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FDA Requests Boxed Warning for Contrast Agents Used to Improve MRI Images

The Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have indicated that the use of gadolinium as an MRI contrast should be avoided for those experiencing advanced renal failure.  

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Ford recalls 1.17 million vehicles for engine flaw

WASHINGTON - Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it is recalling 1.17 million trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans to fix an engine sensor that could lead to engine stalling.  

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Toy contaminated with 'date rape' drug pulled

NEW YORK (CNN) -- U.S. safety officials have recalled about 4.2 million Chinese-made Aqua Dots bead toys that contain a chemical that has caused some children to vomit and become comatose after swallowing them.  

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Million baby seats recalled due to head injuries

WASHINGTON - Some 1 million foam baby seats sold by Target Corp, Wal-Mart Stores Inc and other large retailers are being recalled because of reports of young children falling out of the seats, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday.  

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Makers pull cold medicines sold for infants

The makers of several leading over-the-counter cold medications are voluntarily withdrawing products sold for infants, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association said Thursday.  

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Salmonella finding prompts spinach recall

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A California produce company recalled bagged fresh spinach Wednesday after it tested positive for salmonella.  

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Defective Car Seats Recalled by Graco Children’s Products, Inc. and Britax Child Safety, Inc.

Two companies announced recalls of defective car seats today. Graco Children’s Products Inc. is recalling more than 276,000 ComfortSport 5-point convertible harness car seats because an anchorage belt may have been misrouted during assembly of the seat. The second manufacturer, Britax Child Safety, Inc., is recalling some of its Decathlon child restraints because a design problem could make it difficult for caregivers to properly fasten a child into the seat.  

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Contaminated baby carrots are recalled

An undisclosed amount of carrots that may be contaminated with bacteria could cause diarrhea, nausea, fever and vomiting.  

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Mattel Recalls Polly Pocket, Barbie and Other Toys for Lead Paint and Magnet Hazards

Mattel, Inc. announced a massive recall today of magnet play sets and die cast cars. It is the second recall by the toy giant in as many weeks. On August 1, Mattel’s issued a Fisher-Price recall that impacted more than 1 million toys for a lead paint hazard. But this latest Mattel recall is much larger, and covers millions of toys. It also includes very popular Mattel lines such as Barbie and Polly Pocket toys.  

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Toothpaste From China Recalled Again for DEG Contamination

Toothpaste distributed in some luxury hotels is being recalled because it contains a chemical usually found in antifreeze. This is the third time this summer that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued such a toothpaste recall. As in the other incidents, this toothpaste was manufactured in China.  

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Rituxan Therapy Linked to Fatal Brain Infection

Rituxan, a powerful cancer medication, has been linked to a fatal brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML is a viral infection for which there is no treatment. The disease is usually fatal, and at least two patients undergoing Rituxan therapy have died.  

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Whole Foods Market Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Nuts in 365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss Dark Chocolate Bars

Austin, TX -- July 31, 2007 – Whole Foods Market® is recalling 365 Organic Everyday Value™ Swiss Dark Chocolate Bars because they may contain undeclared almonds. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to nuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.  

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Castleberry’s Updates Status of National Canned Food Recall

AUGUSTA, Ga. – August 1, 2007 – Citing a continuing threat to public health, Castleberry's Food Company is urging retailers, food service operations, food banks, charitable organizations and consumers to be diligent in identifying and discarding canned products subject to Castleberry's national recall.  

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Death Toll Dips to 4 in Bridge Collapse

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Authorities lowered the death toll from an interstate bridge collapse to four Thursday, but warned the final number could change as divers comb the twisted steel and chunks of concrete that crashed into the Mississippi River.  

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Outbreak of Eye Infections Puzzles Officials

Health officials and eye doctors are puzzled by an outbreak of a rare but potentially blinding eye infection that led the manufacturer of a contact lens cleaning solution to withdraw one of its products this weekend.  

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Abbott Announces Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Three Lots of Two-Ounce Bottles of Similac Special Care 24 Cal / fl. oz. Ready-to-Feed (RTF) Premature Infant Formula with Iron

Columbus, OH -- May 25, 2007 -- Abbott's Ross Products Division today announced a voluntary nationwide recall of three lots of two-ounce bottles of Similac Special Care 24 Cal / fl. oz. Ready-to-Feed (RTF) Premature Infant Formula with Iron, a highly specialized liquid ready-to-feed formula used only for premature infants after discharge from the hospital. This product is sold in eight unit cartons of two-ounce plastic bottles in the United States, and is primarily sold through pharmacies at the direction of a health care professional. It is not commonly available on retail store shelves.  

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FDA Warning on Mislabeled Monkfish

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to buy or eat imported fish labeled as monkfish, which actually may be puffer fish, containing a potentially deadly toxin called tetrodotoxin. Eating puffer fish that contain this potent toxin can result in serious illness or death.  

