What would a week be without a Johnson & Johnson recall to discuss? This time, the beleaguered health care giant is yanking two lots, or about 57,000 bottles, of its Topamax epilepsy drug (100 mg tablets). These were distributed in the US last fall and winter, but J&J’s Ortho-McNeil Neurologics unit believes only 6,000 or so are still circulating.

Why is this being done? There were four consumer reports of an uncharacteristic odor thought to be caused by trace amounts of TBA (2,4,6 tribromoanisole), a chemical used in wooden pallets that transport and store packaging materials (see the statement). The problem has plagued J&J and Pfizer for some time (see here, here and here).

Despite the move, J&J does not anticipate a product shortage and, meanwhile, maintains no adverse events have been reported. In any event, this latest recall adds to a long and impressive list of products that health care giant has pulled over the past year due to assorted manufacturing gaffes - tens of millions of over-the-counter meds, including Tylenol, Motrin and Benadryl; contact lenses, syringes and hip replacement devices.

The cumulative effect of these recalls - and the curious circumstances involving the over-the-counter meds, in particular - have led to a consent decree; congressional hearings; lost sales; government probes and lawsuits; a lost of trust among consumers and doctors; reduced employee bonuses and lost jobs. Nonetheless, ceo Bill Weldon perseveres - he received a raise and insists he has no plans to retire anytime soon.