Fertility Alert over PBDEs found in Household Consumer Products

Many household consumer products contain flame-retardant chemicals that research suggests reduces fertility in women. This comes as a part of a new research which reinforces previous studies on this topic. Papers published in the last two years have repeatedly suggested that the chemicals, polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs, affect human health.

PBDEs have been used as flame retardants in the USA for almost four decades. They are common in foam furniture, electronics, fabrics, carpets and plastics. While these chemicals are slowly being phased out, they are still found in products that were made prior 2004. Some of these chemicals have already been banned in California, but ironically Californians are expected to have higher exposures to them because of the state's strict flammability laws.

The authors of the study from UC Berkely noted that most of the previous research on the chemicals has been in animals. However a 2008 study linked the chemicals to disrupted thyroid levels in men. Further, a study published earlier this month tied PBDE exposure in pregnancy to neurodevelopmental delays in young children.

Dr. Hugh Taylor, an expert at Yale University not involved in this study says:

These are association studies. You can't show cause and effect. But we have cause-and-effect studies in animals, and we have association studies in humans. I think that is fairly convincing.

In the new study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers measured PBDE levels in blood samples from 223 pregnant women who were mainly Mexican immigrants living in an agricultural community. They were asked to remember how long they had been trying to become pregnant i.e. being sexually active without using birth control.

The research found that the women with the highest concentrations of PBDEs took a longer time to get pregnant. More alarming was the discovery that every 10 fold increase in the blood concentration of PBDEs led to a 30% decrease in pregnancy each month.

Previous studies had shown that 97% of Americans have trace levels of PBDEs in their blood, which may have come from some foods like dairy products, meat and fish, though household products are viewed as the primary source of exposure.

Environmental Protection Agency and the two largest manufacturers of one type of PBDE agreed to phase out the chemical only last month. The EPA banned two of the three mixtures of PBDE developed for commercial use as flame retardants in 2005, and a 3rd is to be phased out of production in 2013.

The study's lead author, Kim Harley, adjunct assistant professor of maternal and child health and associate director of the Center for Children's Environmental Health Research at Berkeley's School of Public Health observed:

The good news is these chemicals have or are being phased out. The bad news is their legacy will continue because of their presence in a lot of items in our homes.

But PBDEs, like many other hazardous chemicals before them, will be in the environment a long after they are banned for use.

Nipro Med Corp recalls 2 million medical needles in U.S.

A subsidiary of the Japanese company Nipro Corp, Nipro Medical Corporation, Miami FL, is initiating 2 nationwide recalls of syringes manufactured by them. The first is of all GlucoPro Insulin Syringes and was initiated on January 21, 2010. According to the FDA, these syringes may have needles that detach from the syringe. If the needle becomes detached from the syringe during use, it can become stuck in the insulin vial, push back into the syringe, or remain in the skin after injection.

This recall includes all product codes and lot numbers with expiration dates before 2011-11 (Nov 1, 2011):
Product Code Lot # Expiry date
JD+01U3008-5C A08022 2011-11
JD+01U3013-5C A08013 2011-06
JD+01U3013-5C A08017 2011-08
JD+01U3108-5C A08013 2011-06
JD+01U3108-5C A08017 2011-08
JD+03U3008-5C C08022 2011-11
JD+03U3013-5C C08013 2011-06
JD+03U3013-5C C08017 2011-08
JD+03U3108-5C C08013 2011-06
JD+03U3108-5C C08017 2011-08
JD+05U3008-5C B08022 2011-11
JD+05U3013-5C B08013 2011-06
JD+05U3013-5C B08017 2011-08
JD+05U3108-5C B08013 2011-06
JD+05U3108-5C B08017 2011-08

The second is a Class I recall of Exel/Exelint Huber needles, Exel/Exelint Huber Infusion Sets and Exel/Exelint “Securetouch+” Safety Huber Infusion Sets, manufactured by Nipro Medical Corporation for Exelint International Corporation. This includes 2 million Huber infusion set needles distributed in the United States. An October 2009 inspections of Nipro facilities by the FDA found problems with the needles that could allow pieces of the port's silicone core to become dislodged. The inspections found around 60-72% of Nipro's needles tested had this problem.

