OTC Package Labeling Obscured by Price and Antitheft Tags

Consumers need adequate information on product description, warnings, proper dosing, and limitations for use before purchasing and using OTC products. Therefore, before an OTC product label is approved, the FDA requires evidence that ensures the public can understand and easily read the label. After this care is taken to ensure quality package labeling by manufacturers and the FDA, one problem remains: the inadvertent obstruction of the label by price and antitheft tags.

Investigators at the University of Houston's College of Pharmacy performed a field study that evaluated OTC packages containing acetaminophen alone and in combination with other drugs. After an initial survey confirmed the presence of external tags, five packages for four products were selected from each of 24 stores. A data collection sheet was used to collect the type and amount of information obscured by the tags. Descriptive analyses provided results that determined crucial information was being obscured. The authors found that warnings were the most frequently obscured (51.5%) followed by brand name (42.3%), product description (36.3%), uses (10.4%) and purpose (7.2%). The authors urge altering practices that obscure full access to drug information on the product. For more information refer to: Ann Pharmacother 2005 Feb; 39(2):249-54. Return to Top