PARENTS are being urged check bottles of own-brand children’s blackcurrant cough syrup to see if they need a replacement.

A problem with one of the ingredients in these medicines has been identified which could cause them to allow mould to grow.

Health experts say there is a low risk that the mould could make the child unwell or cause a reaction although to date no cases have been reported.

As a precaution it has been decided to recall affected batches.

Only a small number of batches from eight different products are being recalled.

No other cough syrups are affected.

Dr Sam Atkinson, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) Director of the Inspection, Enforcement and Standards Division said: “Check if you have any of the listed cough syrups and if you do, please don’t use them. Take them back to where you bought them from.

“The mould is not always visible, so return any of the affected cough syrup bottles, even if it looks okay to use.

“If your child has recently taken one of these cough syrups, and, in the unlikely event that they have become unwell or had a reaction, please speak to your GP, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.

“Our highest priority is making sure the medicines you and your family take are safe. This is why, even though there is a low risk of a reaction, we have asked the company to carry out this recall and why we want people to check their medicine cabinets.

The list of products affected are:

Asda Children’s Dry Cough Syrup Glycerol Blackcurrant Flavour

Batch numbers: 274V1, 276V1, 278V1, 283W1

Expiry dates: 01/08/2020 01/10/2020, 01/12/2020, 01/02/2020

Northwich Guardian:

Bell’s Healthcare Children's Dry Cough Glycerin 0.75g/5ml Syrup

Batch number: 280V3 Expiry date: 01/12/2020

Morrisons Children’s Dry Tickly Cough Glycerin 0.75g/5ml Oral Solution

Batch number: 282W1 Expiry date: 01/01/2021

Northwich Guardian:

Numark Children’s Dry Cough 0.75 g/5 ml Oral Solution

Batch number 280V1, 288W1

Expiry date: 01/12/2020, 01/04/20201

Sainsbury’s Children’s Dry Cough 0.75g/5ml Syrup

Batch number 275V1 Expiry date: 01/09/2020

Northwich Guardian:

Superdrug Children’s Dry Tickly Cough Glycerin 0.75 g/5 ml Oral Solution

Batch number: 280V2, 284W1 Expiry date: 01/12/2020, 01/03/2021

Tesco Children’s Dry Cough Syrup

Batch numbers: 277V1, 278V2, 281W1

Expiry dates: 01/10/2020, 01/12/2020, 01/01/2021

Wilko Tickly Cough 0.75g/5ml Oral Solution

Batch number: 275V2 Expiry date: 01/09/2020