The needles are used for special medical purposes including accessing ports implanted under the skin of chronically ill patients for repeated access to veins, withdrawing blood, and injecting medicines. These needles should be designed to penetrate the port without cutting and dislodging any silicone cores (or slivers) from the ports into which they are inserted. The needles were distributed by privately held Exel International from Los Angeles. As of now, no injuries have been reported, FDA officials noted that they were concerned a piece of silicone could enter a patient's bloodstream.

Recalled needles were manufactured from January 2007 to August 2009. Units subject to recall have a lot number that begins with “07,” “08,” “09,” and one of the following product codes or catalog numbers:

Exel/Exelint Huber Needles Product Codes/Catalog Numbers:
26901
26902
26904
26906
26907
26908
26909
26911
26921
26922
26923
26924
26925

Exel/Exelint Huber Infusion Sets Product Codes/Catalog Numbers With/Injection Site:
27940R
27941R
27944R
27945R
27946R
27948R
27949R
27950R

Without/Injection Site Product Codes/Catalog Numbers:
27954R
27955R
27958R
27959R
Exel/Exelint “SecureTouch +” Safety Huber Sets Product Codes/Catalog Numbers:
37854S
37855S
37858S

Hospitals, clinics and patients who have needles from these lists should immediately stop using these affected products and return any unused products to Exelint International Corporation. The FDA has issued a letter to manufacturers of other Huber needles to address design and manufacturing concerns.

Further Details @ FDA.gov

Parker's Farm Recall Extended to their Products sold at Wisconsin Cheeseman®

The Wisconsin Cheeseman® has recalls Cheese Logs/Cheese Balls products in conjunction with the voluntary recall initiated by Parkers Farm, Inc. on January 15, 2010.

Parkers Farm, Inc., located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, believes some of its food items have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The recall was a result of a sampling done by the state of Wisconsin and the state of Minnesota.

Nine of the recalled products are cheese logs/cheese balls purchased from Parkers Farm, Inc. and then distributed by The Wisconsin Cheeseman®. These products bear the Parkers Farm logo. None of the other recalled products at Parkers Farm, Inc. was purchased or distributed by The Wisconsin Cheeseman®.

The Wisconsin Cheeseman® Food Gifts Impacted by Recall:
Sausage 'N Cheese Logs – Gift #11
Cheese Logs & Cutting Board – Gift #87
Smorgasbord – Gift #325
Cheese Log Trio – Gift #365
Cheese Logs – Gift #411
Cheese Ball Trio – Gift #441
Cheese Logs – Gift #509
Snacker Pack – Gift #751
Cheese Balls & Sausages – Gift #876

The FDA asks consumers who have any of these products in their possession to throw them out. Alternatively, the product can be returned to The Wisconsin Cheeseman® for a refund or replacement. Consumers who believe they may have become ill after consuming these products should immediately contact their health care provider.

Pandemic Flu & Vaccine Supply - A WHO Controversy

India today asked the WHO to explain reports that swine flu was a false pandemic. During a meeting of the WHO Executive Health Board, the Indian Union Health Secretary noted that news reports that the pandemic was false were adversely impacting the public health measures being undertaken in various nations. She also called for greater transparency on terms and conditions on which international vaccine manufacturers were supplying vaccines globally.

In response to this intervention by India, the WHO has agreed to formally write to National Focal Points in all countries clarifying the factual position about the H1N1 pandemic. This should quell all doubts that had been created by recent reports which have placed the organisation squarely and rather uncomfortably in the middle of this controversy.

