Consumer reports of a musty odor, as well as nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea have prompted a recall of all product lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles, with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP. This is an expansion of a recall McNeil Consumer Healthcare issued in November.
According to McNeil, the uncharacteristic smell associated with recalled Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets is caused by the presence of trace amounts of a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole. The source of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole is believed to be the breakdown of a chemical used to treat wooden pallets that transport and store packaging materials. The health effects of this compound have not been well studied, but McNeil said that so far, to date all of the reported adverse reactions have been temporary and non-serious.
Only the Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplet 100’s with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP are affected by this action. All other Tylenol Arthritis Pain products remain commercially available.
Last month, five lots of the Tylenol Arthitis Pain Caplets were recalled. According to a notice posted on the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Web site, the original recall is being expanded as a precautionary measure.
McNeil Consumer Healthcare said it will reintroduce the Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count product by January, 2010 after moving production to a new facility
