Unsanitary, Sugar, Worms not enough to elicit Consumer Notification.
Three recalls announced today by the FDA, May 21st, make me shiver!
Heres the links:
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11731
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11730
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11729
These recalls were never disclosed to the public, and only made the "back pages" of todays report.
The dates range from 1-5 months ago and they list them as "completed"
Did they get back ALL the product from consumers shelves without their knowledge?
I for one would like to know if I am eating worms. I may have just had this for supper!
And these are only the "late" food recalls...
Check the Free Recalls page to see "late" medical/drug recalls.
Every week T.R.I. lists "late" food/drug/medical recalls.
WHY IS THIS INFORMATION SO GUARDED?
You can post a comment, but I would rather you direct your comments to:
Dr. Margaret Hamburg(FDA Boss) 1-800-216-7331
A reply would be sensational!
A change would be miraculous!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
CPSC Announces New Report on Child Drownings and Near-drownings in Pools and Spas
CPSC Announces New Report on Child Drownings and Near-drownings in Pools and Spas
Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act Aims to Make Pools and Spas Safer
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With Memorial Day weekend approaching and pools across the country opening, a new report (PDF) released today by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) provides updated figures on child drowning deaths and injuries in pools and spas. CPSC’s latest data reveals that nearly 300 children younger than 5 drown in pools and spas each year, and about 3,000 suffer pool or spa-related injuries requiring attention at hospital emergency rooms.
About two-thirds of the pool and spa-related deaths and injuries involve children ages 1-2, with about 80% of the drowning fatalities occurring in residential settings, such as the victim’s home, a family or friend’s house or at a neighbor’s residence.
New data (PDF) from CPSC also shows that from 1999 through 2008, there were 83 reports of pool and spa entrapments, including 11 deaths and 69 injuries. Since 1999, 14% of the reported suction/entrapment incidents at pools or spas were fatal.
At a press conference today on Capitol Hill, CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord joined Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Safe Kids USA, and Scott Taylor (the father of Abigail Taylor, who suffered fatal injuries from an evisceration incident in a wading pool), to encourage parents, caregivers, and pool owners to make safety a top priority as the summer swim season officially opens.
“Preventing child drownings is a key part of CPSC’s mission. I call upon all parents, caregivers and pool and spa operators to ensure that fencing and other layers of protection are in place; that there is constant supervision of children in and around the water; and that new, safer drain covers that prevent entrapment incidents are installed,” said Acting Chairman Nord.
“I want to thank the Congress for providing CPSC with funds this year to implement the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. This is an important child safety law and CPSC will use the new funds to increase compliance with the law, educate on pool and spa safety measures, implement the state grant program, partner with state and local government on enforcement, and make pools and spas even safer,” added Nord.
The Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SSAct) went into effect on December 19, 2008 and requires all public pools and spas to have anti-entrapment drain covers, and in certain circumstances, an additional anti-entrapment system. CPSC has prioritized public wading pools, kiddie pools and in-ground spas as the key areas of focus for enforcement and has called upon state departments of health to assist the agency in enforcing the law.
CPSC is also announcing the launch of a new Web site - www.PoolSafety.gov - which serves as a valuable source for information about the P&SSAct and drowning prevention. The new site provides information for the general public, the swimming pool and spa community, state and local officials, and the media.
Drowning occurs more commonly when children get access to the pool during a short lapse in adult supervision. To reduce the risk of drowning, pool owners should adopt several layers of protection, including physical barriers, such as a fence completely surrounding the pool with self-closing, self-latching gates to prevent unsupervised access by young children. If the house forms a side of the barrier, use alarms on doors leading to the pool area and/or a power safety cover over the pool. In addition, reports of children exiting the house via a pet door have been on the rise.
Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act Aims to Make Pools and Spas Safer
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With Memorial Day weekend approaching and pools across the country opening, a new report (PDF) released today by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) provides updated figures on child drowning deaths and injuries in pools and spas. CPSC’s latest data reveals that nearly 300 children younger than 5 drown in pools and spas each year, and about 3,000 suffer pool or spa-related injuries requiring attention at hospital emergency rooms.
About two-thirds of the pool and spa-related deaths and injuries involve children ages 1-2, with about 80% of the drowning fatalities occurring in residential settings, such as the victim’s home, a family or friend’s house or at a neighbor’s residence.
New data (PDF) from CPSC also shows that from 1999 through 2008, there were 83 reports of pool and spa entrapments, including 11 deaths and 69 injuries. Since 1999, 14% of the reported suction/entrapment incidents at pools or spas were fatal.
At a press conference today on Capitol Hill, CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord joined Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Safe Kids USA, and Scott Taylor (the father of Abigail Taylor, who suffered fatal injuries from an evisceration incident in a wading pool), to encourage parents, caregivers, and pool owners to make safety a top priority as the summer swim season officially opens.
“Preventing child drownings is a key part of CPSC’s mission. I call upon all parents, caregivers and pool and spa operators to ensure that fencing and other layers of protection are in place; that there is constant supervision of children in and around the water; and that new, safer drain covers that prevent entrapment incidents are installed,” said Acting Chairman Nord.
“I want to thank the Congress for providing CPSC with funds this year to implement the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. This is an important child safety law and CPSC will use the new funds to increase compliance with the law, educate on pool and spa safety measures, implement the state grant program, partner with state and local government on enforcement, and make pools and spas even safer,” added Nord.
The Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SSAct) went into effect on December 19, 2008 and requires all public pools and spas to have anti-entrapment drain covers, and in certain circumstances, an additional anti-entrapment system. CPSC has prioritized public wading pools, kiddie pools and in-ground spas as the key areas of focus for enforcement and has called upon state departments of health to assist the agency in enforcing the law.
CPSC is also announcing the launch of a new Web site - www.PoolSafety.gov - which serves as a valuable source for information about the P&SSAct and drowning prevention. The new site provides information for the general public, the swimming pool and spa community, state and local officials, and the media.
Drowning occurs more commonly when children get access to the pool during a short lapse in adult supervision. To reduce the risk of drowning, pool owners should adopt several layers of protection, including physical barriers, such as a fence completely surrounding the pool with self-closing, self-latching gates to prevent unsupervised access by young children. If the house forms a side of the barrier, use alarms on doors leading to the pool area and/or a power safety cover over the pool. In addition, reports of children exiting the house via a pet door have been on the rise.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Authorities considering food recall course for small retailers
Authorities considering food recall course for small retailers
The Agri-Veterinary Authority of Singapore is thinking of starting a course with the National Environment Agency to teach small retailers about food recall procedures in the coming year.
The idea was mooted following the islandwide recall of milk and milk products during the China milk scandal last September.
AVA said recall procedures were easy to implement in supermarkets and major retailers.
However, smaller ones claimed they had not learnt about the recall from the media.
Dr Chua Sin Bin, CEO, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, said: "The problem will be the reaching out to the small businesses, small shops, small traders, who may not be paying attention to the news broadcasts because sometimes the alert may not necessarily reach them.
Yes, I agree they need instruction !
Do you suppose they will use the old way of learning about dangerous recalls from the media ?
For our sake, I hope not !
The Agri-Veterinary Authority of Singapore is thinking of starting a course with the National Environment Agency to teach small retailers about food recall procedures in the coming year.
The idea was mooted following the islandwide recall of milk and milk products during the China milk scandal last September.
AVA said recall procedures were easy to implement in supermarkets and major retailers.
However, smaller ones claimed they had not learnt about the recall from the media.
Dr Chua Sin Bin, CEO, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, said: "The problem will be the reaching out to the small businesses, small shops, small traders, who may not be paying attention to the news broadcasts because sometimes the alert may not necessarily reach them.
Yes, I agree they need instruction !
Do you suppose they will use the old way of learning about dangerous recalls from the media ?
For our sake, I hope not !
Friday, May 15, 2009
Food Companies Try, but Can’t Guarantee Safety
Food Companies Try, but Can’t Guarantee Safety
The frozen pot pies that sickened an estimated 15,000 people with salmonella in 2007 left federal inspectors mystified. At first they suspected the turkey. Then they considered the peas, carrots and potatoes.
