Major Ferrous Drops Recall: B. cepacia Contamination Risk
The Harvard Drug Group recalls Major Ferrous Drops due to possible B. cepacia contamination, which may cause serious infections in vulnerable patients.
Stop using this now
The distribution firms Leader Brand, Major Pharmaceuticals, and The Harvard Drug Group dba Rugby Laboratories are jointly initiating a voluntary recall of multiple supplements due to possible product contamination with B. cepacia, which may result in serious infections that could be life-threatening in patients with compromised immune systems and in patients with chronic lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis.
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What happened, in plain English
The Harvard Drug Group is voluntarily recalling Major Ferrous Drops (1 2/3 oz / 50 mL) because the product may be contaminated with B. cepacia bacteria. This contamination poses a risk of serious, potentially life-threatening infections for individuals with compromised immune systems or chronic lung conditions like cystic fibrosis. The recall covers all unexpired lots of this specific product size. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/20596-major-ferrous-drops-recall-b-cepacia-contamination-risk.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/20596-major-ferrous-drops-recall-b-cepacia-contamination-risk · Updated October 11, 2026 · FDA enforcement record: FDA #F-3526-2017
Cite this page
“Major Ferrous Drops Recall: B. cepacia Contamination Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated October 11, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/20596-major-ferrous-drops-recall-b-cepacia-contamination-risk. Based on FDA recall #F-3526-2017 (https://api.fda.gov/food/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22F-3526-2017%22&limit=1).
Why it’s dangerous
The product may contain B. cepacia, a bacterium that can cause severe infections. For healthy individuals, this might be less concerning, but for those with weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases like cystic fibrosis, these infections can be life-threatening.
Who’s affected
Consumers who purchased Major Ferrous Drops, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL), with UPC Number 3 09046 27350 9. Individuals with compromised immune systems or chronic lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis are at the highest risk for serious infection.
How to tell if you have this one
Check your bottle to see if it is Major Ferrous Drops in the 1 2/3 oz (50 mL) size. Verify the UPC Number is 3 09046 27350 9 and ensure the product is from an unexpired lot. The product was distributed nationwide to USA consumers.
- Brand
Major- Category
Food
All 17 products in this recall
FDA lists each product line separately under one recall event. Check your product description, lot or code numbers against each row. Every row shares the hazard and remedy on this page.
- Classification
Class II- Status
Terminated- Distribution
Domestic: Nationwide to USA Foreign: None VA/DOD: VA CMOP CHARLESTON 3725 RIVERS AVE N. CHARLESTON SC 29405-7038, Ph. 303-339-4305
| Recall number | Product, codes & lots | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| F-3515-2017 | Rugby Calcionate Syrup, One Pint (473 mL); UPC Number: 0 05362 77085 1, All Unexpired Lots | 5,771 units |
| F-3516-2017 | Rugby Cerovite Liquid, 8 oz. 236ML; Rugby Cerovite Liquid, 236ML, UPC Number: 00536-2790-59, All Unexpired Lots | 65,611 units |
| F-3517-2017 | Rugby D 3 Vitamin Liquid, 400 IUI/1 mL, 1 and 2/3 oz., 50 mL; Rugby D 3 Vitamin Liquid, 400 IUI/1 mL, UPC Number: 0 05368 40080 6, All Unexpired Lots | 105,628 units |
| F-3518-2017 | Rugby Fer-iron Liquid, 1 and 2/3 oz., 50 mL; Rugby Fer-iron Liquid, 1 and 2/3 oz., 50 mL, UPC Number: 00536-0710-80, All Unexpired Lots | 27,011 units |
| F-3519-2017 | Rugby Liquid Vitamin C Supplement, 4 oz., 118 mL; Rugby Liquid Vitamin C Supplement, 4 oz., 118 mL, UPC Number: 0 05360 16097 0, All Unexpired Lots | 30,782 units |
| F-3520-2017 | Rugby Ferrous Sulfate Liquid One Pint, (473 mL); Rugby Ferrous Sulfate Liquid,One Pint (473 mL), UPC Number:0 05360 65085 8, All Unexpired Lots | 34,280 units |
