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61,000 Bottles Of Tylenol Recalled Due To Musty Smell

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Johnson and Johnson has recalled 61,000 bottles of extra-strength Tylenol caplets from 2009 because of a musty smell.

As WBBM Newsradio 780's John Cody reports, Consumer Reports health prescription editor Lisa Gill says Johnson and Johnson has traced the smell to a preservative called 2,4,6 tribromoanisole, or TBA, used on wooden shipping pallets.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's John Cody reports

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"This has been sort of an ongoing issue for the company – not just Tylenol," she said. "For about a year and a half, we've been tracking Tylenol, Benadryl, Motrin – a whole assortment of over-the counter-medications. You've probably even noticed if you've gone to CVS or Walgreens or something – for a while there were a lot of empty places on the analgesic shelves because so many medications have been recalled."

Gill says the preservative that prompted the recalls is not a serious threat, but is still to be avoided.

"Low risk, but it is something definitely to be mindful of, mostly because especially for older people or younger children, you wouldn't want to give them these musty-smelling Tylenol caplets because you could have a little bit of a stomach problem," she said.

Gill says Tylenol bottles coded ABA 15 digits ending 271 can be returned to point of sale, or to Johnson and Johnson directly, for a refund or replacement.

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