The US Food and Drug Administration has asked for the immediate removal from the market of ranitidine medicines, some of which are sold under the trade name Zantac, owing to the presence of an impurity which may cause cancer. The FDA decision was announced on 1 April and follows an investigation that started in September 2019. The impurity is called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) which is a known environmental contaminant found in water and foods. At low levels it is not considered dangerous.
