The New York Post has reported that the generic version of the popular allergyne Mucinex, which is sold in sto and cold medicires such as Target, Walmart, and Walgreens, contains a cancer-causing agent.
According to an exclusive report by Bloomberg, the generic versionart, of Mucinex sold in Target, Walm and Walgreens contains a cancer-causing agent called benzene.
Benzene, which is a liquid that is used to make plastics, has been linked to deadly diseases such as lymphoma and leukemia.
The benzene was discovered in the carbomer in the genric version of Mucinex.
Generic version of Mucinex sold by CVS, Walmart, Walgreens and Target contains cancer-causing chemical: report https://t.co/AuJdiNzjtm pic.twitter.com/wNbU6IAVB3
— New York Post (@nypost) August 12, 2024
Store-brand Mucinex sold at CVS, Walgreens, Target and Walmart contains an ingredient made with Benzene, a cancer causing chemical. https://t.co/5dYEC7vSei
— Bloomberg (@business) August 12, 2024
Check out what The New York Post reported:
The generic version of the popular cold and allergy medicine Mucinex which is sold as an in-store brand at CVS, Walmart, Target and Walgreens contains the cancer-causing chemical benzene, according to a report.
ADVERTISEMENTBenzene, a colorless, flammable liquid that has been used to make plastics, synthetic fibers, household cleaners, gasoline and rubber, has been linked to diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma.
The brand-name version of Mucinex, which is sold by British pharmaceutical giant Reckitt Benckiser Group, uses a white powder called carbomer, which creates the extended-release effect that helps ease symptoms over a 12-hour period, as an inactive ingredient that does not contain benzene.
But an analysis by Bloomberg News found that the carbomer used to make the generic versions sold by the large retail pharmacies in the US does indeed contain benzene.
Generic version of Mucinex sold by CVS, Walmart, Walgreens and Target contains cancer-causing chemical.
The generic version of the popular cold and allergy medicine Mucinex which is sold as an in-store brand at CVS, Walmart, Target and Walgreens contains the cancer-causing… pic.twitter.com/Dg9ZNpNqCL
— OutsideTheMatrix aka QRASH (@PaTrumpGirl) August 12, 2024
Per Fortune:
While it may seem like the only difference between extended-release Mucinex and its generic store-brand counterpart is the price tag, the latter potentially exposes users to a deadly cancer-causing chemical.
Millions of Americans who buy the store-brand option at various major US chains are unknowingly choosing a drug that risks containing a potent carcinogen called benzene, according to a Bloomberg analysis of government data. Benzene can cause blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Just looking at the boxes, consumers wouldn’t easily be able to spot the difference between the two medicines. They both contain the same active ingredient, guaifenesin. And while the inactive ingredients differ, benzene isn’t listed among them. It instead lurks in an inactive ingredient, a white powder called a carbomer.
Both medicines use carbomers to create an extended-release phenomenon that helps relieve symptoms over a 12-hour period. But while the brand-name version, sold by the British drugmaker Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, uses a carbomer that isn’t made with benzene, the generic ones sold as store brands by CVS, Walmart, Target and Walgreens use a cheaper one made with the harmful chemical, Bloomberg found.
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