Children's Over the Counter Medicine Recall

As parents, we have no choice but to trust well known children’s products and medications that are found in every local store and pharmacy. We can’t see what happens behind the closed doors of the manufacturing facilities, leaving us at the government’s mercy regarding product and pharmaceutical safety.

That is why the recent Johnson and Johnson/McNeil Consumer Healthcare recall is such a frightening thing to the typical mother and father.  When your baby is hurting or sick, the first line of defense is often a bottle of infant Tylenol.  As a matter of fact, this product is generally handed to parents in the pediatrician’s office immediately following immunizations.

So how can such a big and trusted company become the target of a widespread product recall?  And how did the manufacturing of these products reach the point to where they are considered unsafe?  That is what the United States government plans to find out through a newly launched investigation in to the recent Johnson and Johnson product recalls.

On April 30, 2010, a voluntary recall was reported by McNeil Consumer Healthcare of several over the counter infant’s and children’s liquid medications, including Tylenol Infants’ Drops, Children’s Zyrtec and Children’s Benadryl.  The full list of recalled products can be found on the McNeil website.  The reason?  Improper manufacturing practices led to medications containing higher levels of active ingredients and/or bacterial contamination.  Also under scrutiny are the Food and Drug Administration’s inspection procedures.

The FDA has stated in a report that McNeil Consumer Healthcare “failed to investigate consumer complaints.”  A hearing will be held within the next few weeks to investigate both the manufacturing, inspection and testing of these over the counter products.

Fortunately, Deborah Autor, director of the FDA Drug Compliance Office said, “We think the risk to consumers at this point is remote.”

Both parents and health care professionals alike will surely be waiting for results from the government’s hearings. It is unfortunate that parents must continue to worry about children’s products and medications, despite the government’s strict guidelines on product safety.