Banquet pot pies sickened thousands with salmonella in 2007. The corporate parent, ConAgra
Foods, and others have decided to leave the “kill step” to eliminate pathogens up to the consumer’s cooking at home.
The pie maker, ConAgra Foods, began spot-checking the vegetables for pathogens, but could not find the culprit. It also tried cooking the vegetables at high temperatures, a strategy the industry calls a “kill step,” to wipe out any lingering microbes. But the vegetables turned to mush in the process.
So ConAgra — which sold more than 100 million pot pies last year under its popular Banquet label — decided to make the consumer responsible for the kill step. The “food safety” instructions and four-step diagram on the 69-cent pies offer this guidance: “Internal temperature needs to reach 165° F as measured by a food thermometer in several spots.”
Increasingly, the corporations that supply Americans with processed foods are unable to guarantee the safety of their ingredients. In this case, ConAgra could not pinpoint which of the more than 25 ingredients in its pies was carrying salmonella. Other companies do not even know who is supplying their ingredients, let alone if those suppliers are screening the items for microbes and other potential dangers, interviews and documents show.
Yet the supply chain for ingredients in processed foods — from flavorings to flour to fruits and vegetables — is becoming more complex and global as the drive to keep food costs down intensifies. As a result, almost every element, not just red meat and poultry, is now a potential carrier of pathogens, government and industry officials concede.
FULL STORY: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/business/15ingredients.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hpw
The frozen pot pies that sickened an estimated 15,000 people with salmonella in 2007 left federal inspectors mystified. At first they suspected the turkey. Then they considered the peas, carrots and potatoes.
Banquet pot pies sickened thousands with salmonella in 2007. The corporate parent, ConAgra
Foods, and others have decided to leave the “kill step” to eliminate pathogens up to the consumer’s cooking at home.
The pie maker, ConAgra Foods, began spot-checking the vegetables for pathogens, but could not find the culprit. It also tried cooking the vegetables at high temperatures, a strategy the industry calls a “kill step,” to wipe out any lingering microbes. But the vegetables turned to mush in the process.
So ConAgra — which sold more than 100 million pot pies last year under its popular Banquet label — decided to make the consumer responsible for the kill step. The “food safety” instructions and four-step diagram on the 69-cent pies offer this guidance: “Internal temperature needs to reach 165° F as measured by a food thermometer in several spots.”
Increasingly, the corporations that supply Americans with processed foods are unable to guarantee the safety of their ingredients. In this case, ConAgra could not pinpoint which of the more than 25 ingredients in its pies was carrying salmonella. Other companies do not even know who is supplying their ingredients, let alone if those suppliers are screening the items for microbes and other potential dangers, interviews and documents show.
Yet the supply chain for ingredients in processed foods — from flavorings to flour to fruits and vegetables — is becoming more complex and global as the drive to keep food costs down intensifies. As a result, almost every element, not just red meat and poultry, is now a potential carrier of pathogens, government and industry officials concede.
FULL STORY: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/business/15ingredients.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hpw
$ 250 U.S. to find out about U.S. Food Recalls...Are They Crazy, We do it cheaper and better!
You have to see this site to believe it!
US grocery association launches food safety plan to cut salmonella
The US Grocery Manufacturers Association has launched what it terms “wide ranging” initiatives to step up protection against food-borne illnesses including salmonella.
The projects, which follow last year’s fatal outbreak of salmonella traced to Georgia peanuts, focus on: Modernising product recalls, third-party food safety audits of manufacturers and updating the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for food.
Product recalls will be quicker and more efficient with the help of an internet-based recall system developed by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the standards organization GS1US, said the GMA.
Wal mart can afford 250/yr for food alerts...Now they only need a Drug/Product/Toy/Vehicle? alert notification service.
You can check out the rest of this FLUFF at: http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Quality-Safety/US-grocery-association-launches-food-safety-plan-to-cut-salmonella
US grocery association launches food safety plan to cut salmonella
The US Grocery Manufacturers Association has launched what it terms “wide ranging” initiatives to step up protection against food-borne illnesses including salmonella.
The projects, which follow last year’s fatal outbreak of salmonella traced to Georgia peanuts, focus on: Modernising product recalls, third-party food safety audits of manufacturers and updating the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for food.
Product recalls will be quicker and more efficient with the help of an internet-based recall system developed by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the standards organization GS1US, said the GMA.
Wal mart can afford 250/yr for food alerts...Now they only need a Drug/Product/Toy/Vehicle? alert notification service.
You can check out the rest of this FLUFF at: http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Quality-Safety/US-grocery-association-launches-food-safety-plan-to-cut-salmonella
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Getting out the word about recalls to consumers, Stores could do a better job letting us know about tainted products
Getting out the word about recalls to consumers
Stores could do a better job letting us know about tainted products
The food safety system in this country is outdated and inadequate and needs a major overhaul.
We are constantly told the American food supply is the safest in the world. That may be true, but too many contaminated products still make it to market. In just the last two years, we’ve seen widespread bacterial contamination of spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, meat and nuts.
In 2008, the nation’s largest beef recall took place. This year, more than 3,000 products made with peanuts were pulled off the market in the largest food recall of any kind in U.S. history. The peanuts, contaminated with salmonella bacteria, sickened nearly 700 people in 44 states and caused nine deaths.
Giant recalls like this are headline news, but most food recalls get little or no coverage. Even when the recall is extensively reported, some people don’t get the word.
Seattle attorney Bill Marler sues food companies that sell tainted food. He points to the ConAgra recall of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter back in 2007. One in four people who got sick, Marler says, did so after the recall was issued. “Now unless you think they were trying to commit suicide, they simply didn’t know about the recall.”
The last line of defenseStores are supposed to pull recalled products from their shelves. But that doesn’t always happen or happen quickly. Dean Florez, a California state senator and longtime advocate for better food safety regulations, says his staffers went looking and had no trouble finding recalled items still on store shelves.
Florez says our food safety system is in such disarray, he wants to see supermarket technology used to catch harmful and potentially deadly items before they leave the store. “This is the last line of defense,” he says.
He’s written a bill that would require all supermarkets in California with programmable checkout scanners to update their computer databases as soon as they receive a recall notice.
Then if a recalled item is still on the shelf, the register would block the sale when it is scanned.
FULL STORY: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30726733/
Stores could do a better job letting us know about tainted products
The food safety system in this country is outdated and inadequate and needs a major overhaul.
We are constantly told the American food supply is the safest in the world. That may be true, but too many contaminated products still make it to market. In just the last two years, we’ve seen widespread bacterial contamination of spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, meat and nuts.
In 2008, the nation’s largest beef recall took place. This year, more than 3,000 products made with peanuts were pulled off the market in the largest food recall of any kind in U.S. history. The peanuts, contaminated with salmonella bacteria, sickened nearly 700 people in 44 states and caused nine deaths.
Giant recalls like this are headline news, but most food recalls get little or no coverage. Even when the recall is extensively reported, some people don’t get the word.
Seattle attorney Bill Marler sues food companies that sell tainted food. He points to the ConAgra recall of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter back in 2007. One in four people who got sick, Marler says, did so after the recall was issued. “Now unless you think they were trying to commit suicide, they simply didn’t know about the recall.”
The last line of defenseStores are supposed to pull recalled products from their shelves. But that doesn’t always happen or happen quickly. Dean Florez, a California state senator and longtime advocate for better food safety regulations, says his staffers went looking and had no trouble finding recalled items still on store shelves.
Florez says our food safety system is in such disarray, he wants to see supermarket technology used to catch harmful and potentially deadly items before they leave the store. “This is the last line of defense,” he says.
He’s written a bill that would require all supermarkets in California with programmable checkout scanners to update their computer databases as soon as they receive a recall notice.
Then if a recalled item is still on the shelf, the register would block the sale when it is scanned.
FULL STORY: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30726733/
US grocery association launches food safety plan to cut salmonella
US grocery association launches food safety plan to cut salmonella
The US Grocery Manufacturers Association has launched what it terms “wide ranging” initiatives to step up protection against food-borne illnesses including salmonella.
