McNEIL-PPC, INC. TODAY ISSUES VOLUNTARY NATIONWIDE CONSUMER RECALL OF
LISTERINE® AGENT COOL BLUET PLAQUE-DETECTING RINSE PRODUCTS
MORRIS
PLAINS, NEW JERSEY - April 11, 2007 - McNEIL-PPC, Inc. (the "Company")
today announced a voluntary nationwide consumer recall of all lots of
the GLACIER MINTT and BUBBLE BLASTT flavors of LISTERINE® AGENT COOL
BLUET Plaque-Detecting Rinse after the Company determined that the
preservative system is not adequate against certain microorganisms. The
Company has been in full communication with the FDA regarding this issue
and the decision to implement a voluntary recall. The Company is
recalling all bottles of AGENT COOL BLUET Plaque-Detecting Rinse, an
estimated 4 million, from both retailers and consumers.
The
Company conducted a thorough assessment and concluded that the risk of
illness in healthy individuals following use of this product is very
low. However, there could be a significant health risk to individuals
with weakened or suppressed immune systems. To date, there have been no
consumer adverse health events reported that are related to this issue.
The
recall affects all existing bottles of AGENT COOL BLUET
Plaque-Detecting Rinse. Consumers should discontinue using and properly
discard the product, and may obtain a full refund through calling the
Company's toll free consumer line 1-888-222-0249 and mailing in the back
label, including the UPC code. Additional information can be found at
the product website www.agentcoolblue.com.
Introduced
in 2006, AGENT COOL BLUET Plaque-Detecting Rinse tints plaque blue for
better brushing. Consumers can readily distinguish this product by the
cartoon character on the front of the bottle. Only AGENT COOL BLUET
Plaque-Detecting Rinse products are affected by this action. No other
LISTERINE® branded products are affected and they remain safe and
effective for use as directed.
"We have voluntarily initiated
this recall of AGENT COOL BLUET Plaque-Detecting Rinse because our
primary concern is that consumers have complete confidence in the safety
and effectiveness of our products," said Paul Sturman, President,
Consumer Healthcare North America, McNEIL-PPC, Inc. "This voluntary
action is in keeping with our longstanding policy of providing timely
and effective consumer information about all our products."
AGENT
COOL BLUET Plaque-Detecting Rinse has been sold to consumers through
supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchants and other retail outlets, and
is sold to dental professionals' offices nationwide. The Company is
contacting dental professionals and retailers directly as part of their
recall notification process.
McNEIL-PPC, Inc. is located in Morris Plains, NJ and Fort Washington, PA.

