It’s one of the most common things in a medicine cabinet: a big bottle of extra-strength pain reliever bought in bulk online. If yours is Amazon’s Basic Care brand, it’s worth taking a look at the label today. Nearly 113,000 bottles have been recalled after customers reported tablets that didn’t look the way they should.
Key Takeaways
- Aurobindo Pharma USA has recalled 112,932 bottles of Basic Care Extra Strength Acetaminophen 500 mg tablets, sold through Amazon nationwide.
- The reason is discoloration. Customers complained of tablets that weren’t the normal white to off-white color.
- The FDA hasn’t yet assigned a risk level, and neither the company nor the FDA has said what caused the discoloration or whether it poses any health risk.
- Only specific lots are affected, in 200-, 500- and 1,000-count bottles. The lot numbers are listed below.
- If your bottle matches, stop using it and contact Amazon customer service for a refund or replacement.
What’s been recalled
Aurobindo Pharma USA, which makes the tablets in India, started the voluntary recall on September 18, 2026. The FDA posted it in its weekly enforcement report on October 2. The product is distributed by Amazon.com Services LLC under its Basic Care store brand.
Check the NDC number, lot number and expiration date printed on your bottle’s label. The recall covers only these lots:
200-count bottles (14,640 bottles)
- NDC 72288-692-20
- Lot ACD125040A, expires 09/30/2027
500-count bottles (90,456 bottles)
- NDC 72288-692-50
- Lot ACD124036A, expires 09/30/2027
- Lot ACD124030A, expires 09/30/2027
- Lot ACD124042A, expires 10/31/2027
- Lot ACD124048B, expires 11/30/2027
- Lot ACD125010A, expires 02/29/2028
1,000-count bottles (7,836 bottles)
- NDC 72288-692-01
- Lot ACD124048A, expires 11/30/2027
Bottles with other lot numbers are not part of the recall.
Is it dangerous?
So far, there’s no indication the discolored tablets have harmed anyone. The FDA lists the recall as “not yet classified,” which means it hasn’t decided how serious the risk is. Neither the company nor the FDA has released test results or explained what caused the color change.
Acetaminophen can slowly break down when exposed to moisture, and drugmakers are required to keep breakdown products within strict limits. A color change doesn’t automatically mean a medicine is harmful, but it can be a sign that something went wrong during manufacturing or storage, which is why the affected lots are being pulled.
This isn’t the first time. In May 2025, Aurobindo recalled more than 4,000 bottles of Amazon-distributed acetaminophen after customers reported a brownish surface on some tablets. The FDA later classified that recall as Class II, meaning use could cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, but serious harm is unlikely.
What to do
- Check your bottle. Compare the NDC, lot number and expiration date with the list above.
- Stop using recalled tablets, even if they look normal.
- Contact Amazon customer service about a refund or re