# Acetaminophen Caplets Recalled Due to Contamination **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 9, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749 "2006-11-09T18:59:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/1 "2006-11-09T18:59:36Z")
[They have metal fragments inside of them.](http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01507.html) > [@](#): > > The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting the public to a voluntary recall being conducted by Perrigo Company (Perrigo) of Allegan, Michigan for 383 lots of acetaminophen 500mg caplets manufactured and distributed under various store-brands as a result of small metal fragments found in a small number of these caplets. Approximately 11 million bottles containing varying quantities of acetaminophen 500mg caplets are affected by this recall. For a list of batches affected, please see [www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perrigo/perrigobatchlist.html](http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perrigo/perrigobatchlist.html). Consumers can determine if they are in possession of a recalled product by locating the batch number printed on the container label. A list of stores that carry store-brands potentially affected by this recall is located on FDA’s website at [www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perrigo/perrigocustlist.html](http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perrigo/perrigocustlist.html). No reports of any injuries or illnesses caused by this as of yet. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/2 "2006-11-09T19:03:19Z")
Oh, come on. They could just relabel them with a call-out box exclaiming “Now fortified with iron + zinc!” ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/3 "2006-11-09T19:16:17Z")
Well, lucky me - I have 2 bottles - one unopened, and one almost empty… ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/4 "2006-11-09T21:13:34Z")
See…and THIS is why I don’t take the stuff! No, really, aspirin does it for me just fine - Advil or Motrin if it’s severe pain. Acetaminophen to me has always been like popping Smarties, except not as tasty. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/5 "2006-11-09T21:37:06Z")
Well phooey. Do we have to check the various acetaminophen brands we have around the house against that long list of numbers? Or are these just store brands? Tylenol is okay? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/6 "2006-11-09T21:56:22Z")
Metal pain relievers? Brutal! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/7 "2006-11-09T22:14:01Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] Well phooey. Do we have to check the various acetaminophen brands we have around the house against that long list of numbers? Or are these just store brands? Tylenol is okay? [/QUOTE] Just generics. The real stuff is fine. I talked to my daughter, and she has a bottle on the list, too. I called the number - a recording asked for my name and address. I should be getting a kit to return the bottles for a refund in a few days. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/8 "2006-11-09T23:11:23Z")
I Said, I Like Acetaminophen Because It’s Crunchy! ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/9 "2006-11-10T01:39:48Z")
[QUOTE=Mr Bus Guy] See…and THIS is why I don’t take the stuff! [/QUOTE] This might be pointing out the obvious (and repeating some of what’s in the report), or it may not, but this is not a product-related problem (“acetaminophen” as a whole isn’t more or less safer). There is no reason to avoid buying that type of medicine. It is, however, a manufacturing problem, in which a piece of machinery was shedding fragments - unfortunately, it happens. Wear and tear happens to everything. That’s why they have Quality Control. While I recommend returning the affected lots for a refund or replacement, the fact is the odds are that your individual bottles of caplets aren’t affected. They probably simply voluntarily recalled all lots processed on the affected machine since it’s last inspection, which was the last known time the machinery was deemed safe. This is why there are cleaning, maintenance and inspection schedules for EVERYTHING in the pharmaceutical industry - to try and prevent this kind of stuff from happening. Can you tell I work in a pharmaceutical QC lab? ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/10 "2006-11-10T02:16:43Z")
> [@FDA News](#): > > \*\*…\*\*if a consumer were to swallow an affected caplet, it could result in minor stomach discomfort and/or possible cuts to the mouth or throat. If only there were a way to relieve the minor discomfort this would cause… ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/11 "2006-11-10T02:22:51Z")
One of the stores that carries this product is called “H.E. Butt” _snarf_ ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/12 "2006-11-10T03:39:33Z")
Checked around the house earlier. 2 bottles, one by that maker. Not on the list. Both with expiration dates of 1/06. We’re the the clear! What? ---
**Author:** ![dbuzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de0a6/32.png) [@dbuzman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbuzman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/13 "2006-11-10T06:08:45Z")
The bottle I have at home with 4 caplets left in it is on the list. The one I have at work I’ll have to bring home and check it. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acetaminophen-caplets-recalled-due-to-contamination/379749/14 "2006-11-10T23:34:54Z")
My (nearly empty) bottle has the same expiration date as some of the batches that are on the recall list, but the numbers don’t match. (It starts with a 4, not a 5.) I _hope_ we are in the clear. Does it look like there are going to be any other batches added to the recall? 😕 [Here](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061110/ap_on_he_me/drug_warning) is a link to the AP article released today. I just got done e-mailing it to my family.