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• Samples of Medicines Not Getting to Poor Kids

  I was all set to object to this piece on a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics that essentially advises pediatricians NOT to give parents free samples of prescriptions. What about all the uninsured parents out there? What about the insured who have crappy coverage? What about poor starving writers' kids? Apparently, 80 percent aren't getting the loot anyway. The study by the CDC found more than half a million kids received samples of drugs the FDA later issued safety warnings for. That included 38,000 parents of kids under 2 who received an eczema treatment the FDA later said was not recommended for children under 2 anyway. That's bad, yes, but I don't see how a sample handed to a family was any worse than a prescription. The child is still being exposed to potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals. Without the samples, they'd just be PAYING for that exposure. Thanks FDA! Read More... Posted Oct 08 2008, 02:04 PM by JeanneSager with | with no comments Filed under: FDA, health insurance, healthcare, cdc, Jeanne Sager, uninsured, pediatrician, Journal of Pediatrics, samples, pharmaceutical samples, children's medicine, drug samples

• They Say: no cold medicine for kids 4 and under

  Kid has a stuffy nose? Suck it up. Well, not literally. But don't give them over the counter cold medicine. That's the word from the FDA, who are now saying that you shouldn’t give cold meds to any child under 4 years old. Read More... Posted Oct 08 2008, 11:30 AM by Brett Singer with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: medicine, health care, FDA, cold medicine, colds, flu, Brett Singer, they say, flu shot, meds, food and drug administration, no cold medicine for kids under 4, over the counter

• Breaking News: Cadbury chocolate made in China recalled

  The AP is reporting that Cadbury is "recalling 11 types of Chinese-made chocolates after tests found they contained the industrial chemical melamine." This follows the recall of tainted milk powder in China. Read More... Posted Sep 29 2008, 11:15 PM by Brett Singer with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: news, baby, China, babies, CNN, chocolate, FDA, baby formula, recalls, breast milk, breast feeding, Pizza Hut, cheese, formula, candy, Taiwan, scary, milk, Brett Singer, la leche, they say, chinese, sanlu, white rabbit candy, white rabbit creamy candy, candies, cadbury

• Chinese Milk Scandal Heads to Europe. Is the U.S. Next? Yes!

  The Chinese milk powder scandal has gone international. European Union regulators have ordered testing of imported food products that contain at least 15 percent milk powder. They are worried that some imported food products containing the tainted milk powder may be making their way around Europe. In particular, the regulators are worried about cookies, chocolates and toffees.  From the NY Times:   Read More... Posted Sep 26 2008, 02:59 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: FDA, oreos, imports from china, melamine, chinese milk scandal, kraft foods

• They Say: That Thing About BPA Bottles Being Safe? Uh, Kidding!

  On behalf of plastic-pushing parents everywhere, I'd like to say to government scientists: make up your damn minds! The latest out of Washington is that, yes, once again, there is cause for concern about baby's brain development in children who consume food and drink through plastics containing BPA (bisphenol-A for those raising their children under a rock).   Read More... Posted Sep 05 2008, 03:01 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: FDA, BPA-free bottles, they say, BPA safe, government toxicologists, bpa not safe, risks of bpa exposure, whatever!

• High Fructose Corn Syrup Is the Same As Honey?

  Some of my best friends are honest PR professionals. I know such critters exist. But honest PR professionals must not work for the high fructose corn syrup industry. How do I know this?   Read More... Posted Jul 06 2008, 03:00 PM by Adrienne Martini with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: food, FDA, honey, maple syrup, high fructose corn syrup, PR

• Walgreens Sued Over Infant Death Caused by Cold Medicine

  Natural News.com reports that an Illinois woman has filed a lawsuit against both Walgreens and McNeil PPC Inc., parent company of Tylenol, because her son died after consuming cold medicines made by both companies. Devon Mehlberg-Alvarez died Oct. 8 -- three days before various infant and children's cold medications were pulled from store shelves -- due to dextromethorphan intoxication. The boy had taken both Infant Tylenol Cold and Decongestant Plus and Walgreen Pediatric Drops-Cough Plus Cold in the days preceding his death. Read More... Posted Jun 09 2008, 08:03 AM by Jen Chaney with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: health, lawsuit, FDA, Tylenol, walgreens, Devon Mehlberg-Alvarez, Dimitria Alvarez, children's cold medicine, infant cold medicine

• Nipple Cream pulled from shelves; could harm nursing infants

  If you're using Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream, stop. Now. Not to be alarmist, but the FDA has issued a warning about the product - two of the ingredients – chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol – "may cause respiratory distress, vomiting and diarrhea in infants." Nice. Read More... Posted May 23 2008, 10:20 PM by Brett Singer with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: newborns, mothers, product recall, moms, infants, nursing, FDA, Brett Singer, phenoxyethanol, nipple cream, chlorphenesin, mommys bliss

• New LASIK Complication: Suicide?

