Monthly Archives: February 2012
Risk of Diabetes, Memory Loss to Be Added to Statin Drug Labels
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a revision for cholesterol-lowering drug labels, which must now include the risk of diabetes and memory loss. These revisions will affect the drugs, known as statins, prescribed to more than 20 million people at a cost turnaround of approximately $14 billion, according to the research firm IMS Health. [...] Continue reading
I’ll Take the Sausage Links With a Side of Migraine
New Yorkers who are sensitive to the effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG) might want to cross sausage off their choices of breakfast protein. London Meat Co. is recalling 200 pounds of breakfast sausage because it contains MSG, which is not labeled on the meat’s packaging. The sausages in question were distributed to made-to-order restaurants and [...] Continue reading
FDA Reaches $1 Million Settlement With Globus Medical
The Food and Drug Administration reached a $1 million settlement with Globus Medical Inc. for the distribution of unapproved medical devices. The Pennsylvania-based company is forking out $550,000 of the fine, while the company’s CEO, David C. Paul, is paying $450,000. “The penalty is intended to reduce the financial incentives associated with marketing a product [...] Continue reading
Teen Drivers: 19% Drive After Smoking Marijuana
Study shows teens also don’t believe marijuana affects their driving. A disturbing new study found that 19% of teenagers drive after smoking marijuana. Although it’s been a long-known fact that driving after using alcohol or any drugs is extremely dangerous, people have always continued to push the envelope by trying it—often leading to fatal results. [...] Continue reading
No Luxury Vacation is Worth Getting Caught in a Trip Trap
Who hasn’t been tempted to win a contest by answering a simple trivia question? If you’ve been “selected to receive a luxury vacation offer,” the Federal Trade Commission warns consumers to think twice about the true value of the supposed contest prizes before accepting any offers. According to the FTC, “Trip Traps” are common scams [...] Continue reading
Courts Rules in Favor of FDA Over Raw Milk Producer
A Pennsylvania federal court recently granted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration a permanent injunction against Daniel L. Allgyer and his Rainbow Acres Farm, Feb. 2. The injunction will force him to keep records of each sale and keep him from distributing raw milk and raw milk products for human consumption across state lines. The [...] Continue reading
Identity Theft Tops FTC Consumer Complaint List for 12 Years Running
We’re all warned to be on guard against fraud and identity theft, two of the most pervasive consumer problems across the country. The Federal Trade Commission released its annual top consumer complaint list that confirms those concerns. Unsurprisingly, identity theft topped the list for the 12th consecutive year. Identity theft comprised 15% of the 1.8 [...] Continue reading
From Vinyl to MP4s: Everything Old Is New Again
After a decade of piracy and lawsuits, mergers and layoffs, 2011 turned out to be a relatively good year for the commercial music industry. For the first time since 2004, overall album sales increased — slightly. The official estimate is 3.2%, according to the Nielsen Company and Billboard's 2011 Music Industry Report. While overall physical [...] Continue reading
Glenmark Generics Recalls Oral Contraceptives
For the second time in as many months, an oral contraceptive has been recalled. After Pfizer’s Jan. 31 recall, Glenmark Generics Inc. USA issued a voluntary, nationwide recall of seven lots of its oral contraceptive, Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets. The products are a generic version of the oral contraceptive, Ortho Tri-Cyclen. This recall was [...] Continue reading
Caught On a Labeling Technicality: Erectile Dysfunction Drug Recalled
With a name like RegenErect, it should come as no surprise that this product contains ingredients that treat Erectile Dysfunction. But a drug ingredient labeling technicality prompted Regencia, Inc. to institute a nationwide recall of the dietary supplement. The product has been found to contain Tadalafil, an FDA-approved drug used to treat male Erectile Dysfunction, [...] Continue reading