Staying Fit
Over 3 million bottles of Airborne Gummies have been recalled for posing an injury hazard because pressure that builds up in the sealed bottle can cause the cap or seal to forcefully pop off when the bottle is first opened.
The manufacturer, Reckitt, has received 70 reports of caps or seals popping off bottles, resulting in 18 minor injuries and one eye injury that required medical attention.
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The affected bottles, recalled voluntarily in coordination with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, were sold nationwide from May 2020 through February 2022 for between $18 and $33 at major retailers including:
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Costco
- CVS
- Kroger
- Sam’s Club
- Target
- Walgreens
- Walmart
They also may have been purchased online from Amazon.com and schiffvitamins.com. Schiff is owned by Reckitt.
The recalled Airborne Gummies, which claim to support the immune system and help fend off illness, were sold in 63- and 75-count bottles in flavors including blueberry pomegranate, orange and assorted fruit flavors. The bottles have expiration dates ranging from October 2021 to December 2022. See the recall announcement for specific UPC/SKU codes, lot codes and expiration dates.
Advice to consumers
Anyone who has an unopened bottle covered by the recall should not open it. Contact Reckitt toll-free at 888-266-8003 to arrange to return the unopened bottle for a full refund. Postage will be provided.
If the bottle has already been opened, it is not considered recalled and is safe to reopen because the pressure will have already been released. The gummies inside the bottles are unaffected by the pressure buildup and are safe to consume, according to the manufacturer.
Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English.
