Bally’s: free 30-days pass for registering for Discovery Health’s National Body Challenge. Just make sure you don’t let them have your credit card. (Photo: La Mariposa)
health
Quest Says Nearly 10% Of Its Vitamin D Tests Were Inaccurate
By 1.9.09
Last October, Quest Diagnostics contacted “thousands of doctors” around the country to notify them that one or more of their patients might have received “questionable” results on vitamin D tests performed over the past two years. It’s offering free retests to anyone who was affected.
Giant, Stop & Shop And Wegmans To Offer Free Antibiotics
By 1.7.09
The grocery store chains Giant and Stop & Shop have announced a plan to offer free prescription antibiotics in their pharmacies. The program will last through March 21st, and will cover amoxicillin, penicillin and ciprofloxacin among others. The program is similar to one offered by Midwestern superstore Meijer.
FDA Is Not Impressed By Diet Coke Plus
By 1.6.09
Last month, the FDA sent Coca-Cola a letter warning that their Diet Coke Plus (“it’s what plants crave”) violates FDA standards for products fortified with vitamins.
No Better Time To Get Fit: Gyms Are Slashing Prices
By 1.5.09
One of the first things to get the ax when people cut back is the monthly gym membership fee — which means that gyms all over the country are slashing prices in order to attract new members to replace the ones who are sloughing off.
By 12.31.08
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Chairwoman of Chinese dairy company pleads guilty in melamine case, may face death penalty. [Reuters]
Drug Makers Say Goodbye To Swag In 2009
By 12.31.08
Beginning tomorrow morning, drug companies will stop peppering doctors’ offices with branded pens, bandages, tongue depressors, stethoscopes, calipers, mugs, prescription pads, soap dispensers, and t-shirts.
Drug Maker Accused Of Paying Ghostwriters To Pen Journal Articles
By 12.12.08
A drug company is accused of paying ghostwriters to write favorable articles about their drugs — even after one drug was shown to raise the risk of cancer.
The Recession Spares Nothing, Not Even Puppies
By 12.12.08
Ever feel like the poor state of the economy is impacting every area of life? Well, it is! A few examples popping up in some surprising places, like animal shelters…
Man Extends Cleanser's Life By Putting Water In It
By 12.2.08
Reader Andrew would like everyone to know that he’s able to get 20 extra uses out of his Neutrogena skin cleaning face wash by dribbling a bit of water in the top. He writes, “The resulting soap isn’t much thinner than the original formula; it foams up and cleans just as well.” Congrats, Andrew. Now, if we can just get you to not buy the unnecessary metrosexual cleansing product in the first place then you’ll really be set.
FDA Sets Acceptable Melamine Levels For Baby Formula
By 12.2.08
Mommy, I’m hungry, can I have more melamine? Sure thing, sweetie, because the FDA established that 1 part per million of melamine in baby formula is cool, as long as an additional chemical isn’t present.
Walgreens Jerks You Around When You Try To Buy Plan B
By 12.1.08
A reader’s girlfriend tried to buy Plan B yesterday, but the Oxford, MS Walgreens pharmacy seemed to go out of their way to make it has hard as possible. Mere incompetence doesn’t explain what happened. Instead, it sounds more like a consciously decided system of policies designed to discourage people from buying the pill…
FTC Launches Older Patient Info Site
By 11.29.08
The FTC launched the strangely named “Who Cares” resource site for older patients and those who care for them. It’s a reliable source for knowledge about generics, hormone therapies, hiring caregivers, hearing aids, and alternative treatments, located at ftc.gov/whocares.
McDonald's Sales Rise 8.2% In October As More Switch To Eating Crap
By 11.11.08
Good food costs more, so people are switching to eating less costly simulacrums of sustenance: McDonald’s same-store sales rose 8.2% in October. If you can’t afford to eat food, just eat “phood.”
Debt Collector Bullying Me To Sign Affidavit Saying I Can Pay More Than I Can
By 11.4.08
Sarah has $40k+ in student debt that went into default after she got sick and had to spend a lot of money on medical care. She’s been paying it off, but one of the companies that owns one of her loans, NCO Financial, has told her that unless she signs a legal document that says she can pay $260 a month, they’re going to place her account back in collections and start harassing her even more than they are now (they’re already calling her daily at home and work)…
Consumer Reports: Why Are Companies Lying About Putting Nanoparticles In Your Sunscreen?
By 10.31.08
Little is known about how nanoparticles — ultra-small particles that are so teeny that they can have different physical properties than “macro” sized particles. For example, says Consumer Reports, carbon becomes 100 times stronger than steel, aluminum turns highly explosive, and gold melts at room temperature. What do titanium dioxide or zinc oxide do? Well, whatever it is — it may be in your sunscreen without your knowledge.
Coke Never Advertised To Kids, Is "Wholesome"
By 10.30.08
I don’t have kids, but if I did, instead of breastfeeding them I would give them bottles of Coke. That’s because Coke is “wholesome.” And if they grew up drinking Coke, it would be because of the decisions I made and choices I taught them to take, because Coke has never advertised to kids. Both these “becauses” are supplied by Coca-Cola. See, Dr. Dr. Yoni Freedhoff spotted an ad page 1632 of the June 17th edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal that said:
