A Christchurch mother says her family spent weeks trying to work out why her young son was breaking out in severe hives before discovering his children’s vitamin gummies had been recalled.

Charlotte Waugh told chrislynchmedia.com her almost four year old son Murphy first developed large hives across his body several weeks ago.

“They would stick around for maybe half an hour or an hour, and then it just continued to happen,” Waugh said.

“We had used The Good Vitamin Co gummies in the past and never had any issues, so it was never a thought in our mind that could be what was causing it.”

Waugh said Murphy was taken to a doctor and was put on antibiotics after it was thought he may have been reacting to something else.

“He was on a three day dose of antibiotics and he has been on antihistamines. He is only almost four, so it is not ideal that he has been on those.

“We also went to a naturopath because we just could not figure out what it was. We were food mapping to try and pinpoint it, but it has been weeks and weeks of this happening.”

Waugh said she only became aware of the recall after seeing another mother’s post on Facebook.

“I was scrolling on Facebook and saw another mum had posted that there had been a recall. It clicked in my mind that Murphy uses those, so I checked the bottle and sure enough it was the same batch number.”

Medsafe has published a safety alert recalling specific batches of The Good Vitamin Co Kids Good Multi gummies following reports of allergic reactions.

The affected batches are Kids Good Multi 90 soft chews, batch GV011015, and Kids Good Multi Value Pack 160 soft chews, batches GV011017V and GV011018V.

Medsafe said consumers and caregivers should stop using gummies from the affected batches immediately and return the product to the place of purchase for a replacement or refund.

Waugh said she was frustrated by what she believed was a lack of public awareness about the recall.

“All I had seen was a small post on Facebook and Instagram. There was nothing obvious when I searched the company, and nothing that came up clearly as a recall notice.

“It is a known brand. A lot of mums use it because it is made for kids.”

Waugh said comments on her own Facebook post suggested other parents had experienced similar issues.

“One mum said her son had such a bad reaction he had to go to hospital. A lot of the other mums who commented said their kids had the exact same reactions.”

She said Murphy’s asthma made the situation even more stressful.

“He relies on an inhaler, so it has been a real worry for us, even sending him to preschool, because we did not know what was causing it.

“Hives can lead to more serious allergic reactions and breathing problems, so it has been really stressful.”

The Good Vitamin Co managing director Owen Wang responded to Waugh by email, saying the company understood how upsetting and stressful the situation had been for her family.

Wang said the repeated episodes of hives, concern about possible breathing complications, medical appointments, disruption to normal family life, and worry about whether it could happen again were not things any parent took lightly.

He also addressed concerns about the wording used in the company’s social media recall notice.

“We understand why the phrase ‘sorry for the inconvenience caused’ felt inadequate and insensitive in light of what some families have experienced,” Wang said.

“While the wording was never intended to minimise anyone’s experience, we appreciate why it may have been received that way and we thank you for raising this with us.”

Wang said investigations into the affected product were ongoing.

“We are working with the relevant authorities and independent laboratories to better understand the reports received.

“Until that process is complete, we do not have confirmed information identifying a specific ingredient or factor as the cause of the reactions being reported, and we do not believe it would be appropriate to speculate before scientific assessment has been completed.”

Wang said the company recognised the uncertainty was frustrating for parents trying to understand what may have contributed to their child’s symptoms and what information may be relevant for future medical care.

He asked to retain the photographs and any additional information Waugh was willing to provide, saying the reports formed an important part of the investigation process.

Wang said the company would also welcome any remaining product, packaging, or batch details for review.

“Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention and for the trust you placed in our brand over many years. We understand that trust has been shaken, and we do not take that lightly.

“Most importantly, we hope Murphy is recovering well and that his symptoms have improved.”

Medsafe said only the listed batches were affected.

The Good Vitamin Co said in its recall notice that consumers should stop using affected batches immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or replacement.

The company said the action was taken due to reports of allergic adverse reactions and followed consultation with Medsafe.

Anyone who has experienced side effects after taking the gummies has been advised to seek medical advice if needed and report suspected adverse reactions to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring.

For further information, refunds or assistance, consumers can contact The Good Vitamin Co on 0800 486 669 or email [email protected].

The Good Vitamin Co has been approached for comment.