Gripe Water, Alcohol, and the October 2026 Recall: Background, Risks, and What Parents Should Watch

Background

Gripe water has been used for infant colic, gas, and fussiness since the 1850s. English pharmacist William Woodward formulated the original version with dill oil, sodium bicarbonate, sugar, and alcohol. It was marketed with the slogan “Granny told Mother and Mother told me.” Alcohol was later removed from major formulas (UK mandate in 1992; US detention of Woodward’s in 1993 as an unapproved drug). Today most U.S. products are sold as dietary supplements containing herbs such as fennel, ginger, or chamomile plus bicarbonate or glycerin. They are not FDA-approved drugs, so purity, dose, and efficacy are not guaranteed by premarket review.

There is little high-quality evidence that gripe water relieves colic. Pediatric sources and Poison Control generally advise against herbal supplements for infants because of contamination risk, variable ingredients, and the possibility of allergic reactions or other harms. Past recalls have involved bacterial or parasite contamination and undissolved particles.

What Changed

On October 6, 2026, Pacific Health Sciences voluntarily recalled one lot of its Babies’ Magic Tea brand Baby Sleep Gripe Water. FDA testing of lot 25122bw (best before December 2028) found approximately 8.3% ethanol, 0.35% methanol, and 0.48% isopropanol—none listed on the label. The product is a 4 fl oz amber bottle in a blue cardboard box with an oral syringe; the lot number appears on the box bottom and bottle side panel. It was distributed to Secrets of Tea and sold online, including on Amazon.

The company’s hazard statement notes that organic alcohols can impair central-nervous-system function, that infant ethanol exposure has been linked to long-term developmental consequences, and that recommended amounts can cause drowsiness, incoordination, behavioral changes, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Higher amounts raise the risk of respiratory depression. No adverse events had been reported to the company as of the notice date.

Competing Viewpoints

Some parents and online communities report that gripe water helps settle fussy infants and prefer it to other remedies. Manufacturers market it for gas, colic, hiccups, and sleep. Medical organizations and many pediatricians do not recommend it, citing the lack of evidence, the unregulated supplement status, and the history of contamination and formulation problems. Alcohol-containing versions have long been considered unsafe for infants; the presence of undeclared methanol (toxic) and isopropanol adds further concern beyond ethanol.

Federal guidance limits ethanol as an inactive ingredient in certain OTC products for young children; the measured level here substantially exceeds typical allowances.

What to Watch Next

• Whether additional lots or brands are tested and recalled.
• Any adverse-event reports submitted to FDA MedWatch or the company.
• Updates on the Secrets of Tea / Amazon distribution and refund process.
• Broader FDA or CPSC scrutiny of infant dietary supplements marketed for sleep or colic.
• Clinic and AAP guidance on when (if ever) to consider gripe water versus other colic strategies (feeding changes, holding, white noise, etc.).

Parents who have lot 25122bw should stop using it immediately, discard or return it, and contact a clinician if the baby shows symptoms. For others, the episode is a reminder to check lot numbers on any infant herbal product and to discuss colic management with a pediatrician rather than relying on unregulated supplements.

Sources: FDA company announcement (Oct 6–7, 2026), historical accounts of Woodward’s Gripe Water, pediatric reviews of gripe-water safety and efficacy.

Editorial note only. Confirm current details on FDA.gov. Not medical or legal advice.