The FDA is urging consumers to postpone consumption of commercially prepared or manufactured peanut butter containing products and institutionally-served peanut butter until further investigation. No evidence exists that any national brand of peanut butter sold in jars to the public in retail stores are linked to the salmonella typhimurium outbreak.

Previously on January 16, the Kellogg Company recalled certain Austin and Keebler brand peanut butter sandwich crackers and select size packs of Famous Amos peanut butter cookies, as well as Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle peanut butter cookies, because these products may be contaminated. Other companies that have recalled products include Hy-Vee Inc., Perry’s Ice Cream Company, McKee Foods Corporation, Southbend Chocolate Company and Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Inc.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html

PCA, a peanut processing company and manufacturer of peanut butter for institutional and food service industries like schools, hospitals and nursing homes recalled its peanut butter produced on or after July 1, 2008 in its Blakely, Georgia plant. None of the peanut butter had been sold to consumers, but PCA asked its customers to remove from distribution peanut butter with certain lot numbers.

Earlier on January 10, peanut butter distributor King Nut Companies recalled peanut butter it distributed under its label that was manufactured by PCA after salmonella was found in its product in a long-term care facility in Minnesota. King Nut also asked its customers to remove the Parnell Pride brand peanut butter, another brand distributed from PCA.

The national outbreak has made more than 430 people in 43 states sick, and five deaths have been reported.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090114/ap_on_re_us/salmonella_outbreak

The lawsuit was filed on the offenders’ behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri. The ACLU legal director, Tony Rothert, complained that the terms “Halloween-related contact” and “avoid” and “just cause” are not clear, and therefore fail to provide enough guidance to police to prevent arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement. He cited concerns about the required posted signs causing the offenders to become targets of harassment and claimed that the law makes it unclear whether the offenders may costume their own children.

Source: http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=607&docId=l:l:864989160&topicId=12716&source=undefined&start=3&topics=single

The first list of 20 drugs was posted today. Medications include Desflurane, Heparin, Icodextrin, Insulin U-500, and Nitroglycerin. Potential problems associated with the medications are also noted.

The new safety information is being distributed to consumers as a result of the 2007 Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act. The act now requires the FDA to post quarterly information on potential drug risks, based on a review of adverse event reports submitted by doctors and hospitals.

The FDA emphasizes that just because a medication is noted does not mean that patients should stop taking them, but rather the list is part of an effort to alert patients earlier of potential side effects. Patients should consult their health care providers if they have further questions.

Sources:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/aers/potential_signals/default.htm

http://www.fda.gov/cder/aers/potential_signals/potential_signals_2008Q1.htm

The FDA says patients who take the medications need to be better advised of the risk of developing opportunistic fungal infections. Some individuals with such fungal infections have died.

Under the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007, the FDA can now require drug manufacturers to make safety-related changes to prescribing information or labeling. Manufacturers must now submit proposed safety label changes to the FDA within 30 days or provide a reason why they do not believe the changes are necessary.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01879.html

The FDA says the irradiation process has been tested for more than 40 years and deemed safe to be used on a variety of foods.

Food growers and shippers can voluntarily decide whether or not to irradiate iceberg lettuce and spinach. However, if they do treat their produce, they must notify consumers. The FDA requires that foods which have been irradiated carry the “radura” label along with the statement “Treated with radiation” or “Treated by irradiation.”

The FDA continues to recommend that consumers wash fresh and bagged produce before eating it, unless the packaging specifically states that the product has been prewashed.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/irradiation082208.html

The annoucement was made last Friday.

The attorney general had sued the companies under Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. That act requires companies to post warnings of any cancer-causing chemicals in products unless they can prove that the levels do not pose a significant health risk.

The companies have also agreed to pay costs and fines.

Source: http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/release.php?id=1595&

More than 1220 people in 42 states have become sick from salmonella since April. Early on  it was believed that tomatoes were the source. Now investigators are looking into jalapenos and fresh cilantro as the cause.

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ijaaf9rEEqJFRI_zJo1YK8TYcBFgD9207F6O0

Since April, 1167 persons have contracted Salmonella Saintpaul with the same genetic fingerprint. The outbreak has been identified in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/Salmonella/saintpaul/#advice

The Federal Aviation Administration has cracked down on airline safety inspections. Last month, it fined Southwest Airlines more than $10 million for failing to inspect its planes as required under FAA rules.

Source: http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-american11apr11