L.A. Markets Pull Tylenol From Shelves After Death

At least three major Southern California supermarket chains have voluntarily removed Tylenol from their shelves, and others are thinking of doing the same in the wake of the death of a New York woman who took cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules, a supermarket spokesman said today.

Ralphs, Vons and Safeway stores had all removed the products by this morning in what Steve Koff, president of the Southern California Grocers Assn., called “a cautionary service for some of our customers.” Koff said officials of other chains were discussing whether to take the same action.

Koff said the Tylenol in question comes from Lot Number ADF-916 and is labeled with an expiration date of May, 1987. “There is no reason to believe that lot number is in California,” Koff said.

Spokesmen for the chains confirmed Koff’s statement.

“Until we have all the facts, we felt it was the best thing to do,” said Suzanne Dyer, an official of Vons at the company’s El Monte headquarters. “In the past, whenever there’s been a scare, we’ve removed products from shelves and awaited official word.”

Ralphs Vice President Gene Brown said the Compton-based chain will keep Tylenol “off shelves until we get word from the Food and Drug Administration.”

Meanwhile, spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said they were referring inquiries to the County Department of Health Services, where a spokeswoman said the department had received a small number of calls from concerned citizens.

She said the latest information available to the department indicated the New York case was “an isolated incident.”