor if they experience any health issues potentially related to the recalled medicine.
Additionally, Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. states, “The company will also offer reimbursement for consumers who have purchased Products from the recalled lots.”
Consumers can contact Medtech with questions about the recall or about receiving a refund by email at [email protected] or by phone at (800) 754-8853. Consumers can also reach out through the Medtech website.
Notably, the recall announcement highlights, “This recall does not include any other Little Remedies® products.”
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