MedWorm Tags: fda food MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'fda food'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:06:58 +0100 A.M. Vitals: PharMerica Adopts Poison-Pill Provision http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169520&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F2YxfexmzmAo%2F Poison Protection?: Pharmacy-services provider PharMerica said it adopted a poison-pill provision to prevent unwanted takeover bids, Dow Jones Newswires reports. Earlier this week the company rejected a $15-per-share bid from Omnicare, saying it undervalued PharMerica and that regulatory risk was too high. Omnicare said it was still willing to talk with PharMerica about how to “allocate” risk that a deal would run into antitrust hurdles. Cracking Down on Papayas: The FDA has restricted papaya imports from Mexico after inspections showed more than 15%, from a host of different producers, were tainted, Reuters reports. Producers can have the fruit tested by independent labs to show they’re salmonella-free. After five consecutive clean shipments, producers may be exempted from ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169520 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:41:02 +0100 5169520 FDA Approves GE’s Newest CT Scanner http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130744&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffda-approves-ges-newest-ct-scanner%2F2011.08.15 GE Healthcare has received the FDA OK for its Optima CT660 computed tomography (CT) system. The CT660, which is already available in Europe, Latin America and Asia, distinguishes itself by its compact footprint combined with a modular design and low dose imaging. In addition, it is also one of the most energy efficient CT scanners available and has an “environmental design” that eases refurbishment and end-of-life recycling. The scanner itself is scalable from 32 to 128 slices through purchasable options and features automatic table positioning and a color 12-inch integrated gantry display monitor. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130744 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:05:47 +0100 5130744 A.M. Vitals: Ground-Turkey Salmonella Outbreak Raises Antibiotics Question http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130724&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FvhZooslpidM%2F Raising Questions: The debate over whether antibiotics should be used less frequently in livestock has been revived by the recent recall of ground turkey tainted by salmonella bacteria that is resistant to many of the drugs, the WSJ reports. Food-safety experts say that routine use of antibiotics in feed as a preventive can promote antibiotic-resistant bacteria and threaten human health, while industry groups counter that the practice reduces animal diseases, promotes growth and keeps meat prices low, the paper says. Crop Inspections: Mushrooms grown about 25 miles away from the Japanese nuclear plant damaged in the March earthquake and tsunami have been found to be contaminated by radiation, Bloomberg News reports. Rice is also a concern, with about half of the country’s crop grown ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130724 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:43:25 +0100 5130724 Can Pharmacogenomic Tests Help To Improve Public Health? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077688&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-pharmacogenomic-tests-help-to-improve-public-health%2F2011.07.29 Adverse drug events are a serious public health problem. Consider the following facts: an estimated 82% of American adults take at least one medication and 29% take five or more; 700,000 emergency department visits and 120,000 hospitalizations are due to adverse drug events annually; $3.5 billion is spent on extra medical costs of adverse drug events annually; at least 40% of costs associated with adverse drug events occurring outside hospitals can be prevented. How can genomics help? Pharmacogenomics is the study of genetic variation as a factor in drug response, affecting both safety and effectiveness. The intended applications of pharmacogenomics research include identifying responders and non-responders to medications, avoiding adverse events, optimizing drug dose and avoiding unnece... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077688 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:00:10 +0100 5077688 How Effective Are Antidepressants? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062246&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-effective-are-antidepressants%2F2011.07.24 Antidepressant drugs have been getting a bad rap in the media. I’ll just give 3 examples: On the Today show, prominent medical expert Tom Cruise told us Brooke Shields shouldn’t have taken these drugs for her postpartum depression. In Natural News, “Health Ranger” Mike Adams accused pharmaceutical companies and the FDA of covering up negative information about antidepressants, saying it would be considered criminal activity in any other industry. And an article in Newsweek said  “Studies suggest that the popular drugs are no more effective than a placebo. In fact, they may be worse.” Yet psychiatrists are convinced that antidepressants work and are still routinely prescribing them for their patients. Is it all a Big Pharma plot? Who ya gonna believe? Inquiring minds want ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062246 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:00:36 +0100 5062246 A.M. Vitals: FDA Panel Recommends Pulling Avastin’s Breast-Cancer Approval http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984413&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FNYfw_VMWbrM%2F Avastin Vote: An FDA appeals panel made up of outside experts voted 6-0 to recommend the agency remove Avastin’s approval for breast cancer, the WSJ reports. Panel members said studies showed the Roche drug provided no meaningful benefit to patients while raising the risk for serious side effects. The ultimate decision on the drug’s breast-cancer indication rests with FDA head Margaret Hamburg. Regardless of what she decides, the drug will remain on the market since it’s approved for other cancers. Focus on Fenugreek: The search for the culprit in the E. coli outbreak in Germany and, most recently, France, has focused on fenugreek seeds from Egypt, the New York Times reports. Sprouts from contaminated seeds are “implicated in both outbreaks,” according to a Eu... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984413 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:42:44 +0100 4984413 A.M. Vitals: Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal in Lilly Case http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975819&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fvra3c12TJyY%2F No Hearing: The Supreme Court yesterday rejected an appeal from insurers and other payers who said they paid too much for Eli Lilly’s antipsychotic drug Zyprexa because the drug company misrepresented the benefits of the medication, the WSJ reports. A lower court had ruled that there wasn’t a sufficient link between the high prices and Lilly’s marketing practices; the Supreme Court won’t hear a challenge to that ruling. Hospice Questions: There are concerns that commercial hospices are seeking out patients with better prognoses in an attempt to boost income, Kaiser Health News and the New York Times report. The inspector general of HHS is looking at “unusual patterns of hospice stays,” while whistleblower lawsuits have alleged efforts to keep patients in... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975819 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:57:19 +0100 4975819 A.M. Vitals: FDA Appeals Panel to Hold Avastin Hearing This Week http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975822&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FheOl2vQ08lE%2F Avastin Arguments: At an FDA appeals hearing tomorrow and Wednesday, Roche’s Genentech unit will argue that the conditional approval for its drug Avastin to be used against breast cancer shouldn’t be pulled, despite evidence showing it doesn’t help patients live any longer and carries the risk of serious side effects, the WSJ reports. FDA head Margaret Hamburg will ultimately make the decision about the drug, which is already approved for use in other cancers. Sprouts, Again: The deadly E. coli strain implicated in the German outbreak that killed 43 people has now popped up in France, though authorities say it appears to be an isolated instance, the New York Times reports. Once again, the illness is linked to sprouts; seven people were in the hospital as of Sunday, the NY... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975822 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:34:33 +0100 4975822 FDA Says It Needs New Approach on Imports http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952782&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FOM9kp_wLMG0%2F Border and port inspections alone aren’t sufficient to make sure the imported food and drugs consumed by U.S. residents are safe. That’s the word from the FDA, which today laid out a plan to monitor the rising tide of goods from abroad. It includes planned partnerships with counterpart regulators in other countries and better data-sharing between those regulators. The scope and scale of food and drug imports has increased dramatically, growing to 24 million shipments to the U.S. this year from 6 million shipments a decade ago, the report says. Imports of FDA-regulated products are growing at an estimated 15% annual rate. The agency has stepped up overseas inspections — there are now three FDA locations in China, for example — formed some alliances with other regulat... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952782 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:34:59 +0100 4952782 The Right To Bear Salt: Is Sodium Restriction Warranted For The General Population? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934163&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-right-to-bear-salt-is-sodium-restriction-warranted-for-the-general-population%2F2011.06.15 Q. What is the difference between a public health expert and Il Duce? A. Mussolini was not nearly as arrogant as a public health expert. In prior posts, DrRich related how two major publc health efforts over the past few decades – the effort to put all of us on low-fat diets, and the effort to reduce everyone’s cholesterol levels – have amounted to massive experiments, based upon insufficiently-tested assumptions and surmises and hypotheses which the experts arrogantly (and incorrectly) determined to be fact, and which were conducted upon the entire American population without its knowledge or consent. These public health experiments cost billions of dollars, needlessly transformed large swatches of American industry, and (at least in the case of low-fat diets) likely produced signif... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934163 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:00:25 +0100 4934163 A.M. Vitals: FDA Recommends Lower Doses of Zocor For Some http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921379&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FG-ljtAmqcGk%2F Lower Dose: The FDA says the 80-mg dose of Merck’s cholesterol drug Zocor, also known as simvastatin, shouldn’t be prescribed for new patients or those taking certain other drugs because of an increased risk of muscle problems, the WSJ reports. Simvastatin, available as a generic and also a component of Merck’s Vytorin and Abbott’s Simcor, is most frequently prescribed in 20- or 40-mg doses, the paper says. Uniquely Positioned?: Blue Shield of California’s move to cap profits may not easily be duplicated by other health insurers, Kaiser Health News reports. The company’s not-for-profit status means it’s not answerable to shareholders, and it has healthy reserves and higher-than-average margins. Other nonprofits may offer some form of policyholder r... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921379 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:27:02 +0100 4921379 A.M. Vitals: Does Jell-O Cause Hyperactivity? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658359&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FJUldICkQw3Y%2F FDA V. Food Colors: For the first time, the FDA is assessing whether or not foods like Jell-O, Lucky Charms and Minute Maid Lemonade should carry warnings that their artificial colors could worsen behavioral problems in kids, the New York Times reports. The FDA has previously decided that there is not a link between the colors and behavior or health problems, but the NYT says that it will ask a panel of experts on Wednesday and Thursday to review the evidence. More and more studies have suggested a link, the Times says. Drug  Deal: Valeant Pharmaceuticals of Canada last night made a hostile bid for Cephalon for $5.7 billion, the WSJ reports. The all-cash offer is a 24.5% premium, and Valeant CEO J. Michael Pearson said he would be willing to increase it “somewhat.” Cephalon sa... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658359 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:44:14 +0100 4658359 The Supreme Court, Generic Labels & Preemption http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642995&cid=t_437783_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FuZGC-ukK-wc%2F Should generic drugmakers be required to strengthen product labeling if alerted to side effects, even when the same change has not been made to the labeling for the branded med? This question goes to the heart of a pair of state lawsuits filed by two women, who claim generic drugmakers should be held liable for failing to warn of serious side effects. However, the drugmakers, which include Actavis and Pliva, claim federal law preempts the lawsuits, because they would be required to offer labeling that is different from what appears on the label of the brand-name drug. The generic drugmakers further maintain that permitting such lawsuits to proceed in state courts would raise their costs, which would, ultimately, be passed on to consumers. This complicated issue will be heard this coming We... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642995 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:12:39 +0100 4642995 FDA Will Monitor Japanese-Made Drugs as Well as Food for Radiation http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622224&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FLyzc_2f2pRo%2F The FDA is going to monitor pharmaceuticals made in Japan — as well as food products — for any signs of elevated radiation levels, a spokeswoman for the agency tells us. On Thursday we reported that the FDA would monitor future imports of fish, other food products and raw materials that originate or pass through Japan in transit to the U.S.  Pharmaceutical products will also be monitored, the spokeswoman says. Imports from Japan make up only a small fraction of the roughly $300 billion the U.S. spends on prescription drugs every year. Internally, Japan is halting some food shipments after detecting higher-than-normal levels of radiation in spinach, rapeseed and milk. The government also found abnormally high radiation in tap water in certain areas. Levels aren’t enough t... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622224 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:48:24 +0100 4622224 FDA Says it Will Monitor Food From Japan For Radiation http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4605802&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FQ4zLIdMy7Y0%2F Any danger to the food supply posed by the ongoing Japanese nuclear power plant crisis would primarily affect people living in that country, since they consume the bulk of local products, the WSJ reports today. (And there is so far no evidence of contamination, the paper says.) Still, regulators in other countries are testing food imported from Japan for signs of radiation. The FDA will monitor future imports of fish, other food products and raw materials that originate in or pass through Japan in transit, an agency spokeswoman tells the Health Blog. Right now the FDA isn’t concerned about Japanese food products that are already being distributed here. (Seafood, snack foods and processed fruits and veggies are the most common imports from Japan, which make up less than 4% of food imp... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4605802 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:11:20 +0100 4605802 A New Treatment For Lupus http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592394&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-new-treatment-for-lupus%2F2011.03.15 Lupus, an autoimmune disease, [recently] turned up on the front page of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). It cropped up, also, on the first page of the New York Times business section, and elsewhere. Scientific American published a nice online review just now. The reason is that the FDA has approved a new monoclonal antibody for treatment of this condition. The drug belimumab (Benlysta), targets a molecule called BlyS (B-lymphocyte Stimulator). The newspapers uniformly emphasize that this drug marks some sort of triumph for Human Genome Sciences, a biotech company that first reported on BlyS in the journal Science way back in 1999. BlyS triggers B cells to produce antibodies that in patients with lupus tend to bind and destroy their own cells’ needed machinery, causing various joint, lung... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592394 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:36 +0100 4592394 Tougher Sentencing For Pharma Fraud? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592689&cid=t_437783_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FUdLb4vh7Hrs%2F What if a pharma exec was supposed to be sentenced for a misdemeanor but, due to a change in sentencing guidelines, was instead going to receive a harsher sentence usually meted out for felonies? Depending upon your station in life, this may be a good thing or a bad thing. If you happen to be the exec, however, this is probably not a good thing. But if a recent proposal goes into effect, well… tough luck. What are we talking about? Two months ago, the US Sentencing Commission issued a proposal to amend the sentencing guidelines that would impose tougher punishments for anyone convicted of so-called strict liability offenses under the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (look here). In legal lingo, the difference is between between following the 2B guidelines for fraud instead of the curre... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592689 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:15:58 +0100 4592689 Think Zinc For A Cold? Not Me http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507279&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthink-zinc-for-a-cold-not-me%2F2011.02.22 Media channels are a-twitter with the news that zinc can beat the common cold. CBS News, the LA Times, the Huffington Post, and hundreds of others are treating a quiet research report as big news that will have a life-changing effect. After reading the report and doing a little digging into the dark side of zinc, I’m not rushing out to stock up on zinc lozenges or syrup. The latest hubbub about zinc was sparked by a report from the Cochrane Collaboration. This global network of scientists, patients, and others evaluates the evidence on hundreds of different treatments. In the latest review, on zinc for the common cold, researchers Meenu Singh and Rashmi R. Das pooled the results of 13 studies that tested zinc for treating colds. By their analysis, taking zinc within 24 hours of first no... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507279 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:00:38 +0100 4507279 Selecting Targeted Therapies Online: The Future Of Personalized Cancer Treatment? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507280&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fselecting-targeted-therapies-online-the-future-of-personalized-cancer-treatment%2F2011.02.22 The word cancer comes from the greek word for crab “karkinos,” so named by Hippocrates who visualized the tumor and its surrounding vessels looking like a crab, dug stubbornly into the sand with its legs. We know far more about cancer today than the ancient Greeks, but the vision of an entrenched opponent, almost impossible to extract whole, appears to be vividly prescient. What we have realized over the last half century is that removal of the visible tumor is not enough. Even as we learned how to do bigger and more destructive surgeries, the cancer still managed to sneak back in, growing later at different locations. The crab’s legs are still embedded in the patient. Thus the discovery that certain chemicals could extinguish these rogue cells opened the modern era of cancer therapy... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507280 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:00:25 +0100 4507280 Deep Brain Stimulation: Experts Warn About Aggressive Marketing http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4498274&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdeep-brain-stimulation-experts-raise-alarms-about-aggressive-marketing%2F2011.02.19 A paper published in the February issue of Health Affairs – discussed at length in an article in the New York Times – contains the sort of blunt, plain-spoken language you seldom read in academic journals. The authors, who include some of the most prominent neuroscientists and ethicists in the world, warn that manufacturers are misusing the FDA’s humanitarian device exemption to promote deep brain stimulation as a “treatment” for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). In fact, they make clear that deep brain stimulation is very much an experimental procedure. Research is still at an early stage, and the risks to patients are not well defined. When suffering is severe and no other treatment has provided relief, there is value in making available an intervention like deep b... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4498274 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:00:39 +0100 4498274 MRI-Safe Pacemakers Available In U.S. Hospitals Soon: What It Means For Heart Patients http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495203&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmri-safe-pacemakers-available-in-u-s-hospitals-soon-what-it-means-for-heart-patients%2F2011.02.18 This was the Guest Blog at Scientific American on February 16th, 2011. New wave of MRI-safe pacemakers set to ship to hospitals This week Medtronic will begin shipping to hospitals in the United States the first pacemaker approved by the FDA as safe for most MRI scans. For consumers, it is a significant step in what is expected to be a wave of new MRI-compatible implanted cardiac devices. But this is an example of one technology chasing another and the one being chased, the MRI scanner, is changing and is a step ahead of the new line of pacemakers. The pacemaker approved for U.S. distribution is Medtronic’s first-generation pacemaker with certain limitations, while its second-generation MRI-compatible pacemaker is already in use in Europe where approval for medical devices is not as dem... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495203 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4495203 Treating Depression: The “Shock Value” Of Electroconvulsive Therapy http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489676&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftreating-depression-the-shock-value-of-electroconvulsive-therapy%2F2011.02.16 Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered to be a highly effective treatment for depression. The story goes that roughly 90 percent of patients respond. The downside is that it requires general anesthesia with all its attendant risks, and patients may suffer from headaches and memory loss. The memory loss is often mild, but there are cases where it is profound and very troubling. As with any psychiatric treatment — or so it seems — there are those who say it saved them and those who say it destroyed them. Because the risks aren’t minor, the procedure is expensive and often done on an inpatient unit, and people generally don’t like the idea of having an IV line placed, being put under, then shocked through their brain until they seize, only to wake up groggy and... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489676 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4489676 We’re Overdosing On Sodium: Whose Responsibility Is It? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4429017&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwere-overdosing-on-sodium-whose-responsibility-is-it%2F2011.02.02 I confess to loving Campbell’s tomato bisque soup. I mix it with 1 percent-fat milk and it’s hot and delicious and comforting, but one of the worst food choices I could make because one cup contains more sodium than I should have in a day. Knowing this, I have already relegated it to an occasional treat. But by the end of this blog post I will do more. We are overdosing on sodium and it is killing us. We need to cut the sodium we eat daily by more than half. The guidelines keep coming. The U.S. government has handed out dietary guidelines telling Americans who are over 50, all African Americans, people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease to have no more than 1,500 milligrams (mg) — or two thirds of a teaspoon — of sodium daily. That’s the majorit... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4429017 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4429017 FDA Reports On Association Of Breast Implants And A Rare Form Of Cancer http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411528&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffda-reports-on-association-of-breast-implants-and-a%25c2%25a0rare-form-of-cancer%2F2011.01.28 The FDA [has] issued an alert about a pos­sible link between breast implants — saline or sil­icone — and a rare form of lym­phoma called anaplastic large cell lym­phoma (ALCL). These lym­phoma cases are exceed­ingly rare, but the asso­ci­ation appears to be significant. The FDA iden­tified a total of approx­i­mately 60 ALCL cases in asso­ci­ation with implants, worldwide. Of these, 34 were iden­tified by review of pub­lished medical lit­er­ature from 1997 to May, 2010; the others were reported by implant man­u­fac­turers and other sources. The agency esti­mates the number of women worldwide with breast implants is between five and 10 million. These numbers translate to between six and 12 ALCL cases in the breast, per million women with breast implan... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411528 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:00:26 +0100 4411528 What Everyone Should Know About Plastics http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405775&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-everyone-should-know-about-plastics%2F2011.01.27 Information circulating about the dangers of plastic containers has created fear and confusion. Are plastic containers toxic? Do harmful chemicals leach out into its contents? Do we need to discard all plastic containers? Recently, I interacted in a live health chat on MedHelp about the safety of plastics. Scientist, Joe Schwarcz, Ph.D., Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, talked about “The Real Truth About Plastics: What You Should And Shouldn’t Worry About.” While Dr. Schwarcz states that some plastics like those made by Tupperware and Rubbermaid are safe to use, there are other plastics made of Bisphenol A (BPA) that may cause some concern, however he did not become alarmed. There is extensive information on the safety of plastics, and reading some of... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405775 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:00:39 +0100 4405775 Breast Implants And Lymphoma: New Safety Alert From The FDA http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405777&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbreast-implants-and-lymphoma-new-safety-alert-from-the-fda%2F2011.01.27 From the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety alert yesterday: ISSUE: The FDA announced a possible association between saline and silicone gel-filled breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a very rare type of cancer. Data reviewed by the FDA suggest that patients with breast implants may have a very small but significant risk of ALCL in the scar capsule adjacent to the implant. BACKGROUND: In total, the agency is aware of about 60 cases of ALCL in women with breast implants worldwide. This number is difficult to verify because not all cases were published in the scientific literature and some may be duplicate reports. An estimated 5 million to 10 million women worldwide have breast implants. According to the National Cancer Institute, ALCL appears in different pa... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405777 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:00:36 +0100 4405777 Head Lice: FDA Approves New Treatment http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377568&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhead-lice-fda-approves-new-treatment%2F2011.01.20 Good news for parents, teachers, pediatricians, and others engaged in the ongoing battle against lice: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just approved a new treatment for head lice in children age four and older. Called Natroba, it’s a liquid that is rubbed into the hair and allowed to sit for 10 minutes before being rinsed off. Natroba is a useful addition to the anti-lice arsenal, since some head lice have become resistant to permethrin and pyrethrins, the active ingredients in over-the-counter anti-lice products such as Nix and Rid. Head lice are tiny insects that go by the big name Pediculus humanus capitis. They thrive in the warm tangle of human hair, feeding off blood in the scalp and breeding with abandon. A female lays eggs called nits that she attaches to strands of hair.... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377568 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:30:14 +0100 4377568 Chewable Birth Control http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4360983&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fchewable-birth-control%2F2011.01.17 Just in time for the new year, the FDA has approved the first low-dose chewable birth control contraceptive.  The daily chew will be marketed by Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Fred Wilkinson, executive vice president of Global Brands said: “We believe this product is an important addition to the oral contraceptive category, and that its characteristics will make it a desirable choice for women.” I have to ask myself: “Why?” Most birth control failures occur because the woman forgets to take the pill. Will a chewable be more reliant? Is it aimed at gals who just love chewing gum? I don’t get the concept. Marketing for this breakthrough will begin the in the second quarter of 2011. *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4360983 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:00:00 +0100 4360983 FDA Restricts Acetaminophen In Popular Pain Medications http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349516&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffda-restricts-acetaminophen-in-popular-pain-medications%2F2011.01.14 This is a guest post from Dr. Mary Lynn McPherson. ********** FDA Restricts Acetaminophen In Popular Pain Medications The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made an announcement yesterday that affects one of the most common pain medications on the market, and as a consequence may affect countless numbers of the 75 million Americans who experience chronic pain (for perspective, that’s more than the number of people suffering from cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined.) The FDA has asked manufacturers of popular prescription pain medications like Vicodin or Percocet to limit the amount of acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol, or APAP) used in these drugs to no more than 325 milligrams per tablet — the equivalent of one regular-strength Tylenol tablet. The move came because rese... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349516 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:00:05 +0100 4349516 The Energy Drink http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4326902&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-energy-drink%2F2011.01.09 By Scott Gavura, BScPhm, MBA, RPh for Science-Based Medicine My stimulant of choice is coffee. I started drinking it in first-year university, and never looked back. A tiny four-cup coffee maker became my reliable companion right through graduate school. But since I stopped needing to drink a pot at a time, an entirely new category of products has appeared — the energy drink. Targeting students, athletes, and others seeking a mental or physical boost, energy drinks are now an enormous industry: From the first U.S. product sale in 1997, the market size was $4.8 billion by 2008, and continues to grow. (1) My precious coffee effectively has a single therapeutic ingredient, caffeine. Its pharmacology is well documented, and the physiologic effects are understood. The safety data isn’... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4326902 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:00:48 +0100 4326902 OTC Acid Reducers And Grain-Fed Beef Can Decrease Chances To Fight Bacteria http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309726&cid=t_437783_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fotc-acid-reducers-grain-fed-beef-decrease-chances-fight-bacteria%2F When a food recall is announced, the United States media jumps on the story. Words like “poisoned,” “contaminated,” “deadly” have become a part of our vocabulary in recent years, thanks to food recalls. It tears the industry apart and no doubt, has lasting effects on people. Mad cow disease, tomatoes, kids peanut butter crackers, and now eggs, we are faced with a myriad of information that we have to filter through every time. What’s truly dangerous, is it in our area, what can we do to protect ourselves, is it ever safe to buy the product again, what’s next? The truth is, that even with FDA controls, we can never truly protect the quality of our foods. There is always an opening for poisons, contamination, and deadly consequences. A recent Wall Street Journal article talk... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309726 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:08:06 +0100 4309726 FDA Set To Approve New Anti-Obesity Drug http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304879&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffda-set-to-approve-new-anti-obesity-drug%2F2011.01.02 The FDA has been tough on diet drugs of late. Three years ago it scuttled an attempt to get the European diet drug rimonabant approved for use in the U.S. More recently it rejected, at least temporarily, applications for Qnexa and Lorcaserin. But that trend may have been reversed last week, when an advisory committee set the stage for possible FDA approval of Orexigen’s investigational diet drug, Contrave. By a 13-7 vote, the committee said in essence that the somewhat modest beneficial effects of the drug outweighed its tendency to increase blood pressure. The FDA will make final decision on the matter by the end of January. It is not required to follow the advice of its advisory committees, but as was the case for the three diet drugs mentioned above,  it usually does. (more…... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304879 Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:00:19 +0100 4304879 Painkiller Safety http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4287415&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpainkiller-safety%2F2010.12.24 Perhaps as many as one in every five American adults will get a prescription for a painkiller this year, and many more will buy over-the-counter medicines without a prescription. These drugs can do wonders — getting rid of pain can seem like a miracle — but sometimes there’s a high price to be paid. Remember the heavily marketed COX-2 inhibitors? Rofecoxib, sold as Vioxx, and valdecoxib, sold as Bextra, were taken off the market in 2004 and 2005, respectively, after studies linked them to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like aspirin, ibuprofen (sold as Advil and Motrin), and naproxen (sold as Aleve) seem like safe bets. But taken over long periods, they have potentially dangerous gastrointestinal side effect... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4287415 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:00:34 +0100 4287415 A.M. Vitals: Secrecy in Medicare http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281296&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FCAeEaaWOZU0%2F Medicare Investigation: The WSJ takes a look at a Florida doctor (dressed like a punk rocker) who took in $1.2 million from Medicare in 2008, much of it from a sophisticated form of physical therapy. The doctor hasn't been accused of wrongdoing. But last year he was placed on heightened watch and sold his business. But not until he got $2.6 million in payments between 2007 and 2009, according to a person familiar with the matter cited by the WSJ.... (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281296 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:07:04 +0100 4281296 Acupuncture Via SkyMall http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245305&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Facupuncture-via-skymall%2F2010.12.09 The worst part of flying is the takeoff and landing. Not that I am nervous about those parts of the trip, it is that I am all electronic. Once I have to turn off my electronic devices, all I am left with is my own thoughts or what is in the seat pocket in front of me. Since there is nothing to be gained from quiet introspection, I am stuck with either the in-flight magazine or SkyMall. I usually choose the latter. SkyMall, for those of you who do not fly, is a collection of catalogs bound in one volume. I have occasionally purchased products found in SkyMall and thumb through it with mild interest. This time one product caught my eye, the Aculife home acupuncture/acupressure device. I had never noticed the “health”-related products in SkyMall before, usually looking for electro... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245305 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:00:28 +0100 4245305 A.M. Vitals: FDA Advisory Panel Votes Against Drugs as Prostate-Cancer Preventatives http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225215&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F0whBF5hCpwQ%2F Also: food-safety bill hits a snag; Allergan seeks broader (though thinner) audience for Lap-Band; PhRMA dollars; Merck bets on experimental insulin product. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225215 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:57:40 +0100 4225215 A.M. Vitals: FDA Preparing to Ban Caffeinated Alcoholic Drinks http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175669&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Ft3CftDiEaXU%2F Also: another deficit-reduction plan calls for Medicare changes; prospects for a food-safety bill; campaign contributions. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175669 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:56:28 +0100 4175669 New Cigarette Labels From The FDA http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164521&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-cigarette-labels-from-the-fda%2F2010.11.14 The FDA will soon require new cigarette package labeling to deter smoking. So in politically-correct governmental fashion, they are asking which labels you’d like to see. (You can pick your favorites here.) My personal favorite (so far) is the one shown to the left, but its impact factor pales in comparison to this example found in England. (That, my friends, is cancer!) Ironically, it appears the FDA isn’t too sure how forceful it should be in these warnings about the dangers of smoking. They offer a cornucopia of milquetoast labeling options, many of which contain cartoons. Might such unrealistic portrayals defy they hard-hitting message they want to project? Worse, at least one cartoon (seen here) even seems to promote cigarettes AND drug use together! In an even more astoni... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164521 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100 4164521 High Cholesterol And Red Yeast Rice Supplements http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139236&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhigh-cholesterol-and-red-yeast-rice-supplements%2F2010.11.05 People are always on the search for “natural” ways to stay healthy and reduce cholesterol. Chinese red yeast rice supplements have been touted as a natural, safer way to lower cholesterol compared to statin medications. The yeast that grows on a particular type of rice contains a family of substances called monocolins, which lower cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol production in the liver in the same manner as prescription statin drugs. Some studies have shown as much as a 15 percent drop in cholesterol. All of this sounds good until you dig a little deeper. Supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that different brands of red yeast rice supplements have dramatic variation in le... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139236 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:00:00 +0100 4139236 The Impact Of Drug Marketing On Medical Care http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118936&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-impact-of-drug-marketing-on-medical-care%2F2010.10.28 In my group practice, the Yale Medical Group, drug company-sponsored lunches and similar events have been banned. This is part of a trend, at least within academic medicine, to create some distance between physicians and pharmaceutical companies, or at least their marketing divisions. The justifications for this are several, and are all reasonable. One reason is the appearance of being too cozy, which compromises the role of academic physicians as independent experts. But the primary reason is the belief that “detailing” by pharmaceutical sales representatives has a negative effect on the prescribing habits of physicians. There is reason to believe this may be the case because of cases of bad behavior on the part of pharmaceutical marketing divisions — ghost writing white papers,... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118936 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:50 +0100 4118936 A.M. Vitals: Case Claiming Individual Mandate is Unconstitutional to Proceed http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074017&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F1m9MVbXe4JE%2F Also: UnitedHealth proposes Medicare/Medicaid cost-saving measures; a ReGen knee implant approval is rescinded; Fresh Express has a new way to wash salad greens. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074017 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:48:39 +0100 4074017 Top Gripes About Drugs And What They Cost http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040561&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftop-gripes-about-drugs-and-what-they-cost%2F2010.10.07 I used to defend pharmaceutical companies. ”What companies out there have contributed more good? Should care manufacturers make more when all they do is make transportation that breaks after a few years?” It made sense to me that you should put a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow so that companies are motivated to invent more drugs and innovate. We throw a lot of money to athletes and movie stars who simply entertain us, shouldn’t we do better to those who heal us? I used to say that. I don’t anymore. No, I don’t think the drug companies are “evil.” People who say that are thinking way to simplistic. These companies are doing exactly what their shareholders want them to do: make as much money as possible for as long as possible. That’s what all companies do, right? They... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040561 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:00:07 +0100 4040561 Real-Time Drug Safety Reports http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003254&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Freal-time-drug-safety-reports%2F2010.09.27 Researchers at Children’s Hospital in Boston and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have developed an iPhone application that keeps you up-to-date with drug safety reports and allows you to submit any side effects directly to the FDA. The app, called MedWatcher can keep a list of medications for which you receive both official FDA alerts and news from other channels. Users can report side effects straight from the app and view other submitted reports. The researchers hope to lower the barrier to reporting side effects, increasing the participation in safety surveillance. Reports of serious adverse events are reviewed by members of the Children’s Computational Epidemiology Group and then submitted to the FDA. The app was developed using technology from the Outbreaks... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003254 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:00:14 +0100 4003254 A.M. Vitals: Justice Department Wants in on Whistleblower Suit Against Pfizer’s Wyeth http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993863&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FNQzlPSwjYLo%2F Also: egg producers to testify; Novartis MS drug approved; California hospital conflict; Medicare Advantage premiums. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993863 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:57:14 +0100 3993863 Would A Fish By Any Other Name Taste As Sweet? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993864&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FWZ3odeh-U-c%2F Should a genetically modified animal designed to be eaten be required to be label as such? (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993864 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:06:52 +0100 3993864 A.M. Vitals: Diet Drugs a Tough Road For Developers, Investors http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3972900&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FWsTbHf0P4VM%2F Also: Sanofi CEO says Genzyme investors would sell for a reasonable price; Congressional investigators say Wright County Egg sat on salmonella tests; residents go to work sick. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3972900 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:16:44 +0100 3972900 USDA Graders Saw Bugs and Trash at Egg Producer; Didn’t Tell FDA http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3957894&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fi0AHrjxatF0%2F USDA and FDA seem to have a failure to communicate. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3957894 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:42:26 +0100 3957894 Thurs. Egg Recall Roundup: Wider Federal Investigation Underway http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929212&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FjK6oYOxc8CY%2F Did you know "Grade A" on an egg carton doesn't indicate whether the eggs inside are safe to eat? (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929212 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:50:46 +0100 3929212 FDA Actively Monitoring Medical And Healthcare Apps http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929234&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffda-actively-monitoring-medical-and-healthcare-apps%2F2010.09.02 Bradley Merrill Thompson, an attorney with expertise in the FDA approval process for medical devices, is stating that the FDA is actively monitoring app stores on various platforms. Regulating medical devices and health care-related applications falls under the FDA’s jurisdiction. James Kendrick from JkOnTheRun spoke with Thompson, where he stated the following: The FDA is actively engaged in surveillance of various app stores to see if apps should trigger their involvement. Applications where a smartphone is connected in any way to imaging are under scrutiny, in particular. Any app that is used to transmit images to a medical facility requires FDA approval. By “various app stores,” Thompson is likely referring to the App store [Apple], Palm App Catalog [Web OS], App World [BlackBe... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929234 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:00:10 +0100 3929234 More Egg Recall News: Companies Point Fingers on Salmonella Contamination http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3924882&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FZlh_xhIQUTU%2F The latest on the egg recall: Companies are pointing fingers, the FDA has come back to the farms -- and will customers forgive and forget? (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3924882 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:51:47 +0100 3924882 FDA Egg Farm Inspection Reports Include Rodents, Flies, 8-Foot-High Manure Pile http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3914964&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FnTu8rJjFq-E%2F The FDA inspection reports don't constitute a final finding of a violation, but they're pretty stomach-turning reading. