MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) - A subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson agreed to a settlement with the state of Alabama over the quality of its over-the-counter drugs, said Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange on July 29.
McNeil-PPC allegedly conducted a “phantom recall” of Children's Motrin in 2009 when it determined the medication was substandard. The company allegedly sent teams to stores to purchase the medicine and remove the product from shelves instead of announcing an open recall to the public.
“The allegations from which this investigation arose are of serious concern,” Strange said. “Consumers need to have confidence in the quality control of over-the-counter drugs that they buy for their families. This settlement helps to ensure that the alleged conduct does not occur in the future.”
McNeil-PPC will be required to follow certain procedures that will prevent a “recurrence,” Strange said. It is also prohibited from representing that its facilities meet “Good Manufacturing Practices” set by the Food and Drug Administration if a recall was conducted for ingestible OTC drugs within the last year at those facilities that were part of the investigation by the state.
The company will also pay $500,000 to the Strange's office for attorney's fees and the costs of the investigation.