We have a major breakthrough to report in the Chinese drywall litigation. Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., one of the major defendants in the litigation, has agreed to accept service of lawsuits for one month.

This agreement, announced by U.S. District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon, will allow claimants with Knauf drywall to consolidate their claims in one omnibus class action lawsuit against the company. What this means is that homeowners with Knauf-made wallboard in their homes must file suit now and arrange to have appropriate inspections on their homes if they are wish to join this lawsuit. This suit will be filed on December 9, 2009, and homeowners must submit their claims by December 2. (more…)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning to parents and caregivers regarding “My Baby Soother” Pacifiers and is urging that they immediately stop providing these pacifiers to children.

The “My Baby Soother” Pacifiers were distributed by T & L Trading Corporation of Brooklyn, New York and failed to meet federal safety standards because the pacifiers’ nipples can separate from the base easily, which poses a choking hazard to infants and toddlers. (more…)

The Chicago Tribune broke with an expose on how some powerful psychotropic medications are being administered to nursing home residents in Illinois without consent and without valid psychiatric diagnoses. Some of these elderly have suffered from a variety of adverse responses that include, said the Tribune, “tremors, dangerous lethargy, and a higher risk of harmful falls or even death.”

Psychotropic medications include antipsychotics, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications, explained the Tribune. (more…)

In the fifth such case since 2007, Rhode Island Hospital has confirmed staff there operated on the wrong body part, described as a wrong-site surgery. The hospital is located in Providence, Long Island.

The Associated Press (AP) is reporting that health officials and the State Department of Health are looking into how a Rhode Island Hospital surgeon mistakenly operated on the wrong area of a patient’s hand. This alleged mistake represents the fifth such wrong-site surgery in two years. (more…)

“Smart Choices” labeling, a “front-of-packaging” food labeling system created and paid for by the food industry has come under fire and was just suspended, reported the Washington Post. The system became popular following the designation of Froot Loops as being deemed nutritious, a surprise given the cereal’s sweet reputation, said the Washington Post.

Although consumer advocates and experts in nutrition have long been calling for a system such as Smart Choices, many now believe the recently halted system was misleading consumers, said the Washington Post. Among those concerned with the recently launched labeling system were the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Richard Blumenthal, the Attorney General for Connecticut, added the Washington Post. Now, officials with the Smart Choices program say they will work with the agency to create a “universal front-of-package labeling system,” said the Washington Post. (more…)

A bill is in the works to place federal limitations on formaldehyde in homes. Industry and environmental groups have backed the proposed bill, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Formaldehyde is an invisible gas known to cause cancer, can also cause other illnesses ranging from nosebleeds to chronic bronchitis, and can aggravate asthma. Commonly used in manufactured homes and furniture, formaldehyde can cause respiratory problems and has been classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The International Agency for Research on Cancer is an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO). (more…)

General Mills, Coca Cola Company, and Kellogg’s are among the big name food manufacturers who have come under fire in recent months for making false claims on their products’ labels. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be stepping up its activities on food companies that make bogus claims on packaging and labeling, said The Money Times.

According to The Money Times, the practice of using catchy packaging with claims about nutritional value and improved health have become routine in marketing efforts to draw in consumers. But, it is against federal law to make false, “ambiguous” claims on food labels and being caught doing so can lead to “warning letters,” “fines,” and/or “product seizures,” said The Money Times. (more…)

Many Chinese drywall homeowners, already facing a long list of difficulties, are now having issues with insurance providers. According to The Wall Street Journal, insurance companies are canceling policies on homeowners who have filed claims for damage caused by Chinese drywall gases.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission has received over 1,500 complaints regarding Chinese drywall from homeowners across the country. Gases emitted from Chinese drywall are being blamed for significant property damage, including damage to HVAC systems, smoke detectors, electrical wiring, metal plumbing components, and other household appliances. These gases also produce a sulfurous odor that permeates homes, and cause metals, including air conditioning coils and even jewelry, to corrode. People living with Chinese drywall have also suffered eye, respiratory and sinus problems that may be linked to the gases. (more…)

Millions of dollars will be needed to fix the Chinese drywall problem, a Virginia builder told the head of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) during her visit to the state yesterday. According to The Virginian-Pilot, CPSC Commissioner Inez Tenenbaum heard from the builder as she joined Sen. Mark Warner, R-Virginia and other lawmakers from the state on a tour of affected homes.

According to the CPSC, it has received about 1,501 reports from residents in 27 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico who believe their health symptoms or the corrosion of metal components in their homes are related to the presence of Chinese drywall. Many homes with Chinese drywall are unlivable, and some homeowners have been driven to the point of bankruptcy. About 51 complaints have come from Virginia, making it the third hardest hit state behind Florida, which has over 1,100 complaints, and Louisiana, which has 249. (more…)

Many homeowners have been approached by builders with offers of Chinese drywall remediation. However, it is important that anyone whose home was built with Chinese drywall realize that premature remediation could cause them further damage.

While it is understandable that Chinese drywall victims want the problem resolved quickly, it is important to note that remediation protocols have not been established, and cross-contamination could occur. Even after Chinese drywall has been torn out and replaced, out-gassing of sulfur compounds and other elements continues to occur. Remediation will only further jeopardize public health when it is done without adequate safeguards or by unqualified individuals. (more…)