  I got LASIK over three years ago, and for me, it was the best thing I ever did.  No glasses for the kids to grab, or to slide down my nose while I ran, or to have to wear at the beach or in the swimming pool (unless I wanted said kids to drown).  I couldn't recommend it highly enough to my friends. Now, in response to complaints from patients, the FDA is launching a study to examine whether complications from LASIK can lead to depression, and ultimately, suicide.   Read More... Posted Feb 27 2008, 09:27 AM by Amy S.F. Lutz with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: FDA, Colin Dorrian, surgery complications, LASIK

• Surprise! Botox Can Kill You

  To many people, it seemed suspicious from the beginning:  inject botulinum toxin into my face?  Paralyze my muscles?  And this isn't, you know, dangerous?   Read More... Posted Jan 25 2008, 11:36 AM by Amy S.F. Lutz with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: FDA, death, complications, Myobloc, Botox

• It's Official: FDA Says No Cough Meds for Very Young

  We've been expecting this for months. The FDA has finally, officially, issued a warning against giving over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children under 2. This includes even those marketed to and labeled for infants and young children. Since October, manufacturers quit selling many version of their remedies that were targeted at infants and toddlers. (Though you still see a lot on the shelves, no?) Read More... Posted Jan 18 2008, 08:27 AM by Madeline Holler with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: recall, cold medication, FDA, cough medicine, honey, emergency room, children's medication, infant medication

• Attack of the Clones: It's What's For Dinner

  Hey! Yep, our friends over at the Food and Drug Administration (the FDA to their closest friends) have done it again! Yay for them! Because they've cleared the way for us all to someday be eating cloned meat. Mmm, mmm, mmm! Yes indeed, the FDA says that "The data show that healthy adult clones are virtually indistinguishable." Tasty! But opponents have this to say: Read More... Posted Jan 18 2008, 07:28 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: FDA, clones, vegetarianism, factory farming, cloned animals

• Asthma Drugs Under FDA Scrutiny

  On the one hand, I should feel relieved that the FDA is cracking down on medications marketed for children, as they did in the recent recall of ineffective and potentially life-threatening children’s cough and cold medicines. On the other hand, what else are parents dosing their kids up with right now – at a doctor’s behest – that could someday warrant closer scrutiny? Like the latest treatment that millions of kids use to, uh, stay alive.  Read More... Posted Nov 29 2007, 03:29 PM by Madeline Holler with | with no comments Filed under: medicine, FDA, recalls, asthma, inhaled steroids, cough medicine, asthma attacks

• Surviving Colds Without Cherry-Flavored Syrups

  My 2-year-old woke up with a runny nose this morning and I instinctively went for the cold medicine. All gone. In a fit of responsible consumerism last month, I threw out the dregs of our cough and cold medicines, left over from intense use last winter. We’re not in crisis mode, but I do wonder what we’ll do if, tonight for example, these sniffles keep my daughter (and me) from getting some sleep. I might try ...   Read More... Posted Nov 02 2007, 12:29 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: recall, cold medication, FDA, research, natural alternatives

• Weekly Check-Up: Cough Medicine Recalled Because of Overdose

  Several makers of OTC cough and cold medicines are recalling certain products because of the risk of overdose, especially in kids age two and under. At the very least, the FDA thinks the products should come with labels saying they aren't recommended for young kids. Since 1969 there have been 54 deaths with decongestants and 69 with antihistamines reported to the FDA, and most in kids under two. Now that's not a stunningly large number, so why are these medicines being taken off the shelves? Well, let's do a risk-benefit breakdown. Read More... Posted Oct 11 2007, 05:02 PM by Kelly Mills with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: recall, infants, FDA, drugs, coughing, cough medicine, OTC drugs

• Some FDA Officials: Ban Kids’ Cold Meds For Very Young

  Fabulous! Just in time for cold and flu season, FDA safety officials are urging the agency to consider a ban on over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for all infants and children under 6 due to safety concerns. The American Academy of Pediatrics has apparently also joined in as critics of these over-the-counter medicines saying they are not safe for the very young and also not effective. My two-year-old woke up with the sniffles just this morning. It’s going to be a long, congested winter. Read More... Posted Sep 29 2007, 02:58 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: doctor visits, cold medication, prescription medications, flu shots, FDA, research

• Hey Kids! Read the Damn Food Labels Already!

