Bad smell and stomach problems lead to recall of Tylenol, Motrin, Rolaids and other McNeil products

Mitch Lipka
Updated

Some of the most popular over-the-counter drugs are being recalled due to a foul smell and reports of vomiting, diarrhea and other stomach upset, the McNeil Consumer Healthcare announced.

The drugs have what is described as a moldy, musty or mildewy smell that has been attributed to the breakdown of a chemical used on the pallets cases used to store packing materials for the medicine. More than 6 million bottles in specific lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Formula were recalled last month for the same reason.

Certain lots of the following drugs are being recalled:

  • Tylenol

  • Motrin

  • Benadryl

  • Rolaids

  • St. Joseph's aspirin

  • Simply Sleep

Consumers are urged to stop using the medicine and either return or dispose of it.

To identify whether you have one of the lots affected by the recall, go to McNeil's recall page and click on the particular medicine that you are checking or call the company at 888-222-6036 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern weekdays and between 9 a.m.and 5 p.m. on weekends.

"In addition to the product recall, McNeil Consumer Healthcare is continuing their investigation into this issue and is taking further actions that include ceasing shipment of products produced using materials shipped on these wood pallets and requiring suppliers who ship materials to our plants to discontinue the use of these pallets," the company, a division of Johnson & Johnson, said in a written statement. "We will continue to closely monitor and evaluate the situation and consult with the FDA."

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