Tylenol Recall: 9.3 Million Bottles

Johnson & Johnson (Stock Quote: JNJ) has recalled nearly 9.3 million bottles of three types of Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom liquid products in order to update the labeling, the company said Wednesday.

According to Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Consumer health care unit, the over-the-counter medications do not have alcohol listed as an ingredient on their front label.

"The presence of alcohol from flavoring agents was noted as an inactive ingredient listed on the package, but not on the front panel of the product," the company said in a press release announcing the recall. Certain flavoring agents, it said, contribute less than 1% of alcohol to the products.  

The specific products affected by the recall, sold only in the U.S., include: Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Daytime 8-ounce Citrus Burst with NDC code number 50580-257-08; Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Severe 8-ounce Cool Burst Liquid with NDC code number 50580-351-08 and Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime 8-ounce Cool Burst Liquid with NDC code number 50580-269-08.The recall is considered a wholesale and retail level recall, as adverse side effects have not been reported. That means people can continue to the use the products, but should be aware of the labels' omission.

Those with questions or concerns should call McNeil's Consumer Care Center at 1-888-222-6036 (available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time.)

The recall comes just a few days after Johnson & Johnson recalled about 4 million packages of Children's Benadryl allergy tablets and some 800,000 bottles of Junior Strength Motrin due to manufacturing problems. It also pulled Tylenol caplets in late October after consumers reported getting sick from moldy medicine.

The trio are just the latest in a laundry list of recalls that has plagued the company since more than 135 million bottles of Johnson & Johnson's over-the-counter children's medicines were recalled in April. The medications were recalled after the Food and Drug Administration found the company’s Fort Washington, Pa.facility was contaminated with bacteria.

Both the Tylenol Cold and Children's Benadryl recalls were caused in part by that initial recall, which ultimately shut down the facility and has forced Johnson & Johnson to review the labeling on all of its products.