How to spot which branded and own label medicines are actually the same product

Edited by Daniel Jones

Published: 3:18, 17 Nov 2019
Updated: 8:13, 17 Nov 2019

SNEAKY pricing means folk battling colds and flu face paying up to three times as much for IDENTICAL medicines if they pick carelessly.

And today Mr Money shows you how to make sure you don’t overpay if you or your loved ones are bunged up — by using one simple trick.

Stop paying three times more for cold and flu medicines with simple trick to tell which are absolutely identicalCredit: Alamy

Branded and own-labels versions might look different, with varying names and claims, but often they are the very same tablet, capsule or powder.

You can find out which are the same — if you have good eyes and read the small print.

Medicines with identical make-up all have the same PL — or product licensing number, which is a tiny code printed on the packaging of all medicines.

Shoppers can find these and compare them. This isn’t just a case of the medicines having the same active ingredient but being made in a slightly different way or having a slightly different amount. These are identical, and we know that because of the PL code.

For example, Benylin’s Cold and Flu max-strength capsules are £3.09 at Lloyd’s and an identical product is £1 at Wilko.

TRIPLE THE PRICE

At Sainsbury’s Sudafed 16 congestion and heartburn relief capsules cost £3.60. The same product by chemist Numark is £1.25, and at Wilko £1.

But it is not just big brands where the prices are higher.

Boots’ own-brand Ultra Cold and Flu Relief All in One ten sachets cost £3.99, which is 45 per cent more than Morrisons’ Cold and Flu Relief All in One Powder for Oral Solution ten sachets, which costs £2.75 and again has the same PL number.

Megan French, from — who have highlighted this issue too — said: “Families need to be aware they could be paying triple the price for identical medication. Over the year this could really add up.