Consumer Safety Recalls

Dieters Go Bananas For Bananas

2008-10-25T00:55:00.000-06:00

A fad diet in Japan has those who want to lose some weight going bananas in the morning. The diet calls for bananas and lukewarm water for breakfast and whatever you want for the rest of the day.

Doctors Commonly Give Placebos

2008-10-25T00:54:00.000-06:00

A recent study shows doctors prescribe pills to patients for the benefit of "the placebo effect" almost fifty-percent of the time. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel from the NIH explains to Harry Smith.

Rx Drugs Under Fire

2008-10-25T00:22:00.000-06:00

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices reports that deaths linked to prescription medications, such as Chantix and Heparin, have hit an all time high. Sharyl Attkisson investigates.

2 Infant Deaths Prompt Crib Recall

2008-10-25T00:19:00.001-06:00

A recall of nearly 1.6 million cribs, triggered by the suffocations of two 8-month-old infants, has prompted a government agency to urge parents to inspect older drop-side cribs for safety problems. (Oct. 21)

Idaho, MySpace agree on predator protections

2008-01-14T18:37:00.001-07:00

By KBCI Staff & Associated Press
BOISE - Idaho is pressuring a major social networking site to improve its stance on child predators.

Under mounting pressure from law enforcement and parents, MySpace and 49 states (not including Texas) agreed on Monday to take steps to protect youngsters from online sexual predators and bullies, including searching for ways to better verify users' ages. Idaho parents are well aware of the site's potential risk.

"I tell (my daughter) that if she gets a pop up, if someone tries to instant message her, just to ignore it," said Heather Amador, a local mother of a 12-year-old daughter." "Even though I know it's a great social networking application that she could have, I feel like I would want more control over it."

Under mounting pressure from law enforcement and parents, MySpace agreed Monday to take steps to protect youngsters from online sexual predators and bullies, including searching for ways to better verify users' ages.

The hugely popular online hangout will create a task force of industry professionals to watch over its operations, and other social-networking sites will be invited to participate.

The Idaho Attorney General's Office says there are thousands of registered sex offenders on Myspace. But a new nationwide agreement with the site could help change that. Under the plan, Myspace will develop better software to verify the age and identity of its users. It will also allow parents to submit their kids' email addresses so they can't join. The site also claims it will make it harder for adults to contact children.

"Most people when they think of MySpace, they think it's a site that's visited mostly by youth, actually, over half of all the MySpace users are over 35 years old," said Brett DeLange, deputy attorney general.

Tina Pollardy, another local mother, says her children are older but their early Myspacing days were filled with words of caution.

"We told them not to give out personal information, don't even give out the city where you live, because somebody could find you easily," Pollardy said.

The attorney general believes Monday's new MySpace agreement is a step in the right direction.

"It happens everywhere, we're not immune from these sorts of predators coming to our state, seeking out our youth and hurting them," DeLange said.

A 15-year-old girl from Texas was allegedly lured to a meeting, drugged and assaulted in 2006 by an adult MySpace user. In another case, a man got 14 years in prison for using MySpace to set up a sexual encounter with an 11-year-old Connecticut girl. A 16-year-old New York girl ran away to Puerto Rico with a man she met on MySpace.

And a 13-year-old girl in Missouri hanged herself in 2006 after receiving mean messages on MySpace from a person she thought was another teen, but it later turned out that the messages were all a hoax.

Texas' attorney general said the state did not join the agreement because it cannot support the effort unless it takes action to verify people's ages.

MySpace, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., has more than 200 million registered users worldwide, and Facebook claims more than 61 million active users.

