Sanofi, the current maker of over-the-counter Zantac, followed this revelation with an announcement on October 18 that it was recalling all over-the-counter Zantac in the United States.
“As a precautionary measure, Sanofi on Friday, October 18, initiated a voluntary recall of all Zantac OTC (over-the-counter) in the United States,” the company announcement reads. “This includes Zantac 150, Zantac 150 Cool Mint, and Zantac 75. Zantac tablets are an oral, over-the-counter product to prevent and relieve heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach.”
Sanofi added that it also had initiated a voluntary recall of Zantac products in Canada. The company seemed to blame the contamination on overseas suppliers.
“Active ingredients used in Sanofi’s ranitidine products outside of the U.S. and Canada are sourced from different suppliers,” the October 18 company announcement says, also highlighting the difficulty inherent in tracing the contamination back through the complex pharmaceutical supply train to its source.
