Why did Perrigo recall so many bottles of acetomenophine?

Dear Dhooni, I’ve been told that they have found metal shavings in some of the bottles. None have been found by consumers as of yet. Sue

Millions of bottles of acetaminophen tablets have been pulled from shelves across the nation due to the discovery of metal bits ranging in size from tiny microdots to fragments of wire one-third of an inch long in the pills. The affected pills are made by Perrigo, which bills itself as the world’s largest manufacturer of store-brand nonprescription drugs, and are sold under private labels by retailers including Wal-Mart, CVS, Safeway, and SuperValu.

The FDA designated the recall voluntary because the problem poses only a temporary health risk, and the chance of serious injury is remote.

Persons who ingest contaminated pills could potentially suffer minor stomach discomfort or cuts to the mouth and throat, and they should consult a doctor, the FDA advises. No immediate reports of injuries or illness have been reported.

Perrigo did a quality-control check of acetaminophen pills after learning that their equipment was wearing down prematurely. Metal was detected in approximately 200 of the 70 million tablets screened.

Some of the caplets were made as long as three years ago, with expiration dates ranging from September 2006 to August 2009, FDA officials said.