Urgent Safety Alert: Non-Childproof Packaging Triggers Major Amazon Recall
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on March 20, 2025, that Arsell Inc. is recalling approximately 2,300 bottles of Benadryl Liquid Elixir due to packaging that violates federal safety standards. The 100 mL bottles sold exclusively on Amazon between July 2023 and October 2024 lack the child-resistant packaging required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. Officials warn that the products contain diphenhydramine, which poses a significant poisoning risk if accidentally consumed by children. Consumers are instructed to immediately secure the medicine away from children, dispose of the products, and submit documentation to receive a full refund.
5 Key Points
- Approximately 2,300 bottles of Benadryl Liquid Elixir are affected by the recall.
- The product lacks federally mandated child-resistant packaging required for medicines containing diphenhydramine.
- The recalled bottles were sold exclusively on Amazon.com from July 2023 through October 2024.
- Arsell Inc., based in Brooklyn, New York, imported the Canadian-manufactured products.
- No injuries or incidents related to the recalled products have been reported so far.
How Do You Spot These Dangerous Benadryl Bottles in Your Medicine Cabinet?
The recalled Benadryl Liquid Elixir comes in a distinctive dark plastic bottle with a pink and white label featuring the Benadryl brand name in blue text. Each bottle contains 100 mL of liquid antihistamine medicine and was packaged in a paper box with matching pink and white design elements. Concerned consumers can check for a specific identifying code — “X003VRIGUL” — which appears on a white label at the bottom of the packaging. This product was not distributed through traditional pharmacies or retail stores but was sold exclusively through Amazon.com’s online marketplace for 15 months, spanning from July 2023 to October 2024. The products sold for between $16 and $19 per bottle and were imported from Canadian manufacturing facilities by Arsell Inc., which operates from Brooklyn, New York.
Why Are These Common Allergy Medications Suddenly Considered a Poison Risk?
The fundamental safety issue with these Benadryl bottles stems from their non-compliant packaging design that fails to meet federally mandated child safety standards. The Poison Prevention Packaging Act specifically requires child-resistant packaging for products containing diphenhydramine, the active antihistamine ingredient in Benadryl. Without proper safety mechanisms, young children can potentially open the bottles and access the liquid medication inside. Diphenhydramine presents a significant poisoning hazard if ingested by children in uncontrolled amounts. Although no incidents or injuries have been reported in connection with these particular products, the CPSC emphasizes the preventive nature of the recall. Child-resistant packaging serves as a critical safeguard, providing valuable time for parents to intervene before children can consume dangerous quantities of medication.
What Immediate Steps Should You Take If You Own Recalled Benadryl?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued clear instructions for anyone who purchased the recalled Benadryl Liquid Elixir. First, consumers should immediately secure all affected bottles out of the sight and reach of children to prevent potential access. Next, while technically only the non-compliant bottle is being recalled rather than the medication itself, the CPSC recommends disposing of both the container and its contents. To receive a full refund for the purchase, customers must contact Arsell Inc. directly via email at recall@arsellsupport.com. The refund process requires verification by submitting the original Amazon order number and photographic evidence showing that the recalled product has been properly disposed of. Arsell states it is proactively contacting all known purchasers directly to alert them about the recall and refund process. Still, consumers shouldn’t wait for a notification if they have identified the product in their homes.
Could This Amazon Recall Signal Bigger Problems in Online Medication Sales?
This Benadryl recall highlights ongoing challenges with ensuring child safety in pharmaceutical packaging, particularly for products sold through online marketplaces. The CPSC has recently intensified scrutiny of e-commerce platforms for their role in distributing products that don’t meet U.S. safety standards. In fact, this recall comes amid a legal dispute between Amazon and the CPSC after the agency found the online retailer legally responsible for recalls involving hundreds of thousands of third-party products sold on its platform. The Poison Prevention Packaging Act, established in the 1970s, continues to serve as a critical consumer protection mechanism, requiring child-resistant packaging for medications and household substances that pose poisoning risks. The Arsell recall demonstrates how regulatory agencies work to enforce these standards across both traditional and emerging retail channels, emphasizing that all product sellers must adhere to the same safety requirements regardless of their distribution method.