The projects, which follow last year’s fatal outbreak of salmonella traced to Georgia peanuts, focus on: Modernising product recalls, third-party food safety audits of manufacturers and updating the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for food.
Product recalls will be quicker and more efficient with the help of an internet-based recall system developed by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the standards organization GS1US, said the GMA.
http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Product-Categories/Cleaning-Safety-Hygiene/US-grocery-association-launches-food-safety-plan-to-cut-salmonella
The US Grocery Manufacturers Association has launched what it terms “wide ranging” initiatives to step up protection against food-borne illnesses including salmonella.
The projects, which follow last year’s fatal outbreak of salmonella traced to Georgia peanuts, focus on: Modernising product recalls, third-party food safety audits of manufacturers and updating the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for food.
Product recalls will be quicker and more efficient with the help of an internet-based recall system developed by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the standards organization GS1US, said the GMA.
http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Product-Categories/Cleaning-Safety-Hygiene/US-grocery-association-launches-food-safety-plan-to-cut-salmonella
Monday, May 11, 2009
Steps firms can take to recover from product recall
Steps firms can take to recover from product recall
A product recall can significantly affect a company’s bottom line and its reputation, but a swift recall and restitution to purchasers can minimize harm to the company – and even improve customer satisfaction.
A study examining more than 500 toy recalls between 1988 and 2007 suggests ways that firms can minimize the business impact of a recall. The results of the study, conducted by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Manitoba, were described on May 2 at the Annual Conference of the Production and Operations Management Society.
This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. “Recalls undermine trust in a specific brand and it can take the company a long time to recover from the damage to its reputation, but it doesn’t have to take a long time if the company uses good crisis management tactics,” said Manpreet Hora, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech’s College of Management.
“Reducing the time it takes to recall a product will have a positive effect on consumers’ willingness to purchase other products from the same company and if the recall is handled well, the stock price may recover to the same level as before the incident.”
The best example of how to deal with a product recall is the Tylenol tampering case in the 1980s. Johnson & Johnson demonstrated that the safety of consumers was paramount by swiftly recalling the product, cooperating fully with regulators, and communicating openly about the issue, the researchers noted.
Subsequently, the firm undertook a series of operational and design measures to ensure that such tampering would not occur again.
According to Hora and Hari Bapuji, an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba, effective recovery from a product recall begins with the way in which the company announces the recall.
The firm should engage the public and immediately disclose all relevant recall and replacement information as soon as possible.
Even if the recall was the result of a purchasing, out-sourcing or off-shoring decision, the company should take shared responsibility for the error, the researchers say.
“Consumers are forgiving, so if a firm apologizes, acknowledges the problem, and doesn’t make the mistake again and again, consumers will continue to be loyal to that brand,” said Hora.
Full Story: http://www.reliableplant.com/article.aspx?articleid=17501&pagetitle=Steps+firms+can+take+to+recover+from+product+recall
A product recall can significantly affect a company’s bottom line and its reputation, but a swift recall and restitution to purchasers can minimize harm to the company – and even improve customer satisfaction.
A study examining more than 500 toy recalls between 1988 and 2007 suggests ways that firms can minimize the business impact of a recall. The results of the study, conducted by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Manitoba, were described on May 2 at the Annual Conference of the Production and Operations Management Society.
This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. “Recalls undermine trust in a specific brand and it can take the company a long time to recover from the damage to its reputation, but it doesn’t have to take a long time if the company uses good crisis management tactics,” said Manpreet Hora, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech’s College of Management.
“Reducing the time it takes to recall a product will have a positive effect on consumers’ willingness to purchase other products from the same company and if the recall is handled well, the stock price may recover to the same level as before the incident.”
The best example of how to deal with a product recall is the Tylenol tampering case in the 1980s. Johnson & Johnson demonstrated that the safety of consumers was paramount by swiftly recalling the product, cooperating fully with regulators, and communicating openly about the issue, the researchers noted.
Subsequently, the firm undertook a series of operational and design measures to ensure that such tampering would not occur again.
According to Hora and Hari Bapuji, an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba, effective recovery from a product recall begins with the way in which the company announces the recall.
The firm should engage the public and immediately disclose all relevant recall and replacement information as soon as possible.
Even if the recall was the result of a purchasing, out-sourcing or off-shoring decision, the company should take shared responsibility for the error, the researchers say.
“Consumers are forgiving, so if a firm apologizes, acknowledges the problem, and doesn’t make the mistake again and again, consumers will continue to be loyal to that brand,” said Hora.
Full Story: http://www.reliableplant.com/article.aspx?articleid=17501&pagetitle=Steps+firms+can+take+to+recover+from+product+recall
Outbreaks and Recalls Put Worry on the Table
Outbreaks and Recalls Put Worry on the Table
Every few weeks, it seems, deadly germs turn up in the food supply.
Heather Whybrew, a college student in Washington State, became gravely ill after eating a salad in her school cafeteria. Carl Ours, of Ohio, was temporarily paralyzed after eating chili dogs and drinking beer. Mari Tardiff, of California, spent three months on life support after she drank unpasteurized milk.
Is it becoming more dangerous to eat?
Public health experts cannot give a definitive answer, largely because the historical figures on food-borne illness are spotty. But most of them believe the nation’s food supply is markedly safer now than it was 100 years ago, and probably safer than a decade ago.
Yet, even if fewer people over all are getting sick, the big recalls and outbreaks of recent years, like the discoveries of the industrial chemical melamine in infant formula and salmonella in peanut butter, are still worrisome to many health experts and safety advocates.
(Swine flu, despite its name, is not contracted from food.)
While there are more recalls and known outbreaks as a result of more sophisticated techniques for tracking illness to its source, some incidents have revealed new problems developing in the food supply.
Full Story: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20090511/ZNYT01/905113008/1101/LIVING?Title=Outbreaks-and-recalls-put-worry-on-the-table
Every few weeks, it seems, deadly germs turn up in the food supply.
Heather Whybrew, a college student in Washington State, became gravely ill after eating a salad in her school cafeteria. Carl Ours, of Ohio, was temporarily paralyzed after eating chili dogs and drinking beer. Mari Tardiff, of California, spent three months on life support after she drank unpasteurized milk.
Is it becoming more dangerous to eat?
Public health experts cannot give a definitive answer, largely because the historical figures on food-borne illness are spotty. But most of them believe the nation’s food supply is markedly safer now than it was 100 years ago, and probably safer than a decade ago.
Yet, even if fewer people over all are getting sick, the big recalls and outbreaks of recent years, like the discoveries of the industrial chemical melamine in infant formula and salmonella in peanut butter, are still worrisome to many health experts and safety advocates.
(Swine flu, despite its name, is not contracted from food.)
While there are more recalls and known outbreaks as a result of more sophisticated techniques for tracking illness to its source, some incidents have revealed new problems developing in the food supply.
Full Story: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20090511/ZNYT01/905113008/1101/LIVING?Title=Outbreaks-and-recalls-put-worry-on-the-table
Customs holds shipment of pork trim from Canada- Phillippines
Customs holds shipment of pork trim from Canada
A shipment of frozen pork trim from Canada is being held by the Bureau of Customs to check if it is safe from contamination of bacteria that prompted one of the source country’s meat processors to order a recall of products.
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Supervisor Rico Rey Francis Holganza in his recommendation that was approved by BOC district collector Ricardo Belmonte directed CIIS agents to witness the examination and stripping of the shipment.
The agents have also been ordered to conduct spot-checking and hold the release or transfer of the said cargo.
CIIS Alert Order no. 007-2009 dated May 7 stated that the said shipment was on board MV Duburg and is consigned to Alfa-All Food Asia Inc. located along Echavez St., Sudlon Maguikay, Mandaue City.
The said shipment was put on hold by BOC in violation of Section 2530 of the Tariff and Customs Code as amended in relation to Customs Memorandum Circular no. 71-2009 dated March 16.
