Nasal, Baby Teething Swabs Recalled Nationwide Over Microbial Contamination Fears

Exposure to the products can be life-threatening for children and people with underlying medical conditions.

An image of the recalled Orajel Baby Teething Swabs from Church & Dwight. FDA

New Jersey-based Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is recalling three nasal and baby teething swab products due to potential fungal contamination in the cotton swab components, the company said in a June 6 announcement published by the Food and Drug Administration.

The recall is applicable to three products: Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs designed to tackle the common cold, Zicam Nasal AllClear Swabs used for cleansing, and Orajel Baby Teething Swabs aimed at soothing teething discomfort among toddlers and infants.

“Swabs found to contain microbial contamination can potentially present a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers,” it said.

People whose nasal mucosa is compromised due to mechanical injuries or inflammation face the risk of “serious and life-threatening blood infections,” the announcement said. Nasal mucosa is a type of tissue lining the nasal cavity.

“The risk is highest [potentially severe or life-threatening] among children and individuals with compromised immune systems or other underlying medical conditions.”

The recalled items were distributed across the United States and Puerto Rico. No serious adverse events linked to the use of these products have been reported so far, the company said.

Church & Dwight clarified that the withdrawal is limited to Zicam and Orajel swab products and that other items under these brands are not affected by the recall.

“Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products should stop using the product immediately,” said the announcement, asking people to get in touch with the company at [phone] for a full refund.

In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, a spokesperson for Church & Dwight said: “We are working closely with the FDA throughout this process to ensure that all appropriate actions are taken to protect our consumers. The safety and well-being of our consumers is our top priority.”

The FDA has published multiple recalls over the past year due to microbial contamination risks.

Fungal Infections

The presence of fungus in Church & Dwight’s swab products poses health risks to people who may be more vulnerable to contracting infections.

For instance, individuals with chronic lung disease, HIV, and cancer face a higher risk of fungal diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a May 8 statement. This is also true for people undergoing treatments such as organ transplants, stem cell transplants, and taking medications like high doses of antibiotics.

“Different fungal diseases may have more specific risk factors. Some diseases have risk factors unrelated to the immune system like race, age, and pregnancy,” said the agency.

Among people with cancer, chemotherapy and radiation treatments can end up lowering white blood cell counts, which are critical to fight off infections, thus making them more susceptible to being infected by a fungal disease.

Similarly, individuals with organ transplants have to take anti-rejection medication that weakens the immune system, raising the risk of fungal infections.

According to the CDC, there are almost one to five million species of fungi in the world. However, only a few hundred are known to make people sick. Globally, over a billion people are estimated to get a fungal infection annually, it said.