| F-3521-2017 | Rugby Polyvitamin Liquid, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL); Rugby Polyvitamin Liquid, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL), UPC Number:0 05368 45080 1, All Unexpired Lots | 113,829 units |
| F-3522-2017 | Rugby Polyvitamin Liquid with Iron, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL); Rugby Polyvitamin Liquid with Iron, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL), UPC Number: 0 05368 53080 0, All Unexpired Lots | 117,098 units |
| F-3523-2017 | Rugby Tri-vitamin Liquid, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL); Rugby Tri-vitamin Liquid, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL), UPC Number:0 05368 50180 0, All Unexpired Lots | 52,897 units |
| F-3524-2017 | Major CertaVite Liquid, 8 oz. (236 mL); Major CertaVite Liquid, 8 oz. (236 mL), UPC Number:3 09045 02309 9, All Unexpired Lots | 61,262 units |
| F-3525-2017 | Major D-Vita Drops, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL); Major D-Vita Drops,1 2/3 oz (50 mL), UPC Number:3 09046 27350 9, All Unexpired Lots | 27,447 units |
| F-3526-2017 | Major Ferrous Drops, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL); Major Ferrous Drops,1 2/3 oz (50 mL), UPC Number:3 09046 27350 9, All Unexpired Lots | 63,005 units |
| F-3527-2017 | Major Poly-Vita Drops, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL); Major Poly-Vita Drops,1 2/3 oz (50 mL), UPC Number:3 09045 09950 6, All Unexpired Lots | 27,735 units |
| F-3528-2017 | Major Poly-Vita Drops with Iron, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL); Major Poly-Vita Drops with Iron,1 2/3 oz (50 mL), UPC Number:3 09045 10050 9, All Unexpired Lots | 33,390 units |
| F-3529-2017 | Major Tri-Vita Drops, 1 2/3 oz (50 mL); Major Tri-Vita Drops,1 2/3 oz (50 mL), UPC Number: 3 09046 27450 6, All Unexpired Lots | 10,074 units |
| F-3530-2017 | Leader Liquid Multivitamin Supplement for Infants and Toddlers , 1 2/3 oz (50 mL); Leader Liquid Multivitamin Supplement for Infants and Toddlers 1 2/3 oz (50 mL), UPC Number: 096295128611, All Unexpired Lots | 3,840 units |
| F-3531-2017 | Leader Liquid Vitamin D Supplement for Breastfed Infants, 1 T oz (50 mL); Leader Liquid Vitamin D Supplement for Breastfed Infants, 1 T oz (50 mL), UPC Number: 0 96295 12862 8, All Unexpired Lots | 1,728 units |
What to do — step by step
Stop using the product
Discontinue use of Major Ferrous Drops immediately if you have the recalled 1 2/3 oz (50 mL) bottles with UPC Number 3 09046 27350 9.
Contact the manufacturer
Reach out to The Harvard Drug Group for further instructions on disposal or return, as specific remedy details are not provided in this record.
Where it went and when
Where it was distributed
Distributed nationwide.
FDA distribution: “Domestic: Nationwide to USA Foreign: None VA/DOD: VA CMOP CHARLESTON 3725 RIVERS AVE N. CHARLESTON SC 29405-7038, Ph. 303-339-4305” States read from FDA’s own wording; “not listed” means the notice does not name it.
Distributed nationwide.
Recall timeline
FDA terminated this recall 2.7 years after the firm started it.
- Firm started the recall
- FDA classified it Class II
- Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report
- FDA terminated the recall
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Questions people ask
How was the product distributed?
The product was distributed nationwide to consumers in the USA, as well as to VA CMOP Charleston in South Carolina.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official FDA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: FDA Recall #F-3526-2017 (August 2, 2017) — FDA publishes no per-recall page; this is the official machine-readable enforcement record. Search FDA recalls for F-3526-2017 to see it in context.
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3.6:35b-a3b on October 11, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the FDA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official FDA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.