Mattel recalls 800,000 toys worldwide

2007-09-04T20:54:00.000-06:00

Mattel Inc. announced its third major recall of Chinese-made toys in little more than a month, including 675,000 Barbie doll accessories, because of excessive amounts of lead-tainted paint.
The recall is the latest blow to the world's largest toy maker as the critical holiday shopping season approaches. The action, whose details were negotiated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, involves a total of more than 800,000 units, Mattel said in a statement.
The latest recall covers 90,000 units of Mattel's GeoTrax locomotive line and 8,900 Big Big World 6-in-1 Bongo Band toys, both from the company's Fisher-Price brand. The Big Big World products were sold nationwide from July through August of this year, while the GeoTrax toys were sold from September 2006 through August of this year.
The recalled Barbie accessories were sold between October 2006 and August of this year. No Barbie dolls were included in the action.
Mattel's last recall, announced on Aug. 14, covered about 19 million toys worldwide. They included Chinese-made toys that either had excessive amounts of lead paint or had small magnets that could easily be swallowed by children.
On Aug. 1, Mattel's Fisher-Price division said it was recalling 1.5 million preschool toys featuring characters such as Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo because of lead paint. That action included 967,000 toys sold in the United States between May and August.
Lead can cause brain damage when ingested by young children. Under current regulations, children's products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.
Robert Eckert, chairman and chief executive of El Segundo, Calif.-based Mattel, warned at a press conference last month that there may be more recalls of tainted toys as the company steps up its investigations into its Chinese factories and retests products.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, Eckert said: "As a result of our ongoing investigation, we discovered additional affected products. Consequently, several subcontractors are no longer manufacturing Mattel toys. We apologize again to everyone affected and promise that we will continue to focus on ensuring the safety and quality of our toys."
Still, Tuesday's announcement could further tarnish the reputation of Mattel, which has cultivated an image of tightly controlling production in China. The CPSC is also considering a possible investigation of whether Mattel notified authorities as quickly as it should have in connection with the Aug. 14 recall.
With more than 80 percent of toys sold worldwide made in China, toy sellers are also nervous that shoppers will shy away from their products in this year's holiday season.
In June, toy maker RC2 Corp. voluntarily recalled 1.5 million wooden railroad toys and set parts from its Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway product line. The company said the surface paint on certain toys and parts made in China between January 2005 and April 2006 contains lead, affecting 26 components and 23 retailers.
In July, Hasbro Inc. recalled faulty Chinese-made Easy Bake ovens, marking the second time the iconic toy had been recalled this year.
Mattel vowed as recently as last month it would tighten its controls at factories in China. About 65 percent of the company's toys are made in China, and about 50 percent of Mattel's production there is produced in company-owned plants.
The recalled toys in the Barbie accessory line included a Barbie Dream Puppy House, which had lead paint on the dog; a Barbie Dream Kitty Condo playset, which had lead paint on the cat; and a Barbie table and chairs kitchen playset, which had lead paint on the dog and dinner plates.
Mattel said in a statement that the Barbie products affected by the recall were produced by Holder Plastic Company, a Mattel contract vendor, which subcontracted the painting of miniature toy pets and small furniture pieces to Dong Lian Fa and Yip Sing. Both companies used uncertified paint and are no longer producing toys for Mattel, the company said.
Mattel added that its probe revealed that the subcontractors painted the affected toys between March 2007 and August 2007. However, Mattel said it's being cautious in recalling the entire production of the seven toys painted by the subcontractors, and toys made beginning in October 2006 are included within the recall.
Among the three Fisher-Price toys recalled are two GeoTrax toys and a toy from the Big Big World line.
The two GeoTrax toys were made by Apex Manufacturing Company Ltd., one of Mattel's contract vendors, which outsourced paint work to a subcontractor, Boyi Plastic Products Factory. Apex supplied Boyi with certified paint; however, the toys were made with uncertified paint. Boyi is no longer in business, Mattel said.
The GeoTrax toys were manufactured between July 31, 2006, and September 4, 2006; however, the painted parts were stored and incorporated into toy production throughout the year. Mattel said it is recalling toys shipped between August 3, 2006, and July 31 of this year.
Fisher-Price's Big Big World toy was manufactured by Shun On Factory, one of Mattel's contract vendors, which outsourced the molding and painting of one plastic piece. A subcontractor, Jingying Tampo Printing Processing Factory, used uncertified paint on the recalled piece.
For information about Tuesday's recalls, consumers should call Mattel at 888-496-8330 or visit the company's Web site at http://www.service.mattel.com.

Toys 'R' Us Recalls 27,000 Crayon and Paint Sets Due to Lead

2007-09-01T16:31:00.000-06:00

Thursday , August 30, 2007
NEW YORK — Toys "R" Us has recalled 27,000 crayon and paint sets made in China because the packaging of the wooden box contains lead, as does some of the watercolor paint within, company and government officials said Thursday.
No injuries have been reported from the use of the Imaginarium Wooden Coloring Cases, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The case includes crayons, pastels, colored pencils, fiber pens, paintbrush, pencil, water colors, palette, white paint, ruler and pencil sharpener in a light tan wooden carrying case. The case measures about 14 inches high by 19 inches wide.
Toys "R" Us sold the case nationwide from October 2006 through this month for about $20.
Consumers are asked to take the products away from children and return them to the nearest "Toys "R" Us store for store credit, the CPSC said.
The recall follows Mattel Inc.'s (MAT) July recall of 19 million Chinese-made toys, including dolls, cars and action figures. Some of the items were contaminated with lead paint. Others had small magnets that children might swallow.

China starts recall systems for food

2007-09-01T13:58:00.001-06:00

By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press WriterFri Aug 31, 3:09 PM ET
China's first nationwide recall systems for unsafe food and toys came into effect Friday in one of the strongest steps taken by Beijing to clean up the country's scandal-hit manufacturing industry.
China, a major global supplier, has been facing growing international pressure to improve the quality of its exports after dangerous toxins — from lead to an antifreeze ingredient — were found in goods including toys and toothpaste.
At home, scares have centered around fake milk powder that led to the deaths of at least a dozen babies and the use of the banned cancer-causing industrial dye, Sudan Red, to color egg yolks.
The recall systems, put in place by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine, follow an earlier system set up for defective cars in 2005.
They require manufacturers to stop production and sales, notify vendors and customers, and report to quality control authorities when defects are found.
The administration oversees all products made in China and the measure appears to be targeted at goods manufactured for both domestic and global consumption.
The administration said food producers should voluntarily recall any potentially harmful products and investigate immediately. It will force a recall and issue a consumer alert if manufacturers fail to take actions or if a food safety incident occurs, the administration said.
The toy recall system requires producers to stop making and selling toys that are confirmed to have problems, even if the products are made in accordance with Chinese laws and standards, the agency said.
It will "provide a powerful legal weapon for protection of children's health and life safety," the administration said.
While authorities were initially reluctant to address the issue, the government has launched several sweeping measures in recent weeks focused on cleaning up shoddy manufacturing practices and cracking down on illegal businesses at the heart of recent safety scandals.
Chinese-made toys came under new scrutiny this summer after a series of high-profile recalls by Mattel Inc., the world's largest toy maker.
The latest centered around 18.2 million Batman figures, Polly Pocket dolls and Barbie play sets, which were pulled from the shelves because of a revision of international standards in May that required safety warnings for toys with magnets or magnetic components not attached tightly.
Another 436,000 "Sarge" cars, based on a character from the movie "Cars," were also recalled because they contained lead.
Two weeks earlier, Mattel ordered a global recall on 1.5 million Fisher-Price infant toys that were made in China because of lead-contaminated paint. In June, about 1.5 million Thomas & Friends wooden railway toys, imported from China and distributed by the RC2 Corp., were recalled also because of lead paint.
Chinese officials have said Mattel should share a large part of the blame because of insufficient inspections and poor designs on its part.
The safety administration also announced Friday that it had detected harmful pine wood parasites in 13 batches of wooden packages used for U.S.-imported goods this year.
China has increased the number of announcements of substandard imports in recent weeks in an apparent effort to show that other countries also have problems with quality.
The European Commission said Friday that the European Union's food safety chief, Markos Kyprianou, will meet with Chinese officials from Sept. 6-14 to talk about ways to help them track down problem products.
The EU's executive arm said the meeting with Li Changjiang, the head of the Chinese governmental agency for quality supervision, inspection and quarantine, would discuss Chinese seafood — where U.S. and European authorities have found high doses of a carcinogenic antibiotic given to farmed fish — as well as protein-rich animal feed contaminated with melamine, a toxic industrial chemical.
Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Spinach recall sparks oversight calls

