Antigua and Barbuda officials are calling on parents to immediately check for a potentially dangerous children’s cough syrup that has reached local stores.

The Prices and Consumer Affairs Division announced Monday that Little Remedies® Honey Cough Syrup containing dangerous bacteria is being sold in the country, prompting urgent warnings for families to stop using the product immediately.

Medtech Products Inc. has issued a voluntary recall of five specific batches of the infant medication after discovering contamination with Bacillus cereus, a bacteria that can prove fatal in severe cases. The contaminated products have been in circulation since December 2022.

Parents can identify the dangerous batches by checking for UPC code 7-56184-10737-9 on the 4 FL OZ amber bottles. The recalled lots include numbers 0039, 0545, 0640, 0450, and 1198, with expiration dates ranging from November 2025 to December 2026.

The bacterial contamination poses serious health risks, particularly for young children. Symptoms can appear within hours of consumption and include severe nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. In the most serious cases, the manufacturer warns that exposure to high levels of the bacteria “can cause death.”

Two distinct illness patterns have been identified. The first strikes quickly, causing nausea and vomiting within one to six hours of taking the contaminated syrup. The second develops more slowly, with stomach pain and diarrhea appearing eight to 16 hours after consumption.

Families who have purchased the recalled syrup should return it to their place of purchase for a complete refund. The Division emphasizes that consumers should not attempt to use the product under any circumstances.

Any parents whose children have already consumed the recalled medication and are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Those who have given the syrup to their children but notice no adverse effects should continue monitoring for potential symptoms.

The recall affects only the 4 FL OZ honey cough syrup and does not extend to other products in the Little Remedies® line. The lot codes appear on both the bottle labels and the bottom of the outer packaging cartons.

For assistance or additional information, concerned parents can contact the Prices and Consumer Affairs Division at 462-4347 or via email at [email protected].