FDA: Bacteria Found in Children's Liquid Medicine Ingredients

Last Friday, McNeil Consumer Healthcare implemented a voluntary recall of more than 40 infant and children's liquid products due to manufacturing deficiencies which may affect quality, purity or potency.

The products sold in the United States and 11 other countries include certain liquid infant's and children's Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl products. For a complete list of recalled products, see the recall notice.

Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that bacterial contamination has been found in ingredients used to make the liquid medications.

The company has closed its plant in Fort Washington, Pa., where the contaminated products were made. The plant cannot reopen without FDA approval.

According to the LA Times, the FDA met with executives of McNeil Healthcare and its corporate parent Johnson & Johnson to complain about the company's manufacturing practices back in February. Reportedly, McNeil had received 46 consumer complaints of foreign substances in its products, and FDA inspections at the plant found numerous deficiencies in manufacture and process control.

Plus, as remarkable as it sounds, this latest recall was the ninth product recall for McNeil this year, suggesting serious problems with the integrity of its supply chain.

Although further testing is needed to conclusively identify what type of bacteria is involved, FDA officials do not believe there is a serious medical concern.

For more information on the recall, visit the FDA's "What Consumers Need to Know."