The conduct is different from McNeil’s 1982 recall when the 8 cyanide poisoning deaths occurred in Chicago. In that situation, McNeil earned the praise of the president, the loyalty of customers, and a get-out-of-jail free pass on everything since that critical decision to recall without hesitation $150 million in Tylenol. How the mighty art fallen! In 2010, the FDA found metal particles in the company’s liquid Children’s Tylenol. That can happen in production, but they key is to stop production, issue a recall, and ‘fess up. Instead, however, the FDA is poised for criminal penalties against McNeil over the company’s lack of cooperation, mishandling of materials, lax documentation, and failure to follow up on customer complaints.[1] An April FDA site visit to one plant found 20 violations of the agency’s good manufacturing processes. One violation was releasing 7 batches of cherry-flavored Infants’ Tylenol after employees had found metal from processing pistons in the product.
Perhaps the most troubling McNeil conduct came to light in a congressional hearing. Documents seem to indicate that the company hired contractors to go out and purchase all the Tylenol products affected by production problems so that a recall did not have to be issued.[2] Oh, but the truth does percolate. Now the contractor scheme shows intent. Bad news concealed does not get better with time. Now McNeil is facing both the recall and the loss of credibility with its regulator and its customers. One good action in 1982 is not a free pass for missteps in the future. This ethics thing is an ongoing challenge.
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[1] Jonathan D. Rockoff, “J&J Lapses Are Cited In Drugs for kids,†Wall Street Journal, May 27, 2010, p. B1.
[2] Natasha Singer, “Johnson & Johnson Seen as Uncooperative on Recall Inquiry,†New York Times, June 11, 2010, p. B1.
