An off-brand version of Dayquil and Nyquil has been recalled due to substandard quality.
Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled 8,640 boxes of Kirkland Signature Severe Cold & Flu Plus Congestion, a product sold at Costco.
One of the key ingredients in the Kirkland product is oral phenylephrine, which is facing an FDA ban due to ineffectiveness.
Last year, an outside panel of experts unanimously voted against the effectiveness of orally administered phenylephrine as a nasal decongestant, adding that no more trials were required to prove otherwise.
However, the recall is unrelated to phenylephrine, but rather quality control issues.
The Kirkland brand of cold and flu capsules, sold nationwide at Costco stores, is packaged as follows: Compare to Vicks Dayquil & Nyquil Vapocool for severe Cold & Flu Congestion.
The medicine is a 168-count twin pack that pairs 112 coated caplets for day and 56 for night use. The box is designed to emphasize the dual function, while the color scheme invokes Nyquil and Dayquil packaging, with orange representing day use and blue, evening. The words Severe Cold and Flu appear in white block lettering at the top of the box.
The package retails for $15.99.
According to the FDA, the medication was recalled due to “CGMP deviations,” meaning the product was not made to the standard of the quality control regulations known as Current Good Manufacturing Practices.
The report notes that the product “should have been rejected” but does not disclose what specific quality measures it defaulted on.
According to the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Library of Medicine, the daytime meds featured in the Kirkland product are formulated to reduce pain and fever, suppress cough, lubricate the airways and promote decongestion. The evening capsules include added antihistamines to treat throat and nasal symptoms and induce drowsiness.
The label features several identifying pieces of information to help you discern if you have purchased the compromised cold meds:
- National Drug Code/NDC number: 63981-795-81
- Lot numbers: P139953 or P139815
- Expiration date: August 2026
The recall was designated as Class II, meaning the FDA considered it a situation in “which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
The agency urges consumers who have purchased the compromised capsules not to take them and either throw them away or return them to Costco.
And it’s not just the Costco pharmacy facing blowback; last week, bakery customers took to the internet to voice their outrage about a 58% increase in the cost of fan-favorite muffins.
There was no word on whether or not this rage-filled, cart-bumping Costco customer was responding to muffin tariffs, subpar cold meds or the news that Costco plans to stop selling books at most of its US stores at the beginning of the year.
