At the beginning of this year, the Food and Drug Administration asked the makers of zolpidem (most commonly found in Ambien) to come up with new labels that clearly outline the perceived dangers of the drug.  Now, the FDA has given its approval to new labels which stipulate both a lower dosage recommendation and a greater risk to females.  The warnings also urge persons who take drugs like Ambien to take the proper precautions up to 24 hours after use.  The medication has been shown to imperil alertness the next day, and thus activities like driving should be delayed until one can be sure the drug is out of their system.

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The threat of Clostridium Botulinum has prompted the Food and Drug Administration to steer consumers away from juices and other assorted drinks from the Brooklyn, New York-based Juices Incorporated.  Although distributed chiefly in the New York area and Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, the FDA warning notes that it’s possible that consumers themselves may have moved the drinks to other sections of the country.  The Department of Justice actually sought a permanent injunction against the company back in October 2010, and a Consent Decree issued in January 2011 was supposed to stop production by Juices Incorporated.  After disobeying this decree, last June saw an Enforcement Order issued, and still the company continues to produce juices.  Because of the Botulism concerns, consumers are being told to stop drinking anything from the company.

For more about the warning, follow this link.

The death knell has been sounded for a San Francisco ordinance that would have required cellphone sellers to explain to consumers the danger posed by radiation emissions of said phones.  Two days ago, the city’s Board of Supervisors voted to settle a lawsuit with a cellular trade group, with only one of the Supervisors voting against the grain.  The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association argued against the law on First Amendment grounds, and their efforts to block the law achieved their desired goal when the courts barred the ordinance’s implementation.  By agreeing to a permanent injunction, the city won’t have to pay attorney’s fees accumulated by the wireless group.  The California Brain Tumor Association’s director voiced disappointment with the decision.

For more about the struck-down ordinance, click here.

The Food and Drug Administration is looking into a substance known as triclosan in order to figure out if the anti-bacterial ingredient is truly safe.  In the United States, there’s a good chance you’ve come into contact with the ingredient, even if you don’t realize it.  It’s been estimated that triclosan can be found in three quarters of all anti-bacterial body washes and liquid soaps.  The FDA, though, has grown concerned that the product not only doesn’t provide any sort of anti-bacterial benefit, but that its presence could actually harm consumers.  That worry was highlighted by studies into the effects the product has on animals which found that animals exposed to triclosan were subject to a greater risk of infertility and hormonal issues.

Follow this link for more about the investigation.

In a new report, the Food and Drug Administration outlines the risks posed to consumers who submit to indoor tanning.  Persons who engage in this activity are estimated by the American Cancer Society to be 75% more at risk for the development of melanoma.  To help citizens become more aware of the danger, the FDA has proposed that tanning beds be reclassified as Class II medical devices that pose a moderate risk.  They also would like to see new labels outlining the skin cancer danger and warding off persons under the age of 18.  In addition, the agency explains the steps that can be taken by those who insist on tanning indoors.  One should always wear goggles and limit their time within the tanning bed.  Persons should also understand their skin type and the applicable exposure times as suggested by the manufacturer.

Click here to learn more.

The Food and Drug Administration is warning pregnant women to avoid the use of any drugs that contain valproate sodium.  Such medications, which are typically prescribed in order to treat things like seizures, bipolar disorder-prompted manic episodes, and migraines, could potentially lead the children of said pregnant women to develop lowered IQs.  Although labels on medications containing the aforementioned ingredient should already attempt to steer pregnant women clear of the drug, this latest warning is far stronger than previous prompts.  A study about the Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs illustrated the need for such drastic warnings.  Women who get pregnant while on such a medication are advised to consult their doctor to find out about potential alternate treatment options.

To learn more about this warning, follow this link.

A series of complaints about the Porsche 911 has prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to launch an investigation into the vehicle.  Ten people have reported suffering a leakage of coolant.  One of those incidents reportedly led to a loss of traction that prompted the automobile to spin off the road.  Around 10,000 vehicles will be looked at by the NHTSA, and each will have a 2001 and 2007 model GT1 engine.  In particular, the NHTSA wants to know if this potential control loss issue has led to any injurious crashes or if the problem is serious enough to warrant a recall.  The leakage problem can apparently be attributed to the failure of a hose fitting.