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Advanced Medical Optics Voluntarily Recalls Complete MoisturePlus Contact Lens Solution

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting health care professionals and their patients who wear soft contact lenses about a voluntary recall of Complete MoisturePlus Multi Purpose Solution manufactured by Advanced Medical Optics of Santa Ana, Ca.  

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CDC warns about contact lens solution

Government officials are warning people to throw away a contact lens solution after an investigation linked it to a rare eye infection.  

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Link between MRI contrast agent and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis

New research has shown a possible association between a popular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent and the incidence of a rare disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients with kidney disease, according to an editorial appearing in the March issue of Radiology.  

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Diabetes drug Avandia linked to heart risks; alert issued

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- The widely prescribed diabetes drug Avandia is linked to a greater risk of heart attack and possibly death, a new scientific analysis revealed, and the U.S. government issued a safety alert Monday.  

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Diabetes drug linked to heart attacks, death

A widely used diabetes pill raises the risk of heart attacks and possibly death, according to a scientific analysis that reveals what some experts are calling another Vioxx-like example of the government failing to protect the public from an unsafe drug.  

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129,000 pounds of beef yanked

Officials at a bulk foods outlet say they will continue to do business with a Kalamazoo meat company that is recalling 129,000 pounds of beef products because of possible E. coli contamination.  

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Jindal wants probe into FEMA trailers

KENNER, La. (AP) — A Louisiana congressman on Thursday called for House hearings on the government's response to formaldehyde fumes that have cropped up in travel trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to storm victims.  

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High Levels of Formaldehyde Found in Some FEMA Trailers

It has been nearly one year since 9NEWS told you about potential health risks that are inside FEMA trailers in Louisiana and Mississippi. The environmental group, Sierra Club, last year conducted tests on FEMA trailers that showed dangerous levels of the cancer-causing chemical "formaldehyde." Now, a year later, a CBS News investigation shows people are filling doctors' offices with one thing in common, they all live in FEMA trailers. The investigation shows FEMA may have already known about those health risks.  

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FDA Panel Highlights Safety Concerns of Anemia Drugs in Cancer Patients

In a high-profile meeting this week, an expert panel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raised significant concerns about the use of the anemia drug erythropoietin in treating cancer patients. According to the findings of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee, the drug, sold by Amgen as Aranesp and by Johnson & Johnson as Procrit, is severely overused in cancer patients and should have new restrictions and guidelines placed on its administration.  

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Study: New Blood Pressure Drug Ineffective

A study published in this month’s American Journal of Hypertension called into question the effectiveness of a new blood-pressure drug known as aliskiren. Dr. Jean E. Sealey of New York Presbyterian Hospital and Dr. John H. Laragha at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York reviewed six different clinical trials regarding aliskiren and determined that the new drug is no more effective than previously existing treatments for hypertension.  

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Cruise Ship Runs Aground Off Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -- A riverboat-style cruise ship ran aground off the Alaska coast early Monday, forcing an evacuation of more than 200 passengers before it was able to move again with a Coast Guard escort.  

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Restaurant Pulls Hamburgers After Injury

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Cracker Barrel and a hamburger supplier were investigating after a patron in South Carolina reported cutting her mouth on a piece of metal embedded in a patty, causing the chain to pull burgers from hundreds of restaurants.  

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FDA Advises Manufacturers to Test Glycerin for Possible Contamination Glycerin Contaminated with Diethylene Glycol (DEG) Remains a Potential Health Hazard to Consumers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning pharmaceutical manufacturers, suppliers, drug repackers, and health professionals who compound medications to be especially vigilant in assuring that glycerin, a sweetener commonly used worldwide in liquid over-the-counter and prescription drug products, is not contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG). DEG is a known poison used in antifreeze and as a solvent. Today, the agency is issuing guidance to industry recommending methods of testing glycerin and other controls to identify any contamination with DEG before use in the manufacture or preparation of pharmaceutical products.  

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Study links lung disease to WTC work

Rescue workers and firefighters contracted a serious lung-scarring disease called sarcoidosis at a much higher rate after the Sept. 11 attacks than before, said a study that is the first to link the disease to exposure to toxic dust at ground zero.  

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J&J unit DePuy loses suit dismissal bid

BRISTOL, Mass., , April 13, 2007 (UPI) -- U.S. Johnson & Johnson unit DePuy Spine has lost a bid to quash suits claiming its spinal device has defects, plaintiffs' counsel said Friday.  

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FDA Urgently Warns Consumers about Health Risks of Potentially Contaminated Olives

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting consumers to possible serious health risks from eating olives that may be contaminated with a deadly bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. C. botulinum can cause botulism, a potentially fatal illness. The olives are made by Charlie Brown di Rutigliano & Figli S.r.l, of Bari, Italy and are being recalled by the manufacturer. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall.  

