Subject: Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)

Hi Everyone
I am passing this email forwarded to me this morning. It's about a
medication that is familiar to many of us. Note also the FDA 's comments
at the end of the message.
.
Here are the details and I suggest you pass it on to your loved ones and others.

Subject: Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)

I urge you to review the list of medicines with PPA and avoid these medications. All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are dangerous. You may want to try calling the 800 number listed on most drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND. Please read this CAREFULLY. Also, please pass this on to everyone you know. STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient. It has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not found in men, but the FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative medicine.

The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:

Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant
Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements
Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control
Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or or ange)
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent
Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine
BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder
BC Sinus Cold Powder
Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief
Day & Night Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules
Contac 12 Hour Caplets
Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus
Dexatrim Caffeine Free
Dexatrim Extended Duration
Dexatrim Gelcaps
Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free
Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets
Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels
Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir
Dimetapp Elixir
Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels
Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets
Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets
Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
Permathene Mega-16
Robitussin CF
Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion
Triaminic DM Cough Rel! ief
Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
Triaminic Syrup ! ! Cold & amp;am p; Allergy
Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough

I just found out and called the 800# on the container for Triaminic and
they informed me that they are voluntarily recalling the following medicines
because of a certain ingredient that is causing strokes and seizures in children:

Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink)
3D Cold & Cough Berry
3D Cough Relief Yellow 3D Expectorant

They are asking you to call them at 800-548-3708 with the lot number on
the box so they can send you postage for you to send it back to them, and
they will also issue you a refund. If you know of anyone else with small children,

PLEASE PASS THIS ON. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF!

DO PASS ALONG TO ALL ON YOUR MAILING LIST so people are informed. They can then pass it along to their families.

To confirm these findings please take time to check the following:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa

Gail Stenson
Public Health Clerk
St. James-Assiniboia
Health & Social Services Center
2015 Portage Avenue R3J 0K3
Phone: 940-2388 Fax: 940-2636
eMail: gstenson@wrha.mb.ca

Some Recalls you may be unaware of.

Some important recalls announced today.

Westerly Shaw's Supermarket recalls Family Pack Lean GROUND BEEF

Lobby Shoppes Inc. issues allergy alert on Several Gourmet POPCORNS

Creative Food Products issues allergy alert on CINNAMON PASTRIES---Canada

Quantimpex Inc. recalls Baktat CHILLIES---Canada

Game Farm recalls Marinated Quail MEDALLIONS---Australia

Costco recalls Kirkland Signature Pre-Lit CHRISTMAS TREES

EPA issues alert on Fuji Lavender MOTH TABLETS

Home Depot recalls LED LIGHT STRINGS---Canada

Tesco recalls Value BATH MATS---Ireland

Phantom Recalls

Consumers have been asking questions about hidden recalls. Their interest was piqued by a recent J & J recall.

To this end, we have decided to post several recalls you may not be aware of.

Good Earth Teas recalls Sweet & Spicy Herbal TEA BAGS-California

Loblaws Comp. recalls No Name OLIVES-Canada

Marcor Development recalls Brain POWDER-New Mexico/Canada

Avon recalls Healthy Makeup EYESHADOW

Big Al’s Aquarium recalls Aquarium LIGHTS---Canada

Emerge Technologies recalls iPod Retractable WALL CHARGERS---Canada

Silvercrest recalls MONITORS/ TV'S---INT.

Canberra Corp. recalls Instant HAND SANITIZER

McNeil Healthcare recalls Children's Benadryl Allergy FASTMELT TABLETS---INT.

Potential Risks of Consuming Vegetables and Herbs Stored in Oil

Health Canada would like to inform Canadians of the importance of safe food handling practices when preparing and/or consuming vegetables and herbs stored in oil, such as garlic, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, hot peppers, mushrooms, rosemary, chives, sage, basil, and dill.

Vegetables and herbs stored in oil are a popular home-prepared food item and in some cases, are also prepared commercially. However, if food is improperly prepared, canned, heat-processed, bottled, or stored, it can cause serious illness, such as botulism.

Below are some easy-to-follow tips to help you reduce your risk:

•Home-prepared products stored in oil (e.g., vegetables, herbs and spices) should only be made using fresh ingredients, and should be kept in the refrigerator and discarded after one week.
•Commercially-prepared products should be refrigerated after opening and between each use.
•Consumers who purchase products such as those outlined above from fairs, farmers' markets or roadside stands or receive them as a gift should check when they were prepared and discard them if they are more than a week old.
•Date and label preserves and canned goods and strictly follow proper canning/bottling requirements.
•Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, before and after handling food.
•Keep all work surfaces, food, utensils, equipment, and hands clean during all stages of the canning/bottling process.
•Refrigerate all foods labelled "keep refrigerated."
•If you experience symptoms of botulism, seek medical attention immediately.

Botulism is a serious illness that can result from eating improperly prepared and stored foods. Botulism is caused by a bacterium – called Clostridium botulinum – that naturally produces toxins as part of its 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, double vision, dryness of throat, weakness 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's 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.

For more information on food safety tips for vegetables and herbs stored in oil, please visit:

Health Canada's Food Safety Tips for Vegetables and Herbs stored in Oil

Canadian Food Inspection Agency's webpage on Vegetables and Herbs in Oil

It's Your Health on Garlic-in-oil

Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education's Be Food Safe Canada Campaign

Media Inquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866-225-0709

FTC to crack down on car rentals not following recalls

The nation's largest rental car company is being pressed to fix vehicles under recall before renting them out.

Consumer groups are asking the Federal Trade Commission to crack down Enterprise Holdings, Inc., That's the company that owns Enterprise, National and Alamo.

The groups want the company to stop renting cars that have been recalled, but not yet fixed.

FULL STORY: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=7759765