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3914964 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:47:12 +0100 3914964 Friday Egg Recall Roundup: Salmonella Found at Wright County Egg http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911679&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FNCmYE0mlFws%2F The FDA says it's found contaminated facilities and feed at Wright County Egg, though it stressed the specific source of the outbreak has not been pinned down. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911679 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:37:46 +0100 3911679 Thurs. Egg Recall Roundup: Eggs Being Laid at Recall Farms Won’t Be Tossed http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907580&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FaiX-9Lcv01U%2F Fresh eggs being laid at producers involved in the recall will be pasteurized and processed into liquid products and food. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907580 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:29:06 +0100 3907580 DeLauro and Waxman, Leaving No Shell Unturned, Ask for Egg Recall Info http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3895861&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FnzUavo8SciM%2F DeLauro sends a letter to the FDA and USDA; Waxman and Stupak write to the two egg producers associated with the recall. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3895861 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:46:33 +0100 3895861 Egg Recall Roundup: Avoid Runny Yolks, FDA Head Says http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3895862&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FOM2N_UBSX4Y%2F FDA head Margaret Hamburg also urged Congress to pass pending food-safety legislation. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3895862 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:54:35 +0100 3895862 A.M. Vitals: FDA Advisory Panel Approves Wider Use of Lilly’s Cymbalta http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889071&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F_truHkx89tY%2F Also: Low demand so far for high-risk pools; egg recall; "junk" DNA linked to disease. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889071 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:39:46 +0100 3889071 FDA Warning: Industrial Bleach As A Cure For Cancer And HIV? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3862009&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffda-warning-industrial-bleach-as-a-cure-for-cancer-and-hiv%2F2010.08.12 On the heels of Scott Gavura’s superb post on dietary supplement regulation in the U.S. and Canada, I bring you one of the most egregious and obscene product cases I have seen in 15 years of teaching on botanical and non-botanical products: Miracle Mineral Solution. Please accept my apologies in advance for not having a scholarly post for you – this is just too unbelievable not to share with science-based medicine readers. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3862009 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:00:48 +0100 3862009 Drug To Treat Spider Veins: Asclera Now FDA-Approved http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3827068&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdrug-to-treat-spider-veins-asclera-now-fda-approved%2F2010.08.05 The FDA recently (March 2010) approved Asclera (poliocanol) injection for the treatment of small spider veins (tiny varicose veins less than 1 millimeter in diameter) and reticular veins (those that are 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter). Asclera is a detergent sclerosant and produces endothelial damage through interference with the cell’s surface lipids.and acts by damaging the cell lining of blood vessels. This causes the blood vessel to close, and it is eventually replaced by other types of tissue. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3827068 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3827068 Food And Pesticides: The Dirty Dozen http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3807396&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffood-and-pesticides-the-dirty-dozen%2F2010.07.31 The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit focused on public health. We know that the long-term consequences of eating chemicals from pesticides used on our foods is damaging to our health. The EWG analyzed data from the FDA and found that people who eat five fruits and vegetables a day from the “Dirty Dozen” are eating 10 pesticides a day. We want people to eat more fruits and vegetables, but NOT to ingest more chemicals. Rinsing reduces but does not eliminate pesticides. So what’s the answer? Rinse completely and buy the “Dirty Dozen” foods organic whenever possible. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3807396 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100 3807396 Medical Devices Injure 70,000 Kids Each Year http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3794773&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-devices-injure-70000-kids-each-year%2F2010.07.27 FDA researchers have published a study in Pediatrics that analyzed patient records from child and teen ER visits in 2004 and 2005. The investigators are reporting that 70,000 kids each year go to the ER because of issues caused by medical devices. About a quarter of the injuries were from contact lenses, while the other major contributors were needles, wheelchairs, braces, and obstetric exam tools. The study also looked at the devices most likely to cause hospitalization, and they were found to be mostly invasive devices like ostomy appliances and implanted defibrillators. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3794773 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:00:25 +0100 3794773 Government Decisions About Avandia And Preventive Services http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767074&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fgovernment-decisions-about-avandia-and-preventive-services%2F2010.07.19 An FDA advisory panel has voted that the diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) can remain on the market, but recommended further warnings associated with its use. The panel was divided, the New York Times reported, with 12 of 33 members saying the drug should be removed from the market, 10 voting to restrict sales and strengthen the warning label, 7 recommending only strengthening the warning label, and 3 voting for no change. One panel member abstained. (New York Times) The White House yesterday announced which preventive services would be available at no charge to patients under the new healthcare legislation. Adult patients who choose a health plan after September 23 will receive mammograms, diabetes screening, and tobacco cessation counseling, among other services, at no increased cos... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767074 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:45:57 +0100 3767074 For Patients, Does The FDA Play Fair? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746739&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffor-patients-does-the-fda-play-fair%2F2010.07.12 They have a tough job, those government doctors, scientists, and bureaucrats who are charged with assessing the safety and effectiveness of proposed new medical products. As you know, they rely largely on studies presented by the applicants. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the power to not approve a new drug or product or even pull it off the market. Right now it is considering limiting or pulling GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) diabetes drug, Avandia, because of newly discovered data that it may have caused heart attack in some patients –- data mysteriously not shown in GSK’s own studies. If the drug is pulled it will cost GSK billions of dollars in lost revenue but, from the FDA’s point-of-view, it will be protecting the public. And, after all, there are safer diabetes drugs ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746739 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:00:41 +0100 3746739 A.M. Vitals: Kids Falling Through the Cholesterol-Screen Cracks http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746718&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fae81qnAbQS4%2F Also: a new anti-AIDS strategy; questioning the AMA's lobbying prowess; calling for action on food-safety law. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746718 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:28:40 +0100 3746718 The FDA Could Receive How Much Federal Funding? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718696&cid=t_437783_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FoOozbSbd4XU%2F The FDA is always under the gun, and both critics and supporters often point to a lack of funding. So how much money might be headed its way in fiscal 2011? Yesterday, the House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee did a mark up and suggested $2.57 billion in funding – $55 million above the budget request. This is discretionary spending. Overall, the agency would have $3.8 billion for oversight - roughly $214 million above last year’s bill - when including $1.2 billion in user fees, notes Rosa DeLauro, the Connecticut Democrat who chairs the subcommittee, who has been harping on drug safety lately. [EDITORS' NOTE: Yes, there was a math problem earlier and we have clarified the numbers]. So the proposal include... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718696 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:49:21 +0100 3718696 FDA Guidance: Non-Medical Antibiotic Use in Animals a Bad Idea http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706650&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fj9-SDBd80Ac%2F The concern is that the widespread use of antibiotics in both animals and people fosters resistance in the microbes that afflict humans. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706650 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:11:02 +0100 3706650 Herbal Remedy For UTI? If You’re A Lab Rat, Maybe http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687100&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fherbal-remedy-for-uti-if-youre-a-lab-rat-maybe%2F2010.06.22 A patient came into the office the other day carrying a small clipping from a reputable women’s health newsletter touting new research on an herbal remedy for urinary tract infection. Having recurrent bladder infections, my patient naturally was wondering if this was something she should try. The article was entitled “Herbal Remedy Effective for Urinary Tract Infections” and began with this startling revelation: The common herbal extract forskolin can greatly reduce urinary tract infections and could potentially help antibiotics kill the bacteria that cause most bladder infections.  But the article advised that the “popular” remedy was not FDA approved for this indication, so you should “ask your doctor.” (more…) *This blog post was... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687100 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:00:00 +0100 3687100 FDA Approves New HIV Test That Will Allow Earlier Detection http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687036&cid=t_437783_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Ffda-approves-hiv-test-earlier-detection%2F The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new blood test for HIV that can detect both antigen and antibody of the HIV organism, thus allowing for earlier detection of the virus after infection. The ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo Assay is manufactured by Abbott Laboratory. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687036 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:58:39 +0100 3687036 Follow Those SpaghettiOs! FDA Food, Drug, Device Recall Data Coming http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683599&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FxeJChNpiWSI%2F Starting this fall, FDA recall data will be posted online in tabular and XML form. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683599 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:59:40 +0100 3683599 --- http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644742&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F181802%2F FDA Needs To Work on Outbreak Prevention: A new report says that the FDA is struggling to keep food safe, and should focus more of its budget on preventing foodborne illness outbreaks. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644742 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:35:39 +0100 3644742 Jaw Necrosis and Fosamax Go Hand in Hand http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3617947&cid=t_437783_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fgeneral-health%2Fjaw-necrosis-and-fosamax-go-hand-in-hand Fosamax, a biophosphonate, is very commonly used for osteoporosis. It works by slowing bone loss and increasing bone mass, and yet did you know that it can cause jaw necrosis? fosamaxThe warning initially had been that cancer patients on the drug were more at risk, but now it seems that if you had recent dental work on infections, you are at a higher risk as well. How can this FDA approved medication be associated with pain, swelling, infection and exposed bone in the jaw? And even though the FDA approved the drug in 1995, it took them until 2008 to issue this statement: “FDA is highlighting the possibility of severe and sometimes incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle (musculoskeletal) pain in patients taking bisphosphonates. Although severe musculoskeletal pain is included in the p... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3617947 Mon, 31 May 2010 19:48:51 +0100 3617947 FDA-Approved Quinolones Can Cause Severe Disability http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3617948&cid=t_437783_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fgeneral-health%2Ffda-approved-quinolones-can-cause-severe-disability Quinolones, basically synthetic, broad-spectrum antibiotics, are used to treat almost everything, from urinary tract infections to gynecological infections, STDs, skin infections, and respiratory infection like bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis.  And yet, a very well known side effect of quinolones is that it can cause tendon rupture. This can become a huge problem. Quinolones can cause tendon rupture, and someone who is just on treadmill or running while on the medication can tear their Achilles tendon. The recommendation is usually that you don’t run or jog while on the medication. How can we use something that dangerous, like Cipro, so often, when just movement while on the drug can harm you in such a way? But the FDA has known about these effects for a long time. Back in 1995, th... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3617948 Mon, 31 May 2010 18:55:41 +0100 3617948 Have We Killed Clinical Research? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607500&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhave-we-killed-clinical-research%2F2010.05.27 “…I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”  — Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire Years ago when I began my medical training, I recall enrolling patients for clinical research. In cardiology, there were a myriad of questions that needed to be answered, especially in the area of defining which medications were best to limit the damage caused by a heart attack. Patients routinely participated in large, multi-center prospective randomized trials to answer these questions. It was routine for them not to charged for participating in the trial — the drug(s) and additional testing would be funded by the company whose drug was being studied. Patients enrolled willingly, eager to help advance science and perhaps, in s... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607500 Thu, 27 May 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3607500 A.M. Vitals: Liver Warning For Glaxo’s Alli and Xenical Weight-Loss Drugs http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603564&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FmqGisa8VozU%2F Also: dangerous E. coli strains; bearing the burden of Medicaid expansion; racial differences in kids' swimming ability. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603564 Thu, 27 May 2010 12:38:53 +0100 3603564 The Problem Of Drug Extinction http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595589&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-problem-of-drug-extinction%2F2010.05.24 Doctors are all-familiar with marketing efforts to promote new drugs, but once the new drugs displace older drugs in the medical marketplace, who serves as advocates for the continued manufacturing of older FDA-approved drugs? In a short answer: No one. For those of us dealing in cardiac arrhythmia management, this presents difficult challenges for patient care if people are unable to take the newer drugs due to side effects. These patients no longer have a fall-back option to turn to for medical therapy when the older drugs have become extinct on the marketplace. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595589 Mon, 24 May 2010 12:30:00 +0100 3595589 Health Blog Q&A: What to Do About E. Coli http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545429&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Ft6is2nsrqYo%2F E. coli has sickened at least 19 people in 3 states, leading to a recall of shredded romaine lettuce. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545429 Fri, 07 May 2010 20:56:51 +0100 3545429 Raw Facts: What Some People Don’t Know About Unpasteurized Milk http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420431&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FOKtZ53hbV7g%2F Despite mounting evidence of the health risks in unpasteurized milk, raw milk advocates continue to tout its alleged benefits, dismissing warnings about bacterial contaminants that can sicken or even kill adults and children, as I write in the Informed Patient column today. The situation bedevils public-health officials and food-safety experts. “We know raw milk is hazardous, but we don’t know what it is that drives people to consume it anyway,” says Jeffrey LeJeune, a microbiologist and researcher at the Food Animal Health Research Program at Ohio State University. Dr. LeJeune is conducting a study with funding from the USDA to learn more about how consumers make judgments about milk safety. “There are tacit webs of belief that drive behavior, and everyone acts in what they believe to... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420431 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:09:00 +0100 3420431 Can you really trust the FDA and pharmaceutical companies http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3395247&cid=t_437783_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fgeneral-health%2Fcan-you-really-trust-the-fda-and-pharmaceutical-companies Drugs that give us a quick fix, medications from the drug companies, could be giving us more than we bargained for, as we are learning in the many examples where drug companies are not telling the truth: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/02/26/another-drug-company-accused-of-hiding-negative-study-results/?mod=djemHL The Department of Justice’s complaint against the lab that markets Celexa and Lexapro has once again brought to the forefront that drug companies may be hiding bad results of their medications, while only releasing the better data. I don’t argue that we need drugs sometimes for a quick fix, but in the long run, natural solutions are the only thing that we can trust with our lives. www.clinicaltrials.gov was created to encourage drug companies to be open about their trials, m... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3395247 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:28:17 +0100 3395247 As Food-Safety Push Grows, Consumers Sort Out Dos, Don’ts http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3275772&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FEIiFm5SUJSM%2F With new food-safety legislation making its way through Congress, safety advocates are hoping the FDA will soon have sweeping new powers to protect the nation’s food supply, as I write in the Informed Patient column today. But in the debate over how to make food safer, it can be tough for consumers to figure out what’s safe to eat. Take a study released earlier this month by Consumers Union, which analyzed 208 samples of bagged, pre-washed salad, and reported finding “indicator organisms” –- bacteria found in the digestive tracts of humans, animals and the environment. The study authors say those bacteria indicate the potential for the presence of more dangerous bacteria, but none of the dangerous bacteria were found in the salad packages tested. A spokeswoman for the Produce Market... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3275772 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:21:57 +0100 3275772 FDA's Useless Consumer Complaint System http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3120631&cid=t_437783_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Ffdas-useless-consumer-complaint-system.html Complaint About Swollen Orange Juice Cartons Brushed Aside"If you still wish to have one of your containers analyzed you may contact a private laboratory."– Sheila van Twuyver, FDA Consumer Complaint CoordinatorOrange juice is a typical part of our breakfast. My husband and I like the taste and the convenience of pasteurized, pulpy, "not from concentrate" juice, and usually stock up on several cartons at a time. We're careful to rotate our stock, using up the oldest date codes first.On Saturday, December 19th, we reached into our refrigerator for a fresh 64-ounce carton of Florida's Natural "Growers Style" Orange Juice, a product of Citrus World, Inc. To our dismay, we discovered that the first carton we grabbed was bulged. So was the second. Both of these showed a "Best if used by" date... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3120631 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:58:00 +0100 3120631 Caffeinated Alcoholic Drinks Are Dead. (Long Live … ) http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2992649&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FT5QVZw6IQ_Q%2F It looks like the FDA could ban drinks that combine alcohol and caffeine. If that happens, it’ll be the continuation of a couple trends: The agency’s recent scrutiny of food companies, and a push by some activists and state officials against alcoholic energy drinks. The FDA has sent letters to about 30 companies noting that it “has not approved the use of caffeine in alcoholic beverages.” The letters also warn that if the companies don’t explain within a month why it’s legal to sell caffeinated alcoholic beverages, the agency will “take appropriate action to ensure that these products are removed from the marketplace.” Here’s a statement the agency put out today, explaining the regulatory details; here’s one of the letters; here&... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2992649 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:13:31 +0100 2992649 FDA Fails To Follow-Up On Questionable Drugs http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927564&cid=t_437783_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FfYyJca0pmg8%2F The agency has allowed drugs to remain available even when follow-up studies showed they didn’t save lives, according to a report from the General Accountability Office. And the FDA has never pulled a drug off the market due to a lack of required follow-up about its actual benefits — even when such info is more than a decade overdue, the Associated Press reports. FDA officials tell the AP they have no plans to get more aggressive.The FDA responded that the report paints an overly negative picture of its so-called “accelerated approval” program, which is only used to approve drugs for the most serious diseases. “Millions of patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses have had earlier access to new safe and effective treatments,” the FDA responded. The... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927564 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:24:24 +0100 2927564 Drug & Food Safety in the Age of Social Media and Transparency http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2613820&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FtFN8J64JQs0%2F Yesterday I had the opportunity to moderate a fascinating panel: Drug & Food Safety in the Age of Social Media and Transparency. The panel was part of the Driving the Adoption of Health IT Through Innovations in Social Media conference in Washington DC. There were three panels in all. Mine was the second panel. After opening remarks by Craig Stoltz, Founder of Web 2.Oh…Really (and Former Editorial Director, Revolution Health and Former Editor of the Washington Post Health section), we heard from experts on H1N1 Influenza: How Social Media Improves Communication & Collaboration For Public Health. After my panel, we heard from experts (including Disruptive Woman’s March Man of the Month, Dr. Ted Eytan of Kaiser Permanente) on Electronic Health Records: Using Social Media To Driv... