There are many reasons that a company will decide that it needs to initiate a recall of one or more of its products. Some situations involve products that, even if they are used properly, present an unreasonable level of danger and risk to consumers. There are other situations where a company will initiate a recall because the products at issue are inherently dangerous and can lead to disastrous consequences if certain people obtain access to them.
Unforeseen access appears to be what is leading the pharmaceutical giant Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. to initiate an enormous recall of several of its over-the-counter products. Below you will find a brief overview of the products that are manufactured by Novartis that have been recalled. You will also find information regarding why these products are being removed from retail shelves across the United States. Anyone who has used a product that turned out to be dangerous and who has been severely harmed as a result needs to obtain the help of experienced California defective products lawyers as soon as possible.
The Novartis Triaminic and Theraflu Recall
Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. has recently announced that it is recalling almost 2.3 units of cold and cough syrups that are sold in retail outlets across the country on an over-the-counter basis because there have been several reports of the child-proof caps failing to function properly. This recall concerns 142 different lots of these products and they were manufactured before December of 2011. The company estimates that approximately 97 percent of these affected units have already been returned or consumed, but that could be a difficult estimate to make considering how long these products can sit in the homes of consumers.
The reason that this recall was initiated was because children could find their way into these bottles of medicine if they are able to remove the child-proof caps. These products contain a substance known as acetaminophen, which is an ingredient that helps to reduce fevers. However, it can and will also inflict serious damage on a person’s liver if too much of it is consumed, and children who do not weigh as much as adults tend to be particularly vulnerable to this type of harm. The American Association of Poison Control Centers estimates that as many as 40,000 children per year suffer from some form of acetaminophen poisoning.
Defective Products and Legal Fallout
When someone is injured because a product – or something that’s intended to protect the product – is defective, that person faces a daunting task of having to take on an enormous corporation. When this situation arises, a consumer needs to level the playing field in order to make sure that his or her legal rights are properly protected.
If you or someone you love has been injured in this manner, you need to seek the help of California defective products lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of consumers for many years. Contact the Demas Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.
