Orajel teething products recalled due to potential health risks

Church and Dwight Co. Inc is voluntarily recalling Orajel™ teething products containing benzocaine because the product can cause rare but deadly side effects in children, especially those under age 2, according to a letter from the company sent May 24.

Benzocaine, a pain-relieving ingredient, can cause deadly breathing problems and methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder that reduces the amount of red blood cells in the body that help deliver oxygen to tissues, according the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this withdrawal to all its stores, said Richard Stith, lead consumer safety officer DeCA headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has a recalled or withdrawn product in its inventory, the product is immediately removed from store shelves.

The following products are affected by this recall:

• Orajel™ Medicated Teething Gel 0.33 ounces: UPC 3-10310-03313-2

• Orajel™ Medicated Daytime & Nighttime Teething Gel 0.18 ounces each (Horizontal): UPC 3-10310-31955-7

As a part of their investigation, the FDA evaluated 119 cases of benzocaine-associated methemoglobinemia reported to that agency between February 2009 and October 2017. Most of those cases were serious and required treatment, of those cases, four patients died.

Consumers with questions may contact Church and Dwight Co. Inc’s consumer relations at 1 (800) 833-9532, Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.