To learn more about the investigation, follow this link.

A series of complaints have prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to look more closely at 2005 and 2006 Dodge Vipers.  Concerns have arisen that a certain component of the rear suspension is in danger of failing, a condition that could potentially affect as many as 2,500 vehicles.  If the automobile is in transit and the rear suspension connector breaks, the ability of the driver to control the vehicle could be compromised.  One person reported becoming injured because of this issue.  The NHTSA and Chrysler are apparently working together to look into the matter, and if the issue is deemed serious enough, a recall could follow.

For more about the investigation, click here.

A consumer watchdog group known as Citizens for Health has issued a press release detailing the admission by the Corn Refiners Association of the sale of High Fructose Corn Syrup-90 to manufacturers of foods and beverages.  Citizens for Health says that this substance is currently illegal, as it has not been tested nor approved for sale by the Food and Drug Administration.  The group accuses the CRA of making misleading statements to the FDA; chiefly, they take offense at the CRA President’s claim that HFCS-90 has been added to products for years and that manufacturers can determine the safety of an ingredient without the FDA’s approval.  Citizens for Health is petitioning the FDA to crack down on the ingredient’s unapproved usage.

To learn more, follow this link.

Imports of cured pork from Italy have been banned from the United States by the Food and Drug Administration for years, but that changed recently.  The agency will now allow such imports into the country on the heels of swine vesicular disease apparently being removed from areas of Italy where such meats typically come from.  Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services released a statement talking up the newfound safety of these products.  Beginning on May 28, entities that want to obtain such meats from artisanal producers in Italy as opposed to large plants that meet the stringent standards of the USDA will be able to do so.

Follow this link for more information.

The Food and Drug Administration has vowed to look more closely into the effects that large amounts of caffeine could have on children.  The move was prompted by the unfurling of Wrigley’s Alert Energy Gum, a type of gum that includes a decent dose of caffeine.  A Deputy Commissioner of the FDA explained that the current trend of food manufacturers adding caffeine to such products as jelly beans, chips, and more would have been unfathomable in the past.  As such, the FDA might be forced to revisit an issue that hasn’t really been considered since the 50s, when caffeine was approved for soda.  If the FDA decides that children could be negatively impacted by the proliferation of caffeine, they might take further action.

Click here for more information.

On the heels of an explosion at a West, Texas fertilizer plant, a new report looks at the debate over what should be done to prevent such catastrophes in the future.  The article points to a proposed 2009 law that would have created new safety standards  for water treatment plants and chemical and fertilizer facilities.  That bill was never brought to a vote in the Senate despite passage in the House of Representatives.  The article points to lobbying efforts as a potential reason for the bill’s failure, but safety advocates are calling for a reexamination of the issue after the aforementioned explosion.  Some believe, though, that it’s more imperative that businesses focus on following the rules that are already in place.

To learn more, click here.

The San Francisco-based West Elm, itself a part of Williams-Sonoma, has issued a recall on bronze finished floor lamps with an iron base.  900 or so lamps of the Overarching Industrial model are impacted by the recall, which was announced once it was discovered that mechanisms meant to lock the joints in place could fail.  The extended lamps could collapse at that point, causing an injury, and the condition could also lead to sparking of the electrical cord, a condition that poses a shock threat to persons nearby.  24 joint failure incidents have already been reported, and some of them include instances of sparks and unit collapse.  Owners are being asked to return the lamps to get their money back.  They were sold from this past December to February only via West Elm.

For more about the recall, click here.

Yesterday, the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration spoke in front of a Senate appropriations committee to defend the agency’s budget request for 2014.  Among the subjects discussed were $83 million in user fees that the Commissioner hopes will not be affected by the sequester, as those types of fees allow the FDA to more swiftly get through new drug applications.  The FDA also hopes to receive an allotment of $3 million that will increase their ability to monitor compounding pharmacies.  Even without these funds, the Commissioner has pledged to do what is necessary to crack down on unsafe practices among such entities.  The proposed budget would also expand the FDA’s reach in other countries in order to meet the demands of an increasingly globalized society.

