May 6, 2010 | Volume 1 Issue 18

Is Johnson & Johnson Acting Responsibly?

The 1982 recall of tampered Tylenol products had a seemingly paradoxical impact on Johnson & Johnson. Consumers were so impressed with how quickly and thoroughly the company handled the problem that their reputation actually benefited. In reality, this phenomenon is not unique to Johnson & Johnson, and we are reminded repeatedly that how a company handles a product recall can have a bigger impact on their market share than the recall itself.

But exactly how well does the company have to do, and is there a limit to what consumers are willing to forgive? Friday’s recall of millions of bottles of Children’s Tylenol and other Johnson & Johnson medicine was the fourth such recall since last fall:

September 2009: Children’s Tylenol recalled due to possible bacterial contamination.

November 2009 (expanded in December 2009): Tylenol Arthritis Pain due to chemical contamination.

January 2010: Additional expansion of chemical contamination recall, this time to include several versions of Tylenol, Motrin and Benadryl, including Children’s formulations and other brands such as Rolaids and St. Joseph Aspirin.

May 2010: Recall of Children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl and Zyrtec due to higher concentration of active ingredients than specified, inactive ingredients that may not meet standards, and contamination with “tiny particles.”

What do you think? Is this one recall too many? Will you continue to buy these products? Click here to let us know and see what others are saying, too.

* McNeil Consumer Healthcare, who issued the press releases linked to above, is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

In This Issue:

• Children's Medicine Recall
  
• Unattended Children & Cars
• Inform Me Schedule Change
• Recent Product Recall Images