Echinicea For Children Under 12 Years

Don't Give Echinacea To Children, Warns MHRA

The MHRA is advising parents and carers not to give oral products containing Echinacea to children under 12 years of age due to the risk of rare allergic reactions that may sometimes be severe. Echinacea species are herbal ingredients traditionally used mainly to relieve symptoms of the common cold and influenza type infections.

Echinacea & Golden Root for Juniors

MHRA takes Holland & Barrett’s Echinacea & Golden Root off the market

A herbal remedy sold by Holland and Barrett for young children and adolescents is being taken off shelves because the product is unlicensed, is labelled incorrectly and the claimed herbal ingredients present are incorrectly described. There are concerns that this product may not be suitable for use in children and adolescents and may cause unwanted side effects.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has asked Holland and Barrett to stop marketing Herbal Authority: Echinacea & Golden Root for Juniors. Holland and Barrett have agreed to do this.

The pictures on the product do not match the labelling description and appears to show Goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis) and not Golden root (Rhodiola rosea). The botanical name on the product Berberis aquifolium is also incorrect.

This Holland and Barrett herbal product is not registered under the traditional herbal registration (THR) scheme, which is a scheme to help consumers be confident that the herbal remedies they are taking have been assessed for quality, safety and good manufacturing.