I like FDA warnings like this new one about Evamist, because I can file the symptoms away and use them to impress someone with my Sherlock Holmes skills. Friend: “How did you know she used Evamist?” Me: “Note the tell-tale breasts on her grandchildren and her terrier.” [More]
Quality & Safety
The BPA! It's On Your Receipts! Get It Off Aaaa!
By 8.2.10
The Environmental Working Group has a theory to explain why bisphenol-A, the controversial chemical that’s sometimes found in plastic bottles and can linings, shows up in the urine of over 90% of the population: it’s on paper receipts. The group found BPA on 40% of receipts collected from the sorts of businesses you visit every week, with the concentration topping 1000 times that of a can lining in some cases. [More]
Lawsuit Asks FDA To Regulate Sperm-Damaging Antimicrobial Soap Chemicals
By 8.1.10
Thirty years ago, the FDA considered regulating two toxic chemicals that can damage reproductive organs, sperm quality, and hormone production. Rather than do something, the agency instead did nothing. Last week, the National Resources Defense Council sued the agency, asking them to finally finish the job and regulate the chemicals triclosan and triclocarban. [More]
Haggis Ice Cream & 9 Other Questionable Frozen Treats
By 7.30.10
As today is the last weekday of National Ice Cream Month, it might be the right time to look at some ice cream flavors that aren’t exactly mouth-watering. Luckily, the editors over at TheGloss.com have compiled a list of 10 bizarre flavors for your freezer. [More]
Toyota Recalls 373,000 Avalons Over Steering Issue
By 7.29.10
The recall tab for Toyota keeps adding up, as the world’s largest automaker announced a recall of 373,000 Toyota Avalons “to address the possibility that the vehicle’s steering lock bar could break under certain conditions.” [More]
Kiddie Viagra Could Earn Patent Extension For Pfizer
By 7.28.10
Viagra for kids? That sounds… well, wrong. But apparently, low doses of the erectile dysfunction drug can help children stricken by a rare lung disorder. It could also earn Pfizer a six-month extension on the patent for its blue-chip brand. [More]
McDonald's Last Airbender Toy Dangerous If Wrapped Around Neck?
By 7.27.10
According to the Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner, a bracelet that comes with the “Last Airbender” Katara toy could be dangerous if your child wraps it around his/her neck. That’s what allegedly happened to one CT toddler. His mother says he passed out after the bracelet cut off the blood to his head. [More]
Top 10 Disgusting Stadium Food Vendor Health Violations
By 7.26.10
ESPN has put together a report on stadium food vendor health violations. Some of the violations are pretty damn gross. We’ve picked 10 of our “favorites.” [More]
30,000 Nap Nanny Baby Recliners Recalled Following Death Of Infant
By 7.26.10 — Updated: 12.5.12
Following the death of a 4-month-old baby, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Baby Matters LLC have announced the recall of 30,000 Nap Nanny portable baby recliners. [More]
Plant Under Investigation Giving Johnson & Johnson Indigestion
By 7.25.10
If the shuttering of a Tylenol plant gave Johnson & Johnson a headache, this most recent investigation into a factory that makes Pepcid, Immodium and Mylanta is surely giving the company a case of sour stomach (get it? Medicine jokes!).The Lancaster, Pa. plant was issued a Form 483 by the FDA earlier this month, and now a new report indicates 12 violations of good manufacturing processes. [More]
Combine Your Loves For Alcohol & Taxidermy With Beer Packed In Rodent Carcass
By 7.23.10
When I wrote about PR-happy Scottish microbrewers BrewDog back in April, I had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last time. But this time, the company has truly outdone itself, not only creating a “beer” containing 55% alcohol by volume, but which also comes packed inside the carcass of a dead rodent. [More]
More Subpoenas For Toyota! This Time It's Steering Rods
By 7.20.10
Five years ago Toyota had a problem with their steering rods. Now a federal grand jury would like to see records relating to whether or not the company notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the problem in a timely fashion, says the WSJ. [More]
Perdue Recalls 90,000 Pounds Of Chicken Nuggets From Walmart Stores
By 7.20.10
The USDA and Perdue have issued a recall for more than 90,000 pounds of Great Value frozen chicken nuggets — all of it shipped to Walmart stores — because there is a possibility that the food could contain “foreign materials.” [More]
Another Johnson & Johnson Plant Under Investigation
By 7.17.10
The hits just keep on coming for Johnson & Johnson — on the heels of the news that the company would be closing down and laying off some 300 employees at the Philadelphia-area factory that was churning out musty, yucky pills, another plant in Lancaster, Pa., failed to receive a clean bill of health after an inspection by the Food and Drug Administration. [More]
Tobacco Companies Say Menthol Cigarettes Don't Encourage Kids To Smoke
By 7.16.10
The FDA is having a hearing to determine whether or not it should ban the sale of menthol cigarettes. The Tobacco Control Act already banns most tobacco flavorings, but does not include menthol — which makes up about one third of the $70 billion cigarette business. [More]
Factory That Made Moldy, Barfy Recalled Tylenol Closes For Upgrades, 300 Lose Jobs
By 7.16.10
Johnson & Johnson announced late yesterday that they will lay off most of the employees of the Philadelphia-area factory that produced the controversial musty, stinky pills recalled earlier this year. Staff have been on full pay and benefits since the plant shut down in April, but the controversial (that is: filthy) facility will close down for upgrades until some undefined point in 2011. [More]
Applebee's Gives Customer Steak Tartare Burger To Go
By 7.15.10
At most chain restaurants, you take a risk when you ask for a burger cooked anything other than well-done. Not necessarily because of bacteria — though there is that — but because there’s a huge chance you’ll end up with a pile of raw hamburger like Andrew did. [More]
Early Tests Show Some Runaway Toyotas Caused By Driver Error
By 7.15.10
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that, according to an anonymous source, preliminary analysis at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that most unintended acceleration incidents involving now-recalled Toyota vehicles were due to driver error. [More]
