Archive for the 'Environmental hazards' Category
January 8th, 2009 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently reported that the industrial chemical melamine and a byproduct cyanuric acid have now been detected in four of 89 containers of infant formula made in the United States.
In a recent article in Yahoo, Finance, “In November, The Associated Press reported previously undisclosed FDA tests, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, showing that out of 77 containers of domestic infant formula tested, a can of milk-based liquid Nestle Good Start Supreme Infant Formula with Iron contained traces of melamine while Mead Johnson’s Enfamil LIPIL with Iron had traces of cyanuric acid.
The FDA has now updated its response to the AP’s FOIA request by posting results of 89 tests on its Web site. Those results show that two additional containers of Enfamil LIPIL with Iron had traces of cyanuric acid.
Separately, a third major formula maker — Abbott Laboratories, whose brands include Similac — told AP in November that in-house tests had detected trace levels of melamine in its infant formula.”
This contamination has been found to be extremely minute, at levels safe for babies, according to federal regulators.
The FDA has broadened its domestic and import sampling and testing of milk-derived ingredients and finished food products containing milk or milk-derived ingredients from Chinese sources. Certain foods have been found to be contaminated with melamine and consumers have been advised not to consume any of these products. As of January 8, 2009, the list of products includes:
- Topaz Wafer Rolls with Chocolate Flavored Cream Filling
- New!Topaz Wafer Rolls with Hazelnut Chocolate Flavored Cream Filling New!
- Topaz Wafer Rolls with Vanilla Flavored Cream Filling New!
- Topaz Wafer Rolls with Mocha Cappuccino Flavored Cream Filling New!
- G&J Hot Cocoa Stuffer Item 120144
- G&J His and Hers Hot Cocoa Set Item 120129
- G&J Cocoa item 120126, sold in 2 flavors: French Vanilla Cocoa and Double Chocolate Cocoa
- Wonderfarm “Successful” Assorted Biscuits
- Wonderfarm “Royal Flavour” Assorted Biscuits
- Wonderfarm “Lovely Melody” Assorted Biscuits
- Wonderfarm “Daily Life” Assorted Biscuits
- Topaz Hazelnut Wafer Rolls with Hazelnut Chocolate Flavored Creme Filling (photo page)
- Sweet Time Christmas Dressy Bear with Chocolate Bar
- Fresh and Crispy Jacobina Biscuits
- Koala’s March Crème filled Cookies
- YILI Brand Sour Milk Drink
- YILI Brand Pure Milk Drink
- Blue Cat Flavored Drinks
- White Rabbit Candies
- Mr. Brown Mandehling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
- Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
- Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
- Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
- Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
- Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)
- Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)
- Infant formula manufactured in China
via FDA, January 2009 http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/melamine.html,
Photo above courtesy of the FDA
January 5th, 2009 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
1. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and grains. Read about the top power foods.
2. Minimize high-fat foods and meats in your diet. Read and understand food labels
3. Be active and stay fit. Get started on a regular exercise program that you will enjoy. The 18 benefits of exercise and how to get started.
4. Drink minimal alcohol, if you drink at all. How much is unhealthy?
5. Don’t start smoking, and if you do smoke, make every effort to stop as soon as possible. Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in our society. Stop smoking, get results, change your life!
6. Shield your skin from the sun. Sun damage to deeper layers of skin eventually can cause cancer.
7. Get regular pap smear screening and colonoscopy as recommended for your age, family history, and medical history. Pap smear screening is an important method of detecting early cervical cancer. Colonoscopy both prevents and detects colon cancer. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Read about colonoscopy.
8. Girls age 11-18 should get the vaccine for HPV (human papilloma virus). A decision about whether a woman aged 19 to 26 years should get the vaccine should be based on an informed discussion between the woman and her health care provider.
9. Be aware of and try to avoid environmental carcinogens.
10. Ask your doctor about checking a blood test for Vitamin D levels. Many recent studies have found that adequate levels of Vitamin D appear to be critical in preventing cancer and many other serious, chronic diseases, yet the deficiency is widespread in the U.S. and worldwide. This has prompted a recent surge in the number of general practitioners and pediatricians who are now routinely screening for adequate blood levels of Vitamin D and recommending Vitamin D supplementation.
Photo courtesy of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
November 3rd, 2008 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
A board of independent advisers to the FDA has concluded that the FDA recently erred when it stated that the use of the common chemical bisphenol A (BPA) is safe, particularly for infants.
BPA is used in packaging of infant formula, in molded plastic bottles, dinnerware and sippy cups. The current margin of safety is 5 mg/kg, but the subcommittee recommended lowering that level.
A man-made chemical, BPA is classified as an endocrine disruptor, which alters the function of the endocrine system by mimicking the role of the body’s natural hormones. It is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic, and as an additive in other widely used consumer products. The fear has been that exposure to BPA can cause birth defects and developmental problems. In addition, exposure to BPA has been blamed for a variety of other problems, including cancer, diabetes, obesity and attention-deficit disorder.
There has been a difference of opinion between researchers whether there is cause for concern over Bisphenol A (BPA), one of the highest-volume chemicals produced worldwide. In September, the FDA issued a statement about BPA that said there was insufficient evidence to connect commonly used levels of BPA to some health issues, including those in infants. But now, a board of independent advisers to the FDA has concluded that the FDA was wrong.
Canada has banned the use of BPA in baby bottles and some scientists and consumer groups have warned for years that the chemical might contribute to some cancers, early puberty, alterations of the prostate and urinary tracts, and behavioral problems.
The board called for future, large-scale studies investigating BPA exposure and there will likely be new regulations. The FDA is currently working with manufacturing companies that use BPA in their products to develop alternatives or to figure out how to effectively lower levels of the chemical. It is not recommended that mothers stop buying infant formula and attempt to make their own BPA-free formula, as it will likely be less nutritious.
Read important facts about Bisphenol A (BPA) from Bay Area Medical Information
October 20th, 2006 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
In the five months after a strict smoking ban in public places was enacted in northern Italy, hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction dropped by 11%. This is the second study of this kind to report a decline in hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction following initiation of a ban of this nature.
via European Heart Journal October 2006
May 20th, 2006 by Nina Thompson, ARNP
In a recent study, nearly half the infants exposed to second-hand smoke from their parents’ cigarettes showed evidence of a significant carcinogen in their urine. This carcinogen is known to cause lung cancer.
via Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, May 2006