CMC 71-2009 issued by Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales informed all the district port officials in the country on the report of deadly outbreak of the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium in Canada.
The said bacterium, according to the Bureau of Food and Drugs can cause listeriosis, a food borne-illness.
Morales stated that the Canadian health officials have ordered a massive recall of ready-to-eat meats from Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, Canada’s largest meat processor, which may have been contaminated with the said bacteria.
Quoting the letter of BFAD director Barbara Gutierrez, Morales said that BFAD however has no record of registration of the food products manufactured by MLCF and is asking BOC to assist them in monitoring these products that might be brought into the country.
Arneth Von Manquiquis, CIIS assistant supervisor said that the said shipment was not yet opened as the consignee has not yet filed its import entry.
Meanwhile, another alert order was recommended by the Customs Task Force on Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals and was approved by Belmonte.
SA1 Jojit Dela Cruz has been directed to witness the 100 percent examination to be conducted by the assigned customs examiner on the shipment containing coating materials.
SA1 Jan Adam Mose, the officer-in-charge of CTGFDDCC, stated in his alert order dated May 8 that the said shipment violates Section 101, paragraph k and Section 2530 of TCCP as amended and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3 series of 2003 in relation to Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
A shipment of frozen pork trim from Canada is being held by the Bureau of Customs to check if it is safe from contamination of bacteria that prompted one of the source country’s meat processors to order a recall of products.
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Supervisor Rico Rey Francis Holganza in his recommendation that was approved by BOC district collector Ricardo Belmonte directed CIIS agents to witness the examination and stripping of the shipment.
The agents have also been ordered to conduct spot-checking and hold the release or transfer of the said cargo.
CIIS Alert Order no. 007-2009 dated May 7 stated that the said shipment was on board MV Duburg and is consigned to Alfa-All Food Asia Inc. located along Echavez St., Sudlon Maguikay, Mandaue City.
The said shipment was put on hold by BOC in violation of Section 2530 of the Tariff and Customs Code as amended in relation to Customs Memorandum Circular no. 71-2009 dated March 16.
CMC 71-2009 issued by Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales informed all the district port officials in the country on the report of deadly outbreak of the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium in Canada.
The said bacterium, according to the Bureau of Food and Drugs can cause listeriosis, a food borne-illness.
Morales stated that the Canadian health officials have ordered a massive recall of ready-to-eat meats from Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, Canada’s largest meat processor, which may have been contaminated with the said bacteria.
Quoting the letter of BFAD director Barbara Gutierrez, Morales said that BFAD however has no record of registration of the food products manufactured by MLCF and is asking BOC to assist them in monitoring these products that might be brought into the country.
Arneth Von Manquiquis, CIIS assistant supervisor said that the said shipment was not yet opened as the consignee has not yet filed its import entry.
Meanwhile, another alert order was recommended by the Customs Task Force on Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals and was approved by Belmonte.
SA1 Jojit Dela Cruz has been directed to witness the 100 percent examination to be conducted by the assigned customs examiner on the shipment containing coating materials.
SA1 Jan Adam Mose, the officer-in-charge of CTGFDDCC, stated in his alert order dated May 8 that the said shipment violates Section 101, paragraph k and Section 2530 of TCCP as amended and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3 series of 2003 in relation to Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
FDA: More than $1.5 Million of Adulterated Food, Food Ingredients Seized
FDA: More than $1.5 Million of Adulterated Food, Food Ingredients Seized
Filthy conditions, failure to correct violations prompted actionAt the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals today seized more than $1.5 million worth of food products, including herbs and botanicals, stored under filthy conditions at the American Mercantile Corporation of Memphis, Tenn.
During an inspection of American Mercantile in March, FDA investigators discovered evidence of extensive rodent and insect infestation throughout the company’s warehouse. The company failed to correct these problems. Acting on a warrant issued by the United Stated District Court in Memphis, U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated food products exposed to rodent and insect contamination at the facility. The seized products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they were held under insanitary conditions under which they may have become contaminated with filth.
“FDA will not tolerate a company’s failure to adequately control and prevent filth in its facility,” said Michael Chappell, the FDA’s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. “The FDA is prepared to use whatever legal means are necessary and appropriate to keep potentially contaminated products out of the marketplace.”
American Mercantile stores and processes food ingredients, which are then sold to and used in the dietary supplement and herbal tea industries. The seized articles include food products, such as sarsaparilla, spearmint leaves, cornstarch, sweet orange peels powder, licorice powder, sassafras, and salt.
The FDA has no reports of illness associated with consumption of the products.
Filthy conditions, failure to correct violations prompted actionAt the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals today seized more than $1.5 million worth of food products, including herbs and botanicals, stored under filthy conditions at the American Mercantile Corporation of Memphis, Tenn.
During an inspection of American Mercantile in March, FDA investigators discovered evidence of extensive rodent and insect infestation throughout the company’s warehouse. The company failed to correct these problems. Acting on a warrant issued by the United Stated District Court in Memphis, U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated food products exposed to rodent and insect contamination at the facility. The seized products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they were held under insanitary conditions under which they may have become contaminated with filth.
“FDA will not tolerate a company’s failure to adequately control and prevent filth in its facility,” said Michael Chappell, the FDA’s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. “The FDA is prepared to use whatever legal means are necessary and appropriate to keep potentially contaminated products out of the marketplace.”
American Mercantile stores and processes food ingredients, which are then sold to and used in the dietary supplement and herbal tea industries. The seized articles include food products, such as sarsaparilla, spearmint leaves, cornstarch, sweet orange peels powder, licorice powder, sassafras, and salt.
The FDA has no reports of illness associated with consumption of the products.
The Government of Canada Reminds Canadians of Potential Safety Concerns in Home Canning and Bottling of Fish and Shellfish
The Government of Canada Reminds Canadians of Potential Safety Concerns in Home Canning and Bottling of Fish and Shellfish
Information Update2009-69
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency would like to remind Canadians of the importance of food safety while home canning or home bottling fish and other seafood.
Home canning and bottling of fish and other seafood is a popular activity for Canadians, especially in Atlantic Canada. However, improper preparation, canning or storage of these foods can cause serious illness, such as botulism.
If you are home canning or bottling your own low-acid foods (including clams, lobster and whelks), the following steps will help to reduce the risk of contamination or the presence of C. botulinum:
•Use a pressure canner and strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions for canning or bottling foods considered to be low-acid, such as fish and other shellfish.
•Clean and sanitize your hands, all work surfaces, food, utensils, and equipment and keep them clean during all stages of the canning process.
•Do not substitute ingredients, amounts or the jar size that is in the recipe because this can cause the time or pressure needed during pressure canning to change. This can lead to bacteria remaining in the food. Use the final product within one year.
•Once the container has been opened, refrigerate leftovers immediately.
•If you are buying home canned products, ask the vendor if they have followed proper safety steps.
Always remember, never eat canned foods if you suspect the item has been tampered with, if the closure/seal has been broken, or if the container is swollen or leaking. If in doubt, throw it out!
Botulism is a serious illness that can result from eating improperly prepared canned or heat-processed bottled foods. Botulism is caused by bacteria that naturally produce toxins as part of their normal life cycle. The toxin that causes botulism is colourless, odourless, tasteless and invisible to the naked eye and is not necessarily destroyed by cooking, so preventing the toxin from forming is essential.
Symptoms of botulism food poisoning can range from nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headache, double vision, dryness in the throat and nose to respiratory failure, paralysis and, in some cases, death. The onset of symptoms is generally from 12 to 36 hours after ingesting the toxin. The duration of illness may be 2 hours to 14 days, although some symptoms may linger much longer.
It is estimated that there are approximately 11 million cases of food-related illnesses in Canada every year. Many of these illnesses could be prevented by following proper food handling and preparation techniques
Information Update2009-69
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency would like to remind Canadians of the importance of food safety while home canning or home bottling fish and other seafood.
Home canning and bottling of fish and other seafood is a popular activity for Canadians, especially in Atlantic Canada. However, improper preparation, canning or storage of these foods can cause serious illness, such as botulism.
