Antelope Valley Personal Injury Lawyer - FDA & Prescription Drugs

Certain Lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Reliever Recalled Due to Smell

Rick Patterson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:24:10 GMT

McNeil Consumer Healthcare is conducting a voluntary recall of certain lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets (acetaminophen) 100 count bottles. This recall is due to identification of an uncharacteristic smell or taste associated with these lots that led to a small number of patients reporting nausea and related symptoms.

The following five lots are being recalled: Lot #08BMC013, Lot #08BMC020, Lot #09BMC034, Lot #09CMC036, and Lot #09CMC040.

Patients who have these products in their possession should stop using the product and contact their healthcare provider if they have medical concerns or questions.

For more information call (800) 962-5357 or click here.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Certain Lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Reliever Recalled Due to Smell(2)

Rick Patterson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:45:00 GMT

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Tanimura & Antle Voluntarily Recalls One Lot of Romaine Lettuce

Rick Patterson — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:44:00 GMT

Tanimura & Antle, Inc. of Salinas, Calif. is voluntarily recalling one lot of romaine lettuce because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date, and the company is working with FDA to inform consumers of this recall.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recall comes after a random test conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture tested positive.

Within hours of being notified yesterday, Tanimura & Antle, Inc. traced back the entire lot of romaine and advised all customers who received the recalled product of the test result. Tanimura & Antle, Inc. has instructed these customers to destroy the product. Although the recalled product is past its shelf life, the company is issuing this voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution to ensure that any product purchased by consumers will also be destroyed. Consumers who have purchased the recalled romaine as described above should not consume it, and should destroy the product.

The cartons of bulk or wrapped romaine being recalled are marked with the lot code 531380 and were harvested June 25 - July 2. This recall includes only this single lot of romaine; no other products are involved.

The recalled romaine was sold to retail, wholesale and food service outlets in Canada, Puerto Rico and the following 29 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Texas, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, North Carolina, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

"Tanimura & Antle is committed to our customers and the shoppers who buy our products every day. We practice strict food safety guidelines, using technology and scientific information to ensure that our products are as safe as possible. We will continue to review opportunities for improvement," said Rick Antle, CEO. "Although the recalled product is well beyond the 14-16 day shelf life, we are voluntarily issuing this recall because we want to ensure that we minimize even the slightest risk to public health."

Consumers with questions or who need information may call Tanimura & Antle at 1-877-827-7388 or may visit our web site for updates, www.taproduce.com.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

FDA Medical Device Division Under Intense Scrutiny

Rick Patterson — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:00:00 GMT

In the 1970's Congress asked the FDA to classify devices according to a risk profile. The classes ranged from non-risky Class I bandages to very-risky Class III pacemakers.

Some Class III devices that were on the market before 1976 were allowed to go through a less stringent evaluation, while the FDA developed regulations to address them or decided they were less risky.

Last year, in Riegel vs. Medtronic Inc., 2008 WL 440744 (Feb. 20, 2008 the Supreme Court ruled that a patient may not sue the manufacturer of a device to which FDA has given "premarket approval". The approval simply reflects the determination that the product is reasonable safe and effective for human use. The decision essentially protects device manufacturers from liability after being deemed "reasonably safe."

In January, nine agency scientists authored a letter to then-President-elect Obama in which they accused the FDA of mismanagement, lack of accountability, and even possible corruption. Also in January, the Government Accountability Office released a report criticizing the FDA for incomplete and inadequate regulation of Class III medical devices. Scientists who wrote the report say that the FDA is "fundamentally broken."

Hopefully, the meeting called on Wednesday by the FDA took a serious and critical look at the medical device division and the approval process.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Clif Bar and Co. Voluntary Recall of Bars Containing Peanut Butter

Rick Patterson — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:05:00 GMT

Clif Bar and Company has voluntarily recalled all products containing peanut butter that were manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). The bars are under the brand names CLIF and LUNA and have the potential to be associated with the recent peanut butter salmonella outbreak. The recalled products, along with a list of others, are under investigation by the United Stated Food and Drug Administration.

For more info on specific Clif Bar products visit http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/clifbar01_09.html

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

FDA Says 28 Weight Loss Supplements To Be Avoided

Rick Patterson — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:07:00 GMT

The FDA has recently flagged 28 weight loss supplements that claim to be either appetite suppressants or herbal supplements. The recommendation is for the products to be “avoided at all costs and taken off the shelves.”

While most of the products are sold online and at chain retailers, the FDA is issuing a recall due to the fact that the drug manufacturers do not have to disclose the exact ingredients. In fact, some ingredients are fabricated and said to be a diuretic without holding the burden of proof. An example of some ingredients that may not be listed on the bottle includes: Sibutramine, Rimonabant, Phenytoin, and Phenolphthalein. These ingredients are known to cause cancer, seizures, high blood pressure, and even death.

One might question the FDA’s decision because, in most cases weight loss drugs might work for the first week or two, but the effects eventually taper off.

Weight loss is a multi-billion dollar industry in which the end result is never met with a simple pill. Consumers must understand that these supplements are not only a waste of money but can be life threatening.

The list of the 28 supplements includes:
Fatloss Slimming
2 Day Diet
3x Slimming Power
Japan Lingzhi 24 Hours Diet
5x Imelda Perfect Slimming
3 Day Diet
7 Day Herbal Slim
8 Factor Diet
7 Diet Day/Night Formula
999 Fitness Essence
Extrim Plus
GMP
Imelda Perfect Slim
Lida DaiDaihua
Miaozi Slim Capsules
Perfect Slim
Perfect Slim 5x
Phyto Shape
ProSlim Plus
Royal Slimming Formula
Slim 3 in 1
Slim Express 360
Slimtech
Somotrim
Superslim
TripleSlim
Zhen de Shou
Venom Hyperdrive 3.0.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Heparin Prices are Soaring

Rick Patterson — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:23:00 GMT

It is a case of supply and demand with regard to the blood-thinning drug heparin. Since the recall of heparin earlier this year, supplies have become very limited, so an increase was to be expected.

For example, "At Renal Advantage's 90 dialysis centers, prices have gone up twice since mid-April, says Angela Newman, vice president. DaVita, which has 1,300 dialysis centers, has seen a similar jump, says spokeswoman Stephanie Horn." The increase shows no immediate signs of leveling off. The costs of crude heparin alone, which is imported from China, have risen 500% since the beginning of this year.

Additional Information Pertaining to the FDA and Perscription Drugs

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson

Walgreen Agrees to Pay $42 Million for Drug Switching

Rick Patterson — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:50:47 GMT

Just this morning I walked past a Walgreens delivery truck that proudly displayed this slogan "Walgreens The Pharmacy America Trusts" Which immediately brings to mind the fact that your friendly local pharmacy, Walgreens, has recently had its cover blown.

In a whistleblower filed Walgreens pharmacist, Bernard Lisitz, it was disclosed that Walgreens illegally switched tablet and capsules of generic Zantac and generic Prozac, which would make it possible for them to overcharge 400 percent more to Medicaid. Imagine, the "Pharmacy America Trusts" stealing millions upon millions from hardworking American tax payers.

Attorney for the whistleblower, pharmacist, Bernard Lisitz, said "Bernie wanted the government to know that the drug switching programs he observed were schemes to increase pharmacy profits at taxpayers’ expense." Walgreens has agreed to pay $42 million to settle the allegations. Well done Bernie, well done.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rick Patterson