Johnson & Johnson Recalling Children's Tylenol, Motrin, and Other Meds

On Friday evening the Food and Drug Administration recalled all unexpired lots of children’s liquid Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl, a total of more than 43 products total. While parents rely on these medications to ease their children’s aches and pains, the FDA is concerned that some of the products may contain a higher concentration of an active ingredient than is specified on the packaging, and others may contain inactive ingredients that did not meet internal testing requirements.

While the company maintains that the chances of injury to children or infants are “remote”, the product issues were discovered after an April 19 FDA inspection of a McNeil plant in Fort Washington, PA uncovered “manufacturing deficiencies” including “small metallic particles” in some of the children’s products. Currently, no injuries or deaths have been reported, but parents are urged to contact a health professional immediately if children exhibit unusual symptoms.

Additionally, the FDA warns parents not to give children the adult formulation of the medications. Instead, alternative brands of the medications, including generic medications, are available. Concerned parents can contact their pediatricians for questions about alternative treatments. Recalled products may be returned for a refund or exchanged for a fresh product once the manufacturing issues have been resolved. Please visit the McNeil website for a complete list of the recalled products.

This is the second recall in recent months for Johnson and Johnson, the parent company of McNeil. Last November, the company pulled Tylenol Arthritis medications due to their moldy odor, which caused some consumers to become ill. Over the weekend, parents aired their concerns about Johnson and Johnson via Twitter, Facebook, and parenting blogs and the New York Times commented that generic drugs are looking more attractive as large companies like Johnson and Johnson tarnish their brand name with low-quality medications.