This week, a Food and Drug Administration panel will review the effect of the flu medicine Tamiflu on the brain. 55 children in the United States reportedly exhibited abnormal behavior and other brain effects after taking the medication. 22 of the cases included serious symptoms, such as delirium, convulsions, and…
Merck & Company says it will pay $4.85 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits related to injuries sustained by people who use Vioxx, a popular painkiller that was pulled from the market three years ago because studies revealed that it increased the risk of stroke and heart attack. There have…
Two children in the United States and three children in Australia were hospitalized after swallowing beads from a popular toy product that contain a chemical that metabolizes into a potent date rape drug when absorbed into the body. The two children who became sick in the United States went into…
Payless Shoesource Inc. is voluntarily recalling some 90,000 Girls’ Boots that were manufactured in China because the guitar-shaped zipper pull on each boot can interlock and cause a girl to trip and fall while walking. The shoes are sold were sold at Payless ShoeSource stores across the U.S. and Payless.com…
Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, a pediatrician and the Baltimore Health Commissioner told a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel that cough and cold medicines don’t work and are dangerous for children under six years of age. He attributed lax FDA regulations as the reason that pharmaceutical companies are allowed…
Kraft Foods announced a U.S. recall of its Baker’s Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares. The packaged foods maker cited concerns of possible Salmonella bacteria contamination. The products affected include the UPC Code 0043000252200 and the best-when-used by dates of: • 31 MAR 2008 XCZ • 01 APR 2008 XCZ •…
A couple with two children is suing McDonald’s and two Missouri operators for personal injury. They say that they were mislead about the ingredients used to make hash browns and French fries, which resulted in their two children—who have food allergies—from becoming injured. Mekenzie Miller, 7, and Macauley Miller, 4,…
The MRL/Welch Allyn AED 20 Automatic External Defibrillators are being recalled. The medical devices are used by medical and emergency personnel to treat pediatric and adult patients that have suffered heart attacks. Welch Allyn Protocol, Inc. announced the recall. It said that the defibrillators might display a “Defib Comm” error…
Toy company Toys ‘R’ Us and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) say that they are recalling approximately 27,000 Imaginarium wooden coloring cases that were manufactured in China because the ink printed outside the cases have lead. Some of the black watercolor paint used is also said to have…
Mattel, the maker of toys, such as Barbie and Dora, is voluntarily recalling nine million toys in the U.S. It is recalling 18.2 million magnetic toys around the world. Toys with magnets that can come off and are easily swallowed are among the toys being recalled. Polly Pocket accessories and…