Tainted items/alerts/warnings

[CielOnTap]

Peanut-borne salmonella is subject of outrage in Congress
Relatives of victims of the outbreak that has killed nine call for better safeguards. Officials of Peanut Corp. of America take the 5th when asked why tainted products were released.
By Rebecca Cole
2:20 PM PST, February 11, 2009
REPORTING FROM WASHINGTON -- The family members of people killed or sickened in the recent salmonella outbreak expressed their outrage to a congressional committee today, asking how Peanut Corp. of America could knowingly sell products contaminated with deadly bacteria.

"Cancer couldn't kill her, but peanut butter did," Jeffrey Almer, said of his 72-year-old mother, who died in December.

Almer told the House energy and commerce subcommittee that his mother ate tainted peanut butter in a Minnesota rehabilitation center where she was being treated for a urinary tract infection. The day before she was to return home, he said, doctors unexpectedly said his mother had only hours to live. http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-peanut12-2009feb12,0,2288068.story

Intriguing question that someone openly asked:

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) held up a gallon bucket wrapped in yellow crime scene tape and presumably containing some type of recalled peanut butter product, and asked Parnell if he would be willing to "take the lid off" and eat any of it.

Parnell again invoked the 5th Amendment and was ushered out of the hearing room along with Lightsey and their counsel.

[fishandchips]

Hydroxycut products are recalled
10:41 AM, May 1, 2009
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers to stop using Hydroxycut dietary supplements because some have been linked to serious liver injuries, with one death reported to the agency.

Iovate Health Sciences Inc. is recalling its Hydroxycut products from the market. The popular, heavily advertised supplements promise weight loss and include such products as Max Drink Packets, Caffeine-free Rapid Release Caplets, and Max Aqua Shed. Not part of the recall are Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products. The recalled products contain several ingredients, among them herbal extracts, although the FDA said it’s not sure which ingredients or dosages could be causing the problems. Unused products should be returned to where they were purchased. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/05/fda-issues-a-recall-of-hydroxycut-products.html

Liver concerns--not worth the health risks!

[CielOnTap]

FDA Warns Not to Eat Nestle Toll House Prepackaged, Refrigerated Cookie Dough
Search Consumer Updates

On June 19, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7 (a bacterium that causes foodborne illness).

What to Do
Throw away any prepackaged, refrigerated Nestle Toll House cookie dough products you may have in your home.
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm168012.htm

This warning is applicable to US consumers, not Canadian ones as Toll House dough products are not sold in Canada.

[123duyusee]

Speaking of warnings and recalls, did the pistachio matter get an all-clear yet? The nuts are tasty.

Cookie dough-well, there are egg or milk products in those mixes. Why eat it unbaked?

[CielOnTap]

FDA panel suggests reducing dosages of painkillers
FDA group concerned about liver damage after too much of drug in Tylenol and other medications is taken
By Wailin Wong and Bruce Japsen | Tribune reporters
July 1, 2009
Government health experts Tuesday proposed reducing the maximum recommended dose of popular painkillers such as Tylenol, and banning prescription drugs such as Vicodin and Percocet, because their active ingredient -- acetaminophen -- can cause liver damage if too much is ingested.

The actions taken by a Food and Drug Administration panel represent a wake-up call to consumers who rely on the medication.

The concern is that acetaminophen is found in a wide variety of over-the-counter drugs for treatment of pain and fever, such as Theraflu and NyQuil, as well as prescription medications. And despite years of warning messages, people sometimes consume too much acetaminophen, either by taking too many pills or mixing products for treatment of different ailments.http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-wed-painkillers-jul01,0,4200307.story

I recall reading about the Vicodin and Percocet bans, but did not know about the acetaminophen dosage reduction. How many people read the labels of all of their over the counter preparations? Or even know that NyQuil has the same active medicinal ingredient as Tylenol?

[pysanky]

Medicine labels need simple English. Else all need complicated medical dictionary in drugstore, which is not going to provide to customer.

[CielOnTap]

Maple Leaf in precautionary recall of 9 products
Tue Aug 4, 3:18 AM
(Reuters) - Maple Leaf Foods recalled nine wiener products produced under the Hygrade, Shopsy's and Maple Leaf brands at its plant in Hamilton, Ontario saying there was possibility that they may contain traces of listeria bacteria.

In a separate statement, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) warned the public not to consume the products that were being recalled.

The company said the move was just a precautionary measure and that it was in compliance with the government of Canada's new listeria policy.

"After last August's tragedy, Maple Leaf is being ultra cautious about listeria," Randall Huffman, chief food safety officer said in a statement. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090804/canada/canada_us_mapleleaf

[pretzels]

Oh, the recall is going to affect BBQers and community events relying on hot dogs to fill up people fast.

[Smitty]

Tack on the panic of new school things for students & they are trying to say NO to PVC items not to mention so many other small toys for children are made of PVC.

One has to wonder what WE had, that was wrong, for toys at a younger age to items we purchased for elementary or high school years????

[pretzels]

1 million Maclaren strollers recalled due to risk of fingertip amputation
NATASHA T. METZLER
Associated Press Writer
1:15 p.m. CST, November 9, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) — About a million Maclaren strollers sold by Target and Babies "R'' Us were recalled Monday, after 12 reports of children having their fingertips amputated by a hinge mechanism.

The recall includes all nine models of single and double umbrella Maclaren strollers, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced the recall after an investigation.

The amputation risk occurs when a child's finger is placed in the hinge mechanism of a stroller while it is being unfolded. When the opened stroller locks into place, it can cut off the tip of the child's finger.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-stroller-recall,0,4579822.story

Why would a kid have his or her finger in a hinge unless his or her parent is not paying attention? Maybe a sleeve or cover over the hinge saves the worrying.