Equate antacid recalled over steel shavings: lot 1716089

Health Canada has recalled one lot of Equate Ultra Strength Antacid chewable tablets after the manufacturer found the product may contain foreign matter, specifically stainless steel shavings. The recall notice was published Oct. 30, 2026, and applies to a single lot number sold across Canada.

If you keep an antacid in your medicine cabinet, purse or desk drawer, it takes about a minute to check whether yours is affected.

What is being recalled

The recalled product is Equate Ultra Strength Antacid in the Assorted Fruits flavour. These are 1,000 mg chewable tablets, authorized in Canada under natural product number (NPN) 80125051. Only one lot is listed: lot 1716089.

Health Canada says the affected lot “may contain the presence of foreign matter (stainless steel shavings).” The agency classified the issue as a product quality problem and the recall as Type II. Under Health Canada’s system, a Type II recall generally involves a product that may cause temporary or reversible health effects, or where the chance of serious harm is considered remote.

The notice says the recall is national and extends to the retail level. It does not name specific retailers or provinces. It also does not list an expiry date or a UPC code, so the lot number is the key detail to look for. The notice does not include a health risk statement, and this article has not found any reports of injuries tied to the recall.

How to check your bottle

Look at the bottle or package for the words “Equate” and “Ultra Strength Antacid,” along with the Assorted Fruits flavour. Then find the lot number, which is usually printed on the label or stamped near the bottom or on the crimp of the package. If it reads 1716089, it is part of the recall. Other lots of the same product are not named in the notice.

If you are not sure, the safest step is to check the product against the recall notice on Health Canada’s recalls site, or to ask a pharmacist to look at it with you.

What Health Canada says to do

The recall notice lists several steps for consumers:

• Check whether your product is one of the affected ones.
• Talk to a health care provider before you stop using the product, or if you have any health concerns.
• Contact the recalling company with questions.
• Report any side effects from a health product to Health Canada.
• Report other health product safety complaints to Health Canada.

The recalling firm is Guardian Drug Company Inc., based in Dayton, N.J. The notice gives a mailing address but no phone number or email. The notice is the official record, so it is worth checking back in case Health Canada updates it.

Why antacid recalls matter to many households

Chewable antacids are among the most common over-the-counter products in Canadian homes. They are often bought in large bottles and kept for months, sometimes in several places at once. That makes it easy to overlook a recall, because many people do not remember the brand or lot of something they picked up on a routine shopping trip.

Foreign matter recalls are a different kind of problem from allergen or labelling recalls. The concern here is a physical contaminant in the product itself. Health Canada has not said how the shavings are believed to have got into the lot, and this article does not speculate about that.

Where to find future recalls

Health Canada posts food, health product, consumer product and vehicle recalls in one searchable place, the Recalls and Safety Alerts website. You can search by product name or filter by category, and each notice lists the affected lot numbers and the recommended actions. Checking it before a big seasonal stock-up on cold and flu remedies is a simple habit, and it is the kind of thing worth passing along to a parent or grandparent who keeps a lot of over-the-counter products at home.

The same listing shows other recent health product notices, including recalls of medical devices aimed mainly at hospitals and clinics. Those are generally handled by the health care providers who use them, so most households do not need to act on them.

If you have already taken tablets from the affected lot and feel unwell, or if you have any concerns about your health, contact a doctor or pharmacist. Do not rely on a news article to judge your own situation.

This article is based on official guidance from Health Canada and is provided for general public information. It’s not a substitute for medical advice, if you have questions about how this applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you find reporting like this useful, consider supporting Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom with no corporate parent.

Sources: Health Canada, Equate Ultra Strength Antacid Chewable Tablet: may contain foreign matter (metal fragments), Oct. 30, 2026; Health Canada, Recalls and Safety Alerts.