A Baby Sleep Gripe Water Was Recalled After FDA Tests Found Three Unlisted Alcohols, and Parents Need to Check One Number on the Box

Pacific Health Sciences announced a voluntary recall on October 6, 2026, after testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration identified three types of alcohol that were not listed on the label of its Babies’ Magic Tea brand Baby Sleep Gripe Water. The discovery raised concerns about a product marketed for infants, particularly because the possible health effects can depend on how much a child consumes and the child’s age and body weight. The FDA published the company’s recall announcement on October 7, bringing the warning to consumers and caregivers.

The issue gained wider attention after The New York Post reported on the recalled baby gripe water on October 12. The recall notice identifies a particular production lot rather than announcing a recall of every Babies’ Magic Tea product. That distinction matters because families need to check the identifying information on their bottle and packaging to determine whether the warning applies to their purchase.

The Recall Is Limited to a Specific Lot

The affected product is Babies’ Magic Tea brand Baby Sleep Gripe Water, manufactured by Pacific Health Sciences. The company identified the affected lot as 25122bw, with a best-before date of December 2028. Consumers should use those details to establish whether their bottle belongs to the recalled batch.

The announcement was dated October 6, while the FDA published the notice the following day. Pacific Health Sciences initiated the recall voluntarily, and the company stated that it was being conducted with the FDA’s knowledge. The announcement does not identify every bottle as affected, so the lot number is the most important detail to verify.

The Packaging Can Help Families Identify It

The recalled gripe water comes in a four-fluid-ounce bottle, equivalent to approximately 118 milliliters. The bottle is amber-colored and sits inside a blue cardboard box, with an oral syringe included in the package. According to ConsumerLab’s report on the recall, these packaging details match the product identified in the company’s announcement.

The lot number appears on the bottom of the cardboard box and on a side panel of the bottle. The best-before date is listed as 12/2028, providing another detail consumers can compare against the recall notice. Checking these identifiers is more reliable than relying on the product name alone, since the announcement specifically concerns one identified lot.

FDA Testing Found Three Unlisted Alcohols

The FDA’s official recall announcement names ethanol, methanol, and isopropanol as the substances detected in the affected product. None of the three was declared on the product label. Their presence was the stated reason for the company’s voluntary recall.

The finding is significant because the concern involves the difference between what the product label disclosed and what testing detected in the recalled batch. The company reported the test results through the announcement published by the FDA. The notice does not establish how the alcohols entered the product or identify a manufacturing error responsible for their presence.

The Reported Concentrations Varied Sharply

The testing results listed approximately 8.3% ethanol, 0.35% methanol, and 0.48% isopropanol in the recalled lot. Ethanol represented the highest reported concentration, while methanol and isopropanol were detected at lower percentages. All three were undisclosed ingredients, according to the recall notice.

These figures describe the concentrations reported for the affected batch, rather than the amount any individual infant necessarily consumed. A child’s potential exposure would also depend on the quantity of gripe water taken. The company and FDA highlighted those differences when explaining why the product could pose a health risk.

The Potential Risk Depends on Exposure

The recall announcement warns that the substances’ presence may pose risks depending on the amount consumed, as well as the age and body weight of the person using the product. These factors are particularly relevant when evaluating a product intended for babies. The notice does not provide a single estimate of risk that applies equally to every possible exposure.

The warning also makes clear that the potential effects are not limited to one particular symptom. The amount consumed can influence the seriousness of the health consequences, according to the company announcement. That is why the recall advises all consumers with the identified lot to stop using it rather than attempting to judge its safety from the appearance of the liquid.

The Listed Symptoms Include Behavioral and Physical Changes

The company’s hazard statement lists several possible effects from exposure to the amounts recommended on the product’s packaging. These include drowsiness, impaired coordination, behavioral changes, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The announcement presents these as potential consequences of exposure, not as symptoms confirmed in a particular infant.

