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Johnson & Johnson, the company that manufacturers Tylenol, issued a voluntary recall of several batches of Tylenol, Motrin and Rolaids products in light of reports that the pills were giving off “an unusual moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor,” and had been linked to bouts of diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain in a small number of cases. In a press release, the manufacturer attributed the funky smell to the presence of “trace amounts of a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole,” which can be a derivative of chemicals used in the construction of wood pallets that transport packaging materials for Tylenol and other products.
This latest recall comes not even a month after Tylenol Arthritis Pain caplets were taken from shelves after similar reports from consumers about a mildewy smell—and subsequent problems with vomiting, diarrhea and nausea. Yet the problem with musty medication isn’t limited to the past month for Johnson & Johnson—according to Dow Jones Newswires, consumers began complaining about mildewy pills back in 2008. Yet, even in light of more than 70 consumer complaints, the manufacturer failed to test for contamination, according to a report from the Food and Drug Administration issued earlier this week.
In addition to Regular Strength Tylenol caplets and tablets, several other Tylenol products have been included on the recall, in addition to Benadryl, Motrin, and Rolaids. A complete list of all of the products and specific lot numbers being recalled can be found here.