Johnson & Johnson is dealing with a major headache; for the second time in a month the company has had to recall some of its over-the-counter medication because they smell moldy, musty or "like mildew." The company says no customers have complained about products included in the wider recall, but that not-so-fresh smell can cause nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Small amounts of a chemical associated with the treatment of wooden pallets is to blame for the smell, according to Johnson & Johnson. But now the FDA has blasted the company for moving too slowly.

"When something smells bad literally or figuratively, companies must aggressively investigate," Deborah Autor, the director of FDA's Office of Compliance, told the Wall Street Journal. Apparently, the company first became aware of a problem in September 2008, but didn't conduct a full investigation and report the problem to the agency until September 2009. Earlier this week, following an inspection of Johnson & Johnson's plant in Puerto Rico, the FDA released a damning report [pdf] showing the company failed to test whether Tylenol was chemically contaminated, despite a spike in consumer complaints that their products smelled musty in 2008.

The broader recall now includes some batches of Tylenol caplets, geltabs, arthritis treatments, rapid release, and extended relief Tylenol, as well as Motrin IB, chewable extra strength Rolaids, Benadryl allergy tablets, and St. Joseph aspirin. Last month the company's McNeil Consumer Healthcare Products previously broadened its recall to include Tylenol Arthritis Caplets, the AP reports. All the more reason to stick with Bayer's non-moldy Flintstones Chewables.