If you are home canning or bottling your own low-acid foods (including clams, lobster and whelks), the following steps will help to reduce the risk of contamination or the presence of C. botulinum:
•Use a pressure canner and strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions for canning or bottling foods considered to be low-acid, such as fish and other shellfish.
•Clean and sanitize your hands, all work surfaces, food, utensils, and equipment and keep them clean during all stages of the canning process.
•Do not substitute ingredients, amounts or the jar size that is in the recipe because this can cause the time or pressure needed during pressure canning to change. This can lead to bacteria remaining in the food. Use the final product within one year.
•Once the container has been opened, refrigerate leftovers immediately.
•If you are buying home canned products, ask the vendor if they have followed proper safety steps.
Always remember, never eat canned foods if you suspect the item has been tampered with, if the closure/seal has been broken, or if the container is swollen or leaking. If in doubt, throw it out!
Botulism is a serious illness that can result from eating improperly prepared canned or heat-processed bottled foods. Botulism is caused by bacteria that naturally produce toxins as part of their normal life cycle. The toxin that causes botulism is colourless, odourless, tasteless and invisible to the naked eye and is not necessarily destroyed by cooking, so preventing the toxin from forming is essential.
Symptoms of botulism food poisoning can range from nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headache, double vision, dryness in the throat and nose to respiratory failure, paralysis and, in some cases, death. The onset of symptoms is generally from 12 to 36 hours after ingesting the toxin. The duration of illness may be 2 hours to 14 days, although some symptoms may linger much longer.
It is estimated that there are approximately 11 million cases of food-related illnesses in Canada every year. Many of these illnesses could be prevented by following proper food handling and preparation techniques
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Still More Peanut/ Pistachio product hit recall list May 18th/2009
Updated May 18th
Edaleen Dairy recalls Tin Roof Sundae/Chocolate Peanut Butter Nut ICE CREAMS
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11670
Troy Food Company recalls PISTACHIOS w/Chile
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11669
Sunrise Commodities recalls Nature's Original Cranberry/Oriental/Spicy/Trail MIXES
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11608
Vitamin Shoppe Ind. recalls Naturals Bayou/ Trail MIXES
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11607
The Nuthouse recalls PISTACHIO Products
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11526
CFIA recalls Isagenix Chocolate Dipped Honey Peanut ISALEAN BARS---Canada
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11525
King Henry's recalls ALL PISTACHIO Products
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11455
CFIA recalls NANAK Products w/Pistachios---Canada
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11442
The Wisconsin Cheeseman recalls "Treats for a Week" Product w/PISTACHIOS
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11433
Sheridan Fruit Company recalls Bulk/Packaged RAW PISTACHIOS
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11432
Edaleen Dairy recalls Tin Roof Sundae/Chocolate Peanut Butter Nut ICE CREAMS
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11670
Troy Food Company recalls PISTACHIOS w/Chile
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11669
Sunrise Commodities recalls Nature's Original Cranberry/Oriental/Spicy/Trail MIXES
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11608
Vitamin Shoppe Ind. recalls Naturals Bayou/ Trail MIXES
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11607
The Nuthouse recalls PISTACHIO Products
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11526
CFIA recalls Isagenix Chocolate Dipped Honey Peanut ISALEAN BARS---Canada
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11525
King Henry's recalls ALL PISTACHIO Products
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11455
CFIA recalls NANAK Products w/Pistachios---Canada
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11442
The Wisconsin Cheeseman recalls "Treats for a Week" Product w/PISTACHIOS
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11433
Sheridan Fruit Company recalls Bulk/Packaged RAW PISTACHIOS
http://www.totalrecallinfo.com/freerecalls.php?id=11432
Service-contract company will stop mailing vehicle-recall warnings
Service-contract company will stop mailing vehicle-recall warnings
Carhill Enterprises will no longer mail postcards warning of vehicle recalls as a way to get consumers on the phone with sales agents selling extended auto-service contracts, the chief executive of the St. Louis company said Wednesday.
The announcement came on the same day that the Post-Dispatch published a story detailing how Carhill, doing business as Consumer Protection Services, mailed more than 100,000 of the postcards in the last three months. Consumers and the Better Business Bureau said the mailers were misleading, and the Missouri Attorney General’s office said Tuesday it had opened an investigation to determine whether the direct-mail marketing broke the law.
Andrew Hillin, a downtown developer and the chief executive of Carhill, said Wednesday that he still believes the company was providing a service by alerting consumers to recalls related to their vehicles. But he said the practice attracted too much unfair criticism.
FULL STORY : http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-savvy-consumer-blog/extended-auto-service-contracts/2009/05/service-contract-company-will-stop-mailing-vehicle-recall-warnings/
Carhill Enterprises will no longer mail postcards warning of vehicle recalls as a way to get consumers on the phone with sales agents selling extended auto-service contracts, the chief executive of the St. Louis company said Wednesday.
The announcement came on the same day that the Post-Dispatch published a story detailing how Carhill, doing business as Consumer Protection Services, mailed more than 100,000 of the postcards in the last three months. Consumers and the Better Business Bureau said the mailers were misleading, and the Missouri Attorney General’s office said Tuesday it had opened an investigation to determine whether the direct-mail marketing broke the law.
Andrew Hillin, a downtown developer and the chief executive of Carhill, said Wednesday that he still believes the company was providing a service by alerting consumers to recalls related to their vehicles. But he said the practice attracted too much unfair criticism.
FULL STORY : http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-savvy-consumer-blog/extended-auto-service-contracts/2009/05/service-contract-company-will-stop-mailing-vehicle-recall-warnings/
Consumers say they were misled by recall warnings
Consumers say they were misled by recall warnings
A St. Louis company that sells extended auto-service contracts recently has mailed more than 100,000 postcards to consumers warning that their vehicles "may be part of a manufacturers recall due to a safety-related defect."
Consumers who received the mailers from Consumer Protection Services told the Post-Dispatch the postcards led them to believe there were problems with their vehicles. They say they were angry to learn the mailers are, in fact, a marketing tactic intended to get them on the phone with service-contract sales agents.
"They need to quit sending this out," said Melissa Knox of Chickasha, Okla., who said she received a mailing last week that suggested there was a problem with her 2006 Jeep. "A safety-related defect in your automobile? That's scary."
FULL STORY: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/30BCDFE7E06037DA862575AE000FE701?OpenDocument
A St. Louis company that sells extended auto-service contracts recently has mailed more than 100,000 postcards to consumers warning that their vehicles "may be part of a manufacturers recall due to a safety-related defect."
Consumers who received the mailers from Consumer Protection Services told the Post-Dispatch the postcards led them to believe there were problems with their vehicles. They say they were angry to learn the mailers are, in fact, a marketing tactic intended to get them on the phone with service-contract sales agents.
"They need to quit sending this out," said Melissa Knox of Chickasha, Okla., who said she received a mailing last week that suggested there was a problem with her 2006 Jeep. "A safety-related defect in your automobile? That's scary."
FULL STORY: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/30BCDFE7E06037DA862575AE000FE701?OpenDocument
Monday, May 4, 2009
US gov. sues SoCal slaughterhouse over beef recall
US gov. sues SoCal slaughterhouse over beef recall
The government is suing a Southern California slaughterhouse for abusing cattle that led to the nation's biggest beef recall last year.
The Department of Justice announced Friday it is joining in the Humane Society of the United States' lawsuit against Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. The federal lawsuit claims the slaughterhouse, which supplied ground beef for school lunches across the nation, defrauded the government by certifying the meat came from cows that were treated humanely.
However, undercover video showed workers at the slaughterhouse abused sick or crippled cows.
The lawsuit seeks to recover about $150 million in taxpayer money spent on disabled "downer" cows for the National School Lunch Program.
The slaughterhouse closed after the February 2008 recall.
The government is suing a Southern California slaughterhouse for abusing cattle that led to the nation's biggest beef recall last year.
The Department of Justice announced Friday it is joining in the Humane Society of the United States' lawsuit against Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. The federal lawsuit claims the slaughterhouse, which supplied ground beef for school lunches across the nation, defrauded the government by certifying the meat came from cows that were treated humanely.
