Tylenol Murders In The '80s Explain Harsh Consequences For Parent Who Allowed Daughter To Lick A Tongue Depressor

BabyGaga

By Helena Martin

Published Jul 26, 2019

Tampered products can lead to dangerous consequences.

Via: Flickr, Austin Kirk

A mother in Florida is facing a felony charge for allowing her daughter to lick a tongue depressor at a doctor’s office and put it back on the shelf. While the charge may seem like an overreaction, the child has potentially damaged a bunch of products and could spread disease—similar to the Tylenol Murders in the 80s. Something so small could make a lot go wrong.

In the 1980s, the medical mystery of the Tylenol Murders began. Authorities received report after report of cyanide poisoning cases in the Chicago area. The only connection between these deaths was the fact that they all took a Tylenol pill before their death. Johnson & Johnson issued a massive recall of their products, and the police hypothesized that someone took a shipment from local groceries and drug stores, mixed in some cyanide, then returned the packages on the shelves. To this day, authorities have not found those responsible, but the manufacturer has put strict measures in place to prevent future tampering of the product.

The Tylenol Murders is a precedent for how tampering of products can be a danger to the public. At a doctor’s office, everything needs to be sanitary in order to prevent the spread of diseases. A silly joke between a mom and her 10-year-old could have gotten so many other kids sick if the contaminated tongue depressor wasn’t discovered. The mother is now facing a felony charge of tampering a product without regard for possible death or bodily injury, and she was due in court last Friday.

In a similar light, a video has gone viral earlier this month of a girl who began the Ice Cream-Licking craze. She was shown opening a tub of ice cream, licking it, then putting it back in the freezer. Encouraged by the person filming her, she found the idea of someone unknowingly buying a tainted tub hilarious. She currently faces a prison sentence between two and 20 years, and she can be fined up to $10,000.

Due to the Tylenol Murders, manufacturers have begun to be more mindful of how they seal their packaging. Any tampering could lead to a damaged product, whether it was intentional or not. In order to keep the public safe, consumable products need to stay pure and clean, so any prank involving messing with a new product could be disastrous.