Chinese Drywall Goes Political
We learned this week that Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp's residence in North Ft. Myers is affected with the Chinese drywall. Ironically, the house was built by Aubuchon Homes, owned by none other than...
Legal
Dangerous Toys with Banned Plastics Still on the Market
Toys that contain the banned substance phthalates are still on the market and will remain there until sometime in 2009. Phthalates is a chemical found in some plastics has been linked to issues with...
Contaminated Beef Used in Hundreds of Food Products
The California slaughterhouse at the center of last month's massive beef recall now say that the contaminated beef has been used in 486 food products ranging from Slim Jim jerky to Jenny Craig meat loaf. The list of food products touched by the beef recall is expected to grow in the coming weeks. The list includes California restuarants, retailers and other purveyors of food stuffs. The...
Chattem Icy Hot Heat Therapy Recalled
Icy Hot heat therapy products manufactured by Chattem, Inc. have been recalled due to consumer reports of first, second, and third degree skin burns, irritation and skin removal. The affected products were manufactured from October 1, 2006 through July 31, 2007 and distributed from December 4, 2006 through February 4, 2008. All lots and all sizes of the following Icy Hot Heat Therapy products...
FDA Warns About Botulism in Canned Green Beans
The FDA is warning consumers about the potential for botulism in GFS Fancy Blue Lake Cut Green Beans manufactured by New Era Canning Company. Clostridium botulinum produces a toxin that can be life threatening. The green beans were distributed with lot numbers 19H7FL and UPC code 93901 11873, in large institutional-sized, 6 pound 5 ounce (#10) cans. New Era Canning Company has issued a...
Salmon Spread Recall
Quality Plus Products, Inc., of Bellingham, Washington is recalling its 7 ounce packages of "Jackson's Quality Plus Smoked Wild Salmon Spread" because the top ingredient label does not mention eggs however; it is listed on the side label of ingredients. Those with allergies to eggs or egg products run the risk of adverse health risks if the product is consumed. This is just another in a recent...
US Marshals Seize Cosmetic Eye Product
US Marshals have seized 12,682 applicator tubes of Age Intervention Eyelash because it is an unapproved and misbranded drug that claims to increase the length of eyelashes but may decrease vision. The product, sold and distributed by Jan Marini Skin Research, may increase the risk of optic nerve damage. Damage to this nerve can lead to decreased vision and blindness. The drug has been...
Death by Taser in Canada
Robert Dziekanski had just landed in Vancouver on his first-ever flight. He was forty years old and about to start a new life in British Columbia with his mother. According to one witness who videotaped the event, Dziekanski was acting erratically but not violently. No drugs or alcohol were involved. Yet, the police confronted him and 46 seconds later tasered him to death. He was hit with...
Bush Administration Leaning Toward Giving More Regulatory Power to Food and Consumer Agencies
The Bush Administration has signaled that it may give the go-ahead for more regulatory powers to such agencies as the FDA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the wake of numerous food and toy recalls recently. The move would be a reversal of sorts for the Administration but comes at a time when consumer confidence is faltering as news continues about defective toys and contaminated...
Food Contamination Sources
Thanks to two University of Arizona researchers, we may now have a better understanding of how our foods become contaminated with salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7, better known as E. coli. Their research suggests that "most of the pathogens that have been collected from outbreaks came from sources such as animal husbandry operations, contaminated water and proximity of urban centers,"...