McNeil-PPC, Inc. Today Issues Voluntary Nationwide Consumer Recall of LISTERINE AGENT COOL BLUE Plaque-Detecting Rinse Products

Note: This stinks. I just picked up some of this stuff, used it once. Remember when you were a child & the school (or dentist) gave you the red stuff to swish around in your mouth? I thought it'd be interesting to see how well I was doing on brushing my teeth after all these years so I grabbed a bottle last time I was at the store. Oh well, so much for a memory lane visit to my childhood (even if the colors are different!). - jmd

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Morris Plains, NJ -- April 11, 2007 -- McNEIL-PPC, Inc. (the "Company") today announced a voluntary nationwide consumer recall of all lots of the GLACIER MINT™ and BUBBLE BLAST™ flavors of LISTERINE® AGENT COOL BLUE™ 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 BLUE™ 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 BLUE™ 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 http://www.agentcoolblue.com.

Introduced in 2006, AGENT COOL BLUE™ 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 BLUE™ 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 BLUE™ 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 BLUE™ 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.