By Sue-Ann Wayow

FIVE lots of the Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup are being recalled by the Ministry of Health.

This is due to the potential presence of Bacillus cereus and loss of shelf-stability, the ministry stated in a media release on Tuesday.

Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) can cause two types of food-borne illnesses. One type is characterised by nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps that can start one to six hours after eating or drinking contaminated food.

The second type can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea that can start eight to 16 hours after eating or drinking contaminated food.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term illness, exposure to high levels of foodborne B. cereus can cause death.

The lot numbers being recalled are: 0039 – expiry date November 2025, 0545 – expiry date January 2026, 0640 with expiry date February 2026, 0450 with an expiry date of May 2026 and batch number 1198 with an expiry date of December 2026.

While some Little Remedies formulations are registered in Trinidad and Tobago, the product, Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup, is not.

The release stated, “Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, the Ministry advises persons who may be in possession of the drug bearing lot numbers listed above, to discontinue use immediately and to return to the place of purchase, where possible.”

Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Office of the Chemistry Food and Drug Division at (868) 217-4664 Ext. 13121.