Such effects can be difficult for caregivers to interpret without considering the possibility of an exposure. The recall notice does not say that every child who used the affected product will experience these symptoms. Nevertheless, it advises anyone who develops symptoms after using the gripe water to seek medical attention.

The Warning Also Covers More Serious Effects

The company also warned that higher exposures could increase the risk of respiratory depression and other serious adverse health consequences. Respiratory depression involves a reduction in the body’s drive to breathe, making it a particularly serious concern. The announcement does not report that this outcome occurred in connection with the recalled lot.

The notice also explains that organic alcohols such as ethanol, methanol, and isopropanol can interfere with normal central nervous system function. It separately notes that ethanol exposure during infancy has been linked to long-term developmental consequences. These statements describe the health concerns behind the recall and should not be interpreted as evidence that a specific developmental injury has occurred because of this product.

The Product Was Marketed for Common Infant Discomforts

Babies’ Magic Tea Baby Sleep Gripe Water is an herbal dietary supplement intended to help with infant sleep and common complaints such as gas, colic, hiccups, and fussiness. The Houston Chronicle’s report on the recall describes the product as an over-the-counter liquid supplement sold for those purposes. Its intended use helps explain why the recall has particular relevance for parents and other caregivers.

Gripe water is often marketed to families looking for ways to soothe uncomfortable or unsettled babies. However, a product’s intended purpose does not establish that it is effective or safe in every circumstance. In this case, the specific concern identified by regulators was the presence of alcohols that were not disclosed on the label of the affected lot.

The Product Reached Shoppers Through Online Retailers

Pacific Health Sciences distributed the affected batch to Secrets of Tea for further distribution through online retailers. Those sales channels included the Secrets of Tea website and Amazon, according to the recall announcement. That means the warning is relevant to people who purchased the product online, not just consumers who may have bought it through a traditional store.

Quartz’s coverage of the recall also identified those online sales channels and summarized the testing results. The public announcement does not specify how many bottles from the affected lot were sold. It also does not provide a complete list of individual purchasers, so consumers need to check their own product details.

The Company Says No Adverse Events Have Been Reported

Pacific Health Sciences stated in its recall announcement that it had received no reports of adverse events associated with the affected lot as of the time of the announcement. ABC News reported the recall on October 9, including the company’s statement about the absence of reported incidents. The disclosure provides important context for understanding what was known when the recall was announced.

However, the absence of reported adverse events does not establish that the product was safe or that no one had been exposed. The FDA’s warning is based on the test findings and the potential health risks of the substances detected. The company therefore advised consumers to discontinue use of the affected lot even though it had not received reports of related health problems.

Caregivers Are Told to Stop Using the Affected Lot

The recall instructions are direct: parents and caregivers who possess Babies’ Magic Tea Baby Sleep Gripe Water from lot 25122bw should stop using it. They are advised either to discard the product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. The guidance applies to the identified lot regardless of whether the bottle has already been opened.

Consumers who are uncertain about the identifying information can compare the lot number and packaging details against the official recall notice. They should not continue administering the product while trying to determine whether the reported concentrations could affect their child. The company’s announcement provides the information needed to identify the affected batch and outlines the available return or disposal options.

Suspected Reactions Can Be Reported to the FDA

Anyone who experiences symptoms after using the recalled gripe water should seek medical attention, according to the company announcement. Pacific Health Sciences also asks consumers to contact the company about questions or suspected reactions. Its listed telephone number is 310-457-1775, and its email address is [email protected]; its stated contact hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

Consumers can also report suspected adverse reactions through the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program. The agency lists additional reporting options by mail or fax through its MedWatch forms. These channels allow concerns to be reported even when a reaction has not yet been independently established as being caused by the product.

The central takeaway is that the recall concerns a specific batch of infant gripe water in which testing detected three alcohols absent from the label. The company has not reported adverse events associated with that lot, but the potential risks prompted a clear instruction to discontinue use. For families who may have purchased the product, checking the lot number 25122bw is the most direct way to determine whether the recall applies to their bottle.