J&J recalls variety of products after unusual odor

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson's consumer division said on Friday it is recalling a variety of over-the-counter products after reports of an unusual odor, expanding on an issue that led to a Tylenol recall last year.

The latest voluntary recall followed consumer reports of "an unusual moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor that, in a small number of cases, was associated with temporary and non-serious gastrointestinal events," the company said. Such events included nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea.

The recall involves lots in the Americas, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Fiji. Products include versions of pain relievers Motrin and Tylenol, and the Rolaids antacid.

J&J's McNeil Consumer Healthcare division said the smell is caused by the presence of trace amounts of a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA), which can result from the breakdown of a chemical that is sometimes applied to wood for pallets that transport and store product packaging materials.

"The health effects of this chemical have not been well studied but no serious events have been documented in the medical literature," the company said in a statement.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare in December recalled lots of a form of Tylenol related to the chemical issue. McNeil, which said it was continuing its investigation, said the recall was being done in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.