Orajel Teething Swabs Lawsuit Alleges Fungal Contamination

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Orajel Baby Teething Swabs and Zicam Nasal Swabs were sold with fungal contaminants, despite being labeled as safe, posing health risks to consumers, especially infants.

Consumers Affected: Consumers who purchased Orajel Baby Teething Swabs or Zicam Nasal Swabs.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Parents buying Orajel products to ease teething pain may not be getting what they expect. A recently filed class action lawsuit claims certain Orajel swabs marketed for babies were sold with fungal contaminants, despite being labeled as safe.

The lawsuit also includes Zicam cold remedy products, both manufactured by Church & Dwight, which the plaintiffs allege were sold without warning of the risks linked to these fungal ingredients.

Orajel Products Allegedly Contained Harmful Fungi

According to the complaint, several over-the-counter healthcare products, including Orajel Baby Teething Swabs and Zicam Nasal Swabs, were contaminated with multiple strains of fungus—specifically Penicillium sumatraense, Penicillium citrinum, and Exophiala spinifera.

The lawsuit claims these fungi have been associated with health problems such as pneumonia, kidney complications, and skin infections. While these symptoms are more commonly linked to those with compromised immune systems, the plaintiffs argue that any consumer, especially infants, should never be exposed to these risks through products marketed for safety and wellness.

The complaint alleges that Church & Dwight distributed and promoted the swabs as being safe to use, while failing to disclose the potential for contamination. The plaintiff, Bryan Swetz, says that had he known about the presence of fungi, he never would have purchased the product.

“Consumers like Plaintiff trust manufacturers such as Defendant to sell products that are safe and free from known harmful substances, including the fungi,” the complaint reads.

Recall Notice Fails to Satisfy Consumers, Lawsuit Says

Church & Dwight issued a voluntary recall of the affected Zicam and Orajel products in June 2025. According to the lawsuit, that action came too late and didn’t go far enough to properly alert the public or offer adequate solutions.

Swetz claims the company failed to issue a widespread or easily understood notice. The filing also says consumers weren’t given simple instructions for returning the items or obtaining a full refund.

Plaintiffs assert they were left in the dark about what to do next. They also claim they were misled into purchasing products that, due to contamination, posed health risks and should not have been on store shelves in the first place.

Parents Say They Were Misled Into a False Sense of Safety

The case revolves around more than just contamination. It focuses on the message consumers received from the brand. By marketing these swabs for infants and family use, the company gave the impression that their products were tested, safe, and ready to use without concern.

Parents like Swetz argue they made decisions based on that reputation, spending money on products they believed would help, only to later discover potential hidden dangers. Now, they’re asking to represent others in similar positions.

Other Contamination Cases Raise Similar Claims

This is not the first time a consumer product has landed in court over contamination issues. Treehouse Foods recently faced litigation after frozen breakfast items were found to contain listeria. Like the Orajel case, consumers alleged that marketing misrepresented the safety of the food and that the public recall didn’t do enough to prevent harm.

Earlier this year, Zicam also agreed to a $6 million settlement in a separate case involving claims that its cold remedy products were advertised as reducing cold length, despite a lack of reliable proof.

Swetz is requesting a jury trial and hopes to represent a group of consumers who bought affected Orajel or Zicam products. The complaint lists claims under New York General Business Law and seeks statutory, compensatory, and punitive damages, along with a refund option for anyone who purchased the swabs.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Swetz v. Church & Dwight Co. Inc.
• Case Number: 7:25-cv-0493
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Philip J. Furia and Jason P. Sultzer (Sultzer & Lipari PLLC)
• Nick Suciu III (Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC)

Have you used Orajel Baby Teething Swabs? Share your experience or concerns about this recall below.