FAQ

The herbs used in Ricola products are cultivated using natural methods and align with high standards for sustainability. While not all of our farmers are certified organic, many follow practices that meet stringent guidelines like those of Bio Suisse. Ricola remains committed to supporting sustainable and responsible farming methods wherever possible.

Information for vegetarians:

Ricola herbal specialties are suitable for vegetarians. All ingredients are listed on the product packaging.

Information for vegans:

The Ricola range includes many boiled drops and teas that can be consumed by vegans. However, some drops contain honey, and are therefore not suitable for vegans. All ingredients are listed on the product packaging.

All our products are based on the well established and tested Ricola 10 herbs blend, and do contain essential oils as natural flavourings. We recommend that you discuss this topic with your homeopathist or your pharmacist. For detailed ingredient information, please visit our product list page.

Ricola herb drops may sometimes change colour or develop a white layer after the pack is opened due to exposure to air or high humidity, which can cause the natural sugars or isomalt to crystallize. This is completely normal and harmless. As long as the drops are within their expiration date and stored properly, they are safe to eat.

As Ricola is primarily a production facility, we adhere to strict hygiene regulations in accordance with Swissmedic. We therefore do not provide tours to the public.
However, you can visit our experience shop in Laufen and our various herb gardens across Switzerland. A list of our herb gardens can be found here.

Do not use Ricola products if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. For your own safety, we recommend that you consult your doctor in advance to rule out any allergies or intolerances to certain ingredients in our products.

The cube-shaped Ricola Original Herb herbal drops are our traditional product. Their shape and recipe have hardly changed since 1940. The cube shape is characteristic of this product and is very popular with many consumers who like its straight edges. However, we understand that some consumers prefer an oval-shaped herbal drop. That's why the sugar-free version of our original product and many other products are available in an oval shape.

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!

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 that has been linked to health problems in pets.

Please visit the Products page on our website, then select the flavour you are interested in and you will find product information on that page.

All Ricola products are gluten-free and meet Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulations, making them suitable for people with gluten intolerance. While they do not contain gluten, we recommend consulting your doctor if you have severe gluten sensitivity or specific health concerns.

All Ricola products are considered lactose-free according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). This means they are suitable for people with lactose intolerance. If you have specific dietary concerns, we recommend consulting your healthcare provider.

All Ricola products manufactured in Laufen are certified Kosher by the Chief Rabbi of the Orthodox Jewish Community of Geneva, which generally includes all products sold in North America.
Our products are also Halal in nature, as they do not contain any banned ingredients for Muslims, such as pork or alcohol-derived components. The manufacturing process complies with Halal regulations; however, not all products are officially Halal-certified.
For specific dietary concerns, we recommend reviewing the product ingredients or contacting us for more information.

Ricola products may contain traces of alcohol (ethanol) due to their ingredients. This is similar to fruits and other foods containing sugar or starch, which may produce small amounts of alcohol when consumed and digested.
The alcohol content in Ricola products is less than 0.5% and therefore the products are considered alcohol-free.

Ricola uses aspartame in some of its sugar-free products to provide a sweet taste without adding calories or sugar. Most of our sugar-free products are sweetened with aspartame. This allows us to offer options for people managing their sugar intake or following specific dietary preferences. For more details on our assortment, including sugar-free varieties, product list page.

In all markets where Ricola products are marketed, Ricola products comply with all requirements regarding GMOs, if such requirements exist in the respective country. Based on these requirements Ricola products are considered GMO-free.

The term “polyols”, which we use in the nutrition values table in compliance with the declaration requirements for food products, refers to the sugar substitutes.

In our sugar-free products, we use isomalt as a sugar substitute. Isomalt (or sorbitol and sorbitol syrup) belongs to a group of substances known as "polyols/polyalcohols " (sugar alcohols), and we are required by law to label them as "polyalcohols". Polyalcohols have no "alcohol-like" effects. Because isomalt has mild sweetening properties, it must be declared as a sweetener. However, most of the sweet taste in the drops comes from the sweeteners (aspartame / sucralose / acesulfame-K) or the steviol glycosides from the stevia plant. Isomalt isn't actually that sweet, and must be used in combination with another sweetener to give the product the sweet taste that consumers enjoy. 

Each Ricola flavour has a different menthol level. This refers to a different taste experience due to different menthol levels. For more details on our product range, including sugar-free varieties, product list page.

Ricola products do not contain nuts as ingredients, and our facility in Laufen exclusively manufactures Ricola products, reducing the risk of cross-contamination with nuts or other allergens.
However, if you have a severe nut allergy, we recommend reviewing the ingredient list on the packaging and consulting your healthcare provider for added reassurance.
The ingredient listed as “bitter almond” in Ricola Cherry is made from ingredients which imitate the almond taste. It is not made with any nuts.

Ricola is not classified as organic. The herbs used in Ricola products are cultivated using natural methods and align with high standards for sustainability. While not all of our farmers are certified organic, many follow practices that meet strict guidelines like those of Bio Suisse. Ricola remains committed to supporting sustainable and responsible farming methods wherever possible.

Ricola drops are primarily sweetened with sugar, but we also offer a variety of sugar-free options. Most of our sugar-free products are sweetened with aspartame. For more details on our assortment, including sugar-free varieties, please visit our product list page.

Caramel colour is used in some of our products, which is heated / burnt beet sugar. The products that contain caramel colour are: Original Herb and Sugar Free Original Herb.
 
There are 4 classes of caramel colouring in food manufacturing, listed below. Our caramel is considered Class I: Plain Caramel. It is derived naturally and please be assured it is safe to consume.

We do not use the colours Ammonia Caramel (E 150c) and Sulphite Ammonia Caramel (E 150d) contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI).

Classes of caramel colouring for your reference: 
Class I: Plain caramel, caustic caramel; INS No. 150a
Class II: Caustic sulfite caramel; INS No. 150b
Class III: Ammonia caramel; INS No. 150c
Class IV: Sulfite ammonia caramel , INS No. 150d

Our products are only available through our retailers and since 2023 also in our shop in Laufen, Switzerland.