The Johnson & Johnson Tylenol Controversies



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Tylenol Deaths

In September 1982, a 12-year-old girl, Mary Kellerman of Chicago, US died after taking extra strength Tylenol for headache. Three more people, Adam Janus, his brother and sister-in-law died on the same day after taking extra strength Tylenol.Three more deaths were reported on the next day due to Tylenol. The news of the incident spread quickly causing a nationwide panic. Responding to the crisis, Johnson and Johnson (J&J)1 recalled 31 million bottles of extra strength Tylenol worth over $100 million from all retail stores in the US.

In addition, the company offered to exchange tablets for capsules at no extra cost for all customers. According to an analyst, J&J suffered a loss of $1.24 billion due to the depreciation of the company's brand value. Tylenol's share fell from 37% of the US analgesics market in early 1982 to just 7% by late 1982. According to media reports, the sudden deaths occured because the Tylenol capsules had been laced2 with cyanide. ..

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The capsules had been opened and filled with 65 mg of cyanide.3 Inspite of the deaths, J&J was praised for its quick action and sincere efforts in recalling Tylenol and giving consumer safety as top priority. In 1986, J&J faced a similar crisis when yet another incident of product tampering was reported. A woman in New York died after taking a cyanide laced extra strength Tylenol capsule.J&J had to once again recall all the capsules. The company promised to offer Tylenol only in the tablets or caplets4 form. In 1989, J&J faced another problem when deaths were reported due to overdoses of Tylenol.

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