Which Other Household Products Are Being Recalled Due to Child Safety Concerns?
The Benadryl recall is part of a larger pattern of recent CPSC enforcement actions targeting products lacking required child-resistant packaging. In January 2025, Cabinet Health’s refillable medicine bottles were recalled because their child-resistant features degraded after repeated openings. Other recent CPSC recalls have targeted products containing potentially dangerous ingredients like wintergreen essential oils with methyl salicylate and water testing kits containing sulfuric acid, both of which lacked proper child-resistant packaging. Beyond packaging concerns, recalls affecting other household products include International Delight coffee creamer, with over 75,000 bottles recently pulled from shelves and Gerolsteiner sparkling water bottles that presented laceration hazards due to cracking. These diverse product issues underscore the importance of the CPSC’s oversight role and the need for consumers to stay informed about potential safety hazards in everyday household items, particularly those that might be accessible to children.
FAQ
Q: How can I tell if my Benadryl is part of the recall?
A: Check if you have Benadryl Liquid Elixir in a 100 mL dark plastic bottle with a pink and white label featuring “Benadryl” in blue text, purchased from Amazon between July 2023 and October 2024, with code “X003VRIGUL” on the bottom.
Q: Why is this specific Benadryl being recalled?
A: The product lacks child-resistant packaging required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act for medicines containing diphenhydramine, creating a poisoning risk for young children who might access the contents.
Q: How do I get a refund for my recalled Benadryl?
A: Email recall@arsellsupport.com with your Amazon order number and a photo showing the disposal of the recalled product so you can receive a full refund from Arsell.
Q: Is the medicine itself dangerous, or just the packaging?
A: The medicine itself isn’t defective. Still, the CPSC recommends disposing of both the bottle and its contents since diphenhydramine can be dangerous if accessed by children due to the inadequate packaging.
Q: Have any children been harmed by these products?
A: According to the CPSC announcement, no incidents or injuries related to the recalled Benadryl products have been reported so far.
Q: Who manufactures this recalled Benadryl?
A: The recalled Benadryl Liquid Elixir was manufactured in Canada and imported by Arsell Inc., a company based in Brooklyn, New York.
Q: Is this recall related to Johnson & Johnson’s Benadryl brand?
A: This recall specifically affects Arsell’s Benadryl Liquid Elixir and is not related to products manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, the owner of the Benadryl brand.
Q: How many bottles are affected by this recall?
A: Approximately 2,300 bottles of Benadryl Liquid Elixir are included in this recall.
Q: What makes packaging “child-resistant”?
A: Child-resistant packaging typically includes special mechanisms like push-and-turn caps that are difficult for young children to open but can still be operated by adults.
Q: Where can I find more information about this recall?
A: Visit the CPSC website or contact Arsell directly at recall@arsellsupport.com for additional information about the recall and refund process.
Citations
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (March 2025). Arsell Recalls Benadryl Liquid Elixir 100 mL Bottle Due to Risk of Child Poisoning; Violation of Federal Regulation for Child Resistant Packaging; Sold on Amazon.com. CPSC.gov. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Arsell-Recalls-Benadryl-Liquid-Elixir-100-mL-Bottle-Due-to-of-Child-Poisoning-Violation-of-Federal-Regulation-for-Child-Resistant-Packaging-Sold-on-Amazon-com
Prevention. (March 2025). Over 2,000 Bottles of Benadryl Recalled Over ‘Poisoning’ Risk. Prevention.com. https://www.prevention.com/health/a64252718/arsell-benadryl-recall-2025/
TODAY.com. (March 2025). Benadryl recalled over child poisoning risk. What to know. Today.com. https://www.today.com/health/recall/arsell-benadryl-recall-rcna197513
