Frequently Asked Questions

Ricola is unable to sell directly to consumers, but our products are available nationwide at most Food, Drug and Mass Retailers. Due to the COVID-19 crisis and overwhelming demand, our retail customers may be experiencing increased sales and a shortage of product at this time.

All Ricola products sold in the United States are kosher, except our sticks (10 pack) (Ricola Kosher Certificate)

Currently, U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations do not allow us to say our products are gluten-free. Although some of our products may contain ingredients derived from wheat, such as our center filled Dual Action drops, these ingredients are highly purified. Our products contain less than 20 parts-per-million gluten. We urge you to share this information with your doctor prior to use if you still have concerns.

Ricola original herb cough drops are made today exactly as they were made more than 80 years ago, when they were first invented. The drop’s unmistakable cube shape and its balanced flavor remain a constant and popular signature to this day. Newer Ricola varieties are produced using a different process, giving them an oval shape. At this stage, there are no plans to change the shape of the original herb cough drop.

Center-filled and sugar-free products are more costly to manufacture than the sugar based products so to keep pricing within a reasonable cost range, these items have less drops.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your health professional before using our products.

Yes, most Drug, Food and Mass Retailers sell Ricola products on line so you can visit your favorite on line store.

The name Ricola is derived from the name of the owner family, Richterich, and the name of the town in Switzerland where Ricola products were invented and are still produced today -  Laufen. So take the first two letters of RIchterich COmpany LAufen - and you have RICOLA!

This is a question we are asked all the time.  It just so happens there is no one ‘right’ way. Should you feel particularly harmonious and want to scream our name from the mountaintops, may we suggest "Riiii-colaaa" (listen).

We have never tested our products on animals and our products are not intended for animal consumption. If you have a pet that has ingested our cough drops, please contact your veterinarian. Ricola products do not contain Xylitol, a sweetener commonly associated with health problems for pets.

Ricola realizes aspartame has been getting bad press and we are researching natural sweeteners to replace it without compromising the quality and  great taste of our Sugar Free Cough Drops. This process takes time; therefore we appreciate your patience as we work to find a suitable substitution.

The caramel color in some of our products is manufactured from sucrose (beet sugar), under very specific conditions. We can confirm that the caramel color does not contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI). Only the colors Ammonia Caramel (E 150c) and Sulphite Ammonia Caramel (E 150d) contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) and we do not use these two colors in our Ricola products.

Ricola does use starch syrup in the manufacture of its hard boiled and center-filled drops with sugar (it is not used in sugar-free Ricola products). For hard-boiled drops we use the starch from sweet corn (Zea mays L.). For center-filled drops we use the starch from sweet corn (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. (T. vuilgare Vil.)).

Ricola uses starch syrup in our sugar based drops, which is made from sweet corn (Zea mays L.) If you are allergic to corn we recommend you consult with your health professional before using our products.

All Ricola products are lactose and soy free.

Each Ricola flavor has a different menthol level. This is why some drops are good for coughs, some are more effective for sore throats, and others work well on both. To view the menthol amounts for each drop, visit our Products webpage.

If you don’t see a regular expiration date on your package of  Ricola, then please dispose of the product. Ricola Cough Drops have a two-year shelf life if stored in a cool, dry place.

Please visit the “Products” page of this website and then go to the flavor you are interested in and you will find this information on that page.

Listed below are the items that Ricola has discontinued due to low consumer demand.

a. Sugar Free Menthol Fresh
b. Tea
c. Cough Syrup
d. Nature’s Protection
e. Refreshers
f. Breath Mints (Pearls) 
g. Lemon Zest Revitalizing Drops
h. Herbal Immunity Gummies
i. Herbal Immunity Lozenges

Ricola does not use any animal derived ingredients in our products. However, our flavor range includes products that contain honey, which may or may not be considered vegan depending on one’s definition. These substances are always listed in the ingredients on the back of our bags, as well as on our Products webpage. While our suppliers guarantee that their finished products do not contain any residues of animal derived ingredients, they cannot guarantee that their process is completely free of animal derived processing aids, i.e. lubricants. 

Ricola is not classified as organic, but we use high quality ingredients in our products. For a complete list of all the ingredients and nutritional information for our drops, please visit our Products webpage. 

Ricola Cough Drops contain no tree nuts or peanuts. However, regarding coconut, one of the lubricants used on the production equipment of our supplier may contain small amounts of coconut. Since our drops do come in contact with this machinery, the amount of coconut present on a drop would be extremely small, if present at all.

Ricola products are manufactured in accordance with European regulations regarding GMO and comply with these requirements (European Regulation 1829/2003 and 1830/200). Based on those requirements we are considered GMO free. Thus far in the United States, any state level regulations enacted do not pertain to drug or supplement products. There are no National GMO regulations in the United States regarding non-GMO product manufacture or labelling, at this time.

On occasion an empty pouch(s) may get in the bag during manufacturing making it appear that your bag is short a drop or two, but because we also monitor the weight of the packaging, we know the number of drops in the bag will be equal to or higher than the number indicated on the bag. 

Ricola herb drops are sensitive to moisture. If they are incorrectly stored, or once  the pack is opened moisture gets in, it can cause the drops to crystallize on the surface. This is indicated by a milky or dull color. Heavy crystallization changes the surface significantly and may cause cracks to appear. This is accompanied by an almost complete loss of flavor. Ricola herb drops that appear milky or dull can still be enjoyed until the "best-before" date. We recommend storing Ricola products in a cool, dry place (not in the refrigerator) and consuming the herb drops soon after the pack is opened.