E.Coli Contamination Leads to Beef Recall

Huntington Meat Packing, a Southern California based meat-packing firm has recalled around 864,000 pounds of ground-beef that might be contaminated with E. coli. The meat is sold under the Huntington, Imperial Meat and El Rancho brands. The affected beef was sold to distribution centers, restaurants and hotels in California between Feb. 19 and May 15, 2008, and between Jan 5. and Jan. 15, 2010. The labels on the recalled meat are stamped "EST. 17967". The recall includes:

• 40-pound boxes of "Huntington Meats Ground Beef"
• 40-pound boxes of "Huntington Meat Pkg. Inc. Beef Ground for Further Processing"
• 40-pound boxes of "Beef Burrito Filling Mix"
• 10-pound boxes of "Imperial Meat Co. Ground Beef Patty"
• 20-pound boxes of "Imperial Meat Co. Ground Beef Patty"
• 10-pound boxes of "El Rancho Meat & Provision All Beef Patties."
  

On Monday, 18th January, the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) observed that so far no illnesses have been reported from the said products. Officials report that a food safety assessment led department personnel to make this discovery.

E. coli is a potentially deadly germ - it can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure. Children and the elderly are most at risk from this bacteria.

Read: USA Today
Huffington Post

Massive Recall Initiated by Parkers Farms, Minnesota

The recent food products recall issued by Parkers Farm, Inc. has expanded to include ALL of it products. Please note: This is Regardless of Code Dates, Because of Possible Health Risk.

All date codes have been included in this recall due to fear of contamination with listeria monocytogenes. Though no illnesses has thus far been reported in connection with this recall, it is important for consumers to note that this organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The FDA notes that recalled products were distributed across the USA in the following retail stores: Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Byerlys, Lunds, Target, Whole Foods, Jewel, Dominicks, Marsh, Price Chopper, Shop Rite, Nash Finch, Sams Club, Costco, Safeway, Kroger, Wal-Mart, Aldi, etc.

Here is a partial list of recalled products sold under the Parker Farm or Parkers label:

• 12 ounce & 16 ounce peanut butter in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), regular and organic varieties are creamy, crunchy, honey creamy and honey crunchy with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
• 34 ounce peanut butter in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are creamy and crunchy with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
• 7 ounce bagel spreads in white plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are garden veggie, wild berry, strawberry, apple cinnamon and honey walnut with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
• 12 ounce & 14 ounce dips & spreads in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are jalapeno nacho, pimento and salsa con queso with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
• 8 ounce, 12 ounce and 16 ounce cold pack cheese in round or square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, bacon, onion, smoked cheddar, Swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
• 16 ounce salsa in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are hot, mild, garlic, black bean and fire roasted with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
• 32 ounce salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieties are hot, mild, garlic, and black bean with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
• 128 ounce salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieties are hot, fire roasted, mild and garlic with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
• 8 ounce, 9 ounce, 10 ounce Balls & Logs (in film over wrap), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, smokey bacon, ranch, garlic, jalapeno, pimento, spinach, jajik, beer and chorizo with sell by dates on or before 01/05/2011.
• 5#, 5.5#, 10#, 30# Parker Farm cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, onion, bacon, smoked cheddar, swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
  

Other labels affected by this recall:16 ounce Happy Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.

• 8 ounce Kroger cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
• 8 ounce Central Markets cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
• 14 ounce Central Markets salsa con queso in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid) with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
• 16 ounce Central Markets salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
• 8 ounce Dutch Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
• 7 ounce Dutch Farms cream cheese spreads in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are strawberry, wild berry, honey walnut & apple cinnamon with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
• 8 ounce Crystal Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, bacon and jalapeno cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
• 8 ounce Heluva Good cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and horseradish cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
• 8 ounce Amish Classic cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
• 10 ounce Amish Classic cheese balls & logs (in film over wrap), varieties are cheddar, port wine, ranch, smokey bacon, beef n onion with sell by dates on or before 01/05/2011.
• 128 ounce San Pablo salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieties are fire roasted and mild with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
• 12 ounce Century Resources cold pack cheese food (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, horseradish, bacon with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9)
• 12 ounce Century Resources pimento spread (tub with snap on lid) with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9.
• 8 ounce and 12/12 ounce Century Resources cheese ball & log (in film over wrap) sharp cheddar with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9)
• 12 ounce Century Resources salsa con queso (tub with snap on lid) with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9)
• 4#, 5.5# Block & Barrel cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, swiss almond, horseradish, port wine and pimiento spread with packed on dates on or before 12/30/2009.
• 30# Block & Barrel sharp cheddar cold pack cheese (white pail with snap on lid) with packed on dates on or before 12/30/2009.
• 5# Cobblestone cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
• 30# Cobblestone sharp cheddar cold pack cheese (white pail with snap on lid) with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
• 5# Biery label cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar and port wine with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
• 5# Dierks Waukesha cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, horseradish, swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
  

