The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just issued a final regulation classifying dental amalgam, the silver colored dental fillings which contain mercury, and its component parts—elemental mercury and a powder alloy.

The regulation classifies dental amalgam into Class II—a moderate risk. By classifying a device into Class II, the FDA can impose special controls, in addition to general controls such as good manufacturing practices that apply to all medical devices regardless of risk, to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device. The FDA explained that while elemental mercury has been associated with adverse health effects at high exposures, the levels released by dental amalgam fillings are not high enough to cause harm in patients. (more…)

Boys hooded sweatshirts and warm up sets distributed by KOMAN Sportswear, of Carlstadt, N.J. and sold at Burlington Coat Factory stores nationwide are being recalled. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the sweatshirts and jackets to the warm up sets have drawstrings through the hoods, posing a strangulation hazard to children.

This recall involves 13,399 boy’s hooded sweatshirt Style No. 3650-B in colors black, brown, charcoal, heather grey and navy; and faux suede warm up sets Style No. B9560ST in colors black, brown and khaki. Both the sweatshirts and warm up sets have the style numbers and the name KOMAN printed on the hangtag on the center back neck, with sizes S, M, L, or XL. (more…)

Despite the seeming plague of dangerous, and often deadly, food pathogen contamination outbreaks such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria in the United States, the U.S. House shot down a bill that would have toughened the federal food safety system amid fears its passage would overwhelm this country’s small farmers.

The Obama administration has been working to toughen America’s food safety laws and reduce food contamination outbreaks. Unfortunately, the proposal was defeated over concerns that U.S. farmers would be ill equipped to handle the proposed law’s required paperwork and that an increase in facility inspections could not be guaranteed, said the Washington Post. (more…)

Antipsychotic drugs used to treat older people for dementia symptoms and other mental ailments could be risky for diabetics. Earlier this year, we wrote that some newer, atypical, or second-generation, antipsychotic medications were found to have two serious adverse reactions. The drugs were found to lower so-called “good” cholesterol and cause weight gain in older Alzheimer patients.

The new study reveals that that elderly diabetics are likelier to be hospitalized for hyperglycemia—high blood sugar levels—following antipsychotic drug treatment, said WebMD. (more…)

Salmonella concerns have prompted Frontera Produce of Edinburg, TX to recall one lot of fresh cilantro. According to a posting on the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Website, the recalled lot of cilantro was distributed to two retail store chains in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Louisiana, and New Mexico.

The cilantro recall involves lot 118122, which would have been purchased between July 20, 2009 and July 27, 2009. The cilantro bunches in question have a white twist tie with pink lettering spelling the word ‘Cilantro’ and the UPC number 033383801049. Consumers have been advised to destroy the recalled cilantro. (more…)

STEAM and S-DROL dietary supplements are being recalled today by Nutracoastal Trading LLC. According to a notice posted on the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) website, the STEAM and S-DROL dietary supplement products are unapproved drugs because they contain pharmaceutical ingredients not listed on the product labels.

Lab analysis by the FDA on the recalled STEAM product found that it contains sulfoaildenafil, an analog of sildenafil. Sildenafil is an active ingredient of an FDA-approved drug for erectile dysfunction. Approved versions of this drug are sold under various names, including Viagra. The S-DROL product contains desoxymethyltestosterone, a steroid. (more…)

Jerrold Parker, Managing Partner with Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, has been named to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in the Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation (MDL NO. 2047) currently underway in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. Parker Waichman Alonso LLP filed the first Chinese drywall lawsuit in federal court earlier this year.

The PSC was appointed by Judge Eldon E. Fallon, who is presiding over the Chinese drywall MDL, in an order dated July 27, 2009. Judge Fallon appointed Arnold Levin to be lead counsel of the PSC. Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel, Russ Herman, was appointed as an ex-officiomember of the Committee. Other attorneys appointed to the PSC are: (more…)

Importer BabySwede LLC, of Cleveland, Ohio has issued a recall for about 6,500 BabyBjörn® Babysitter Balance and BabyBjörn® Babysitter Balance Air bouncer chairs manufactured by BabyBjörn AB, of Sweden, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

The BabyBjörn® Babysitter Balance and BabyBjörn® Babysitter Balance Air bouncer chairs were recalled because small, sharp metal objects found in the padded area of the bouncer chair can protrude, posing a laceration hazard to children. To date, no incidents or injuries have been reported. (more…)

Blitz USA Inc., of Miami, Oklahoma just issued a recall of about 4,000 Enviro-Flo Plus Fuel Containers (1- and 2-gallon container sizes) the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

The Enviro-Flo Plus Fuel Containers were recalled because the spout’s plunger cap can dislodge, which can open the seal of the fuel container and allow gasoline vapors to escape. This could cause liquid gasoline to spill from the top of the container during use and result in a fire hazard. To date, no incidents or injuries have been reported. (more…)

New research has revealed that tanning beds cause skin cancer. U.S. News & World Report stated that, based on information from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published in the recent issue of Lancet Oncology, tanning beds increase the odds of developing cancer. (more…)