South Africans are being urged to check certain healthcare products following the recall of specific batches of ENO Active Fruit Salt, Evo Aqueous Cream and prescription lung medication Nintedanib.
The recalls have been published by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority after separate quality concerns were identified in the affected products.
Importantly, the recalls do not apply to every ENO, aqueous cream or Nintedanib product currently in circulation. Only the brands, pack sizes and batch numbers identified in the respective notices are affected.
The ENO recall applies to ENO Active Fruit Salt Regular in packs containing 72 sachets, bearing batch number V79A and an expiry date of December 2029.
According to the recall notice issued by Haleon South Africa, some sachets contained illegible batch information.
The batch was released for sale on 23 March 2026 before undergoing a complete visual inspection. Haleon said the printing defect created a risk involving the identification and traceability of the affected sachets.
The ENO recall has been classified as Class III, Type C.
A Class III defect is not expected to pose a significant health hazard, while a Type C recall is primarily directed at wholesalers, pharmacies, doctors, hospitals and other distribution points.
Haleon has requested the immediate return of affected units from batch V79A for full credit.
Consumers who have the identified product can contact the pharmacy or retailer from which it was purchased, or call the Haleon Consumer Information Line on 0800 007 018.
A separate recall applies to Evo Aqueous Cream BP in the 500g container, bearing batch number 030 44 20/25 and an expiry date of October 2027.
The Evohealth recall notice states that black particles were observed in some containers from the affected batch.
Samples containing the particles were sent to a SAHPRA-approved third-party laboratory to establish their nature. At the time of the recall notice, the investigation had not been finalised.
As a precaution, Evohealth requested that the affected containers be returned immediately to the supplying wholesaler or distributor for full credit.
The aqueous cream recall has been classified as Class II, Type B. Under SAHPRA’s recall system, a Class II defect may cause temporary illness, medically reversible health consequences, improper treatment or failure of the product to perform as intended.
A Type B recall is intended to reach wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, pharmacies, retail outlets, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other authorised users across the country.
Consumers with a 500g container of Evo Aqueous Cream should check the batch information printed on the packaging. Those with the affected batch can contact the retailer or pharmacy where it was purchased.
Evohealth’s Medical Information Line can also be reached on 011 656 3338, while queries can be emailed to [email protected].
The third recall concerns Nintedanib 100mg Cipla and Nintedanib 150mg Cipla, a prescription medicine used in the management of certain chronic lung conditions.
According to the recall notice issued by Cipla Medpro, quality complaints were received after the soft-gel capsules were found to be clumping or sticking together.
The affected Nintedanib 100mg batch is 6KA0781, while the affected 150mg batch is 6KA0782. Both were manufactured in February 2026, released for sale on 14 April 2026 and carry an expiry date of January 2028.
Cipla’s notice states that 1,689 packs of the affected 100mg batch and 1,675 packs of the 150mg batch were initially released.
The recall has been classified as Class II, Type B.
Pharmacies and healthcare providers have been instructed not to sell or dispense packs from the affected batches and to return them for full credit or replacement.
Patients using Nintedanib should check the batch number on their packaging and contact their dispensing pharmacy or treating doctor if it matches one of the recalled batches.
Because Nintedanib is a prescribed chronic medication, patients should not simply discontinue their treatment without first obtaining guidance from a doctor or pharmacist. Cipla Medpro’s Customer Care line can be contacted on 080 222 6662.
SAHPRA explains that medicine recalls may be initiated after the discovery of a quality defect, unexpected adverse reactions, fraudulent products, registration problems, illegal sales or errors involving labels and package inserts.
The regulator further notes that the required response can differ from one recall to another. In some instances, the medicine must be stopped immediately, while other recalls are intended to remove affected stock from the supply chain without suggesting that every person who used the product faces a medical emergency.
Consumers should therefore compare the exact product name, pack size, batch number and expiry date against the recall notice before returning any item.
Anyone who believes they have experienced an adverse reaction after using an affected medicine or healthcare product should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional and report the concern through the appropriate SAHPRA medicine-safety channels.
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