2007-09-01T13:56:00.000-06:00

Saturday, Sep 1, 2007
Posted on Fri, Aug. 31, 2007
By GARANCE BURKE
Consumer advocates and some lawmakers say that a Salinas Valley company's recall of spinach because of a salmonella scare shows that the federal government must do more to protect the nation's food supply, but industry officials call it proof that their voluntary regulations are working.
Metz Fresh, a King City-based grower and shipper, recalled 8,000 cartons of fresh spinach Wednesday after salmonella was found during a routine test of spinach it was processing for shipment. More than 90 percent of the possibly contaminated cartons never reached stores, company spokesman Greg Larson said.
California's leafy greens industry adopted the voluntary regulations last year after a fatal E. coli outbreak, but advocates said a national, mandatory inspection and testing program overseen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is needed.
"Eight thousand cartons left the plant for distribution in the U.S. That's 8,000 too many," said Jean Halloran, a food safety expert with Consumers Union. "At this point, we are relying on the leafy green industry to police itself."
Some growers said Metz Fresh's ability to catch the bacteria showed that the new testing regimes are working. No illnesses have been reported from eating spinach linked to the company.
"I think the test of the industry is how we react to these types of situations," said grower Joseph Pezzini, who heads the board that administers the new produce safety rules. "No one was harmed by the product and that's important."
Larsen said the recalled spinach, which was picked Aug. 22, had tested negative in earlier field and production tests. Metz Fresh began telling stores and restaurants on Aug. 24 not to sell or serve the lettuce after a first round of tests came up positive.
"The first thing we are looking at right now is making sure this product, as much as possible, is under our control," he said. "The next step is to back up and take a hard look at how this happened."
Metz Fresh has complied with the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement, a set of voluntary food safety rules drafted after last year's E. coli outbreak in fresh spinach killed three people and sickened 200. By joining the program, participants also agree to have their fields and plants checked for compliance.
In two separate plant and field visits earlier this month, California auditors found no signs of danger at Metz Fresh, said Scott Horsfall, who oversees the industry-sponsored program.
"I'm not trying to put a pretty face on it, but the overall system is working very well," Horsfall said. "Consumers can have a high degree of confidence in this product, notwithstanding this recent problem."
But some legislators said the latest recall showed the FDA had yet to improve a patchwork produce safety system critics believe is vastly understaffed and poorly monitored.
"This in no way should be seen as a success story," said state Sen. Dean Florez, who chairs a committee on food-borne illnesses. He said that Metz Fresh should have caught the salmonella before any of its spinach reached consumers, and that he has written the state's agriculture secretary demanding answers about "this breakdown in California's food safety system."
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, is crafting legislation that would set up national food safety practices for growing and processing fresh produce that run the highest risk of causing food-borne illnesses.
"This is a food safety concern for consumers who wonder if it is OK to serve this produce to their families, and it is an agricultural concern for growers who face another blow to sales of their product," said Harkin, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. "It is long overdue for the FDA to exercise more oversight of food safety practices."
FDA and state public health officials said Thursday they were investigating the company's records, tests and products.
The recall covers 10- and 16-ounce bags, as well as 4-pound cartons and cartons that contain four, 2.5-pound bags, with the following tracking codes: 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314.
The California Department of Public Health and the Food And Drug Administration are investigating the Metz Fresh processing facility in King City.
Salmonella sickens about 40,000 people a year in the U.S. and kills about 600.

Spinach recall fuels food-safety debate

2007-09-01T13:55:00.000-06:00

Friday, August 31, 2007 - 12:00 AM
Permission to reprint or copy this article or photo, other than personal use, must be obtained from The Seattle Times. Call 206-464-3113 or e-mail resale@seattletimes.com with your request.

By GARANCE BURKEThe Associated Press
FRESNO, Calif. — Consumer advocates and some lawmakers say a Salinas Valley company's recall of spinach because of a salmonella scare shows that the federal government must do more to protect the nation's food supply, but industry officials call it proof their voluntary regulations are working.
Metz Fresh, a King City-based grower and shipper, recalled 8,000 cartons of fresh spinach after salmonella was found during a routine test. More than 90 percent of the possibly contaminated cartons never reached stores, company spokesman Greg Larson said.
California's leafy-greens industry adopted the voluntary regulations last year after a fatal E. coli outbreak.
The recall covers 10- and 16-ounce bags, as well as 4-pound cartons and cartons that contain four, 2.5-pound bags, with the tracking codes: 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

Bagged Spinach Recall

2007-08-30T11:34:00.001-06:00

Bagged Spinach Recall; Yet Another Salmonella Tainted Food Product to Reach Consumers

Date Published: Thursday, August 30th, 2007

Fresh bagged spinach is being recalled by the California grower Metz Fresh, LLC. The company says a sample of the recalled spinach, which was shipped to grocery stores and food service vendors, has tested positive for Salmonella contamination. This is the third fresh spinach recall in the past year. Last year, bagged spinach sold by Dole was implicated in an E. coli outbreak that killed three people and sickened 225 others. Fresh spinach and bagged salad greens sold by Classic Salads, LLC of Salinas, California were also recalled last summer after testing positive for Salmonella bacteria.

