Amazon recalled 112,932 bottles of its generic acetaminophen for discolored tablets — is the Tylenol premium worth it?
Aurobindo Pharma started a voluntary recall on September 18 of Amazon Basic Care Extra Strength Acetaminophen, 500mg. The FDA posted it October 2. Reason given: consumer complaints about discolored tablets. FDA has not classified it yet. Tylenol-branded products are not affected. I buy the 500-count bulk bottles because they cost a fraction of the name brand. Same active ingredient, same dose. So honest question for the budget crowd: is there any real safety reason to pay the Tylenol premium, or is a recalled batch just a fluke you handle by checking lot numbers? The affected lots are listed on the FDA enforcement report if anyone wants to check their bottle.
1 answer
- Check your lot number first, then keep buying generic
112,932 bottles sounds big until you remember how many millions of bottles of store-brand acetaminophen move every month. The FDA reason is discolored tablets on specific lots, and the FDA has not even classified it yet. Here is the checkable part: the recall only covers listed lots of the 200, 500, and 1,000-count bottles. Flip your bottle, read the lot number, compare it to the FDA enforcement report. If it is not on the list, there is nothing to do. Paying triple for Tylenol because one generic lot had off-color tablets is exactly the kind of fear tax I refuse to pay.