For more information, please follow this link.

Water and electricity certainly do not mix, and a new report out of Oklahoma aims to provide a few electrical safety tips geared especially toward reducing the types of injuries that occur when extensive rains lead to a potential hazard.  First, persons should not use electronics outside when the weather is rainy.  Even if the rain has cleared up, the grass might still be wet, and an electronic appliance can still pose a danger.  Instead of just keeping outdoor appliances outside when not in use, unplug them and store them in a safe place.  When you yourself are wet, stay away from circuit breakers and various appliances.  And should something like a vacuum or a lamp become damp, these must be absolutely dry before you can plug them back in.

For more tips, follow this link.

A reformulated version of Oxycontin aims to reduce the potential for abuse thanks to new properties that hinder nasal and injection-based usage, and the Food and Drug Administration has now approved labeling for the product that says as much.  Because of this, the original form of Oxycontin that did not have these abuse hindrances will be removed from the market.  Any generic forms of the drug based off of the original non-deterrent version of the medication will also no longer receive the approval of the organization.  That means that generics will now have to have the same abuse prevention mechanisms in place if they hope to reach the market.

Click here to learn more.

The Food and Drug Administration’s ability to regulate compounding pharmacies was recently called into question when a fungal meningitis outbreak stemming from contaminated steroid injections led to the deaths of 53 people and made 700 more ill.  Yesterday, the Commissioner of the FDA explained to lawmakers that inadequacies and conflicts in regulatory policy left the door open for this type of contamination incident.  She wants to see new laws put in place which give the FDA power to inspect and police compounders more strictly.  However, some lawmakers pointed to preexisting deficiencies in compounder regulation on the part of the FDA and wondered whether new laws would really be able to counteract those shortcomings.

To learn more, follow this link.

The Food and Drug Administration has released a report explaining to consumers what the agency is doing in order to limit the public’s exposure to DMAA, or dimethylamylamine.  This stimulant is most commonly found in dietary supplements that purport to offer such benefits as muscle enhancement and weight loss.  Unfortunately, the FDA worries that the ingredient could lead to a swath of health problems, including heart attacks or other cardiovascular issues, breathing problems, and chest tightening.  60 incident reports, including fatalities, have come to the FDA’s attention, and although the mere filing of a report does not automatically equate to a connection to DMAA, the FDA is still taking the issue seriously.  They have warned all supplement companies that including the substance within a product is illegal, and thus far, all but one has complied with a request to stop selling items with DMAA.

To learn more about the risks of DMAA, follow this link.

A report out of Salinas offers a number of valuable electrical safety tips to consumers in the hope that the estimated 485 fatalities and 2,305 injuries which occur each year across the country can be reduced.  First, ground rules should be set up in regards to power lines.  Adults and kids alike should refrain from climbing trees in the vicinity of power lines, and various objects should be kept away from the lines.  That includes kites, ladders, and more.  Some of the tips are geared toward extension cords.  Such devices should only be used when absolutely necessary, and consumers should follow the directives for indoor or outdoor use.  They should also be kept out of the way of walking paths so that they don’t pose a tripping hazard.

Click here for more tips.

A recent incident in Hayden, Idaho has renewed warnings about the potential danger posed by the bristles of grill brushes.  A teenager recently required medical intervention after she swallowed one of these bristles, a phenomenon that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say all consumers need to be aware of.  Five instances of a bristle being swallowed after it fell off of a brush and lodged in a piece of food were reported last year, and the doctor involved in the aforementioned incident explains that a bristle can lead to a serious infection if stuck in the tongue, intestines, or esophagus.  To prevent an injury, the CDC asks brush owners to take a wet rag to a grill after brushing it so that fallen bristles can be swept away prior to grilling.

To learn more about the risks, click here.