North Dakotan Beware: Another Massive Eyedrop Recall Issued

Eye ointment products sold at CVS and Walmart stores in North Dakota and across the rest of the nation are being recalled due to a potential risk of infection.

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The FDA found a "lack of sterility assurance" at the production plant, which led Brassica Pharma Pvt. Ltd. to issue the recall, as stated on the FDA's website.

The four sterile products that were affected have expiration dates between February 2024 and September 2025 and are offered under Equate, CVS, and AACE Pharmaceuticals Inc. Walmart, CVS, and AACE Pharmaceuticals Inc. were among the several wholesalers and retailers that received the items from the product distributor.

For example, "ophthalmic drug products pose a potential heightened risk of harm to users because drugs applied to the eyes bypass some of the body’s natural defenses," according to the notice.

No adverse events associated with the recalled products have been reported to the company as of February 16th.

In October, CVS Health Lubricant Eye Ointment, which was supplied by Brassica Pharma Pvt. Ltd. in a 3.5-gram tube, was no longer sold by the company either online or in stores, according to CVS.

Due to unsanitary conditions at a production plant, multiple eye products were recalled and removed from shelves during the past year.

One hundred and twenty-seven eyedrops made by India Limited were voluntarily recalled by the company because they were on the FDA's ongoing list of items that could be contaminated with bacteria and cause infection or blindness in the eyes.

Earlier this month, Cardinal Health Inc. and its subsidiary, Harvard Drug Group LLC, also issued similar notices, as per an FDA warning notice.

In late October, the FDA issued a warning to consumers about specific products sold by CVS Health, Leader, Rugby, Rite Aid, Target’s Up & Up, Velocity Pharma, and Equate, which led to the recalls.

The global outbreak of antibiotic-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa has not been associated with any of the recalls described above that involve eye products manufactured by Global Pharma Healthcare.