At the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Patrick Ryan has found that exposure to dog dander sets off immune reactions that cause wheezing and asthma.
The study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the total pet population is more than 100 million, or about four pets for every 10 people.
Dogs and cats secrete fluids and shed dander that contain the allergens. They collect on fur and other surfaces. The allergens will not lose their strength for a long time, sometimes for several months. They appear to be sticky and adhere to walls, clothing and other surfaces.
Cat and dog allergens are everywhere. Pet dander is even in homes never occupied by these animals because it is carried on people’s clothing.
Many airborne particles are small enough to get into the lungs. When inhaled, the allergens combine with antibodies. This can cause severe breathing problems – coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath – within 15 to 30 minutes. Cat allergies also can lead to chronic asthma.
The best treatment is to avoid contact with cats or dogs or their dander. Keep the pets out of the house, and avoid visiting people with pets. Once a pet has been removed from a home, it may take up to eight months to have the pet allergen out of the home.
If you decide to keep a pet, bar it from the bedroom. You spend from one-third to one-half of your time there. Keep the bedroom door closed and clean the bedroom aggressively.
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January 28th, 2010
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public about a counterfeit version of the weight-loss drug Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill pack) being sold over the Internet, particularly at online auction sites.
The counterfeit product is illegal and unsafe. FDA advises people who believe that they have a counterfeit product not to use the drug and to dispose of it immediately. There is no evidence at this time that the counterfeit Alli product has been sold in retail stores.
The counterfeit Alli looks similar to the authentic product, with a few notable differences (see photos). The counterfeit Alli has
- a missing LOT code on the outer cardboard packaging
- an expiration date that includes a MONTH, DAY, and YEAR—the expiration date of the real Alli only contains a MONTH and a YEAR
- a plain foil for the inner safety seal without any words on it—the safety seal of the real Alli has the words “SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION” prominently printed on it.
- large capsules with white powder, as opposed to small white pellets found in the real Alli
- a slightly taller plastic bottle with a wider cap and coarser ribbing on the cap than what is seen with the real Alli
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Alli is an FDA-approved, over-the-counter weight-loss drug that contains orlistat as its active ingredient. The counterfeit version of Alli does not contain orlistat; instead it is made with varying amounts of sibutramine, a stimulant drug.
Although sibutramine is the active ingredient in another FDA-approved prescription weight-loss drug, it is only to be used in specific doses and under the supervision of a physician.
FDA first warned consumers about the counterfeit product on Jan. 18, 2010, based on preliminary laboratory tests that revealed the counterfeit version contained sibutramine and not orlistat. Since that time, FDA lab tests on the counterfeit product show that people may be taking three times the usual daily dose (and twice the recommended maximum dose) of sibutramine if they are following the dosing directions for Alli.
This excessive amount of sibutramine is dangerous to people who have a history of cardiovascular disease and can lead to
- elevated blood pressure
- stroke
- heart attack
Even healthy people who take this much sibutramine can experience
- anxiety
- nausea
- heart palpitations
- a racing heart
- insomnia
- small increases in blood pressure
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Check to make sure you are not taking counterfeit Alli. If you think you might have the counterfeit product:
- stop taking the drug and throw it away
- contact your health care professional if you are experiencing more than mild side effects, especially if you have a history of cardiovascular disease
- call FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) at 800-551-3989 or by visiting the OCI Web site; you may also contact Alli’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline at 800-671-2554
FDA encourages people to report any unexpected side effects that may be related to the use of the counterfeit product to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail, by fax, or by phone.
- Online
- Regular Mail: Use postage-paid, pre-addressed FDA form 3500
- Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178
- Phone: 1-800-332-1088
Counterfeit Alli Sample
Source: FDA
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January 26th, 2010
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January 23rd, 2010
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The Wisconsin Cheeseman® Recalls Cheese Logs/Cheese Balls
The Wisconsin Cheeseman® announced today that it is recalling cheese log/cheese ball products in conjunction with the voluntary recall initiated by Parkers Farm, Inc. on January 15, 2010. Parkers Farm, Inc., located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, believes some of its food items have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The recall was a result of a sampling done by the state of Wisconsin and the state of Minnesota.
Nine of the recalled products are cheese logs/cheese balls purchased from Parkers Farm, Inc. and then distributed by The Wisconsin Cheeseman®. These products bear the Parkers Farm logo. None of the other recalled products at Parkers Farm, Inc. was purchased or distributed by The Wisconsin Cheeseman®.
The Wisconsin Cheeseman® Food Gifts Impacted by Recall:
Sausage ‘N Cheese Logs – Gift #11
Cheese Logs & Cutting Board – Gift #87
Smorgasbord – Gift #325
Cheese Log Trio – Gift #365
Cheese Logs – Gift #411
Cheese Ball Trio – Gift #441
Cheese Logs – Gift #509
Snacker Pack – Gift #751
Cheese Balls & Sausages – Gift #876
Consumers who have these products in their possession should not consume them. Product should be returned to The Wisconsin Cheeseman® for a refund or replacement. Consumers who believe they may have become ill after consuming these products should contact their health care provider. The Wisconsin Cheeseman® has not received any complaints or reports of illness associated with these products.
Listeria monocytogenes bacteria is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria often experience fever, severe headaches, stiffness, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can result in miscarriage or stillbirth among pregnant women.
Source: FDA
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January 21st, 2010
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Parkers Farm, Inc. Expands Recall to Include All of Its Products, Regardless of Code Dates, Because of Possible Health Risk
Parkers Farm, Inc. of Coon Rapids, Minnesota today expanded the previously announced recall of products to include all date codes because they have the potential to be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term sympotms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
The recall originally announced 01/08/2010 affected product with sell by dates of specific ranges. The expanded recall now includes all products and all sell by dates. The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the following retail stores: Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Byerlys, Lunds, Target, Whole Foods, Jewel, Dominicks, Marsh, Price Chopper, Shop Rite, Nash Finch, Sams Club, Costco, Safeway, Kroger, Wal-Mart, Aldi..
The following recalled products were sold under the Parker Farm or Parkers label:
~~~12 ounce & 16 ounce peanut butter in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), regular and organic varieties are creamy, crunchy, honey creamy and honey crunchy with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~34 ounce peanut butter in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are creamy and crunchy with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
~~~7 ounce bagel spreads in white plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are garden veggie, wild berry, strawberry, apple cinnamon and honey walnut with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
~~~12 ounce & 14 ounce dips & spreads in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varities are jalapeno nacho, pimento and salsa con queso with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
~~~8 ounce, 12 ounce and 16 ounce cold pack cheese in round or square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, bacon, onion, smoked cheddar, Swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~16 ounce salsa in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are hot, mild, garlic, black bean and fire roasted with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
~~~32 ounce salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieites are hot, mild, garlic, and black bean with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
~~~128 ounce salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieites are hot, fire roasted, mild and garlic with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
~~~8 ounce, 9 ounce, 10 ounce Balls & Logs (in film overwrap), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, smokey bacon, ranch, garlic, jalapeno, pimento, spinach, jajik, beer and chorizo with sell by dates on or before 01/05/2011.
~~~5#, 5.5#, 10#, 30# Parker Farm cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, onion, bacon, smoked cheddar, swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
Other labels affected by this recall:
~~~16 ounce Happy Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~8 ounce Kroger cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~8 ounce Central Markets cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~14 ounce Central Markets salsa con queso in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid) with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
~~~16 ounce Central Markets salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
~~~8 ounce Dutch Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~7 ounce Dutch Farms cream cheese spreads in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are strawberry, wild berry, honey walnut & apple cinnamon with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
~~~8 ounce Crystal Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, bacon and jalapeno cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~8 ounce Heluva Good cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and horseradish cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~8 ounce Amish Classic cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieites are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~10 ounce Amish Classic cheese balls & logs (in film overwrap), varieties are cheddar, port wine, ranch, smokey bacon, beef n onion with sell by dates on or before 01/05/2011.
~~~128 ounce San Pablo salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieites are fire roasted and mild with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
~~~12 ounce Century Resources cold pack cheese food (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, horserdish, bacon with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9)
~~~12 ounce Century Resources pimento spread (tub with snap on lid) with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9.
~~~8 ounce and 12/12 ounce Century Resources cheese ball & log (in film overwrap) sharp cheddar with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9)
~~~12 ounce Century Resources salsa con queso (tub with snap on lid) with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9)
~~~4#, 5.5# Block & Barrel cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, swiss almond, horseradish, port wine and pimiento spread with packed on dates on or before 12/30/2009.
~~~30# Block & Barrel sharp cheddar cold pack cheese (white pail with snap on lid) with packed on dates on or before 12/30/2009..
~~~5# Cobblestone cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
~~~30# Cobblestone sharp cheddar cold pack cheese (white pail with snap on lid) with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
~~~5# Biery label cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar and port wine with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
~~~~~~5# Dierks Waukesha cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, horseradish, swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
The recall was a result of a sampling done by the state of Wisconsin and the state of Minnesota which revealed that some finished products contained the bacteria. The state of Minneosta, FDA, and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (800) 869-6685.
For the ultimate safety of our customer and in order to create less confusion for them, Parkers Farm, Inc. Has decided to include all of its products, regardless of date codes in this recall.
Source: FDA
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January 17th, 2010
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