J&J Recalls 32-Million Contraceptive Packages Outside U.S.

Johnson & Johnson is conducting a voluntary recall of millions of oral contraceptive packages in 43 countries outside the U.S., but says there's a "very low" risk that the flawed tablets could cause unplanned pregnancies.

The birth control pills are being recalled -- but only from pharmacies and wholesalers -- because one of the two hormones in them is dissolving and entering the bloodstream slower than it should.

The recall includes all 179 lots, or batches, of the contraceptive Cilest that were distributed since 2011 in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Each lot contains about 180,000 monthly contraceptive packages, meaning more than 32.2 million packages are being recalled.

It's the latest in a string of more than 40 recalls by the New Brunswick, N.J., health care giant since 2009.

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