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said in a press release that it has not received any reports of illness as a result of the Salmonella-tainted Metz Fresh spinach. The recalled spinach was sold in 10 and 16 ounce bags at grocery stores, and in 2.5 and 4 pound bags shipped in cartons to food service vendors. All of the packages bear the “Metz Fresh” label and tracking codes 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314.

Metz Fresh said that it first became aware of the Salmonella problem after a sample of the spinach tested “presumptive positive” for the bacteria on Friday. By Tuesday, further testing had confirmed the Salmonella contamination. Metz Fresh said that on Friday it was able to track and hold about 90-percent of the more than 8,100 cases of tainted spinach that had shipped. The spinach was slated to be shipped across the continental US and Canada. The company is now working with the FDA to determine where the remaining spinach went.

Salmonella is a potentially deadly type of food poisoning, symptoms of which include fever, abdominal pain, nausea, gas and bloody diarrhea. Symptoms appear within 36 hours of exposure, and usually last four to seven days. In very severe cases, Salmonella can lead to kidney failure and other complications. Salmonella can be particularly dangerous for children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Some victims of Salmonella will develop a disease called Reiter’s Syndrome, a difficult- to- treat condition that causes severe joint pain, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination. Reiter’s Syndrome can plague its victims for months or years, and can lead to chronic arthritis.

The Metz Fresh spinach recall is only the latest in a string of food poisoning-related recalls this year. Just yesterday, American Pie, LLC recalled Marie Callender’s Turtle Pies after the frozen dessert tested positive for an unspecified bacteria. Last week, baby carrots were recalled by the Los Angeles Salad Company after they were linked to an outbreak of Shigellosis in Canada. Dry dog food, peanut butter and children’s snack foods have been implicated in several Salmonella outbreaks. And canned products like hot dog chili sauces and green beans have been linked to botulism.

Metz Fresh has said that customers who bought the Salmonella contaminated fresh spinach should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. The company has also set up a hotline in order to answer questions regarding the recall. That number is 831-386-1018.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 30th, 2007 at 8:53 am and is filed under Legal News, Defective Products, Health Concerns, Product Recalls. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

DEG in Toothpaste from China

2007-07-21T14:10:00.000-06:00

FDA has found a poisonous chemical, diethylene glycol (DEG), in certain toothpastes imported from China. The agency increased its scrutiny and testing of imported toothpaste and dental products after receiving reports in late May 2007 of contaminated Chinese dental products found in several countries, including Panama.
The agency is warning consumers to avoid using tubes of toothpaste labeled as made in China and, through an import alert, is stopping all suspect toothpaste from entering the United States. FDA continues to investigate this problem and will take further action, as appropriate, to address this important public safety issue. View News Updates
List of Toothpaste Products
FDA has identified the following brands of toothpaste from China that have been found to contain a poisonous chemical called diethylene glycol (DEG). The products typically are sold at low-cost, “bargain” retail outlets.
Manufacturer: Goldcredit International Enterprises LTD Products: (MainStar America, Selective Imports, Donnamax)
Dr. Cool Coolmint
Superdent Coolmint
Cooldent Coolmint
Cooldent Spearmint
Cooldent Fluoride
Everfresh Assortment
BrightMax
DentaPro
Dentakleen
Dentakleen Junior Brand - Strawberry
Dentakleen Junior Brand - Blueberry
Manufacturer: Gold Credit International Trading Co LTD Products:
Bright Max Peppermint Flavor
Clean Rite Toothpaste
Clean Rite Toothpaste Kit
Oralmax Extreme Action Kit
Oral Bright Fresh Spearmint Flavor
DentaKleen
DentaKleen Junior
DentaPro
Manufacturer: Suzhou City Jinmao Daily Chemicals Co. Ltd. Product: (Gold City Enterprises/New Star, Miami, FL)
ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste
ShiRFresh Toothpaste
ShiRFresh Mint
ShiRFresh Ice Mint
Manufacturer Shanghai Light Industrial Products:Freshh Spearmint (Following up with Mandalay International, Ogden, UT)
MFR Unknown:Crescent Toothpaste (Dollar Ocean #4, Wheaton, MD and H&Y Trading Co, Capitol Heights, MD)Naturabella nino Dusanzo (Certejenas Inc., Cidra, PR)
Manufacturer: Suzhou Qing Xin Daily Chemical Co., Ltd.
Pacific Fluoride Toothpaste
Pacific Fluoride Gel Toothpaste
Manufacturer: Guangdong Wellknown Ceramics Co., Ltd.
Tian Qi Toothpaste
FDA has identified the following counterfeit products:
Manufacturer: Unknown
counterfeit toothpaste falsely packaged as "Colgate," manufactured in South Africa
counterfeit tooth gel falsely packaged as "Colgate," manufactured in South Africa (may not contain DEG)
Recalled Toothpaste Products
DentFresh Fluoride Mint Toothpaste (July 13, 2007)
MainStar America, LLC Issues Urgent Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Toothpaste (June 13, 2007)
Pitusa, National Lumber, Everything To Weight, Supermarkets and Supermarkets Pitusa Recalls Dentakleen, BrightMax, DentaPro, and Dentakleen Junior Toothpastes (June 8, 2007)
Gold City Enterprise Recalls ShiR Toothpastes (June 8, 2007)
News Updates
Update: Health Canada, the federal health oversight agency in Canada, announced last week that products falsely labeled as Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Herbal and Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection contained high levels of potentially harmful bacteria that could potentially pose significant health risks, especially to children and individuals with compromised immune systems. To date, no adverse events have been attributed to the counterfeit toothpaste in the United States or Canada. FDA is continuing its investigative and analytical work related to these products and will provide updates as needed. FDA continues to advise consumers not to buy or use these counterfeit toothpaste products. Colgate has also provided information on their website for consumers. (July 13, 2007)
Update: Counterfeit Toothpaste Falsely Labeled as “Colgate” (June 15, 2007)
Update: MainStar America initiated a nationwide recall of toothpaste made in China. The recall was initiated because the products may contain the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol. Consumers who have one of the recalled products should stop using the product, return the product to the store where it was purchased, or throw the product away. See the Firm's press release for a list of product lot numbers associated with this recall. (June 15, 2007)
Update: The Colgate-Palmolive Company warned that counterfeit toothpaste falsely packaged as "Colgate" has been found in several dollar-type discount stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. There are indications that the product does not contain fluoride and may contain diethylene glycol. Consumers who suspect they may have purchased a counterfeit product can call Colgate's toll-free number 1-800-468-6502. Press Release -- Counterfeit Colgate Toothpaste Found (June 14, 2007).
Update: Gold City Enterprise LLC of Hallandale, Florida initiated a nationwide recall of toothpaste made in China because the products may contain the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol (DEG), a substance used in antifreeze and as a solvent. The substance is a central nervous system depressant and potent kidney and liver toxin. See the company's news release for a listing of the lot numbersfor the recalled products. Additionally, Pitusa, National Lumber, Everything to Weight, Supermarkets and Supermarkets Pitusa of Carolina, Puerto Rico recalled all dental toothpaste with the origin "Made in China" due to possible contamination with DEG. The recall includes the following product sizes with dental brushes, 6.4 oz, 1.76 oz, and 50 grams for children. See the Pitusa, National Lumber's news release for the various names under which the recalled products are sold. (June 13, 2007)
FDA Advises Consumers to Avoid Toothpaste From China Containing Harmful Chemical (June 1, 2007) (En Español)
Toothpaste Imported From China May Contain Diethylene Glycol (Medwatch, June 1, 2007)
Import Alert #66-74, "Detention without Physical Examination of Dentifrice Products Containing Diethylene Glycol (DEG) (May 31, 2007)
FDA Advises Manufacturers to Test Glycerin for Possible Contamination (May 4, 2007)
Transcripts of FDA Press Conference on Toothpaste from China that Contains DEG
June 1, 2007 [pdf, 180 KB]
What is FDA doing?
Consumer Update: Warning: Toothpaste From China
How Do I Report a Toothpaste Complaint?
Please contact your Consumer Complaint Coordinator

