Murky at Best

It's even brighter in real life.

On Tuesday our tiny, jail cell of a powder room was painted. It’s navy blue stripes with matte and gloss finishes except for an apple green ceiling and accent wall. It’s awesome. I’ve been snickering to myself, like I have a secret, all week. I have an apple green wall. It’s not a big one but it’s bright green. I’m so clever, artistic, daring. I’m so damn pleased with myself.

It’s a good thing my bathroom is making me so happy because every time I turn on the news and listen to the reports of the oil spilling into the gulf, I have to hold back sobs. And this Tylenol recall business… Hey, Johnson & Johnson, what the hell is going on over there?

In April, FDA inspectors stopped by the manufacturing plant for Children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl and Zyrtec for a routine inspection and found problems with “quality-control methods and manufacturing processes, including a failure to track customer complaints and spot trends that may signal systemic problems, a lack of written procedures and a failure to adequately train employees.” A routine inspection? You’d think they’d get things in order for the inspectors; you know, tidy the place up and make it look real nice. Maybe they did, maybe this was the plant looking its best. 

Also this: “Federal investigators found that raw materials had ‘known contamination’ with unspecified bacteria and ‘were approved for use to manufacture several finished lots of Children’s and Infant’s Tylenol drug products.’”

Apparently they’ve been receiving complaints about a moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor, murkiness and complaints of nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea since 2008. “The company said the smell was caused by a chemical called ‘2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA),’ which is applied to wooden pallets that are used to transport and store packaging materials.” Super.

Here’s what all this means: (1) throw away all your infant and children’s Motrin, Tylenol, Benadryl and Zyrtec. It’s all been recalled. (2) It’s time to hoard generic children’s pain reliever. Buy some while you can because who knows when J&J will get their act together and start manufacturing again. For more info…

If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my happy place.

5 thoughts on “Murky at Best

  1. marilyn

    We painted our bathroom a green called Margarita, and the Chinese-y cupboard is a red called Fandango – these small rooms allow us to go wild and try things, so who knows what will happen to the dining room or a bedroom next? Whee!!!

    And I love the matte and gloss finish. I’ll have to try that. Living room??

  2. peggy

    Oh! To be a pediatrician again 🙂
    I can hardly imagine the phone calls coming into the offices, even as we speak.
    But, don’t get me wrong! It’s awesome that you’re putting this out there. There are SO many reasons why over the counter meds are not good–or necessary–for our kids. You’ve given yet another.
    I’m sort of an ibuprofen junkie, so don’t get me wrong–used in moderation, and for the right reasons, I’m all for it. But I”m with you, let’s hold people accountable (for oil slicks, too . . . )
    And, by the way, the bathroom is awesome!

  3. Tami

    Seriously. Enough toxins! Everyone. Stop with the toxins.

    Bold bathrooms are a deeelight. Thank heaven.

  4. Anne

    But does Johnson and Johnson also make the generic? Keep that junk away from my granddaughter! Can’t wait to see the bathroom, and Josie’s non-toxic bedroom walls. G’ma

  5. Elizabeth

    First – LOVE the green wall and the photo.

    Second – the recall has me seriously angry. Wasn’t it Tylenol/J&J who wrote the book on how to handle a recall? In business school, that was THE CASE on how to handle a crisis and build long term customer relationships. Admit there is a problem. Communicate openly and honestly with your customers. However, that does not extend for 20 years. I trusted them and now I don’t. As I dumped probably $30 worth of their products down the drain (contemplating where in the heck I could have gotten kitty litter because that it the ways you are supposed to dispose of medicines – not down the drain because it leaches into the ground and is contributing to the nasty stuff found in our drinking water…) I wondered where I was supposed to get replacements. I think that you are right – generic is the way to go if we can figure out who is manufacturing it. Sad sad state of affairs.

    On a related note, was disappointed yesterday to find out that my youngest has a sinus infection that is resistant to the entry level antibiotic. She’s now souped up no some super-duper antibiotic. I haven’t had an antibiotic in 4 years and she’s had them once before for an ear infection. Doesn’t that buy us something?? Maybe a drug responsive strain of a disease? We are trying so hard to not contribute to the problem. Regardless, I found myself totally lost at Whole Foods yesterday, staring at an enormous array of probiotics – she’s decided to boycott yogurt. Her sister is eating it all. I eventually found a children’s version – but, I’m really wondering when it all got so complicated?

    I guess the good news is that she doesn’t need Tylenol right now.

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