Orajel teething products recalled

Church and Dwight Co. Inc. is voluntarily recalling Orajel teething products because benzocaine, a topical pain-relieving ingredient found in the product, 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 to a Department of Defense All Food and Drug Activity message sent June 14. Children under the age of 2 are especially vulnerable to this rare, but deadly side effect.

The Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this recall to all its stores, said Christopher Wicker, a public health advisor for 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 Whenever a commissary has a recalled or withdrawn product in its inventory, the product is immediately removed from store shelves.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 Baby Day/Nite Gel, 0.36 ounce: UPC 310310319557

• Orajel Baby Nighttime Gel, 0.18 ounce: UPC 310310339401

• Orajel Baby Gel, 0.33 ounce: UPC 310310033132

• Orajel Baby Teething Swab, 12 count: UPC 310310340384

   

Customers should return the product to the commissary of purchase for a full refund.

Questions about this recall can be directed to Church and Dwight Co. Inc. consumer relations at (800) 833-9532, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST.