Parents demand answers over recall of multi-vitamin gummies after kids suffer allergic reactions

Parents across New Zealand are demanding answers after health supplement brand The Good Vitamin Co recalled batches of a multi-vitamin gummies product linked to allergic reactions their children experienced months earlier.

While the brand recalled its affected batches in late April, Medsafe says it “has been working with the company on additional actions to protect consumers” since being notified last month.

“The most important thing for the public right now is to stop taking any gummies from affected batches,” Medsafe’s general manager Chris James told the Herald.

The Auckland-based manufacturer notified customers on Instagram yesterday of an urgent product recall targeting specific batches of the brand’s fruit-flavoured chewable supplement, “Kids Good Multi”.

The recall relates to three types of bottles containing between 90 and 160 servings, holding the batch numbers GV011015, GV011017V and GV011018V.

“Consumers should stop using affected batches immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or replacement,” the notice said.

“This action has been taken due to report of allergic adverse reactions.

“If you or your child have experienced any adverse reaction after consuming the product, seek medical advice if required.”

Dozens of parents commented on the recall post demanding more information, with many claiming their children had experienced reactions severe enough to require medical attention.

Anna Lowes told the Herald she was shocked to learn gummies she bought in February, which had caused her daughter to become covered in rashes, had the same batch number she queried the company about months ago.

Lowes said her daughter routinely ate the same breakfast with two gummies every morning.

“Every now and then, she was getting a reaction, and I just couldn’t pinpoint what it was until I realised I’d bought a new jar of their multivitamins.”

Lowes said she asked The Good Vitamin Co whether any changes had been made to the product’s ingredients, but her email went unanswered.

She later came across the recall notice in a Facebook mums’ group, where members were describing similar reactions to those her daughter experienced.

One mother says she tried to raise concerns about The Good Vitamin Co's gummies months before the recall notice after her child started breaking out in rashes. Photo / Supplied

Lowes described the brand’s failure to respond to her earlier query as “negligent”.

“In the back of your mind, you don’t really think a vitamin that you’re giving your child to make them better is what’s making them worse.”

Another mother living in rural Northland said her four-year-old son experienced rapid and severe reactions after consuming the gummies, despite taking them for years earlier without issue.

“It was to the point where, within minutes, his whole body went bright red, his lips were swelling, there was tingling in his mouth, his lips went white,” Cassandra Hollows told the Herald.

“The second day, he literally ate [a gummy] in front of us, and within not even a minute he started whimpering, then getting all upset, rubbing his lips, and panicking ... the medical people even said he’d need a EpiPen given how fast he was reacting.”

Her son - who is health-compromised - has since undergone a full allergy test ahead of an upcoming surgery, yet the results still came back clear.

“I want to know whether there’s actually strict testing being done on these products or not that we’re giving our kids,” Hollows said.

“They said the testing they’d done [on the batches] so far has come up with nothing, they believe it’s something in a raw material from suppliers.”

The Good Vitamin Co has been approached for comment.

Several parents expressed frustration that the message was not being pushed wider by the company or officials, with Hollows concerned why it wasn’t already “public knowledge”.

James said Medsafe was notified after the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) began receiving reports of allergic reactions to the product.

“We contacted The Good Vitamin Co, and it informed us that in late April, it had recalled the affected batches from the supply chain, which included removing it from shops and pharmacies.

“Since becoming aware of the issue, Medsafe has been working with the company on additional actions to protect consumers.”

Along with issuing its own safety alert, James said Medsafe asked The Good Vitamin Co to publicly publish the recall notice while investigations continued.

“Medsafe takes this issue very seriously. We’re still working with the company to investigate the cause of the reactions.

“Anyone who has experienced a side effect should report it to our safety monitoring platform, CARM.”

James said those that had taken an affected gummy and were concerned about side effects should contact a health provider.

“They can help you find out whether anything else needs to be done and what the best next steps are.”