We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • Webcasts
    • Blogs
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Global Logistics and Risk
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • Parcel Forum 2022
    • MODEX 2022
    • Upload Your Video
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • Webcasts
    • Blogs
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Global Logistics and Risk
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • Parcel Forum 2022
    • MODEX 2022
    • Upload Your Video
Home » Pallets cause of recent Tylenol recall?
newsworthy

Pallets cause of recent Tylenol recall?

January 22, 2010
Susan K. Lacefield
No Comments

Are your pallets making people sick? For Johnson & Johnson, the answer may be yes.

When the consumer healthcare giant had to recall some lots of its Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets in November and December, it pointed the finger at an unlikely culprit: its wooden shipping pallets. The recall came after consumers complained of a musty, moldy odor that was causing nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. As a precautionary measure, J&J has extended the recall to include more lots of its Tylenol products, including Regular Strength and Extra Strength Tylenol, as well as certain lots and formulations of Motrin IB, Rolaids, Benadryl, and St. Joseph Aspirin. (For specific lot numbers, visit Johnson & Johnson's Web site.)

J&J believes the cause of the odor is the chemical 2,4,6-tribromoanisole and the source is wood pallets used to transport and store packaging material at its Puerto Rico plant. The company theorizes that the lumber used in the pallets was treated with the fungicide tribromophenol (TBP). When TBP dries, it crystallizes and can become embedded in the wood fiber. If that wood gets wet again, the moisture can cause the chemical to break down into the odor-causing 2,4,6-tribromoanisole.

TBP is banned in the United States, Europe, and Canada. In recent years, however, the rising demand and prices of North American wood led many pallet manufacturers to begin sourcing their wood from South America, where the fungicide is still used.

Bruce Scholnick, president of the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA), calls the incident "an anomaly." How the odor was absorbed by the Tylenol bottles and why it was not detected earlier at the shelf-level remains "a big mystery," says Scholnick. The executive says he has been in contact with Johnson & Johnson throughout the recall process.

Derek Hannum, marketing director for pallet pooler CHEP, which does not use pallets treated with TBP, says 2,4,6-tribromoanisole is known to be a powerful compound that can penetrate other materials, including plastic and corrugate. (Johnson & Johnson is not a CHEP customer.)

Both Scholnick and Hannum recommend that concerned shippers make sure their suppliers can certify that their wood pallets were not treated with TBP.

"Ask suppliers for details on their quality control process," says Hannum. "Do they actually track and trace the source of their materials? Is there a specific standard that outlines what additives and preservatives are permitted (if any)? And how do they monitor and control for that?"

For example, CHEP, which requires that the raw materials used in its pallets be free of hazardous substances (including TBP), uses a third-party organization to ensure that suppliers comply with its rules. The third party conducts regular audits of CHEP's suppliers, especially those in South America. As part of the process, the auditor takes a cross sample of the material and sends it to a lab for analysis.

Johnson & Johnson declined to speak to DC Velocity for this article but said in a Jan. 15 press release that it is "ceasing shipment of products produced using materials shipped on these wood pallets and requiring suppliers who ship materials to our plants to discontinue the use of these pallets."

Material Handling Storage Pallets & Palletizers
KEYWORDS CHEP
  • Related Articles

    Largest pooler of plastic pallets files bankruptcy; 1.5 million missing pallets seen partly to blame

    Hyundai Material Handling and LoneStar Forklift Acknowledge the Anniversary of Harvey as they Recall

Susanlacefield
Susan Lacefield has been working for supply chain publications since 1999. Before joining DC VELOCITY, she was an associate editor for Supply Chain Management Review and wrote for Logistics Management magazine. She holds a master's degree in English.

Recent Articles by Susan Lacefield

Ron Howard shares lessons in creativity, collaboration at ProMat 2023

Investments in supply chain tech set to see big jump

Chef José Andrés finds universal supply chain lessons in emergency food relief

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • Wireless technology could help electric trucks charge more safely, efficiently

  • Thoma Bravo completes $8 billion buyout of Coupa Software

  • What’s shaping omnichannel fulfillment strategies?

  • WMS feels the squeeze

  • Fast DCs require layers of automation

Now Playing on DCV-TV

Ce1e8b83 026c 4709 8554 43eef6c78213

Will the Silicon Valley Bank Fallout Affect Your Supply Chain? And Our Salute to the Women Supply Chain Leaders

DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
The developments with Silicon Valley Bank and other financial institutions have gotten everyone’s attention. Will these banks be “isolated incidents” or do they portend a contagion with dire economic consequences? Candidly, I think the verdict is still out.That said, we’ve heard from some shippers and columnists who...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • The Future of Fleet Management: 5 Trends and Influences That Will Drive Logistics in 2023

  • The five best applications for robotic lift trucks in warehouse environments

  • Fulfillment Facility Improved Efficiencies by 4x

  • 3PLs: Complete Orders Faster with Flexible Automation

View More

Subscribe to DC Velocity Magazine

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing