Consumerist
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recalls
Recall Roundup: Extra Scary Edition
It's Halloween, and what's scarier than exploding DVD player batteries and killer flatware? Or dairy lurking in an innocent-looking tortilla? What about a zombie ATV that accelerates on its own? More » -
please be intelligent
FDA: Um, Please Do Not Buy Stupid #$@% Like "Swine Flu Shampoo"
The FDA is calling on consumers not to fall for unapproved bogus "swine flu" or "H1N1" products that claim to offer a cure or other health benefits. There's even a "swine flu shampoo" that claims to protect against the virus. Awesome. More » -
safety
The 10 Riskiest Foods That Aren't Meat Or Poultry
This list of the 10 riskiest foods might surprise you at first, because there's no mention of any sort of meat or poultry. But that's because it's from the FDA, which doesn't regulate those two food categories. When it comes to produce, dairy, eggs and seafood, here's what to watch out for, listed in order from most outbreaks to least. More » -
corporate manipulation
FDA Banned Flavored Cigs, But Not Menthols. Why?
Back in June we noted that the FDA was about to get a lot more say over the tobacco industry if the Senate approved a new bill. Well they did, and so yesterday the FDA flexed its new muscles by banning fruit, herb, spice, and candy flavorings from cigarettes. That's right: clove cigarettes were just banned by the FDA, which is bad news for gothy teens and great news for everyone else. More » -
side effects
Yeah, Your Eyes Are Discolored And Red, But Your Lashes Look Great!
Lash-lengthening drug Latisse can make your eyelashes longer — but it can have some pretty hardcore side effects for a cosmetic. The FDA has issued a warning letter to the manufacturer (PDF) of the glaucoma-drug-turned-cosmetic-product, saying that many claims on its website are misleading and, in fact, unlawful. More » -
pill popping
What's In Your Herbal Remedies and Supplements?
In the wake of FDA warnings about steroids in nutritional supplements, federal officials are studying ways to improve safety in dietary supplements. Mean time, we've got a few consumer tips for those of you who take supplements, courtesy of the Wall Street Journal: More » -
busted
U.S. Marshals Seize All Of Clarcon's Products At Utah Facility
Back in June, the FDA sounded an alarm about potentially bacteria-laden Clarcon products, including some anti-bacterial lotions meant to be applied to open wounds. They urged the public not to use Clarcon products while Clarcon addressed the matter. Apparently Clarcon didn't do enough, though, because this past weekend U.S. Marshals "seized all skin sanitizers and skin protectants, including ingredients and components, at Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory's facility in Roy, Utah." More » -
news from the swamp
Houses Passes Strong Food Safety Reform
The House of Representatives just passed the bipartisan Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. If enacted, the legislation would strengthen the FDA, increase inspections of food facilities, and hopefully ensure that tragedies like the Peanut Corporation of America salmonella outbreak become a thing of the past. More » -
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bodybuilding
FDA Warns Consumers About Proto-Steroids Marketed As Nutritional Supplements
You should avoid nutritional supplements that claim to have steroid-like effects, no matter how many flames are pictured on the label. Earlier this week, the FDA sent a warning letter to Americell-Labs, the manufacturer of many popular lines of such supplements, and also warned consumers to stay away from the products. The "supplements" claim to act a little too much like steroids, and should be tested and sold as drugs if they are, y'know, drugs. If they're anabolic steroids, they shouldn't be sold at all. More » -
Good News: The FDA says your dental fillings aren't going to give you mercury poisoning. They are, however, classifying "dental amalgam" as "Class II" or "moderate risk," so they can "impose special controls." [FDA] (Thanks, Laurie!)
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Never Stop Screaming Ever
Pardon Me, But There Is A Mouse In This Can Of Diet Pepsi
(Ed. note— Ok, let me just tell you that reading this story made my stomach flip, which is something that almost never happens to me, so if you're eating lunch or (heaven forbid) drinking a Pepsi — just go to Cute Overload and forget this ever happened.) A Florida man says he was drinking a can of Diet Pepsi when he noted that it tasted funny. (Warning: "Not Safe For Lunch" graphic picture inside.) More » -
apologies
Who's Responsible For The Chinese Poison Train? Us!
Apparently we were wrong about this whole "Chinese Poison Train" thing. It turns out that it was "filthy U.S. inspectors" who were tainting "pristine Chinese shipments" all along, according to The Onion. More » -
science says
Is Bottled Water Safer Than Tap Water? Please...
Bottled water isn't any safer than tap water, and could actually be more dangerous, according to a report from the Government Accounting Office. The big difference lies in the government regulator: tap water is covered by the Safe Water Drinking Act, administered by the aggressive and powerful Environmental Protection Agency, while bottled water falls under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act overseen by the powerless anything-goes industry-lovers over at the Food and Drug Administration. More » -
The FDA has issued a new ruling that says egg producers must "test regularly for salmonella and buy chicks from suppliers who do the same," and that eggs "will have to be refrigerated on the farm and during shipment" as well as by wholesalers and in the store. The rule is meant to cut down on the number of egg-related salmonella cases nationwide, which currently are around 142,000 a year. [Washington Post] (Photo: Andreas Kollegger)
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everything will kill you
Recall Roundup - Pretty Much Everything Is Catching Fire
The big news in recalls this week was continuing recalls of Simplicity drop-side cribs. Since the company is no longer in business, in order to get the crib away from your children, return it to the retailer where it was purchased. Also, check your home for other problematic recalled Simplicity products. More » -
fda
FDA May Take Vicodin And Percocet Off The Market
Bad news for Dr. Greg House and other, non-fictional chronic pain patients. The FDA advisory panel that met yesterday about the effects of excessive doses of acetaminophen made another recommendation to the FDA—to take popular painkillers Vicodin and Percocet (and their generic versions) off the market because of the effect both drugs can have on the liver when taken for extended periods. The FDA will most likely follow this recommendation. More » -
food safety
Dunkin Donuts Pulls Hot Chocolate, Dunkaccinos Over Salmonella Scare
Dunkin Donuts is stopping sales of its hot chocolate and Dunkaccino products because one of its milk supplier, Plainview Milk Products Cooperative, found salmonella on some of its equipment. DD says they haven't found any contamination in any of their products but wanted to be safe. We're glad to see a company being proactive about food safety and we're glad to see testing uncover contamination before any illnesses were reported, but still, pathogens in cookie dough and hot chocolate is just mean. More » -
drugs
FDA: Hey America, Stop Overdosing On Painkillers!
Look, we know this recession is tough and all, but you've gotta lay off the NyQuil and Theraflu or the FDA will stuff them behind a counter, ok? Seriously, an advisory panel is meeting today, and already voted to reduce the maximum daily dose of Tylenol and other painkillers. They might even slap scary "black box" warnings on all over-the-counter painkillers to dissuade you acetaminophen addicts from overdosing. More »
fda
New York, 8:18 PM
Sat Nov 7
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