The big topic of conversation at our family Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 25, 1982 was about the recent Chicago Tylenol murders. It was probably one of the few times grandpa Fred opened up about Charley's poisoning.
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No one was ever charged or convicted of the poisonings. James William Lewis of New York City was convicted of extortion for sending a letter that demanded $1 million to stop the poisonings, but no evidence tying him to the poisonings was ever found.
Can you see why that was the talk of our family dinner? Things hadn't changed much in 57 years.
The latest mass poisonings finally led to reforms in over-the-counter substance packaging. Johnson & Johnson was widely praised for recalling an estimated 31 million bottles to reduce deaths and warning the public of poisoning risks.
Thankfully, the Federal Anti-Tampering Act of 1982 was quickly passed, making it a federal offense to "maliciously cause or attempt to cause injury or death to any person, or injury to any business's reputation, by adulterating a food, drug, cosmetic or other products."
The latest mass poisonings finally led to reforms in over-the-counter substance packaging. Johnson & Johnson was widely praised for recalling an estimated 31 million bottles to reduce deaths and warning the public of poisoning risks.
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