The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a Class 2 medicines recall alert on 4 March 2025 for Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets 16s, batch 241005, expiry date 12/2029, item code 81-99-9221. The recall covers a packaging error in which the foil blister inside the carton incorrectly states "Aspirin 300mg Dispersible Tablets" instead of "Paracetamol 500mg Tablets"1. The recall affects 119,964 packs1.
The Boots Company PLC and the supplier, Aspar Pharmaceuticals Limited, have confirmed that the tablets in the blister packs are Paracetamol 500mg and not aspirin, and are conducting a full investigation into the issue1. The MHRA states that packs with batch number 241005, which can be found on the bottom of the box, should not be kept at home, even if the error is known, as this could lead to confusion and an incorrect dose being taken1. Anyone who has purchased the product for someone else should inform them as soon as possible1.
Dr Stephanie Millican, MHRA Deputy Director Benefit Risk Evaluation, said:
The MHRA advises that people who have purchased the product should stop using it immediately and return it to a Boots store for a full refund, with or without receipt1. Those who have taken tablets from this batch and have any additional questions are advised to seek advice from their pharmacist or other relevant healthcare professional, and anyone who is unsure which pack they have purchased, or who has taken the tablets and experienced any side effects, is advised to seek advice from a healthcare professional1. Suspected adverse reactions should be reported via the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme1.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Product | Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets 16s |
| Item code | 81-99-922 |
| Batch | 241005 |
| Expiry date | 12/2029 |
| Packs affected | 119,964 |
| Recall class | Class 2 |
| Date issued | 4 March 2025 |
Why it matters for households
The recall applies to households across the UK that hold a pack of Boots Paracetamol 500mg Tablets 16s from batch 241005, including carers who may have bought the product for someone else1. The MHRA states that the tablets themselves are paracetamol and not aspirin, but that affected packs should not be kept at home even where the error is known, because the mislabelled foil could lead to confusion and an incorrect dose1. Households checking a pack are directed to the batch number on the bottom of the box1. The MHRA advises returning affected packs to a Boots store for a full refund, with or without receipt, and seeking advice from a pharmacist or other relevant healthcare professional where packs are uncertain or side effects have occurred1. General guidance on handling health emergencies is set out in the site's health emergencies hub.
What happens next
The Boots Company PLC and Aspar Pharmaceuticals Limited are conducting a full investigation into the packaging error1. The MHRA has not reported a completion date for that investigation. Suspected adverse reactions can be reported through the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme1.
