Moldy Smell Prompts Recall of Tylenol Arthritis Caplets

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Consumer complaints about a moldy smell and gastrointestinal side effects from Tylenol Arthritis Caplets have led McNeil Consumer Healthcare to expand its voluntary recall of the 100-count bottles.

The New Jersey-based company announced the recall of all product lots of the Arthritis Pain Caplet 100-count bottles with the red EZ-Open Cap after reports of a moldy or musty smell that might cause vomiting, stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea.

The odor comes from trace amounts of a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole, which is created by the breakdown of another chemical used to treat wooden pallets that carry packaging materials, according to a McNeil statement. Not much is known about the health effects of this compound, but none of the side effects reported to McNeil were long-lasting or serious, the company said.

Consumers who bought the 100-count bottles with the EZ-Open red cap from the lots included in the recall can contact McNeil for instructions on a refund or replacement at 1-888-222-6036 or www.tylenol.com. Contact your doctor if you have medical concerns, the company advises.

In 1982, seven people in the Chicago area died after taking Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules that had been poisoned with potassium cyanide. The case was never solved, but it led to new guidelines for packaging over-the-counter products.