[Letterhead]


NEWS RELEASE                                           [BECTON DICKINSON LOGO]

Contact:
Colleen White, Corporate Communications - 201-847-5369
Patricia Spinella, Investor Relations - 201-847-5453


           BD Initiates Voluntary Recall of Certain BD'TM' Test Strips

FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ (January 29, 2004) - BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
(NYSE:BDX) announced today that it has initiated a voluntary product recall of
certain lots of its BD'TM' Test Strips used for blood glucose monitoring. These
lots may produce an increased frequency of "E-3" messages when used during blood
glucose testing.

The E-3 message is a protective feature of the meter that appears during a test
to indicate issues with the application of a blood sample or with the test
strip. This message does not cause erroneous test results, as no test result is
shown when the E-3 message is displayed. To maintain the highest product quality
standards and ensure customer satisfaction, BD is performing this recall and
replacing strips from all affected lots. BD has a sufficient remaining quantity
of test strips in inventory to replace the recalled product and to continue
supplying the market.

BD is informing its customers, including distributors, retailers and healthcare
professionals, about this situation and has outlined steps for replacement of
test strips from affected lots.

Patient safety and the efficacy of its products are BD's first priorities.
Customers with questions or concerns can call BD toll-free at 1-866-556-8123.

BD is a medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life
science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD
manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory
equipment and diagnostic products. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003,
BD reported total revenues of $4.528 billion.

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This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements (as defined
under Federal securities laws) regarding BD's performance, including future
revenues, products and income, or events or developments that BD expects to
occur or anticipates occurring in the future. All such statements are based upon
current expectations of BD and involve a number of business risks and
uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated results
described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statement. Factors that
could cause actual results to vary materially from any forward-looking statement
include, but are not limited to: competitive factors; pricing and market share
pressures; uncertainties of litigation; BD's ability to achieve sales and
earnings forecasts, which are based on sales volume and product mix assumptions,
to achieve







its cost savings objectives, and to achieve anticipated synergies and other cost
savings in connection with acquisitions; changes in regional, national or
foreign economic conditions; increases in energy costs; fluctuations in costs
and availability of raw materials and in BD's ability to maintain favorable
supplier arrangements and relationships; changes in interest or foreign currency
exchange rates; delays in product introductions; and changes in health care or
other governmental regulation, as well as other factors discussed in this press
release and in BD's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do
not intend to update any forward-looking statements.