  You know those nutrition labels on food? That have appeared on everything and they're standardized now which was supposed to make them easier to understand? Yeah. Those. Do you read them? I actually don't, knowing that almost anything that comes in a bag or a box also is chock-full of stuff I probably don't want to know I'm eating, stuff that if consumed in large enough quantities will be sufficient to preserve my dead body without the need for embalming. Or that will kill me. Or both! So you ignore the labels. But what about your kids? I think as parents we pretty much know when something's generally healthy or not, but until I read this I never thought of teaching this stuff to my kids.   Read More... Posted Sep 21 2007, 11:29 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: kids, cartoon network, FDA, kids and nutrition, nutrition labels

• Canned Food Eaters Beware! Massive Canned Food Recall

  The FDA has issued an immediate recall of Castleberry brand canned chili, hash, stew, and related products made in a Georgia plant due to high threat of botulism contamination.  Two people have become gravely ill after consuming the Castleberry Hot Dog Chili product. Even though the tainted cans originated in Georgia, U.S. officials are warning that this is a nationwide recall and also involves some dog foods. For more information, see the Castleberry's website, or contact the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-203-4412 or 1-888-203-8446. Posted Jul 24 2007, 06:43 PM by Rachael Brownell (Redsy) with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: FDA, food safety, food recall, botulism, canned food

• Hugs, Not Drugs, Better For Kids

  In a disturbing NY Times article published today, it was revealed that over-the-counter cough and cold remedies could pose serious health risks for children and, in response to a petition filed by prominent pediatricians and public health officials, are planning a thorough review. According to the petition, in higher than normal doses, cold medicines can affect the heart’s electrical system, leading to arrhythmias. Some medicines affect the blood vessels and, in high doses, have been associated with hypertension and stroke.  Furthermore, popular medicines like Toddler’s Dimetapp, Infant Triaminic and Little Colds, which are marketed for use in children as young as 2, should not be given to children younger than 6 under any circumstances. Apparently, nobody has ever done a thorough study on the safety of these drugs for children because they have been around for so long and are so commonly used that the FDA never conducted any efficacy studies regarding use or dosage.  Older FDA standards were significantly lower in the past and the agency has never sought to revisit the safety of these drugs again until now.  I'm surprised that I'd never heard of any surrounding controversy regarding these OTC drugs until now.  However, rest assured, I'm certainly going to think twice before giving them to my daughter again! Posted Mar 02 2007, 03:08 PM by MetroDad with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: FDA, NY Times, Child medication

• Lead Lunch Boxes Safe Again? Only for Brunch

  The Associated Press story yesterday about lead-tainted lunch boxes has left the government agency in charge of lead testing in a furor. "We are not evil-doers!" the agency shrieked. OK, maybe not. Still, they're pissed. The story said the agency, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission, tested lunch boxes, found high levels of lead in some but then gave the go ahead to fill them up with Twinkies and Suzie-Qs (mmmm Suzie-Qs). The Food and Drug Administration got into the act, telling manufacturers to stop killing children and baby seals. Even Wal-Mart banned some boxes. Plain Jane Mom pointed out the agency's response to the uproar. The CPSC said its testing showed all was well with the lunch boxes and that it wasn't covering up anything for political or nefarious purposes. The agency backed up its record for getting medieval on lead in toys, clothes, etc. -- a well-documented fact -- but I'm still not going to buy any vinyl lunch boxes for my kid. They may not have found lead at "hazardous levels" -- but limiting lead at any level is my concern. Posted Feb 21 2007, 02:56 PM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: health, news, health and well-being of children., child safety, safety, FDA, cpsc, health risks, children's health

• FDA Cautions Against "Keepsake" Prenatal Ultrasounds

  You know those totally cool 4-D ultrasound images where you can see your baby, still in utero, not as an amorphous dark scan-blob on the ultrasound screen, but instead as a real, breathing, and remarkably troll-like creature that barely resembles the gorgeous child you eventually produce but is at least a whole lot better than the "old" ultrasound photos?  Yeah. Those. Aren't they great? Uh, no. Turns out they're not so good for the baby. At least, that's what the FDA says. I know what you're thinking: "If an ultrasound machine is good enough for TomKat, it's good enough for me and my baby!"  Uh, yeah. And we know their medical practices are sound. According to the FDA:  "[U]ltrasound is a form of energy, and even at low levels, laboratory studies have shown it can produce physical effects in tissue, such as jarring vibrations and a rise in temperature....[T]he medical community is discouraging the use of ultrasound unless it is medically necessary." There. That about sums it up.  Not that I expect the news to close up that Fetal Fotos or Womb with a View that's opened in the strip mall near you.  My advice?  Unless there's a medical reason, wait the nine months, and be surprised.  I promise you won't be disappointed with the end result. Posted Feb 02 2007, 11:06 AM by Karen Murphy with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: pregnancy, fetal ultrasound, FDA, TomKat: Scientology