However, undercover video showed workers at the slaughterhouse abused sick or crippled cows.
The lawsuit seeks to recover about $150 million in taxpayer money spent on disabled "downer" cows for the National School Lunch Program.
The slaughterhouse closed after the February 2008 recall.
How safe is your food? Public opinion divided on FDA's effectiveness
How safe is your food?
Public opinion divided on FDA's effectiveness
Although the American public feels a little better about the job the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is doing now than a year ago, about half still believes the agency isn’t doing enough to safeguard the country’s food and drugs, a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll finds. When it comes to monitoring the safety and effectiveness of new prescription drugs, 47 percent of respondents believe the agency does a poor job — an improvement over the 58 percent disapproval rating noted in a similar poll last year.
As for food safety, 49 percent of Americans have a negative view of the job the FDA is doing, while 48 percent have a positive assessment.
Imported food safety, in particular, appears a focus of concern, with only 6 percent of respondents saying that the FDA’s oversight of imported foods is “excellent” and 21 percent saying it is “poor.”
Similarly, there’s doubt about the FDA’s ability to ensure the safety of prescription drugs manufactured abroad.
“Perceptions of drug safety have gone up and down,” said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll. “I think what happens is that, as stories break about drug problems — and Vioxx comes to mind — those numbers go up. We seem to have recovered from the low figures of last year,” he added.
However, on the list of things people believe the agency should be looking at, “food safety emerges as by far the top priority as far as the public is concerned for the FDA,” Taylor said. That could reflect concern with a slew of recent food-borne illness outbreaks, including the recent peanut/salmonella scandal and another salmonella outbreak in 2008 that was eventually traced to tainted jalapeno peppers.
“Every time you get a food recall, spinach or tomatoes or any of those things, you get a huge blip in public opinion and people cut back on buying spinach and so on,” Taylor said. “Those kinds of stories on food safety and drug safety really do have a big impact.”
FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Kwisnek said her agency had not yet read the poll results and could not offer specific comments. But she said the FDA is working with the Obama administration on “new legislative approaches and also is embarking on an aggressive and proactive approach” to improve oversight of the U.S. food supply.
The new online survey, conducted in mid-April, queried a nationally representative sample of 2,495 adults aged 18 and over.
Another big worry for respondents: domestically made prescription drugs. Only 8 percent of poll respondents feel the agency is doing an “excellent” job of making sure new prescription drugs are safe and effective, or monitoring the safety of prescription drugs after they arrive on the market.
Similarly, only 11 percent believe the FDA does an “excellent” job of handling recalls of prescription drugs. Overall, 43 percent think the agency’s handling of recalls is “good,” 28 percent “fair,” and 12 percent “poor.”
“This shows there’s still a lot of concern out there about how the FDA does its job,” said Tony Corbo, senior lobbyist at Food & Water Watch, a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C.
More than half (56 percent) of those surveyed feel positively about how the FDA handles food recalls, while 40 percent feel negatively. Confidence about drug recalls was less robust.
Reflecting these concerns, a majority of respondents (59 percent) said they feel that food safety should be the FDA’s most important priority, followed by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs (37 percent). The safety of imported food came in third at 30 percent.
FULL STORY: http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090504/LIFESTYLE/90501051
Public opinion divided on FDA's effectiveness
Although the American public feels a little better about the job the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is doing now than a year ago, about half still believes the agency isn’t doing enough to safeguard the country’s food and drugs, a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll finds. When it comes to monitoring the safety and effectiveness of new prescription drugs, 47 percent of respondents believe the agency does a poor job — an improvement over the 58 percent disapproval rating noted in a similar poll last year.
As for food safety, 49 percent of Americans have a negative view of the job the FDA is doing, while 48 percent have a positive assessment.
Imported food safety, in particular, appears a focus of concern, with only 6 percent of respondents saying that the FDA’s oversight of imported foods is “excellent” and 21 percent saying it is “poor.”
Similarly, there’s doubt about the FDA’s ability to ensure the safety of prescription drugs manufactured abroad.
“Perceptions of drug safety have gone up and down,” said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll. “I think what happens is that, as stories break about drug problems — and Vioxx comes to mind — those numbers go up. We seem to have recovered from the low figures of last year,” he added.
However, on the list of things people believe the agency should be looking at, “food safety emerges as by far the top priority as far as the public is concerned for the FDA,” Taylor said. That could reflect concern with a slew of recent food-borne illness outbreaks, including the recent peanut/salmonella scandal and another salmonella outbreak in 2008 that was eventually traced to tainted jalapeno peppers.
“Every time you get a food recall, spinach or tomatoes or any of those things, you get a huge blip in public opinion and people cut back on buying spinach and so on,” Taylor said. “Those kinds of stories on food safety and drug safety really do have a big impact.”
FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Kwisnek said her agency had not yet read the poll results and could not offer specific comments. But she said the FDA is working with the Obama administration on “new legislative approaches and also is embarking on an aggressive and proactive approach” to improve oversight of the U.S. food supply.
The new online survey, conducted in mid-April, queried a nationally representative sample of 2,495 adults aged 18 and over.
Another big worry for respondents: domestically made prescription drugs. Only 8 percent of poll respondents feel the agency is doing an “excellent” job of making sure new prescription drugs are safe and effective, or monitoring the safety of prescription drugs after they arrive on the market.
Similarly, only 11 percent believe the FDA does an “excellent” job of handling recalls of prescription drugs. Overall, 43 percent think the agency’s handling of recalls is “good,” 28 percent “fair,” and 12 percent “poor.”
“This shows there’s still a lot of concern out there about how the FDA does its job,” said Tony Corbo, senior lobbyist at Food & Water Watch, a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C.
More than half (56 percent) of those surveyed feel positively about how the FDA handles food recalls, while 40 percent feel negatively. Confidence about drug recalls was less robust.
Reflecting these concerns, a majority of respondents (59 percent) said they feel that food safety should be the FDA’s most important priority, followed by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs (37 percent). The safety of imported food came in third at 30 percent.
FULL STORY: http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090504/LIFESTYLE/90501051
Health Canada Improves Information Available For Those Suffering From Celiac Disease
Health Canada Improves Information Available For Those Suffering From Celiac Disease
Information Update2009-67
Health Canada, along with the Canadian Celiac Association and the Fondation Québécoise de la Maladie Coeliaque, has published a new pamphlet, titled “Celiac Disease - The Gluten Connection.”
This new pamphlet, written for those diagnosed with celiac disease, as well as their friends and family, is intended to provide easy to understand information about celiac disease and the steps that can be taken to manage the disease.
Celiac disease is an inherited medical condition where the surface of the small intestine is damaged by gluten, a group of proteins found in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. This damage causes the body to be unable to absorb nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for good health. Currently, lifelong avoidance of gluten in the diet is the only effective way to manage this disease.
A gluten-free diet can be challenging, since it involves knowing what foods contain gluten, and determining possible hidden sources of gluten in food products and drugs. It also involves a number of lifestyle changes since many commonly eaten foods must be avoided, including pasta, many breakfast cereals and snacks, most breads and other baked goods.
Not everyone who has the gene for celiac disease will develop the disease. However, celiac disease is an illness that can strike Canadians of all ages. Celiac disease has similar symptoms as other common disease like irritable bowel syndrome. It can only be confirmed through a series of tests, including a biopsy. Some of the symptoms include:
•Indigestion, nausea•Abdominal bloating, gas•Recurring diarrhea•Constipation•Anemia – deficiencies of iron or folate•Deficiencies of vitamins A, D, E, or K
Celiac Disease affects approximately 1 in every 100-200 people in North America and is considered one of the most common chronic diseases. In Canada, as many as 300,000 Canadians could have this disease and many of them remain undiagnosed.
Media Inquiries:Health Canada(613) 957-2983
Canadian Food Inspection Agency:(613) 773-6600
Public Inquiries:(613) 957-29911-866 225-0709
Information Update2009-67
Health Canada, along with the Canadian Celiac Association and the Fondation Québécoise de la Maladie Coeliaque, has published a new pamphlet, titled “Celiac Disease - The Gluten Connection.”
