Toyota used a “game plan” in 2007 to escape issuing a major recall of vehicles for problems with unintended acceleration. Instead, The Washington Post reports, Toyota was able to get away with a much more limited floor mat recall.

According to the Post, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened the floor mat inquiry in March 2007 after five complaints concerning Toyota’s 2007 Lexus ES350. Three involved crashes. That summer, the agency broadened its probe to include the 2007 Camry after one of those vehicles had gone speeding out of control in San Jose, killing the driver of another vehicle. According to the Post, a floor mat had appeared to be involved in that crash. At the same time, insurance statistics and consumer complaints were also showing a rise in unintended-acceleration events in Toyotas, something the NHTSA had been investigating on and off for several years. More Toyota Avoided Major Recall in 2007

A recall of Cleviprex injectable emulsion by The Medicines Company has been expanded. The recall, first announced last December, was issued due to the potential presence of visible particulate matter which has been observed in some vials.

According to the recall notice, the particulate matter observed in the Cleviprex injectable emulsion is comprised of sub-visible inert stainless steel particles of around 2.5 microns. Particles could theoretically reduce blood flow in capillaries, cause mechanical damage to some tissues, or initiate acute or chronic inflammatory reactions. Reduced blood supply to tissues may lead to ischemia or organ insufficiency in the brain, kidney, liver, heart or lungs. More Cleviprex Recall Expanded

Tumi, of South Plainfield, New Jersey, is recalling about 5,000 of its Mobile Power Packs, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

The lithium-ion cells used in the Tumi Mobile Power Pack can ignite or explode while charging, posing a fire hazard. This hazard is only present for units that have not been charged. To date, there have been two reports of consumers experiencing small fires during their initial charge. No injuries have yet been reported. More Tumi Recalls Mobile Power Packs for Fire Hazard

Johnson & Johnson has outlined the steps it has taken to prevent a repeat of the musty-Tylenol debacle that occurred last year. Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Health unit had been criticized by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for its handling of the incident.

The problems with musty Tylenol came to light in November, when McNeil recalled 5 lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles, with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP. The recall was issued after consumers complained of reports of a musty odor, which was associated with nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea. More Smelly Tylenol Maker Responds to FDA Warning Letter

Haselson International Trading just issued a recall of 23,000 of its Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

Haselson International Trading Inc., of New York, New York, distributed the recalled Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings, which were manufactured in Indonesia, Egypt, China, Pakistan and Korea. No injuries or incidents have been reported, to date, regarding these recalled products. More Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts Sold at Burlington Coat Factory Recall

A Class I recall has been issued by Gyrus ACMI, Inc. for Micron Bobbin Vent Tube T, 1.27 mm. The recalled device is intended to be implanted for ventilation or drainage of the middle ear.

Class I recalls are the most serious type of recall and involve situations in which there is a reasonable probability that use of these products will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. More Class I Recall for Gyrus ACMI Ear Device

A new research study, published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, reveals that scientists from Italy found that simvastatin—the generic name for specific cholesterol lowering medications—can adversely impact the body’s immune system in two ways, says Science Daily.

The emerging research found that the simvastatin both hinders the ability of specialized immune cells, called macrophages, to kill pathogens and also enhances molecule—cytokine—production, which prompts and maintains inflammation. More Simvastatin May Up Infection Risk

Chinese drywall has made the dream of home ownership a nightmare for one Louisiana family. That’s what the judge overseeing the first contested Chinese drywall trial in a New Orleans federal court was told yesterday during opening statements by the plaintiffs’ attorney. The case is intended as a bellwether, or test trail, to help determine property damage issues in other cases against manufacturers.

More than 2,000 families have claims pending in the Chinese drywall multidistrict litigation before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon. Since late 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has received about 3,000 reports from residents in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico regarding defective Chinese drywall. 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 Judge Hears Opening Statements in Chinese Drywall Test Case

Last June, the prostate brachytherapy program at Philadelphia’s VA Medical Center was shut down after scores of veterans were found to have received incorrect radiation doses over a six-year period. In response, the Center was assessed a $227,500 fine by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), said Philly.com. At last count, said Philly.com, 97 veterans received incorrect radiation doses.

The fine is, reported Philly.com, the second largest the Commission has ever levied against a medical facility. “The VA Philadelphia had a total breakdown in management oversight, a total breakdown in the program, and a total breakdown in safety culture that resulted in these egregious failures,” said Steve Reynolds, director of the division of nuclear material safety for NRC Region III, which handles oversight for the Veterans Health Administration, quoted Philly.com. The VA has 30 days to dispute the fine. More VA Medical Center Fined Over Botched Radiation Treatments

Toyota has acknowledged that the engines on more 1 million Corolla and Matrix vehicles may be prone to stall, but insists that the problem does not pose “an unreasonable risk” to safety. According to the Detroit Free Press, the stalling problems are the result of computer flaws.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating stalling problems with 2006 Corolla and Matrix models since last November. According to the Free Press, at that time the agency had received 26 reports of engine stalls. In some, owners reported that stalls happened without warning and in some cases the engine was hard to restart or kept stalling. None of those reports were linked to any injuries or crashes. More Some Toyota Corolla, Matrix Vehicles May Stall