This recall resulted from a sampling done by the state of Wisconsin and the state of Minnesota. The sampling revealed that some finished products contained bacteria. An investigation is under way and consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at: (800) 869-6685.

Image Courtesy: Parkers Farm

McNeil Consumer Recall goes Global , Gets Slap on Wrist from FDA

McNeil Consumer Healthcare today expanded its recall to include some batches of regular and extra-strength Tylenol children's Tylenol, eight-hour Tylenol, Tylenol arthritis, Tylenol PM, children's Motrin, Motrin IB, Benadryl Rolaids, Simply Sleep, and St. Joseph's aspirin. Apart from tese, Caplet and Geltab products that are being sold in the Americas, the United Arab Emirates, and Fiji were recalled.

This ever-expanding recall by McNeil Consumer Healthcare Products of its Tylenol, Motrin and other over-the-counter products has received a slap on the wrist from the FDA. Tainted by the chemical tribromoanisole embedded in wooden shipping pallets, this Johnson & Johnson company today was accused of not paying timely and proper attention towards the investigation of the contamination and subsequent recall.

Deborah Autor, chief of compliance at FDA's drug office noted:

"McNeil should have acted faster. When something smells bad, literally and figuratively, companies must take all necessary actions to solve the problem."

She observed that McNeil was aware of the problem as far back as September 2008, but failed to notify the FDA until a year later in September 2009. Further McNeil did not actually begin the product recall until November 2009.

Current regulations do not permit FDA to recall products on its own authority. Recalls and notifications are the responsibility of the company making the product. Due to the significant delays in this case, the FDA today fired McNeil a warning letter asking that they upgrade their manufacturing. The FDA wants an explanation as to why the problem was not made public sooner. Johnson & Johnson has 15 days to respond, J&J said they are working with the FDA.

More news on J&J: The company has also been cited by today by Federal prosecutors in Boston for paying tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks to nursing homes. They paid the money so that the nursing homes put more of their patients on its blockbuster schizophrenia drug. Particularly, the company gave special rebates to Omnicare Inc. Omnicare is one of the biggest companies in the USA providing pharmacy services to nursing homes. The kickbacks were in return for recommendations from its pharmacists that patients use Risperdal.

Read More:
McNeil Product Recall
LA Times
Forbes.com

Now, Its Fecal Matter in Soda Fountains??

A team of microbiologists from Hollins University have found that around half of sodas tested from the fast food fountains contain coliform bacteria. This bacteria is typically fecal in origin. What was even more alarming in this study was that microbiologists found that the bacteria also antibiotic resistant - most of the bacteria showed resistance to one or more of the 11 antibiotics tested. The study included testing of 90 beverages from 30 soda fountains. They included sugar sodas, diet sodas, and water.

The findings of this research have been published the International Journal of Food Microbiology. Their abstract states:

...Coliform bacteria was detected in 48% of the beverages and 20% had a heterotrophic plate count greater than 500 cfu/ml. [...] More than 11% of the beverages analyzed contained Escherichia coli [E. Coli] and over 17% contained Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. Other opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms isolated from the beverages included species of Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas, Candida, and Serratia. Most of the identified bacteria showed resistance to one or more of the 11 antibiotics tested.

Only one outbreak linked to a soda fountain has been recorded ten years ago. However, on an individual level, these bacteria can lead to sickness that often goes unreported.