A Walmart Zantac recall has been issued to protect the public from lots of tainted medication, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The big box store is America’s largest retailer and thus a major supplier of the drug, which was found to be contaminated with a suspected carcinogen. Walmart is not the first major chain to halt sales of this popular, over-the-counter and prescription-based heartburn and reflux medication.

The New York Times reported last month that major drug stores have also pulled the drug from shelves after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about its potential chemical compromise caused by the key ingredient ranitidine. These stores include Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS.

The FDA warning indicated likely contamination of ranitidine by a chemical known as NDMA—an element also present in cooked and cured meats like bacon and salami. NDMA is a probable cancer-causing agent when ingested in amounts that exceed set guidelines.

While the amount of ranitidine revealed to be present in Zantac and its generic counterparts appeared to be no greater than what’s present in food sources, the Walmart Zantac recall and similar actions are gaining precautionary steam. In 2018, NDMA contamination was connected to valsartan, a prescription medication for the treatment of hypertension.  The hunt for the source of the compromise, in that case, led to manufacturing facilities in China and India.

Sanofi, the manufacturer of Zantac, expressed its intention to work closely with the FDA to resolve the issue, according to the Tribune. The problems affecting ranitidine are concerning to the company, which purportedly takes patient safety very seriously.

As supply chains for drug ingredients have spread to a global market, FDA inspectors have found their jobs increasingly challenging. It used to be that the majority of drug ingredients were manufactured in the U.S., but expenses have led many companies to move business operations elsewhere to protect their bottom line. Overseas labor and material costs have been the driving force, resulting in 80 percent of drug ingredients being sourced out of China and India.

A Balanced Look At FDA Concerns

While the Walmart Zantac recall is enormous and includes in-house generic versions sold under the names Members Mark or Equate, the FDA never suggested that prescription users should halt their intake regimen entirely. The drug oversight agency usually cautions against a cold turkey approach without first visiting with a medical provider.

This is because the issue for which the medication was prescribed may be more threatening to an individual’s health than the small amount of whatever compromising agent found in the drug would be. While this would be unlikely in the case of acid reflux and heartburn, it was especially true of the NDMA contamination of high-blood pressure medications.

In the case of common stomach ailments, there are a wealth of alternatives. Once a consultation has led to a change, Walmart customers can return unopened packages for a refund. This includes generic varieties.