Legal Matters August 2007: More Deadly Food Drugs and Products Recalled

In This Issue:

- Castleberry Botulism Contaminated Canned Foods Still on Shelves

- Avandia Increases Risk of Heart Attack FDA Continuing to Research

- One Million Easy Bake Ovens Recalled Due to Burn Risk

Castleberry Botulism Contaminated Canned Foods Still on Shelves

Consumers should check pantrys for the various Castleberry's chili, stew, hash products and dog foods subject to the massive recall underway, and discard them. Some of these foods bear a variety of brand names, including various supermarket labels, including Austex, Big Y, Kroger's, Piggly Wiggly, and others. Specific brands and products are listed on the web sites of the Food and Drug Administration and USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The lack of proper processing is a large factor in this and many other recent food contamination issues. Proper processing in addition to regular sampling and testing will eliminate unwanted and dangerous bacteria viruses or other harmful contaminants.

Unfortunately this recall came after consumers began getting sick. If you show any signs of illness after eating any canned food, seek medical attention immediately for confirmation and treatment. It's better to be safe than sorry in these cases.

Read More about the Botulism Contaminated Castleberry Canned Food Recall.

Avandia Increases Risk of Heart Attack | FDA Continuing to Research

The FDA's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committees met on July 30, 2007 to discuss the cardiovascular ischemic/thrombosis risks of thiazolidinedione drugs, with focus on rosiglitazone, as presented by FDA and GlaxoSmithKline.

The FDA is reviewing data on the drug rosiglitazone maleate. Some of these data suggest that rosiglitazone may increase a patient's risk of heart attack and heart-related deaths compared with other drugs that also treat type 2 diabetes. Rosiglitazone is sold as Avandia, Avandamet and Avandaryl.

A pooled analysis of 42 clinical studies provided by the manufacturer suggested that patients receiving short-term treatment with rosiglitazone may have a 30-40 percent greater risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular events compared with placebo or other anti-diabetic therapy. However, other published and unpublished data from long-term clinical trials provide contradictory evidence about the risk.

Read More About the Effects of Avandia

Read the FDA's Information on Avandia

More Information on Dangerous Drugs

One Million Easy Bake Ovens Recalled Due to Burn Risk

About one million Easy-Bake Ovens have been recalled because children can get their hands or fingers caught in the oven’s opening, which poses an entrapment and burn hazard.

The ovens are manufactured by Easy-Bake, a division of Hasbro Inc. and has received reports of children getting their fingers or hands caught in the product, including one injury that ended with a partial finger amputation.

The recalled plastic ovens are purple and pink and resemble a kitchen stove with four burners on top and a front-loading oven. “Easy Bake” is printed on the front of the electric toy, while “Hasbro” and model number 65805 are stamped into the plastic on the back. The recall does not include Easy-Bake Ovens sold before May 2006.

Read More About the Easy Bake Oven Recall

Learn More about Product Recalls

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