Johnson & Johnson Recall Lots of Infant’s and Children’s Tylenol

Johnson & Johnson are recalling select lots of its children’s and infant’s Tylenol due to a possibility of contamination by bacteria. The affected lots are said to have been manufactured around April and June of 2008. There are 21 different versions of the pain and fever medication and 57 different lot numbers. Some of the varieties include Infant’s Tylenol Grape Suspension Drops, Children’s Tylenol Grape Suspension and Children’s Tylenol Plus Cold and Allergy in Bubble Gum flavor.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a part of the Johnson & Johnson Company, sent a letter on September 18 initiating the recall on a voluntary basis as a means of precaution. It was found that one of the inactive ingredients in the children’s Tylenol products did not meet the required internal tests and the bacteria called B. cepacia was found in a part of the raw materials that were not used in the final product.

There have been no reports of any illnesses or side effects as a result of either the infant’s or the children’s Tylenol, but as a precaution the company wants all products that were manufactured at the same time be recalled just in case. The FDA is working with Johnson & Johnson as they implement this recall.

Luckily, exposure to B. cepacia has little effect on healthy people but it can be very serious for those with compromised immune systems or chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

Here is a list of the recalled Tylenol products:

• Children’s Tylenol Suspension 4.oz in the following flavors: Grape, Strawberry and Bubble Gum
• Children’s Tylenol Plus Cold MS Suspension 4 oz. Grape
• Infant’s Tylenol Suspension ½ oz Cherry
• Infant’s Tylenol Suspension Drops ½ oz. Grape
• Infant’s Tylenol Grape Suspension Drops ¼ oz. and 1 oz.
• Children’s Tylenol Dye Free Suspension 4 oz. Cherry
• Children’s Tylenol Suspension 4 oz. Cherry
• Children’s Tylenol Plus Cough & Runny Nose 4 oz. Cherry
• Children’s Tylenol Plus Flu 4 oz Bubble Gum
• Children’s Tylenol Plus Cold Suspension 4 oz. Grape
• Children’s Tylenol Plus Cough/ST Suspension 4 oz. Cherry
• Infant’s Tylenol Dye Free Suspension 1 oz. Cherry
• Children’s Tylenol Pediatric Suspension 1 oz Cherry
• Infant’s Tylenol Suspension Drops 1 oz Cherry
• Children’s Tylenol Plus Cold/Allergy 4 oz. Bubble Gum
• Infant’s Tylenol Grape Suspension Drops H/G ½ oz
• Infant’s Tylenol Drops 1 oz Grape
• Children’s Tylenol Suspension 4 oz. Cherry, Hospital Govt.

If you have any of these products you should go to the Johnson & Johnson website and check the full list of lot numbers. You can locate the lot number on the bottom of the box for liquid products as well as on the sticker that is on the bottle.

If you are a parent or a caregiver and you have questions about this product you can contact the company’s consumer call center Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm EST at 1-800-962-5357.