FDA News Digest October 28, 2002 _______________________________________________________________ Consumers Advised to Avoid Nonprescription Decorative Contact Lenses FDA is warning consumers that non-corrective, decorative contact lenses distributed without a prescription or professional fitting can pose a serious risk of permanent eye injury, possibly leading to blindness. These products are being marketed through flea markets, convenience stores, and beach shops. They may be in increased demand during the upcoming Halloween season. Release: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2002/NEW00846.html General information: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/declensenorx.html _______________________________________________________________ Guidance Issued to Help Protect Blood Supply from West Nile Virus FDA has issued guidance to the blood industry designed to protect the nation's blood supply from the West Nile virus. The guidance recommends procedures for assessing the suitability of potential donors and for the proper handling of blood products from donors known or suspected to be infected with the virus. Release: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01166.html Guidance document: http://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/wnvguid.htm _______________________________________________________________ FDA, FBI Make Arrest in Texas Product Tampering Incident FDA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation report that a 31-year-old Texas resident has been arrested in a product tampering case involving Metaboloss Diet, Metaboloss Fat Burner, and Vanquish brand acetaminophen. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2002/NEW00847.html _______________________________________________________________ Online Brochure Explains Potential Risks of Buying Foreign Medicines FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has created a brochure for consumers that explains the many concerns the agency has about the practice of traveling to foreign countries to buy medications for personal use or ordering medications from foreign sources (through websites, for example). HTML version: http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/border.htm PDF version: http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/border.pdf _______________________________________________________________ Halloween Website Gives Tips on Safe Use of Novelty Makeup FDA has a website for trick-or-treaters and their parents that gives helpful tips on using Halloween makeup safely. The site, written at a kid-friendly level, explains different types of makeup such as fluorescent and luminescent and tells how to avoid skin or eye irritation from wearing face paint and other makeup. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/cos10-31.html _______________________________________________________________ How's your knowledge about health-related topics such as blood pressure, osteoporosis and generic drugs? Find out by taking our 10-question quiz at http://www.fda.gov/fdac/quiz/onlinequiz7_js.html. _______________________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to the FDA News Digest. Our next posting will be November 4. To leave this list at any time, send an e-mail to LISTSERV@LIST.NIH.GOV In the body of the message, write SIGNOFF FDA-NEWSDIGEST-L
