Johnson & Johnson Issues Wholesale, Retail Recall of Benadryl

NEW YORK – Health care giant Johnson & Johnson is announcing another product recall, this one involving Children's Benadryl Allergy Fastmelt Tablets, Junior Strength Motrin Caplets, and Extra Strength Rolaids softchews.

The New Brunswick, N.J., company said its latest recall is at the wholesale and retail level, but the medicines still work, and consumers can still use them. It added that no action is required by consumers or providers.

It said it issued the recall after reviewing its manufacturing process in the wake of a series of product recalls over the last year. The company said it found unspecified problems related to Benadryl and Motrin products.

The Rolaids softchews were recalled because some consumers complained the Rolaids had an unusual texture that J&J traced to crystallized sugar.

The company recalled 4 million packages of cherry and grape Benadryl Fastmelt tablets, 800,000 Motrin caplets, and 71,000 caplets of Extra Strength Rolaids. All the products are sold by J&J's McNeil Consumer Healthcare business.

J&J has seen its reputation battered in the past year by product recalls involving tens of millions of bottles of Tylenol, Motrin and other nonprescription drugs.

In morning trading, Johnson & Johnson shares fell 58 cents to $63.04.