While the country is watching the news of every new Ebola case very closely, the federal government doesn’t want the worrying to get so out of hand that people start looking for medications to prevent or treat Ebola. Since there are currently none approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the government is already cracking down on a handful of companies promising to provide relief from Ebola. [More]
food and drug administration
Say It Isn’t So: Williams-Sonoma’s Pumpkin Seed Pesto Recalled Because Botulism Isn’t Fall Flavored
By 10.14.14
In the fall months it seems like every other product contains some kind of pumpkin flavoring: Greek yogurt, coffee drinks, egg nog, and now botulism. Fine, botulism probably doesn’t have a flavor, but the Pumpkin Seed Pesto from Williams-Sonoma may contain the bacteria, which is why it’s being recalled.
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Senators Tell The FDA To Hurry Up Already With Finalizing Those Months-Old E-Cigarette Regulations
By 10.9.14
When the Food and Drug Administration unveiled proposed regulations for electronic cigarettes back in April, it was an announcement five years in the making. Now several months later little has happened, and a group of senators fear that the failure to quickly finalize the rules has led to the perpetration of misleading health warnings created by tobacco companies themselves. [More]
Ground Black Pepper Recalled In All 50 States For Possible Salmonella Contamination
By 9.17.14
Nothing gives a meal the right kick quite like a little ground black pepper. That is, unless the spice comes with a little salmonella, in which case we want nothing to do with it because it’s being recalled by the case load. [More]
Thousands Of Jars Of Parmesan Cheese Recalled Because No One Wants Salmonella With Their Spaghetti
By 9.3.14
If you were thinking of making a batch of spaghetti for dinner, complete with a heaping helping of 4C-branded Parmesan cheese, you might get more than you bargained for – salmonella. [More]
DEA To Change Classification of Some Frequently-Abused Painkillers Like Vicodin
By 8.22.14
As a country, we sure do like our prescription painkillers. In fact, we like them a bit too much: Americans consume 99% of all hydrocodone drugs manufactured in the world. Prescription drug abuse — and deaths from overdose — are rampant. The DEA is hoping to stem the tide of abuse and overdose with a new rule that changes the way some painkillers are classified, and will make them harder for individuals to get. [More]
FDA Warns Consumers, Tattoo Parlors To Be On The Lookout For Contaminated Ink
By 8.7.14
Not all tattoo ink is created equal. Some brands come in a variety of colors, and apparently others come with loads of bacteria that can cause painful skin infections. [More]
New Gluten-Free Labeling Rules Go Into Effect This Week
By 8.5.14
A year after the Food and Drug Administration laid out the rules for food manufacturers who want to label their products gluten-free, the new labeling requirements will go kick in this week. [More]
Should Food Companies Tell Consumers How Much Sugar They Add To Products?
By 8.4.14
Looking at the label of any food product on grocery store shelves and you’ll find the total amount of sugar in that item. But does it matter how much of that sugar is from a food’s raw ingredients, and how much sweetener was added? [More]
Health Officials Make It Official: Makers Of Infant Formula Must Test For Germs
By 6.9.14
Back in February, the United States Food and Drug Administration announced an interim rule covering infant formula that would require manufacturers to test for certain contaminants, as well as ensure that the products contain the right amount of nutrients. Today the agency announced that the new policy is set to be finalized. [More]
Before You Eat That, Check The FDA Flickr Account For Warnings About Recalled Products
By 6.4.14
With this that and the other thing getting recalled on what feels like a daily basis, maybe you feel like you don’t have the time to stay abreast of what foods aren’t safe to eat. That’s why the Food and Drug Administration has started its very own Flickr account to alert consumers when products are recalled. The more you know, the less you end up clinging to the bathroom floor for dear life in extreme gastrointestinal distress. H/T to The Verge [FDA Recalled Products 2014 on Flickr] [More]
FDA Says Taking Aspirin Daily Won’t Help Patients With No History Of Heart Attacks
By 5.6.14
If you were thinking of popping a few aspirin today in hopes that it might prevent a future heart attack, you might want to reconsider that plan. Consumers without a history of heart attacks or strokes could be putting themselves in greater danger by swallowing the pill the Food and Drug Administration says. [More]
Proposed Regulations On E-Cigarettes Include Health Warning Label, Age Restrictions
By 4.24.14
It only took five years, but the Food and Drug Administration is ready to begin regulating electronic cigarettes. While the new rule covers a lot of ground with the never-before regulated devices, it doesn’t deal with some of critics’ more controversial concerns. [More]
Supreme Court Justices Grill Coca-Cola Over Scarcity Of Pomegranates In Pomegranate Juice
By 4.22.14
As the top judicial body in the land, the United States Supreme Court has asked some pretty tough questions in its day. But yesterday the justices had a question for Coca-Cola that doesn’t seem like it should be so tricky: Shouldn’t a juice labeled as “pomegranate and blueberry” actually include a fair amount of, um, pomegranates? And blueberries? [More]
Subway: No More “Yoga Mat” Chemicals In Our Bread By Next Week
By 4.11.14
Back in February, Subway pledged to stop using Azodicarbonamide, a controversial chemical that it uses to improve elasticity in its bread but that also shows up in things like yoga mats. You won’t be doing any downward dogging (that’s how yoga people talk, right?) on Subway’s bread soon, as the company says it’s almost done phasing out the chemical. [More]
FDA’s New Rules: Honey With Added Sweeteners Might Be Sweet, But It Ain’t Honey
By 4.8.14
Just because something looks like honey, is sticky like honey and is sweet like honey, doesn’t mean it’s the real thing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said today in new draft guidelines. That means food companies that add sweeteners to pure honey will have to tell consumers it’s not the totally real deal and label the products as a “blend.” [More]
Potentially Harmful Chemicals Find Their Way Into Our Food Thanks To 56-Year-Old FDA Rule
By 4.7.14
There are a number of federal protections to keep unsafe chemicals out of our favorite foods. But more often than not, those protections fail consumers. A new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council explores one of those failures: Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) designation. [More]
“The Real Cost” Of Smoking Is Only Skin Deep In New Anti-Smoking Campaign Aimed At Teens
By 2.4.14
A case of marketing brilliance or unfair stereotyping? That’s the question we have after the Food and Drug Administration announced the first anti-smoking campaign aimed at teens. The ads don’t highlight the serious health risks of smoking, such as emphysema or lung cancer, instead they depict yellow teeth and wrinkles. [More]
