If you’ve refreshed your medicine cabinet recently, you might want to give your bottles a close look—especially if you shop at Family Dollar. The company just recalled a whole bunch of OTC meds, supplements, and personal care and hygiene items, according to a statement released by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 10.
Family Dollar announced a voluntary recall of nearly 300 kinds of products, including OTC meds like pain relievers, antacids, and cold and flu aids; supplements; toothpaste; mouthwash; and pregnancy tests. The reason? Improper storage: The company didn’t keep their inventory at the right temp. According to the release, the medicine cabinet staples were sold in 23 states.
Family Dollar shipped the improperly stored products to select stores between June 1 and September 21 of this year and sold them to customers between June 1 and October 4. The recall includes items from brands like Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Colgate, VitaGlobe, and Flintstone Chewables, among others. Some examples? Tylenol Extra Strength Caplets (24 count), Pepto Bismol Original Liquid (16 oz.), Colgate Max Fresh Clean Mint (1.9 oz.), VitaGlobe Vitamin C Gummy (50 count), and Flintstone Complete Chewable Tablets (40 count).
Check out the full list of products for more specifics: You’ll find the SKUs of affected items, so you can see whether any of your recent purchases are included in the recall.
Storing products at non-ideal temps may not seem like a huge deal, but it actually can be pretty serious. According to the FDA, if you keep meds in the wrong conditions, they may no longer be as effective. (Plus, too-high heat can cause aspirin pills—which, yes, are included in the recall—to break down in a way that can irritate your stomach). Same for supplements: Improper storage can mess with their makeup and strength. As for at home medical devices like pregnancy tests, their labels advise you to keep them in a specific climate before using too.
So far there haven’t been any complaints or reports of illnesses associated with the recall. Still, the company recommends you check your medicine cabinets, and if you see any affected products, toss them in the trash or return them to Family Dollar for a refund (Bonus: You don’t need a receipt either!)
If you think you may have taken or used any of the affected products, you can report it to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program, which monitors these types of recalls. You can also call Family Dollar’s customer service line at 844-636-7687 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST with any questions. And, of course, if you have any medical concerns, chat with your doctor. In the meantime, if you recently hit up one of their stores, you’ll definitely want to inspect your medicine cabinet, just to make sure you’re in the clear.
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