Batch of cough mixture withdrawn

Press, 20 January 1984, Page 2

Batch of cough mixture withdrawn

A complaint has led the manufacturer of Vicks “Formula 44” cough mixture to withdraw an ageing batch from New Zealand shop shelves.

Recall letters went out last month to pharmacists, wholesalers, and . grocers from the Auckland firm of Richardson-Vicks, Ltd. A woman had told the Health Department she had a “burning sensation” in her mouth when she took some of the mixture. It was caused by chloroform separating from other ingredients. The company’s secretary, Mr Paul Whittaker, said 234 bottles of the batch made in May, 1981, had been returned to date. None had the layering effect that caused the problem complained of. “There is absolutely no possibility of this happening again,” Mr Whittaker said yesterday. His company and other cough-mixture manufacturers had stopped using chloroform about a year ago at the request of the Health Department. Nor were many other bottles of the recalled “Formula 44” batch likely to be still on sale. A batch number 237, written near the word “alcohol” on the label identified them. The Christchurch distributor of the brand, C. S. Peterson and Company, Ltd, confirmed it had none of the batch in stock.