Seasonique and Seasonale Birth Control Pills Recalled Due to Missing Blister Cards

Source: Health Canada · Canada

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Teva Canada Ltd. is recalling specific lots of Seasonique and Seasonale birth control pills after a report of a missing blister card, which poses a risk of unwanted pregnancy.

What this Health Canada recall tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by Health Canada on February 16, 2026 and geographically references Canada. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Product & Food Recalls — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly Health Canada detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized Health Canada recall is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (recall, product-safety, Health Canada, Birth Control) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

What Happened

Teva Canada Ltd. is recalling two lots of Seasonique and one lot of Seasonale prescription birth control pills as a precautionary measure. The recall was initiated after the company received a complaint that a Seasonique package was missing an entire blister card of pills. Missing these medications can increase the risk of unwanted pregnancy and cause other side effects such as spotting and irregular bleeding.

Which Products Are Affected

The recall affects the following products and lot numbers:

  • Seasonique (0.15 mg levonorgestrel, 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol, and 0.01 mg ethinyl estradiol tablets)
    • DIN: 02346176
    • Lots: 100073408, 100077864
    • Expiry: 07/2027
  • Seasonale (0.15 mg levonorgestrel and 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol tablets)
    • DIN: 02296659
    • Lot: 100076607
    • Expiry: 01/2027

Seasonique packages should contain three blister cards: two cards with 28 light blue-green pills each, and one card with 28 light blue-green pills plus 7 yellow pills. Seasonale packages should contain three blister cards: two cards with 28 pink pills each, and one card with 28 pink pills plus 7 white placebo pills.

What You Should Do

Consumers are advised not to skip any doses or stop taking their medication. If your package is missing a blister card or any pills, return it to your pharmacy immediately for a replacement or an alternative product to avoid missing doses.

If you cannot get to a pharmacy right away, continue taking the next pill in the proper order as noted on the packaging until you can obtain a replacement. If you are missing any active pills (light blue-green for Seasonique or pink for Seasonale), or if you are unsure if pills are missing, you should use a non-hormonal backup method of contraception, such as condoms, and consult a healthcare professional.

For questions regarding this recall, contact Teva Canada Ltd. at 1-800-268-4129 (Option 3) or via email at customer.service@tevacanada.com. Side effects or complaints should be reported to Health Canada.

Why This Matters

Taking birth control pills in the proper order and without interruption is essential for preventing pregnancy. A missing blister card represents a significant gap in the 13-week supply, which could lead to contraceptive failure and other hormonal side effects.

Source

Health Canada

Original source: Health Canada Official Notice ↗

All Product & Food Recalls →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this Health Canada recall.

What is this Health Canada recall about?
Teva Canada Ltd. is recalling specific lots of Seasonique and Seasonale birth control pills after a report of a missing blister card, which poses a risk of unwanted pregnancy.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by Health Canada. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Canada. Check with Health Canada for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Product & Food Recalls updates?
Browse the full Product & Food Recalls feed on Areazine at areazine.com/ca/recalls/ for the latest updates from Health Canada and other agencies.