Fatigued air traffic controllers contributed to four aviation mishaps in recent years, and may have been a factor in last year’s Comair crash that killed 49 people, according to federal accident investigators.
Quality & Safety
Air Traffic Controllers Are Sleepy
By 4.13.07
Recalled Pet Food Still On Shelves
By 4.13.07
Potentially deadly pet food affected by a massive recall remains on store shelves, the FDA announced yesterday after conducting a nationwide survey of 400 stores.
FDA Spokesperson: Is Bagged Salad Safe To Eat? "No, I Don't Believe It Is."
By 4.12.07
When NPR asked the FDA “point man” on “all things e. coli” whether bagged salad was safe to eat he replied, “No, I don’t believe it is.” Good enough for us.
Recall: Listerine Agent Cool Blue
By 4.12.07
Johnson & Johnson recalled all bottles of Listerine Agent Cool Blue after tests revealed contamination by microorganisms.
Menu Foods Exec Sold Half His Shares 3 Weeks Before Recall
By 4.11.07
The CFO of Menu Foods, Mark Wiens, sold about half of his shares in the company three weeks before the poisoned pet food recall was announced, Canadian insider trading reports show.
Organic Crime: The Raw Milk Underground
By 4.10.07
Hey you, yeah you. Pssst. Over here. We’ve got some milk. Yeah, the good stuff. Unpasteurized. Shhh. Keep it down, the FDA is listening.
Contaminated Pet Food Linked To 30% Increase In Feline Kidney Failure
By 4.10.07
The veterinary hospital chain saw 1 million dogs and cats during the three months when the more than 100 brands of now-recalled contaminated pet food were sold. It saw 284 extra cases of kidney failure among cats during that period, or a roughly 30 percent increase when compared with background rates. It’s not clear if those animals ate the contaminated food, though it seems likely.
Controversial Ad Implies Celebrex Is As Safe As OTC Painkillers
By 4.10.07
A new ad for Celebrex, a prescription painkiller related to Vioxx, has come under fire for implying that Celebrex is as safe as non-prescription painkillers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve.) A consumer group has written a letter to the FDA requesting that they ban the ad, claiming that it contains “false or misleading statements.”
“The overall purpose of the ad is to make it appear, contrary to scientific evidence, that the cardiovascular dangers of Celebrex are not greater than those of any of the other Nsaid painkillers,” the letter said, referring to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. “Further, it asserts that certain gastrointestinal problems are, if anything, less frequent with Celebrex than with two popular over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers.”
The ad, which is two-and-a-half minutes long (Pfizer was the only sponsor of the program on which it aired), can be viewed at Celebrex.com. The ad marks Celebrex’s return to advertising after a two year hiatus following Vioxx’s withdrawal from the market due to dangerous cardiovascular side-effects.
Mice On A Plane: Search For Escaped Pet Mouse Grounds Flight For 4 Hours
By 4.9.07
A Vietnam Airlines flight was grounded for more than 4 hours while flight crews searched for an escaped pet mouse that had been spotted by a passenger. It is suspected to have been smuggled aboard by its owner, who has not been identified.The mouse was eventually found in the airplane’s food compartment.
Walmart Pulls Tainted Pet Food By Day, Restocks It By Night
By 4.7.07
Walmart is recalling tainted pet food during the day, only to restock it again at night. This egregious display of corporate ineptitude was detailed to The News & Observer by Walmart merchandise supervisor, Johnnie Walker.
Walker said he had removed the products earlier in the week, but clerks restocked the shelves overnight, unaware that the pet food had been recalled. “At night they didn’t know better,” Walker said. “It’s just confusing.”
Though the pet food recall has expanded to over 100 brands, Walmart has been unable to implement a recall strategy that extends beyond blocking the purchase of tainted items at the register. If your pet wants food, consider shopping somewhere other than Walmart. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
FDA: Dog Chews Contaminated With Salmonella
By 4.6.07
The FDA is warning that certain dog chews have been contaminated with salmonella. The product in question, American Bullie A.B. Bull Pizzle Puppy Chews and Dog Chews, were manufactured by T.W. Enterprises of Ferndale, Washington.
Leaky Roof Blamed For Salmonella Peanut Butter
By 4.6.07
Childs said the company traced the salmonella outbreak to three problems at its Sylvester, Ga., plant last August.
Walmart Disney Princesses Easter Basket Recalled For Choking Hazard
By 4.5.07
A Disney Princesses Easter basket sold exclusively at Walmart has been recalled by the CPSC today. The silver beads and ribbons attached to the basket can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Parents can return the basket to Walmart for a full refund.
Jamba Juice Says It Doesn't Sell Milk-Filled "Non-Dairy Blend"
By 4.4.07
In response to our post, Jamba Juice PR today tells The Consumerist they don’t sell a “non-dairy blend,” and their non-dairy options don’t contain milk.
Signs Your Pet Ate Contaminated Food
By 4.2.07
As the contaminated pet food recall expands, it’s important to know what signs to watch out for in case your pet gets sick.
TSA Misses 90% of Bombs At Denver Airport
By 4.2.07
Sources told 9NEWS the Red Team was able to sneak about 90 percent of simulated weapons past checkpoint screeners in Denver. In the baggage area, screeners caught one explosive device that was packed in a suitcase. However later, screeners in the baggage area missed a book bomb, according to sources.
Pet Food Recall Expands To DelMonte Dry Food
By 4.2.07
Del Monte issued a voluntary recall for several kinds of dry pet food, expanding the scope of the contaminated pet food recall crisis. Recalled brands included Jerky Treats, Pounce Meaty Morsels, Gravy Train Beef Sticks, and certain dog snack and wet dog food products.