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Greece ship's black box recovered

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Investigators recovered the data recorder on the sunken Sea Diamond cruise ship using a remote-controlled undersea probe, the Merchant Marine Ministry said Saturday.  

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FDA Asks Novartis to Suspend Marketing of GI Drug Zelnorm

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation that the company must cease its marketing of Zelnorm (tegaserod), a prescription drug used in the treatment of constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). According to the FDA, Zelmorm has been associated with an “increased risk of serious cardiovascular adverse events (heart problems).” Novartis has agreed to voluntarily suspend its marketing of Zelnorm.  

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CRUISE SHIP EVACUATED OFF GREEK ISLAND

ATHENS (AP) — A cruise ship carrying nearly 1,200 passengers, most of them Americans, and some 400 crewmembers was being evacuated off the Greek island of Santorini on Thursday after striking rocks, authorities said.  

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Cruise ship off Greek Island evacuated

ATHENS, Greece — A listing cruise ship carrying nearly 1,600 people was evacuated safely Thursday after it struck rocks and began taking on water off the Greek island of Santorini, authorities said.  

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FDA Drug Safety Podcasts; Tegaserod maleate (marketed as Zelnorm)

Zelnorm is being taken off the market because a new safety analysis has found a higher chance of heart attack, stroke, and worsening heart chest pain that can become a heart attack. Full Version.  

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Study: Heart Stents Often Not Worth the Risk or Cost

"Conventional wisdom would indicate that PCI and OMT together would be superior to OMT alone," said Dr. Boden. "Indeed, that was our initial hypothesis. But results of the COURAGE trial demonstrate that two treatments are not always better than one. These findings, along with data from recent studies of more ...  

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Sanofi Issues Warning Letter About Ketek

Sanofi adds, "Safety information regarding visual disturbances and loss of consciousness, previously in the precautions section, has been added to the warnings section. In prescribing Ketek, it is important for healthcare professionals to inform and discuss with patients the four highlighted toxicities: exacerbation of myasthenia gravis, hepatotoxicity, visual disturbances, and ...  

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FDA Warns Again About Arsenic in Mineral Water

The agency is providing this information again to consumers due to an expansion of the recall initiated by the products' importers and distributors. "Jermuk" water is imported from Armenia and distributed under different labels in California. Five brands of these products have been recalled since March 7.  

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FDA Announces Voluntary Withdrawal of Pergolide Products

FDA today announced that manufacturers of pergolide drug products, which are used to treat Parkinson?s disease, will voluntarily remove these drugs from the market because of the risk of serious damage to patients? heart valves.  

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FDA Announces Discontinued Marketing of GI Drug, Zelnorm, for Safety Reasons

FDA has requested that Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation of East Hanover, New Jersey, voluntarily discontinue marketing of Zelnorm (tegaserod) based on the recently identified finding of an increased risk of serious cardiovascular adverse events (heart problems) associated with use of the drug.  

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FDA: Rotavirus Vaccine May Harm Infants

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government warned on Tuesday of potentially life-threatening twisting of the intestines in infants vaccinated against a virus that is the leading cause of early childhood diarrhea. The condition, called intussusception, is the same that led to the withdrawal of the first rotavirus vaccine eight years ago....  

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FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Certain Jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan peanut butter or Great Value peanut butter due to risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee (a bacterium that causes foodborne illness).  

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Peanut Butter Food Poisoning Warning

Recalled Jars of Peter Pan, Great Value Peanut Butter May Carry Salmonella  

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FDA Announces Label and Indication Changes for the Antibiotic Ketek

FDA today announced revisions to the labeling for the antibiotic Ketek (telithromycin) designed to improve the safe use of Ketek by patients. The changes include the removal of two of the three previously approved indications -- acute bacterial sinusitis and acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis -- from the drug's label.  

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State Farm Told to Pay Gulf Claim

A federal jury ordered State Farm insurance yesterday to pay a $2.5 million penalty for refusing to cover damages to a Mississippi couple’s house that was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, throwing into question settlement talks intended to resolve hundreds of lawsuits filed after the 2005 storm.  

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Feds Find Backup Sensors Ineffective

According to ConsumerAffairs.com, the Federal safety regulators have told Congress they need more time to study back-up sensors -- the new devices being used on vehicles to warn drivers when they are about to back over children or other persons and objects.  

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U.S. Health Care Most Expensive & Most Error Prone

Not only do Americans pay much more for medical treatment than anyone else in the world, they also bear the brunt of the most medical errors, according to a survey covering the USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.  

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Judge Ruled City and its Contractors Can Be Held Liable For Health Problems Associated With Ground Zero Twin-Tower World Trade Center Emergency Response.

A New York District Judge ruled that the city and its contractors are not immune from lawsuits brought by emergency workers sickened after toiling amid toxic dust at the Twin-Tower World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001  

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