This new pamphlet, written for those diagnosed with celiac disease, as well as their friends and family, is intended to provide easy to understand information about celiac disease and the steps that can be taken to manage the disease.
Celiac disease is an inherited medical condition where the surface of the small intestine is damaged by gluten, a group of proteins found in grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. This damage causes the body to be unable to absorb nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which are necessary for good health. Currently, lifelong avoidance of gluten in the diet is the only effective way to manage this disease.
A gluten-free diet can be challenging, since it involves knowing what foods contain gluten, and determining possible hidden sources of gluten in food products and drugs. It also involves a number of lifestyle changes since many commonly eaten foods must be avoided, including pasta, many breakfast cereals and snacks, most breads and other baked goods.
Not everyone who has the gene for celiac disease will develop the disease. However, celiac disease is an illness that can strike Canadians of all ages. Celiac disease has similar symptoms as other common disease like irritable bowel syndrome. It can only be confirmed through a series of tests, including a biopsy. Some of the symptoms include:
•Indigestion, nausea•Abdominal bloating, gas•Recurring diarrhea•Constipation•Anemia – deficiencies of iron or folate•Deficiencies of vitamins A, D, E, or K
Celiac Disease affects approximately 1 in every 100-200 people in North America and is considered one of the most common chronic diseases. In Canada, as many as 300,000 Canadians could have this disease and many of them remain undiagnosed.
Media Inquiries:Health Canada(613) 957-2983
Canadian Food Inspection Agency:(613) 773-6600
Public Inquiries:(613) 957-29911-866 225-0709
Health Canada Reminds Canadians About Garage Sale Safety
Health Canada Reminds Canadians About Garage Sale Safety
Advisory2009-68
Garage sale season is here again and Health Canada is reminding consumers to put safety ahead of savings and to use caution when buying second-hand items at garage sales, flea markets, on-line web sites, and second-hand stores. In Canada, it is the responsibility of the seller to ensure that the products they sell meet current Canadian safety requirements.
Do not consider buying items that have damaged, cracked, missing or loose parts, or items that are missing instructions. Also, do not buy items that have been banned or recalled because they pose a risk to consumer health or safety, or because they do not meet Canadian safety requirements and regulations. To find out if the product you are interested in has been recalled by the manufacturer, and for help in determining if the problem has been corrected, contact the manufacturer or check the list of consumer product recall. If you have a product that has been recalled and the problem has not been corrected, destroy the item to prevent its use by someone else, and throw it away.
Health Canada reminds buyers and sellers of second-hand goods that the Government of Canada recently announced new safety regulations for corded window coverings. The new regulations will make these products safer for young children. As a result of these changes, Health Canada recommends against re-selling corded window coverings such as horizontal blinds, vertical blinds, Roman shades, roll-up blinds, and other styles, because they can pose a strangulation hazard to young children. Cord loops can act as a noose and long cords can wrap around a child's neck. Safety features that are required by law may be missing from used products. These features include warning labelling, instructions for safe use, and safety devices.
To assist buyers and sellers, Health Canada will release two publications in Summer 2009: a new booklet entitled Information to Shoppers of Second-Hand Products; and a fact sheet, Facts for Garage Sale Vendors - 2009.
The booklet and the fact sheet contain information about the health and safety requirements of products such as: children's sleepwear; toys; children's jewelry; window blinds; hockey helmets; and face protectors. The 2008 edition of Facts for Garage Sale Vendors is currently available.
Requirements for consumer products are currently covered under the Hazardous Products Act, which is administered by Health Canada. Under the law, vendors cannot import, sell, advertise, or give away products that do not meet the requirements of the Hazardous Products Act or its regulations. The Act also covers items that are homemade or have been modified.
Health Canada has recently taken several measures to improve upon the quality and efficiency of Canada 's product safety legislation. On January 29, 2009, the Government tabled the proposed Bill C-6, also known as the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act a key component of the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan. The proposed Act would replace Part I of the current Hazardous Products Act and would better protect Canadians from unsafe consumer products. The Act is currently before Parliament and subject to the regular legislative process.
Health Canada also administers the Radiation Emitting Devices Act (REDA). The REDA covers such items as microwave ovens, UV facial lamps and personal tanning equipment. Re-sold items that fall under this Act must also meet current standards. Inquiries regarding the re-sale of items covered under the REDA may be directed to (613) 954-6699 or by e-mail to crpb-psrcc@hc-sc.gc.ca.
Media Inquiries:Health Canada(613) 957-2983
Public Inquiries:(613) 957-29911-866 225-0709
Advisory2009-68
Garage sale season is here again and Health Canada is reminding consumers to put safety ahead of savings and to use caution when buying second-hand items at garage sales, flea markets, on-line web sites, and second-hand stores. In Canada, it is the responsibility of the seller to ensure that the products they sell meet current Canadian safety requirements.
Do not consider buying items that have damaged, cracked, missing or loose parts, or items that are missing instructions. Also, do not buy items that have been banned or recalled because they pose a risk to consumer health or safety, or because they do not meet Canadian safety requirements and regulations. To find out if the product you are interested in has been recalled by the manufacturer, and for help in determining if the problem has been corrected, contact the manufacturer or check the list of consumer product recall. If you have a product that has been recalled and the problem has not been corrected, destroy the item to prevent its use by someone else, and throw it away.
Health Canada reminds buyers and sellers of second-hand goods that the Government of Canada recently announced new safety regulations for corded window coverings. The new regulations will make these products safer for young children. As a result of these changes, Health Canada recommends against re-selling corded window coverings such as horizontal blinds, vertical blinds, Roman shades, roll-up blinds, and other styles, because they can pose a strangulation hazard to young children. Cord loops can act as a noose and long cords can wrap around a child's neck. Safety features that are required by law may be missing from used products. These features include warning labelling, instructions for safe use, and safety devices.
To assist buyers and sellers, Health Canada will release two publications in Summer 2009: a new booklet entitled Information to Shoppers of Second-Hand Products; and a fact sheet, Facts for Garage Sale Vendors - 2009.
The booklet and the fact sheet contain information about the health and safety requirements of products such as: children's sleepwear; toys; children's jewelry; window blinds; hockey helmets; and face protectors. The 2008 edition of Facts for Garage Sale Vendors is currently available.
Requirements for consumer products are currently covered under the Hazardous Products Act, which is administered by Health Canada. Under the law, vendors cannot import, sell, advertise, or give away products that do not meet the requirements of the Hazardous Products Act or its regulations. The Act also covers items that are homemade or have been modified.
Health Canada has recently taken several measures to improve upon the quality and efficiency of Canada 's product safety legislation. On January 29, 2009, the Government tabled the proposed Bill C-6, also known as the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act a key component of the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan. The proposed Act would replace Part I of the current Hazardous Products Act and would better protect Canadians from unsafe consumer products. The Act is currently before Parliament and subject to the regular legislative process.
Health Canada also administers the Radiation Emitting Devices Act (REDA). The REDA covers such items as microwave ovens, UV facial lamps and personal tanning equipment. Re-sold items that fall under this Act must also meet current standards. Inquiries regarding the re-sale of items covered under the REDA may be directed to (613) 954-6699 or by e-mail to crpb-psrcc@hc-sc.gc.ca.
Media Inquiries:Health Canada(613) 957-2983
Public Inquiries:(613) 957-29911-866 225-0709
Friday, May 1, 2009
FDA, FTC Warn Public of Fraudulent 2009 H1N1 Influenza Products
FDA, FTC Warn Public of Fraudulent 2009 H1N1 Influenza Products
Offending web sites and illegal activity targeted for action
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are alerting the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The agencies are also advising operators of offending web sites that they must take prompt action to correct and/or remove promotions of these fraudulent products or face enforcement action.
