DJ – Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit is again broadening its voluntary recalls of over-the-counter consumer medications amid complaints of a musty, moldy odor. The move closely follows its recalls of Tylenol Arthritis medicine and criticism from the Food and Drug Administration.

McNeil is now recalling certain lots of consumer medications in the Americas, United Arab Emirates and Fiji amid an investigation of the odor complaints and reports of gastroinestinal problems. The products include various Motrin, Tylenol and Rolaids items.

McNeil said an investigation revealed the odor is caused by trace amounts of a chemical that is sometimes applied to wood used to build wooden pallets. The company also recalled its Tylenol Arthritis pain medication last month over the same issue. The company, which is consulting with the FDA on the issue, said it’s continuing its investigation and will stop shipping products using materials shipped on wooden pallets and requiring distributors to stop using them as well.

On Wednesday, a report from FDA inspectors indicated that McNeil failed to test whether its Tylenol pain reliever was chemically contaminated despite receiving more than 70 consumer complaints in 2008 that the pills smelled musty. The report said the company did physically examine whether the moldy odor originated from the presence of microorganisms and concluded it didn’t. The report also said the company didn’t assess whether chemically treated wood pallets also caused moldy odor in its heartburn medicine Rolaids. The FDA said consumers have filed more than 10 complaints of moldy-smelling Rolaids.

Meanwhile, the FDA has also contended the company didn’t properly follow protocols for handling consumer complaints.

-By Tess Stynes, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2481; Tess.Stynes@dowjones.com

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