For immediate release: Friday, May 14, 2010
Contact: Oversight Committee Press Office (202) 225-5051

Chairman Towns Announces Hearing to Examine Recall of Popular Pediatric Medication

Invites Johnson and Johnson CEO Weldon to testify

WASHINGTON – Chairman Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY) today announced that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold a hearing on Thursday, May 27, 2010, to examine the circumstances surrounding the voluntary recall of over 40 over-the-counter variations of infant and children’s medicines produced by Johnson & Johnson/McNeil Consumer Healthcare, including such widely used products as Children’s Tylenol, Infants’ Tylenol, Children’s Motrin, and Children’s Benadryl.

Chairman Towns today invited William C. Weldon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson to testify.  Mr. Weldon is the first witness invited to testify.

Last week, Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) opened the committee’s investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recall.  McNeil Consumer Healthcare (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson), announced the voluntary recall  as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors were completing a nearly two-week long inspection of the facility where the medication is produced.

The FDA and Johnson and Johnson have been asked to provide the committee with detailed information related to the voluntary recall.

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Documents and Links

Letter from Chairman Edolphus Towns to William Weldon