The new year isn’t starting well for Johnson & Johnson. First, the OTC drug giant gets sued by the state of Oregon over allegations of a phantom Motrin recall. And now its McNeil Labs division has issued the latest in a lengthy list of actual recalls. This time, it’s for certain lots of Tylenol 8 Hour, Tylenol Arthritis Pain, Tylenol upper respiratory products, Benadryl, Sudafed PE, and Sinutab products distributed in the United States, the Caribbean, and Brazil. [More]
Quality & Safety
Oregon Sues J&J For Secretly Recalling Motrin
By 1.14.11
Instead of issuing a recall, after Johnson and Johnson discovered its Motrin caplets were defective, they hired a contractor to go around the country buy up all the drugs. It was a “secret recall” that left the bad medicine on shelves for months for consumers to buy. Now the Oregon AG is suing J&J. The story broke when one of the guys hired to do the buying faxed regulators the instructions J&J gave him. [More]
When You Call A Candy Bar "Toxic Waste," You Probably Shouldn't Be Shocked It Has Lead In It
By 1.14.11
Unlike McDonald’s Fruit and Maple Oatmeal, which has angered some over its lack of real maple syrup, Toxic Waste brand Nuclear Sludge Chew Bars live up to their name by containing more than twice the tolerable limit of lead. [More]
FDA Asks Prescription Drug Companies To Limit Amount Of Acetaminophen
By 1.13.11
Worried about the possibility of liver damage from over use, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked manufacturers of prescription drugs containing acetaminophen to limit the amount of acetaminophen to no more than 325 mg in each tablet or capsule. [More]
ATMs Are As Dirty As Toilets
By 1.12.11
You might want to wash your hands after the next time you take money out the cash machine. A new study shows that when bacteria harvested from both were compared, ATM keys were as dirty as the seat in a public bathroom. [More]
Don't Unclog A Snowblower With Your Hand
By 1.11.11
As another batch of snow descends on America, it’s important to remember that if your snowblower blades get stuck, do not use your hands when trying to unclog the auger. A recent accident on Long Island resulted in the victim’s hands looking like “Bolognese sauce,” [More]
How To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
By 1.3.11
As weather conditions force people to spend more time indoors, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning grows. The odorless gas can knock people out before they realize they’re in trouble. [More]
The House That Recall Built: Welcome To America's Most Dangerous Home!
By 12.31.10
Oh, hey there. I didn’t see you as I was just watching this improperly audio-synced Saving Private Ryan Blu-Ray on my overheating Vaio laptop. Welcome to our home, a top-to-bottom shining example of danger, stocked to the brim with 2010’s most infamous recalled products! Let’s take a little tour, shall we? [More]
Meat & Poultry To Get Detailed Nutritional Labels Starting In 2012
By 12.30.10
In what the USDA says is an attempt to better inform the meat-buying public about the products they buy, many popular cuts of meat and poultry will be required to carry labels with detailed nutritional information. [More]
Ski Lift Breaks Down, Injures 8 People
By 12.29.10
An aging Maine ski lift succumbed to winds that sent several riders plummeting to the ground, hospitalizing at least five adults and three children. [More]
CPSC Approves New Mandatory Crib Safety Standards
By 12.20.10
In the wake of a government ban on drop-side cribs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a new set of standards, which manufacturers must be in compliance with by June 2011. [More]
Monitored Alarm System Won't Stop Break-Ins, Company Won't Let Me Out Of Contract
By 12.17.10
Jules says ADT’s alarm system isn’t responding to repeated break-ins at his aunt’s property. She wants out of her 3-year contract, but can’t get the company to let her off the hook. [More]
You Care About Recalls, But Can't Find Out About Them
By 12.16.10
According to a new poll by our careful cousins at Consumer Reports, most Americans are concerned about product recalls, but don’t believe they’re getting enough information about them. Only 13% said they were very confident that they were getting enough information about recalls from manufacturers and retailers. And just 8% were very confident that the government was getting enough information from those companies. [More]
Government Bans Drop-Side Rail Cribs
By 12.15.10
In order to prevent kids from dying, the government has issued a ban on selling or making traditional drop-side cribs. If the gate or slate on the side of the crib gets loose, a baby can fall in there and get trapped, eventually hanging themselves to death. [More]
CPSC Says Lead Wizard Of Oz Glasses "Are Not Children's Products"
By 12.13.10
A recent study commissioned by the AP showed that dozens of decorative glasses featuring superheros (like Wonder Woman and Superman) and movie characters (like the cast of Wizard of Oz), have “up to 1,000 times more” lead than is currently allowed for children’s products. The AP asked the CPSC to issue a recall. The CPSC’s response? The glasses are not children’s products. [More]
Snow Lays Waste To Metrodome, Sends Football Game To Detroit
By 12.13.10
A colossal snowstorm in Minnesota did to the Metrodome what other teams have been doing to the Vikings most of the season, making it collapse under intense pressure. Snow punctured the puffy, Teflon roof of the 28-year-old structure, forcing tonight’s Vikings-Giants game to be played in Detroit. The game had already been delayed because the Giants couldn’t get a flight into Minneapolis. [More]
Latest Rolaids Recall Gives Johnson & Johnson Heartburn
By 12.10.10
Two weeks after recalling some cherry flavored Rolaids softchews for “uncharacteristic consistency or texture,” Johnson & Johnson’s beleaguered McNeil Laboratories division has issued a slightly larger Rolaids recall. And by “slightly,” we mean all lots of Rolaids Extra Strength Softchews, Extra Strength plus Gas Softchews, and Multi-Symptom plus Anti-Gas Softchews. [More]
Flame Retardants Found In Butter
By 12.9.10
I can’t believe it’s not butter! Well, it’s not. It’s flame retardant, and food researchers found it inside butter they bought from the supermarket. [More]
