Pomona, California-based Master Herbs Inc. voluntarily recalled all lots of Licorice Coughing Liquid in 100-ml bottles.
Cough syrup distributed to Chinese grocery stores across six states including New Jersey has been taken off shelves, after being found to contain morphine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced.
Cough syrup distributed to Chinese grocery stores across six states including New Jersey has been taken off shelves, after being found to contain morphine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Jan. 20, 2016. Pomona, California-based Master Herbs Inc. voluntarily recalled all lots of Licorice Coughing Liquid in 100-ml bottles. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Pomona, California-based Master Herbs Inc. voluntarily recalled all lots of Licorice Coughing Liquid in 100-ml bottles.
Not declared on the label, the opioid is an ingredient of Compound Camphor.
"Consumers using this product may not be aware they are ingesting morphine," the FDA says. "The unaware ingestion of morphine can lead to life-threatening respiratory depression and death."
Those hypersensitive to morphine could suffer severe allergic reactions, and young children with respiratory illness should never be exposed to morphine, according to the FDA.
As of Wednesday, Master Herbs was unaware of any adverse effects associated with use of the product.
The cough syrup was also distributed in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Ohio and Nevada.
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Customers may return the recalled product to the place of purchase, and those with questions can reach Master Herbs from 1 to 8 p.m. EST weekdays by phone at 626-319-9915 or anytime via email at 999herbs@gmail.com.
The FDA advises consumers to contact a physician or health-care provider if they believe they have experienced any adverse events related with use of this product.
Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program:
online: at fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm.
or by regular mail or fax: Download a form at fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 800-FDA-0178.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.