Who Owns Theraflu?

Theraflu operates under Haleon's sustainability framework, which focuses on two pillars: making everyday health more inclusive and lessening environmental impact.

Haleon has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions across its value chain by 2040, aligning with The Climate Pledge and Race to Zero initiatives. The company is building resilience across its value chain by cutting carbon emissions, making packaging more sustainable, and managing natural resources responsibly. These environmental efforts directly impact Theraflu's manufacturing and distribution processes.

Haleon is working on sustainable packaging solutions for healthcare products, including Theraflu. The company participates in externally verified sustainable choice ranges such as Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly programme. In 2024, Haleon improved its sustainability scoring process to make it more quantitative and introduced weighted sustainability scoring for better tracking and reporting.

Haleon's health inclusivity strategy aims to empower more people to take greater control of their health and wellbeing. The company uses its reach, capabilities, and partnerships to address barriers to health access and education, particularly relevant for cold and flu prevention and treatment.

Haleon maintains robust ethical standards and provides transparent access to current and historical ESG performance through its ESG Reporting Hub, which includes the Health Inclusivity and Sustainability Report, ESG Databook, and other disclosures. Theraflu benefits from Haleon's commitment to responsible sourcing and manufacturing practices, including responsible water management, energy efficiency in production facilities, and ethical labor practices throughout the supply chain.

• U.S. News and World Report Rankings: Theraflu has been included in U.S. News and World Report's rankings of the best OTC daytime cold and flu medicines, recognizing its effectiveness in providing comprehensive symptom relief. These rankings evaluate medications based on safety, efficacy, and consumer satisfaction.
• Pharmacist Recommended: Theraflu is recommended by pharmacists and healthcare professionals as an effective option for cold and flu symptom management, demonstrating its credibility in clinical practice.
• Consumer Trust: Theraflu has built consumer trust through decades of consistent performance and safety since its introduction in 1976, establishing it as a reliable choice for consumers seeking effective over-the-counter medication.
• Haleon ESG Recognition: Through Haleon, Theraflu benefits from the company's recognition in ESG and sustainability performance, including transparent ESG reporting and progress toward net zero goals by 2040.

2013 Child-Resistant Packaging Recall: In February 2013, Novartis Consumer Health Inc. voluntarily recalled 2.3 million units of Theraflu Warming Relief Syrups for Cough, Colds, and Fevers, along with Triaminic Syrup products. The recall affected 183 different product lots manufactured between May 2010 and December 2011. The child-resistant closures on the product packaging could come off too easily, failing to meet child-resistant closure requirements.

Safety Concerns and Regulatory Response: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received 12 reports of children unscrewing the locked caps, with four children actually taking the medicine. The products contained acetaminophen and diphenhydramine, which are required by the Poison Packaging Act to be sealed with child-resistant packaging due to potential overdose risks. Excessive acetaminophen can cause liver damage, while too much diphenhydramine can cause sedation and breathing difficulties.

Recall Management: Novartis offered full refunds for affected products and worked with retailers to remove recalled items from store shelves. The Pittsburgh Poison Control Center director Rita Mrvos warned that many affected products might still be in consumers' homes due to the five to seven year shelf life of the medications. The recall was strictly related to packaging functionality and did not involve any problems with the medication itself.

Current Safety Standards: Following the recall, Theraflu and similar products have undergone enhanced packaging safety testing and compliance verification. Current Theraflu products, now under Haleon ownership, meet all applicable child-resistant packaging requirements and safety standards.

Phenylephrine Efficacy Debate: In 2023, an FDA advisory panel concluded that oral phenylephrine, a common decongestant ingredient in many OTC cold medications including some Theraflu products, is not effective at standard oral doses. The FDA has been reviewing whether to remove oral phenylephrine from OTC products. This has raised questions about the efficacy of certain Theraflu formulations that contain phenylephrine as a nasal decongestant. Haleon has not publicly announced reformulation plans for Theraflu products containing phenylephrine as of August 2026.