Why Was Robitussin with Honey Recalled? How to Tell if Your Cough Syrup Is Impacted

When a medication is recalled, it can spark a lot of questions. Why was it recalled? Is your product safe? And what can you use instead?

In January 2024, medication and supplement manufacturer Haleon recalled certain Robitussin with honey products. A recall on cough medication during cold and flu season is especially bad timing. But there are steps you can take if the Robitussin products you have at home have been impacted. And there are alternatives to pick from if needed.

Why is Robitussin with honey being recalled?

Robitussin with honey was recalled due to microbial contamination. This is when unwanted bacteria or fungi (microbes) starts to grow in a medication, food, or other product. In this case, some Robitussin with honey products were found to contain high levels of fungi (yeast).

It’s normal for honey to contain small amounts of fungi. But the amount found in the recalled products was higher than what’s considered a safe level. This could make people sick, especially those with weakened immune systems.

Which Robitussin with honey products were recalled?

Not all Robitussin products have been recalled. Only certain Robitussin Honey CF Max products are impacted. You should check the lot number and expiration date of any products you have at home. You can find these numbers on the bottom of the box and on the lower right-hand corner of the bottle’s label.

Below is a table of the Robitussin Honey CF Max products being recalled:

Good to know: This recall only impacts certain brand-name Robitussin with honey products. If you have a generic or store-brand version of the medication at home, it’s OK to keep taking it. And if you have a Robitussin product that’s not listed above, it’s not included in the recall either.

What should you do if your Robitussin cough syrup was recalled?

There are some steps to take if your Robitussin product was recalled:

• Stop taking the medication. Even if you’ve used it and haven’t gotten sick, stop taking it. Haleon hasn’t received any reports of harm yet from this recall. But, these products aren’t safe to use.

• Contact the retailer you purchased the medication from. When recalls happen, pharmacies and other retailers will often offer full refunds if you bought recalled products from them.

• Contact Haleon’s customer service team. Robitussin’s manufacturer is also providing information on how to return recalled products. You can call them at 1-800-245-1040 (Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM ET) or email them at mystory.us@haleon.com.

If you accidentally consumed recalled Robitussin and believe you’re experiencing adverse effects from it, there are additional steps you should take:

• Call your medical care team if you’re having new or unusual symptoms. These could include a high fever, chills, or cough. Keep in mind these can also be symptoms of the infection you were trying to treat with Robitussin with honey. Symptoms that are severe or get worse after initially getting better would be of particular concern.

• Report any adverse reactions you experience to the FDA. You can submit a report online. You can also download a form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a form be sent to you. This form can either be mailed or faxed to the FDA.

What can you take instead of Robitussin with honey?

There are many alternatives to Robitussin Honey CF Max available. The key to picking a good alternative is selecting a product with similar active ingredients. You can find this information on the medication’s “Drug Facts” label.

Robitussin Honey CF Max Daytime contains acetaminophen (a pain reliever and fever reducer) and dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant). Robitussin Honey CF Max Nighttime contains acetaminophen and diphenhydramine (an antihistamine to help with runny nose and sleep). Both medications also include honey to help soothe a sore throat and quiet coughing.

Some potential daytime alternatives include:

• Robitussin CF Maximum Strength (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan), a very similar product, but doesn’t contain honey

• Delsym Cough Plus Sore Throat (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan)

• DayQuil High Blood Pressure Cold and Flu (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan)

• Theraflu Flu Relief Max Strength (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan)

Some potential nighttime alternatives include:

• Robitussin CF Maximum Strength Severe Multi-Symptom Nighttime capsules (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / doxylamine)

• Delsym Nighttime (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / triprolidine)

• Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / triprolidine)

• NyQuil (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / doxylamine)

• Theraflu Flu Relief Max Strength Nighttime (acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / chlorpheniramine)

As mentioned earlier, generic versions of Robitussin Honey CF Max aren’t part of the recall and are OK to take. Your pharmacist is also a great resource for helping you pick an alternative to Robitussin with honey.

How can you stay up to date on drug recalls?

There are a few ways to help stay up to date with drug recalls:

• Check the FDA’s original announcement. If additional Robitussin products are added, the FDA will update this webpage with that information.

• Sign up to receive emails from the FDA regarding future recalls.

• Search the FDA’s recall database.

• Follow the FDA’s recall account on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts