FDA News Digest December 9, 2002 _______________________________________________ New Drug Treats Diarrhea-Causing Parasitic Infections in Children FDA has approved the oral drug Alinia (nitazoxanide) for treating diarrhea caused by two parasitic infections, cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis, in children aged one through 11. The drug was approved under the Orphan Drug Act, which provides incentives to companies that develop products intended for small numbers of patients. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01178.html ____________________________________________________________ FDA Proposal Would Put Sun Warning on Cosmetics Containing AHA FDA is recommending that cosmetics containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) include labeling that warns consumers of the potential for increased skin sensitivity to the sun and the possibility of sunburn. The agency is receiving public comments for 60 days on the proposal. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01180.html ____________________________________________________________ FDA Releases Preliminary Data on Acrylamide in Foods New data showing a correlation between levels of acrylamide in foods and the length of time and temperature at which the food is cooked are part of preliminary results FDA has released regarding the chemical's presence in foods. Acrylamide is known to cause cancer in animals at high doses, but researchers do not know if the chemical causes cancer in humans or animals at the low levels found in foods. The issue was discussed at an FDA Food Advisory Committee meeting Dec. 4 and 5. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01179.html ____________________________________________________________ Kellogg's Recalls Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts Because certain recently distributed packages of Kellogg's Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts contain egg that is not declared on the label, the company is recalling 730,000 of the 8-count, 14-ounce packages. People who have an allergy or sensitivity to egg risk serious or life-threatening reaction if they eat this product. http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/kellogg12_02.html ____________________________________________________________ How's your knowledge about health-related topics such as medicine use, oxygen bars, skin cancer, and sleep disorders? Find out by taking our 10-question quiz at http://www.fda.gov/fdac/quiz/onlinequiz8_js.html. ____________________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to the FDA News Digest. Our next posting will be December 16. 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
