Have a tickle in your throat that just will not go away? Cough drops are usually the fastest way to find some relief, but with a recent recall of five popular brands, you’re going to want to hit pause before unwrapping that lozenge in your bedside table. Here's what you need to know.
What’s happening with the recent cough drop recall?
On March 20, Xiamen Kang Zhongyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a company based in China, initiated a recall for 15 of its products sold across five brands: Exchange, Caring Mill, Discount Drug Mart Food Market, MGC Health, and QC Quality Choice. The products were shipped to stores across the U.S. The recall is ongoing, which means you could still find these products on store shelves.
List of recalled cough drops
To check if you have any of the specific cough drops in your vanity, here’s the current list of recalled items:
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Exchange Select brand: Menthol Cough Suppressant Oral Anesthetic, Honey Lemon Flavor Cough Drops, 30-count bag. Lot number: 20241030, Expiration date: 10/30/2026, UPC: 614299398870
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Exchange Select brand: Menthol Cough Suppressant Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Menthol Flavor, 30-count bag. Lot number: 20241030, Expiration date: 10/30/2026, UPC: 614299398887
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Caring Mill brand: Menthol Cough Suppressant Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Cherry, 90-count bag. Lot number: 20241030, Expiration date: 10/30/2026, UPC: 810025928407
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Discount Drug Mart Food Market brand: Cough Drops, Menthol Cough Suppressant Anesthetic, Honey Lemon, 30-count bag. Lot number: 20241030, Expiration date: 10/30/2026, UPC: 093351037092
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Discount Drug Mart Food Market brand: Cough Drops, Menthol Cough Suppressant Anesthetic, 30-count bag. Lot number: 20241030, Expiration date: 10/30/2026, UPC: 093351037085
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MGC Health brand: Menthol Cough Suppressant, Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Sugar Free, Honey Lemon, 25-count bag, distributed by Medical Group Care, LLC. Lot number: 20240524, Expiration date: 05/24/2026; Lot number: 20240720, Expiration date: 07/20/2026; Lot number: 20240730, Expiration date: 07/30/2026, UPC: 383173000085
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MGC Health brand: Menthol Cough Suppressant, Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Honey Lemon, 30-count bag. Lot number: 20240524, Expiration date: 05/24/2026, UPC: 383173000047
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MGC Health brand: Menthol-Cough Suppressant, Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Honey Lemon, 80-count bag. Lot number: 20240730, Expiration date: 07/30/2026, UPC: 383173000030.
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QC Quality Choice brand: Menthol-Cough Suppressant Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Sugar Free, Black Cherry Flavor, 25-count bag. Lot number: 20240720, Expiration date: 07/20/2026, UPC: 635515993372.
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QC Quality Choice brand: Menthol-Cough Suppressant Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Cherry Flavor, 30-count bag. Lot number: 20240524, Expiration date: 05/24/2026; Lot number: 20240720, Expiration date: 07/20/2026, UPC: 635515993372.
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QC Quality Choice brand: Menthol-Cough Suppressant Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Sugar Free, Honey Lemon Flavor, 25-count bag. Lot number: 20240720, Expiration date: 07/20/2026; Lot number: 20241030, Expiration date: 10/30/2026, UPC: 635515993372.
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QC Quality Choice brand: Pectin Oral Demulcent, Throat Soothing Drops, Creamy Strawberry Flavor, 30-count bag, distributed by CDMA, Inc. Lot number: 20240720, Expiration date: 07/20/2026, UPC: 635515999398.
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QC Quality Choice brand: Menthol Cough Suppressant Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Honey Lemon Flavor, 30-count bag. Lot number: 20240720, Expiration date: 07/20/2026, UPC: 63551598673.
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QC Quality Choice brand: Menthol Cough Suppressant Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Menthol Flavor, 30-count bag. Lot number: 20240720, Expiration date: 07/20/2026; Lot number: 20240524, Expiration date: 05/24/2026, UPC: 635515986718.
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QC Quality Choice brand: Menthol Cough Suppressant Oral Anesthetic, Cough Drops, Vanilla Honey Flavor, 30-count bag. Lot number: 20240720, Expiration date: 07/20/2026, UPC: 635515999411.
Why are cough drops being recalled?
“Certain observations noted during an August 15, 2025, inspection of the manufacturing facility” may have impacted product quality, per anFDA statement. What exactly was observed isn’t clear, but it likely means the cough drops are not up to FDA standards in one or multiple ways.
What does the Class II designation mean?
The FDA classifiesdrug recalls, whichcough drops fall under, on a tiered system measured by “degree of risk,” with Class I being the highest risk to Class III, which comes with the lowest risk. This Class II recall of cough drops is used for when a “drug may cause temporary health consequences, but the probability of a serious health issue is remote,”per the FDA.“These recalls are generally conducted at the retail level, and patients and consumers can continue using the medicine unless otherwise directed by the recalling company or the FDA."
What should I do if I have these cough drops in my home?
While there hasn’t been additional information shared about the context or potential hazards associated with this recall, it's usually a good idea to stop using recalled products immediately. Again, this specific recall had very few instructions, but according to theFDA, “Often, recalled products can be returned to the store where they were purchased,” adding, “If you cannot return a product, dispose of the product properly.”
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