Tainted Veggie Booty Snack Food

2007-07-21T14:08:00.000-06:00

Update on Tainted Veggie Booty Snack Food FDA Testing Confirms Presence of Salmonella Contamination
Corrections were made in the 2nd and 8th paragraphs of this press release on July 16, 2007
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today confirmed that a strain of Salmonella Wandsworth bacteria found in Veggie Booty snack food is responsible for the disease outbreak that occurred between March and June 2007.
Laboratory testing conducted by the Minnesota Agricultural Lab previously confirmed initial epidemiologic evidence that implicated Veggie Booty snack food as the source of the outbreak. The results of FDA’s own testing added further confirmation.
Veggie Booty is marketed by Robert’s American Gourmet, of Sea Cliff, N.Y.
FDA continues to advise consumers not to eat any Veggie Booty and to throw away product they have. FDA also advises consumers not to eat Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks, and to throw out any supplies they have, because this product also may be contaminated.
No illnesses have been associated with any other Robert's American Gourmet products.
Salmonella typically causes diarrhea (may be bloody), often accompanied by abdominal cramps and fever. Symptoms typically begin within one to four days after exposure to the bacteria. In infants and persons with poor underlying health and those with weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.
Individuals who have recently eaten Veggie Booty or Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks and who have experienced any of the symptoms described above should contact a doctor or other health care provider immediately. Both products may appeal to children, so parents should be especially vigilant and seek medical care if they observe signs of illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified 60 persons, mostly toddlers, from 19 states who have become ill. Five persons were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. States reporting illnesses include: California (seven cases), Colorado (five), Connecticut (two), Georgia (one), Illinois (one), Indiana (one), Massachusetts (four), Minnesota (two), New Hampshire (two), New Jersey (two), New York (15), Oregon (one), Pennsylvania (four), Tennessee (one), Texas (two), Virginia (one), Vermont (three), Washington (four), and Wisconsin (two).
FDA, the States, and CDC are continuing the investigation. Preliminary testing suggests that the seasoning mix used in Veggie Booty may be the source of the contamination. FDA will continue to trace back the ingredients and processing methods used for the seasoning mix, seeing to determine whether the seasoning actually is the source of the problem.
Veggie Booty is sold in a flexible plastic foil bag in four ounce, one ounce and one-half ounce packages. Some gift baskets available for purchase on the internet include Veggie Booty or Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks.
Robert’s American Gourmet ceased distributing Veggie Booty and began recalling the product on June 28. The company has also voluntarily recalled all lots and sizes of Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks snack food because the same potentially contaminated seasoning may have been used in making that product, too. In addition, the manufacturer of Veggie Booty and other products for Robert’s has ceased production until this investigation is complete. Robert's American Gourmet and its contract manufacturer are fully cooperating with FDA's investigation into the cause of the contamination.
FDA will provide additional updates as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available.
Wellbaskets.com Is Alerting Customers of the Veggie Booty Voluntary Recall Issued on June 28, 2007 by Robert's American Gourmet (July 2, 2007)
Robert’s American Gourmet Food, Inc. Conducts a Nationwide Recall of Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks Because of Possible Health Risk (July 2, 2007)
Photo: Robert's American Gourmet Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks
FDA's Pilot Program to Better Educate Consumers about Recalled Food Products
Robert's American Gourmet Food, Inc. Conducts Nationwide Recall of Veggie Booty Because of Possible Health Risk (June 28, 2007)
Veggie Booty Snack Food Identified in Product Recall (June 28, 2007)
FDA Press Release (June 28, 2007)

Teen Abuse of Medicinal Drugs

2007-07-21T14:07:00.000-06:00

How hard is it for your teen to get high on prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs? It's easier than you may think.
The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that more than half of teens who abuse prescription pain relievers say they get them for free, from the homes of family or friends. Many times, teens simply take the drugs without asking.
That’s why parents are the target audience of an awareness program run by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The program involves FDA and 10 other private and government organizations, and focuses on illegal use of “legal” medicinal drugs.
Risky Behavior
"Parents need to know the trends regarding teens and drug abuse," says Ellen Shapiro, Public Affairs Director for FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, "and that abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicine can be as harmful as using illicit drugs."
She adds, "They also need to help their teens know about the risks involved with this type of drug abuse. Teens who use these drugs to get high can run the risk of addiction, strokes, seizures, comas, and even death."
Last year, an annual University of Michigan survey on adolescent drug use confirmed that teen use of prescription drugs for nonmedicinal purposes remains steady and relatively high, even as teen use of illicit drugs and alcohol has steadily declined.
The survey of 50,000 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in more than 400 schools nationwide showed that Oxycontin and Vicodin were prevalent among teen abusers. It also found that 1 in every 14 12th graders—and 1 in every 25 8th graders—abused cough or cold medications fairly recently.
back to top
Exposing Easy Access
The centerpiece of the latest awareness program is an ad that highlights the ease with which teens can find prescription and OTC medicines to abuse.
Titled "Is This Where Your Teen Goes to Get High?", the ad shows a photo of an open medicine cabinet and states that often-abused drugs "are most likely already in your own home."
The spot ran this spring in local and national newspapers, including USA Today and The New York Times—and in national magazines such as People, Sports Illustrated, Time, TV Guide, Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report.
Joining FDA and ONDCP in the ad campaign are SAMHSA and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Other participating organizations include
The American Academy of Pediatrics
American College of Emergency Physicians
The American Medical Association
American Pharmacists Association
The American Society of Addiction Medicine
The Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse (AMERSA)
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores
The National Association of School Nurses
The National Council on Patient Information and Education
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America
The parent-awareness initiative, which is part of ONDCP’s National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, compliments another effort led by SAMHSA and FDA aiming to increase awareness of the overall prescription drug abuse problem. That campaign, which is already in its third year, also involves the NIDA and the ONDCP.
Campaign-related ads and posters previously released by FDA also feature stark messages. "The buzz takes your breath away … Permanently," and "Misuse of prescription pain relievers can kill you" reads one. "It's to die for," states another. (A main message of this ad is: It starts with "just this once," and it can end there.)
"All of the ads are available online for download," says Shapiro. "They can be printed and posted by individuals, groups, schools, and anyone else who may be interested. There's even an editable version available that will allow organizations to customize the ad with their name and logo."
The printable ads, as well as access to the downloadable public-service announcements for radio and television, can be found at www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/misuse_RX_all_resources.htm
back to top
What Parents Can Do
ONDCP’s popular and effective "Parents: The Anti-Drug" campaign has listed the following tips for parents on its Web site (www.theantidrug.com) aimed at stopping teen abuse of prescription and OTC drugs.
Educate yourself and your teen about the risks. Prescription drugs can be just as dangerous and as addictive as "street drugs" and can be lethal. Talk to your teen about the dangers of these drugs.
Keep track of quantities. Take note of how many pills are in a bottle or pill packet and ask other households your teen visits to do the same. Don't forget about refills. If you find you have to refill medication for a chronic condition more often than recommended, someone may be knowingly stealing your medication.
Talk to friends, relatives and school administration. Make sure your friends and relatives know about the risks too, and encourage them to regularly monitor their own medicine cabinets. If you don't know the parents of your child's circle of friends, make an effort to get to know them, and get on the same page about rules and expectations. Follow up with your teen's school administration to find out what they are doing to address issues of prescription and OTC drug abuse on campus.
Follow directions carefully. Make sure you and your teen use prescription drugs only as prescribed by a medical doctor and take only the recommended dosages as indicated for both prescription and OTC drugs.
Discard old or unused medications. Unused prescription drugs should be disposed of in the trash. Unless the directions say otherwise, do NOT flush medications down the drain or toilet because the chemicals can taint the water supply. Also, remove any personal, identifiable information from prescription bottles or pill packages before you throw them away.
Monitor your teen's time online. Check browser histories and set a time limit for how long your teen can be online.
Be observant. If you find your teen is quickly going through cough syrup, or you find empty bottles and pill packages among your child's personal effects, talk with him or her, listen carefully, and determine if there is a problem. If there is a problem, call your family physician immediately.
Help your teen find other ways to relieve stress and have fun. Many teens point to personal and family stress, as well as boredom, as reasons they abuse prescription and OTC drugs. Help your teen find other ways to relieve pressures, for example through positive activities that interest him or her, positive friendships, or by simply listening and offering guidance. Also, help your teen find constructive ways to pass time, and set a good example yourself.
back to top
Date Posted: July 18, 2007

Sippy cups recalled because of choking hazard

2007-07-21T14:05:00.000-06:00

Posted by Gina Chen July 20, 2007 4:18PM
Categories: Recalls
This product has been recalled.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled Playskool toddler "no spill" sippy cups because young children can chew through the plastic spout and choke.
The firm has received 36 reports of toddlers chewing through the plastic spout of the sippy cup, resulting in one choking incident and three near-choking incidents, according to a news release.
The 8-ounce cup is clear plastic with red trim, red and yellow handles and a yellow tip; blue trim, blue and green handles and a green tip; or purple trim, purple and aqua handles, and an aqua tip. The serial number of the recalled cups is 382814, which appears on the back of the packaging.
Click here to read more.

China Shuts 3 Companies Over Safety of Products

2007-07-21T14:04:00.000-06:00

Du Bin for The New York Times
Taixing Glycerine Factory sold an ingredient laced with diethylene glycol that was mixed in to cold medicine.
function getSharePasskey() { return 'ex=1342756800&en=e381622c74535cf8&ei=5124';}
function getShareURL() {
return encodeURIComponent('http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/business/21food.html');
}
function getShareHeadline() {
return encodeURIComponent('China Shuts 3 Companies Over Safety of Products');
}
function getShareDescription() {
return encodeURIComponent('Chinese regulators said that the companies had exported mislabeled drug and tainted pet food ingredients.');
}
function getShareKeywords() {
return encodeURIComponent('Food Contamination and Poisoning,International Trade and World Market');
}
function getShareSection() {
return encodeURIComponent('business');
}
function getShareSectionDisplay() {
return encodeURIComponent('Business');
}
function getShareSubSection() {
return encodeURIComponent('');
}
function getShareByline() {
return encodeURIComponent('By DAVID BARBOZA and WALT BOGDANICH');
}
function getSharePubdate() {
return encodeURIComponent('July 21, 2007');
}

Sign In to E-Mail or Save This
Print
Reprints
Share
Digg
Facebook
Newsvine
Permalink
writePost();

By DAVID BARBOZA and WALT BOGDANICH
Published: July 21, 2007
SHANGHAI, July 20 — The Chinese government moved on Friday to quell international concerns about the safety of its exports, announcing that it had revoked the licenses of three companies that made poisonous ingredients later used — with lethal results — in medicine and pet food.
Skip to next paragraph
Enlarge This Image
Ryan Pyle for The New York Times
Xuzhou Anying Biotechnology Development labeled its products as chemicals, which are not subject to compulsory inspection in China.
One of the three, the Taixing Glycerine Factory, sold an ingredient laced with a potent poison, diethylene glycol, that was later mixed into cold medicine, killing at least 100 people in Panama over the last year.
Diethylene glycol, a sweet and inexpensive substitute for glycerin that is also a prime ingredient in some antifreeze, is the same poison later found in Chinese toothpaste, prompting countries around the world to recall it.
Chinese regulators also announced that they had revoked the business licenses of two companies that exported tainted wheat protein used in pet food. An undetermined number of animals in the United States died as a result.
The two companies, the Xuzhou Anying Biotechnology Development Company and the Binzhou Futian Biotechnology Company, evaded inspections by labeling their product as chemicals, which are not subject to compulsory inspection in China, according to Xinhua, the state-controlled news agency, citing comments by government officials.
And, China acknowledged that several Chinese companies had exported seafood tainted with banned antibiotics to the United States.
Regulators said the seafood suppliers were not properly registered with the government’s quality inspectors. China’s announcements came amid a flurry of government activity this month aimed at combating growing criticism of the Made-in-China label, including reports about defective tires, exploding cellphone batteries and toys coated with lead. Friday’s actions, though, took direct aim at the companies implicated in two scandals with particular resonance.
“The Chinese government pays great attention to addressing flaws in product quality, especially the quality of food products,” Li Changjiang, a top official at the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said at a Beijing news conference on Friday, according to Xinhua.
Beijing has adopted a double-barreled response. On the one hand, the government promises sweeping changes in food and drug regulation. It has begun nationwide quality and safety inspections and recently banned the use of diethylene glycol as a thickening agent in toothpaste. Last week, it executed the former head of the State Food and Drug Administration, convicted of corruption charges.
At the same time, Beijing has disputed claims that Chinese exports are particularly dangerous, insisting that 99 percent of its exports meet quality standards and accusing the foreign media of exaggerating the extent of safety-related issues.
The government expressed new interest in the Taixing Glycerine Factory after The New York Times in May traced the Panama poison to the factory, located near the Yangtze delta in eastern China.
The company had falsely labeled the poisonous compound as 99.5 percent glycerin, a safe ingredient used in food, medicine and other products, records show. The Times found that the factory was not certified to make glycerin.
Afterward, Chinese authorities reopened a dormant investigation of the company, culminating in its decision Friday to close the Taixing Glycerine Factory.
“The Food and Drug Administration welcomes any action by Chinese authorities that will help ensure the safety of the products that are made in China,” said Julie Zawisza, a spokeswoman for the Food and Drug Administration.
By Friday night, the company’s sign at the factory’s entrance had been taken down. “The factory has gone out of business,” said Ding Yuxi, who worked at the company for 10 years and was guarding the compound.
At the news conference in Beijing, Mr. Li, the Chinese regulator, said nothing about any criminal prosecutions involving the factory, nor did he mention the state-owned company, CNSC Fortune Way, that exported the poison with false papers.
Although regulators said they would no longer allow products with misleading labels, Chinese officials still blame a Panamanian importer for changing the product’s paperwork to make it appear more suitable for human consumption. The F.D.A. said no one would have died if Chinese companies had properly identified the product’s contents.
Dr. Jorge Motta, a prominent Panamanian physician who helped identify the poison that was killing so many patients, said the plant’s shutdown was overdue.
“Every day that this factory remained open made me fear that this terrible problem that occurred to us could occur to someone else,” Dr. Motta said. “Knowing that people responsible for all the suffering that we had in Panama continued to function without any questioning was not only painful but also an insult to my country.”
With President Bush and Congress now pressing for stricter controls on United States imports, China is not only announcing crackdowns on unsafe products. It is also taking its case to the negotiating table. Next week, European Union officials are expected to meet for high-level talks about the quality and safety of China’s exports. Less than a week later, American officials are expected to arrive in Beijing for meetings aimed at improving quality and safety inspections and to resolve what has begun to look like a trade dispute between the two countries.
Late last month, the F.D.A.. blocked the importation of some Chinese seafood. China responded last week by banning some pork and chicken products from American producers, saying they, too, were tainted with banned chemicals.
David Barboza reported from Shanghai and Walt Bogdanich from New York. Jake Hooker contributed reporting from Taixing, China.