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2613820 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:26:30 +0100 2613820 Contaminated Sample of Nestle Cookie Dough Found http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556091&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fb_FpP2GK1Xs%2F The FDA said it found E. coli in a sample of Nestlé Toll House cookie dough collected from a facility in Danville, Va., and is now conducting further tests to figure out if it is the same strain that has sickened 69 individuals — mostly adolescent girls — around the country. The testing should be completed later this week, according to the WSJ. This is the same plant that refused to give FDA inspectors access to certain records in the past. Nestlé issued a voluntary recall on its pre-packaged cookie dough on June 19 after it was alerted by the FDA. How the bacteria ended up in the product is still a mystery. The concern with eating raw cookie dough usually is usually salmonella since it can be found in raw eggs, notes the Washington Post. Nestlé said it “continues to ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556091 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:13:21 +0100 2556091 Nestle Said No to FDA Inspectors in Past http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2527772&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FsByq8mCfp7g%2F As the investigation into the E. coli outbreak involving Nestlé Toll House cookie dough continues, the WSJ has obtained documents showing that the company refused to give the FDA access to certain records, such as those involving pest-control and consumer complaints, during earlier inspections in recent years. Companies aren’t required to by law to open up their books, but many food companies do, an FDA official told the WSJ. The agency can only demand access to records if it shows “a reasonable belief” that the foods are a serious health threat. To date, the E. coli outbreak outbreak involving Nestlé cookie dough has affected 69 people — mostly adolescent girls — including 34 who have required hospitalization. (See here for the latest on numbers.) Nestlé r... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2527772 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:46:41 +0100 2527772 Nestlé Said No to FDA Inspectors in Past http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2522873&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FsByq8mCfp7g%2F As the investigation into the E. coli outbreak involving Nestlé Toll House cookie dough continues, the WSJ has obtained documents showing that the company refused to give the FDA access to certain records, such as those involving pest-control and consumer complaints, during earlier inspections in recent years. Companies aren’t required to by law to open up their books, but many food companies do, an FDA official told the WSJ. The agency can only demand access to records if it shows “a reasonable belief” that the foods are a serious health threat. To date, the E. coli outbreak outbreak involving Nestlé cookie dough has affected 69 people — mostly adolescent girls — including 34 who have required hospitalization. (See here for the latest on numbers.) Nestlé r... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2522873 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:46:41 +0100 2522873 Stop Using Hydroxycut! A New Warning Issued by the FDA http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382872&cid=t_437783_167_f&fid=37833&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition.edublogs.org%2F2009%2F05%2F01%2Ffda-warning-hydroxycut%2F The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk. Adverse events are rare, but exist. Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products. Linda Katz, M.D. Interim Chief Medical Officer FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. I saw an ad for Hydroxycut in a magazine this morning and was wondering about the safety and claims made by the product. Another one of those…”looks too good to be true” and “buyer be ware.” I guess it was only been a matter of time that something would come up. Today the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued an official release warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxyc... Nutrition and Wellness Biology 50 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382872 Fri, 01 May 2009 18:23:33 +0100 2382872 School Lunch Tortilla Supplier Shuts Down http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2262139&cid=t_437783_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fschool-lunch-tortilla-supplier-shuts.html (Source: eFoodAlert.com) eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2262139 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:25:00 +0100 2262139 Who is Inspecting Your Food? Depends What You’re Eating http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211626&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FLjBXEGW1bE4%2F Pepperoni on your pizza? The ball may be in the Agriculture Department’s court. As the salmonella outbreak from peanut-butter products has unfolded, we’ve highlighted how convoluted the food-safety system can be, with the FDA conducting some inspections and relying on states for others. The Associated Press puts the issue in particularly stark terms today by using a basic example: pizza. If you go into a restaurant and order a cheese pizza that arrived there frozen, the FDA is in charge of inspecting it, the AP says. But if it was frozen and has pepperoni on it, that would be the Agriculture Department’s problem. Meantime, both the FDA and the Agriculture Department would be responsible if the pizza were made fresh at the restaurant and the pizza had meat on it. There&#... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211626 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:08:36 +0100 2211626 Peanut Corp. Gets Congressional Subpeona; Closes Texas Plant http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2177861&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F7I9L7iPa6bs%2F Associated Press An Early County Sheriff’s car recently visited the Peanut Corp. of America plant in Blakely, Ga. Peanut Corp. of America’s problems keep growing. The company’s president, Stewart Parnell, has been subpeonaed to appear today before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is investigating the salmonella outbreak that has been tied to the company’s plant in Blakely, Ga. It’s not clear whether he will testify, the Associated Press Reports. The FBI also entered the fray this week with an investigation. Meantime, the company’s Texas plant, which just days ago was thought to have shown no signs of salmonella, was since closed after a private lab found samples possibly contaminated with the bacteria. The company said in a statement that... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2177861 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:09:04 +0100 2177861 Peanut Corp. Defends Georgia Plant; Texas Plant Under Fire http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160759&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F220nvSxvAW4%2F Associated Press An Early County Sheriff’s car at the Peanut Corporation of America plant in Blakely, Ga., last week. Peanut Corporation of America, the company facing a criminal investigation over a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 500 people, is fighting back today with a statement saying federal and state regulators regularly visited and inspected its Georgia plant in 2008. The company added that independent auditing and food-safety firms “also conducted customary unannounced inspections” of the facility last year. One gave the plant “an overall ’superior’ rating,” and the other rated it as “‘Meet or Exceeds audit expectations (Acceptable-Excellent).’” In the statement, the company said it “continues... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160759 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:47:55 +0100 2160759 Mold and Roaches Found in Peanut Butter Plant Linked to Salmonella http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2144873&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FsWlk-Z2cvzc%2F In case the salmonella outbreak tied to tainted peanut butter hasn’t grossed you out yet, we have some new disgusting developments: Federal inspectors found mold, roaches and a leaking roof at the Georgia peanut factory, Dow Jones Newswires reports. The company also didn’t clean its equipment there after finding contamination, and didn’t properly separate raw and finished products, the New York Times adds. Yuck. The recall of the Peanut Corporation of America products has now been expanded to include everything produced at the plant since Jan. 1, 2007, Dow Jones says. The recall had previously included products dating back to last July. (For the latest on the investigation and recalls, see check this page on the FDA’s Web site.) It’s not clear how much food ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2144873 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:37:03 +0100 2144873 Feds Accuse Georgia Plant of Knowingly Shipping Bad Peanut Butter http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2141747&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FoHoH1RDLfIw%2F Associated Press A pattern of quality problems has emerged at this Peanut Corp. of America plant in Blakely, Ga. Government officials are saying that the peanut plant tied to the recent salmonella outbreak shipped peanut butter 12 times in the past two years despite finding salmonella in internal tests of the products, this morning’s Washington Post reports. The government didn’t know about the problem until now because companies don’t have to disclose internal test results, the Post explains. Meantime, the feds also said yesterday that they’d found four strains of salmonella at the Georgia plant, owned by Peanut Corporation of America, and state inspection records show “a pattern of unsanitary conditions over several years,” according to the Post. The... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2141747 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:43:52 +0100 2141747 Salmonella Risk Spurs More Recalls of Foods With Peanut Butter http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116364&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F_JRrSa7Xg88%2F AP/Minnesota Dept. of Health Lab tests found salmonella in an open 5-pound container of King Nut peanut butter from a Minnesota nursing home. The salmonella strain matched those tied to 30 illnesses in the state and across the country. The number of peanut butter products being recalled is growing, as the FDA sorts through a salmonella outbreak that has killed at least six people and sickened more than 470 others in 43 states. The FDA has traced the source of the outbreak to a plant in Blakely, Ga., owned by Peanut Corporation of America, the Associated Press reports. The company over the weekend expanded its recall to include all peanut butter and paste produced at the plant since July 1, according to the AP. See the company’s statements here. The effect on the food chain has been... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116364 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:18:11 +0100 2116364 Two Psychiatric Drugs on FDA Watch List http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1768863&cid=t_437783_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F09%2F05%2Ftwo-psychiatric-drugs-on-fda-watch-list%2F The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today released a list of 20 drugs that are on its adverse effect “watch list” — drugs that have potential new serious risks or had new safety information from January to March 2008. The data come from FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) database, its only method for gathering safety and adverse effects about drugs approved for prescribing in the U.S. Adverse events are voluntarily reported by physicians who prescribe the medications. Two psychiatric medications made the list — Duloxetine (Cymbalta) for a serious risk of urinary retention, and Quetiapine (Seroquel) for overdose due to sample pack labeling confusion. This is the FDA’s first new public information alert system in years, identifying poten... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1768863 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:57:53 +0100 1768863 Irradiating Spinach and Iceberg Lettuce to “Zap” Bacteria and Extend Shelf Life http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1773570&cid=t_437783_167_f&fid=37833&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition.edublogs.org%2F2008%2F09%2F03%2Firradiating-spinach-and-iceberg-lettuce-to-zap-bacteria-and-extend-shelf-life%2F On August 22, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a final rule that allows the use of irradiation to make fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach safer and last longer without spoiling. The FDA ruling allows spinach and lettuce sellers to take an extra step, a long-awaited move amid increasing illness outbreaks caused by raw produce. Irradiation has been shown to kill E. coli, salmonella and listeria and lengthen shelf life, without compromising the safety, texture or nutrient value of raw spinach and iceberg lettuce. The FDA is reassuring the public that the process will not make food any less appealing or less healthful than non-irradiated varieties. For More information see the FDA’s website or download a Printer-Friendly PDF File. Sources: FDA. Irradiation: A S... Nutrition and Wellness Biology 50 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1773570 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:33:23 +0100 1773570 Is this any way to run a regulatory agency? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1660837&cid=t_437783_134_f&fid=35152&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsstrumello.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fis-this-any-way-to-run-regulatory.html The Associated Press recently featured a story on my subject for today which began as follows: "When a state trooper pulls over a speeding motorist, the officer usually writes out a ticket on the spot."However, when federal regulators catch a pharmaceutical company marketing prescription medications for an "unapproved" use, it typically takes the U.S. FatalFood and Drug Administration (FDA) an average of 7 months to even issue a warning, and then it typically takes another 4 months for the company to fix the problem.Last year, the FDA took an average of 6 months to issue regulatory letters citing DTC violations, according to Marcia Crosse, who heads the GAO's healthcare division, testifying before a House subcommittee recently. In one case, the agency took more than 3 years to issue a regu... Scott's Web Log blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1660837 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:50:00 +0100 1660837 Hallelujah! Let There Be Tomatoes Again! http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1634859&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F07%2F17%2Fhallelujah-let-there-be-tomatoes-again%2F Image details: Tomatos served by picapp.com I don’t think anyone’s more excited about this news than me, but just in case you are, the FDA has lifted the tomato warning that has been plaguing these little red wonders for far too long now. Salmonella cases are still popping up at a rate of 30 - 40 per day, but the maters currently found in fields and stores are getting the A-okay. Jalepeno and serrano peppers are not, however, so continue to beware of the spicies. For more info, read here. I’m off to make some nachos…with a whole lotta tomatoes! Tags: FDA Tomato Warning, Healthy Foods, Healtlhbolt, Pepper Ban, Salmonella, Tomato BanShare This (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1634859 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:13:11 +0100 1634859 Complaining To – Not About – The FDA http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1539028&cid=t_437783_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fcomplaining-to-not-about-fda.html It's very easy to find fault with FDA. And with good reason – the agency seems to be dancing with two left feet much of the time. The new FDA weekly on-line column, Andy's Take, said to be written by FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, has not been well-received by the media, and even most Internet-savvy consumers are probably unaware of its existence.The communications disconnect between FDA and US consumers is disturbing. The agency relies heavily on patterns of consumer complaints and illness reports to decide where and how to spend its inadequate budget. Most of the major recalls and investigations that we learn about in the media – melamine in pet food, Salmonella in tomatoes – began as consumer complaints reported to FDA or outbreak clusters identified by state health agenc... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1539028 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:18:00 +0100 1539028 PETCO - Where The Pests Go http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1532546&cid=t_437783_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fpetco-where-pests-go.html FDA has announced the seizure of animal food from a PETCO warehouse in Joliet, IL after finding "widespread and active rodent and bird infestation" at the company's distribution center on two inspections in a row. The seizure was carried out yesterday by U.S. Marshals acting under a District Court warrant.The Joliet PETCO facility distributes products to the company's stores in 16 states – Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.According to FDA's news release, the seized products were in permeable packages and were held under conditions that could have allowed them to become contaminated or could have affected their quality. No illnesses from these products have been report... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1532546 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:25:00 +0100 1532546 FDA Puts Its Foot Down http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455608&cid=t_437783_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Ffda-puts-its-food-down.html When USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is faced with a contaminated food that is a clear and present danger to consumers, and a processor that refuses to act, the agency can threaten to withdraw its inspectors, effectively shutting down the processing plant.FDA doesn't have that luxury. FDA inspectors must coax, cajole and convince a recalcitrant food processor to issue a voluntary product recall. As the Mars Petcare story clearly shows, this is not always a satisfactory solution.Sometimes, a processor's breaches of safe food handling practices are so egregious that FDA has no choice but to seek a court injunction and shut down production until the company corrects its unsafe practices.FDA announced today that it has shut down the operations of Hope Food Supply Inc., of Pasadena Te... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455608 Fri, 16 May 2008 17:18:00 +0100 1455608 How Broken is the FDA? http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1356086&cid=t_437783_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F04%2F07%2Fhow-broken-is-the-fda%2F Company Z makes widgets. The widgets are highly regulated by the government, so much so that any time the company wants to produce a new kind of widget, it must get explicit government approval to do so. It must show all of its widgets are safe. The government grants its approval, Company Z sells millions of widgets, and some of the widgets end up hurting people. The people decide to sue over their hurt. But then Company Z throws them a curve ball — you can’t sue, since the government already declared our widgets safe! If they weren’t safe, the government wouldn’t have approved them in the first place. Welcome to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulatory system, which is now under scrutiny in a number of legal cases winding their respective ways through ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1356086 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:00:57 +0100 1356086 FDA to Drug Companies: Off-Label Use Ok http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1238153&cid=t_437783_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F02%2F17%2Ffda-to-drug-companies-off-label-use-ok%2F Doctors have always been able to prescribe whatever drug they want, for whatever they want. However, drug companies have only been allowed to advertise and market drugs that have been FDA-approved for specific uses or disorders. That means that generally an antidepressant drug can only be marketed and advertised for depression. If a company wants to market and advertise its drug for other uses, it has to go back to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and file additional applications, with a wealth of supporting research to support those uses. Unless the research is strong and the market is potentially lucrative, many pharmaceutical companies choose to limit the amount of additional uses they seek FDA approval for. Any use of a drug that hasn’t gained FDA approval is conside... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1238153 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:36:13 +0100 1238153 FDA considers clearer food label symbols http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=865484&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F09%2F12%2Ffda-considers-clearer-food-label-symbols%2F Filed under: Diet, NutritionThe FDA is currently taking public comment on the possibility of creating a symbol system that would put nutritional information -- loud and clear -- on the front of food packages, instead of the current system of a smaller print food labeling on the side or back of a package. Though some companies currently do some version of this, the FDA system would presumably be more regulated and consistent. The hope is that when people see one of their favorite foods contains too much salt, fat, or sugar that they make a healthier choice.I think there are arguments for both sides of this issue. On the one hand, most of us are perfectly capable of turning a box around to read the ingredients -- if we choose to do so. But a clearer system would help those who can't read sma... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=865484 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 865484 Thought for the Day: Sweet news from the FDA http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=560285&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F22%2Fthought-for-the-day-sweet-news-from-the-fda%2F Filed under: All Cancers, Research, Daily news, Thought for the DayThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has something important to say about the sugar substitute aspartame.Think about this:Italian researchers concluded in 2005 that aspartame causes cancer. But Laura Tarantino of the FDA Office of Food Additive Safety concludes after a review of the study data that the low-calorie sweetener is not a carcinogen. A similar review by the FDA's European counterpart agrees. There is no evidence this substance, used for 25 years to sweeten soda, gum, dairy products, and some medications, causes cancer.Italian researchers say they will release their latest aspartame study results on Monday.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments (Sour... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=560285 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 560285 FDA needs more time with Wyeth kidney cancer drug http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=536614&cid=t_437783_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F11%2Ffda-needs-more-time-with-wyeth-kidney-cancer-drug%2F Filed under: Drug, Research, Daily newsThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will take an additional three months to review Wyeth's kidney cancer drug Torisel -- the first of five new medications the company plans to introduce this year.The FDA needs more time to investigate data on tumor growth in patients taking Torisel. If all goes well, the drug will be one of only three to effectively hold off incurable kidney cancer. The other two drugs are Pfizer's Sutent and Bayer AG's Nexavar.Robert Ruffolo, president of Wyeth Research, says he is encouraged by the review process so far. And he is optimistic about launching the product in late 2007.Studies show Torisel, which will cost patients about $30,000 per year, prolonged survival by 50 percent in those faring poorly with kidney cancer. The... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=536614 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 536614