“Consumers who purchase products to treat the novel 2009 H1N1 virus that are not approved, cleared or authorized by the FDA for the treatment or prevention of influenza risk their health and the health of their families,” said Michael Chappell, acting FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs. “In conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission, the FDA has developed an aggressive strategy to identify, investigate, and take regulatory or criminal action against individuals or businesses that wrongfully promote purported 2009 H1N1 influenza products in an attempt to take advantage of the current flu public health emergency.”
Products that are offered for sale to the public with claims to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat, or cure infections caused by the H1N1 influenza virus that have not been proven to be safe and effective for these uses must be carefully evaluated. Many of these deceptive products are being sold over the Internet via illegitimate web sites. The operators of these web sites take advantage of the public’s concerns about H1N1 influenza and their desire to protect themselves and their families. These fraudulent products come in all varieties and could include dietary supplements or other food products, or products purporting to be drugs, devices or vaccines. Such fraudulent products will not prevent the transmission of the virus or offer effective treatments against infections caused by the H1N1 influenza virus.
“The last thing any consumer needs right now is to be conned by someone selling fraudulent flu remedies,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. “The FTC will act swiftly against companies that resort to deceptive advertising.”
Consumers are urged to contact their health care providers or legitimate medical supply services if they have questions or concerns about medical products or personal protective equipment.
Consumers are also urged to visit the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web sites for more information about this emergency, and to determine which products the FDA has approved, cleared or authorized for use to diagnose, treat, prevent, mitigate or cure infections caused by H1N1 influenza virus.
Consumers should also visit FDA's web site for tips about how to protect themselves when buying medicines online: http://www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide/
The two antiviral drugs approved by the FDA for treatment and prophylaxis of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus are Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) and Relenza (zanamivir). Tamiflu and Relenza, in addition to their approved labeling, have Emergency Use Authorizations that describe specific authorized uses during this public health emergency.
For more information about FDA-approved antiviral drugs for influenza, see http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antivirals/influenza/default.htm.
For more information on CDC recommendations regarding use of antiviral drugs against the current novel 2009 H1N1 influenza strain, see http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_001.
For more information about personal protective equipment see http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ppe/.
At present, there are no licensed vaccines approved for this new H1N1 influenza virus.
Consumers are urged to report any suspected fraudulent products or criminal activity relating to FDA regulated products associated with H1N1 Flu Virus (Swine Flu), including the names of web sites that may be offering these products for sale, to the FDA by visiting: http://www.fda.gov/oci/flucontact.html
Offending web sites and illegal activity targeted for action
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are alerting the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The agencies are also advising operators of offending web sites that they must take prompt action to correct and/or remove promotions of these fraudulent products or face enforcement action.
“Consumers who purchase products to treat the novel 2009 H1N1 virus that are not approved, cleared or authorized by the FDA for the treatment or prevention of influenza risk their health and the health of their families,” said Michael Chappell, acting FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs. “In conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission, the FDA has developed an aggressive strategy to identify, investigate, and take regulatory or criminal action against individuals or businesses that wrongfully promote purported 2009 H1N1 influenza products in an attempt to take advantage of the current flu public health emergency.”
Products that are offered for sale to the public with claims to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat, or cure infections caused by the H1N1 influenza virus that have not been proven to be safe and effective for these uses must be carefully evaluated. Many of these deceptive products are being sold over the Internet via illegitimate web sites. The operators of these web sites take advantage of the public’s concerns about H1N1 influenza and their desire to protect themselves and their families. These fraudulent products come in all varieties and could include dietary supplements or other food products, or products purporting to be drugs, devices or vaccines. Such fraudulent products will not prevent the transmission of the virus or offer effective treatments against infections caused by the H1N1 influenza virus.
“The last thing any consumer needs right now is to be conned by someone selling fraudulent flu remedies,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. “The FTC will act swiftly against companies that resort to deceptive advertising.”
Consumers are urged to contact their health care providers or legitimate medical supply services if they have questions or concerns about medical products or personal protective equipment.
Consumers are also urged to visit the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web sites for more information about this emergency, and to determine which products the FDA has approved, cleared or authorized for use to diagnose, treat, prevent, mitigate or cure infections caused by H1N1 influenza virus.
Consumers should also visit FDA's web site for tips about how to protect themselves when buying medicines online: http://www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide/
The two antiviral drugs approved by the FDA for treatment and prophylaxis of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus are Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) and Relenza (zanamivir). Tamiflu and Relenza, in addition to their approved labeling, have Emergency Use Authorizations that describe specific authorized uses during this public health emergency.
For more information about FDA-approved antiviral drugs for influenza, see http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antivirals/influenza/default.htm.
For more information on CDC recommendations regarding use of antiviral drugs against the current novel 2009 H1N1 influenza strain, see http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_001.
For more information about personal protective equipment see http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ppe/.
At present, there are no licensed vaccines approved for this new H1N1 influenza virus.
Consumers are urged to report any suspected fraudulent products or criminal activity relating to FDA regulated products associated with H1N1 Flu Virus (Swine Flu), including the names of web sites that may be offering these products for sale, to the FDA by visiting: http://www.fda.gov/oci/flucontact.html
Weight-Loss Products Illegally Spiked with Prescription Drugs
Weight-Loss Products Illegally Spiked with Prescription Drugs
Public Citizen: FDA Response 'Inadequate'
At least 72 weight-loss products have been found by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to contain prescription drugs, including four drugs not approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S., according to Public Citizen's WorstPills.org.
This is the third time in the past six months that the FDA has announced alerts about the illegal addition of active prescription drug ingredients to otherwise ineffective weight-loss supplements.
Because the added drugs are active in the body, they can be dangerous as well. For instance, sibutramine (brand name Meridia, an appetite suppressant available by prescription only and a controlled substance) and fluoxetine (brand names Prozac and Serafem, an antidepressant available by prescription only) were among the drugs found in the supplements.
The FDA has inspected a number of companies associated with the sale of these illegal products and is currently seeking voluntary recalls of the 72 products.
Based on the FDA’s inspections and the companies’ responses to recall requests, the FDA may take additional enforcement steps, such as issuing warning letters or initiating seizures, injunctions or criminal charges.
“The FDA’s response has been inadequate,” said Sidney M. Wolfe, M.D., director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group and acting Public Citizen president. “Some of the drugs found in these supplements are dangerous and are putting people at an unacceptable risk of injury. To protect citizens, the agency needs to go further and seize these products.”
The affected weight-loss products are categorized as dietary supplements by the FDA.
Due to the 1994 Dietary Supple*ment Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which clarified that dietary supplements were to be regulated essentially as foods rather than as drugs, dietary supplements are not subject to the better-controlled process for approval and manufacturing as drugs.
FULL STORY: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/04/pubcit_weight.html
Public Citizen: FDA Response 'Inadequate'
At least 72 weight-loss products have been found by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to contain prescription drugs, including four drugs not approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S., according to Public Citizen's WorstPills.org.
This is the third time in the past six months that the FDA has announced alerts about the illegal addition of active prescription drug ingredients to otherwise ineffective weight-loss supplements.
Because the added drugs are active in the body, they can be dangerous as well. For instance, sibutramine (brand name Meridia, an appetite suppressant available by prescription only and a controlled substance) and fluoxetine (brand names Prozac and Serafem, an antidepressant available by prescription only) were among the drugs found in the supplements.
The FDA has inspected a number of companies associated with the sale of these illegal products and is currently seeking voluntary recalls of the 72 products.
Based on the FDA’s inspections and the companies’ responses to recall requests, the FDA may take additional enforcement steps, such as issuing warning letters or initiating seizures, injunctions or criminal charges.
“The FDA’s response has been inadequate,” said Sidney M. Wolfe, M.D., director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group and acting Public Citizen president. “Some of the drugs found in these supplements are dangerous and are putting people at an unacceptable risk of injury. To protect citizens, the agency needs to go further and seize these products.”
The affected weight-loss products are categorized as dietary supplements by the FDA.
Due to the 1994 Dietary Supple*ment Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which clarified that dietary supplements were to be regulated essentially as foods rather than as drugs, dietary supplements are not subject to the better-controlled process for approval and manufacturing as drugs.
FULL STORY: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/04/pubcit_weight.html
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