Hasbro recalls Easy-Bake Ovens

2007-07-21T14:02:00.002-06:00

Hasbro recalls Easy-Bake Ovens following partial finger amputation
Just five months after issuing a recall of its pink and purple plastic oven, toymaker Hasbro and the Consumer Product Safety Commission today asked owners of the ovens to stop using them immediately and return them to the company. The recall affects one million ovens purchased since May 2006.
In February, Hasbro offered oven owners a retrofit kit intended to solve the problem of little chefs inserting their fingers into the oven cavity. Since then, however, Easy-Bake has received 249 reports of children getting their hands or fingers caught in the opening, including 77 reports of burns, 16 of which were reported as second and third-degree burns. Easy-Bake also received one report of a serious burn that required a partial finger amputation of a 5-year-old girl.
The oven, which can reach temperatures of 350 and 400 degrees, is not recommended for children under 8 and even children that age should use it only with adult supervision. Still, some of the burns were reported in younger children.
Julie Vallese, spokesperson for the CPSC, said when Hasbro learned of the partial amputation it decided to do more than provide the repair kit. "We’re big fans of doing more," she added.
Hasbro is asking that owners of the Easy-Bakes return them to the company in exchange for a voucher for another of its products. For more information, you can call the company at (800) 601-8418 or visit their Web site at www.easybake.com.
Consumers who ask for instructions will be sent a box and a prepaid label to return the oven. Those who requested the repair kit earlier will automatically be sent a box with prepaid shipping.

To learn more:
Read the announcement from the CPSC
Get more information from Hasbro
Posted at 11:14 AM in Fire, Recalls, Toys Permalink

Saturn Vue XR

2007-07-21T14:02:00.001-06:00

Just In: Saturn Vue XR
We recently bought a 2008 Saturn Vue XR (available to online subscribers) to add to the CR test fleet. The old Vue was one of those cars where if we followed the old saying "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all," then we'd have a mostly blank page. Sure, the Honda-sourced V6 was a great engine and there was lots of rear seat room, but there were simply too many negatives.
However, with this new model, it seems as if many of those negatives have been addressed:
Like the Saturn Aura, the Vue has a great-looking dashboard (although we wish they had removed all of the protective plastic sheeting from the A-pillars on our car). Overall, it is a big improvement over the shabby interior of the previous version.
First impressions are that steering feel is much improved from the old Vue's electric steering.
The modern 3.6-liter V6, which works well in a lot of other GM products, is optional here, too.
Standard stability control is a welcome and overdue feature.
The slab-sided plastic-body-paneled exterior is gone, replaced with something much more stylish. However, there is now a sloping rear window that cuts into cargo volume.
Initial complaints so far are minor. The seats seem overly soft and short-cushioned, and we're surprised that there is no trip computer or telescoping steering wheel (especially considering the $27,970 sticker, which seems like a lot, given that our Vue lacks leather or a sunroof). And we'll see how this modern V6 and six-speed automatic manages for fuel economy vs. the Vue's hefty 4,000-pound curb weight.
To me, the Vue's new exterior looks a lot like various Hyundai and Kia SUVs. This isn't a big surprise, given this Vue's global origins. Although the enthusiast magazines have been harping on the Opel connection--this Vue is basically identical to the Opel Antara that will be sold in Europe--don't think that the Vue was designed by white-coated engineers toiling away in a laboratory/racetrack deep in the Black Forest. The Vue starts out with an updated version of GM's Theta platform, the one that's under the Chevrolet Equinox/Pontiac Torrent, with a lot of design and engineering work from Daewoo, GM's Korean subsidiary. And it's all bolted together in Mexico.
In the end, it doesn't matter if the Vue was designed in Detroit or Duesseldorf, but rather how well that design functions on the road. We'll let you know how it performs when we test our Vue up against another updated high-selling domestic SUV, the Ford Escape, later this year.
--Tom Mutchler
Posted at 02:00 PM in Just in, SUVs, Saturn, Tom Mutchler Permalink

Risk of Botulism Poisoning fromHot Dog Chili Sauce

2007-07-21T14:00:00.000-06:00

FDA Warns Consumers about Risk of Botulism Poisoning fromHot Dog Chili Sauce Marketed Under a Variety of Brand Names
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat 10 ounce cans of Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030000101), Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030099533), and Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 1111083942) with “best by” dates from April 30, 2009 through May 22, 2009 due to possible botulism contamination. Botulism can be fatal. The “best by dates” can be found on the can lids.
Consumers who have any of these products or any foods made with these products should throw them away immediately. If the “best by” date is missing or unreadable consumers should throw the product out. Two children in Texas and an Indiana couple who ate these products became seriously ill and have been hospitalized.
Symptoms of botulism poisoning can begin from 6 hours to 2 weeks after eating food that contains the toxin. Symptoms may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness that moves progressively down the body, affecting the shoulders first then descending to the upper arms, lower arms, thighs, calves, etc. Botulism poisoning can also cause paralysis of the breathing muscles which can result in death unless assistance with breathing (mechanical ventilation) is provided.
Individuals who show these symptoms and who may have recently eaten Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, or Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce should seek immediate medical attention.
All of the above products are manufactured by the Castleberry Food Company in Augusta, Georgia.
Castleberry has informed FDA that it is voluntarily recalling all of the potentially contaminated products and is cooperating with FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the states’ active investigations into the cause of this contamination and scope of the products’ distribution.
Castleberry is also voluntarily recalling a numbr of products that are not under FDA’s regulatory authority. For a list of these products, visit: www.castleberrys.com/news_productrecall.asp.
FDA will provide updates as more information becomes available. Consumers can call the FDA at 1-888-723-3366.
Castleberry recommends consumers with any questions or concerns about this recall should go to Castleberry’s website (www.castleberrys.com) or call Castleberry’s consumer hotline at 1-888-203-8446.
####
Firm Press Release (July 18, 2007)
CDC Information on the Botulism Outbreakwww.cdc.gov/botulism/botulism.htm