McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the manufacturer of Children's and Infants' Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl and Zyrtec have voluntarily recalled several dozen over-the-counter products which parents worldwide have purchased for their children for pain relief and allergies. The recall is in effect in at least 13 countries, including the United States, Canada, Guam and Puerto Rico.
They've initiated the recall because "these products may not meet required quality standards." According to their press release, it's only cautionary, and no adverse events have occurred (meaning - no babies or children sicker or hurt.) These products may contain a higher concentration of the active ingredients than they are supposed to, and others "may contain tiny particles."
Seriously? Tiny particles of what?
The list of recalled products includes drops, suspensions and liquids (including one cold medicine which, confusing to me, I thought they were no longer allowed to sell anyway?)
Questions for McNeil:
What's the difference between this recall and the one you issued in September 2009? Or the moldy smelling Tylenol products that were recalled in late 2009?
Why did you wait until millions of these products were delivered to stores - and sold to unsuspecting parents for their children - before you decided to check their quality? It makes me wonder about other products you manufacture. When do you check their quality?
Just where is this manufacturing taking place? Are these products being manufactured in the United States? Or somewhere, like China, where we hear about other food and drug manufacturing problems?
Steps for parents and grandparents who probably purchased have some of this medicine for your little ones:
Check the list of recalled products against those you have in your home.
If you do have one or more: Email McNeil or phone them at 1-888-222-6036-- they will send you a refund or a coupon.
And one other caution: do NOT try to give your little ones smaller doses of adult medicines just because you can't use these. Instead, ask your pharmacist for his or her recommendation on the best substitute.
Finally -- if you believe your child has suffered a problem from any of these medicines -- or any medicines at all -- you should report the problem to the FDA, through its MEDWATCH program. When you report any problem you ever have with any drug, you may be preventing someone else from having a problem, too.
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Learn more about the recall from About.com's Guide to Pediatrics
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