New Delhi, July 24 -- A nationwide recall has been issued for four lots of cetirizine hydrochloride 5 mg tablets, a generic antihistamine commonly used to treat seasonal allergies, after a potential cross-contamination with ranitidine, a heartburn medication, was identified, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Unique Pharmaceutical Laboratories, a division of JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., announced the voluntary recall on 18 July. The FDA published the recall notice on 20 July, stating that the affected tablets were distributed across the US by Rising Pharma Holdings Inc. The medicines were sold in 100-tablet high-density polyethylene bottles under the Rising Pharma Holdings name.

The recall was initiated afte...