FDA News Digest May 12, 2003 ______________________________________________________________ FDA, FTC Crack Down on Bogus SARS Prevention Products FDA and the Federal Trade Commission are warning website operators, e-mail solicitors, and manufacturers and distributors who suggest that their products will protect against, treat, or cure Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that they must remove these deceptive claims from the Internet. The two agencies--which targeted sites promising SARS protection through products such as air purifiers, sprays, dietary supplements, and masks--say they know of no scientific proof for such claims. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00904.html ______________________________________________________________ Program Aims to Expand Food Lab Network for Counterterrorism FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working to expand the number of counterterrorism laboratories capable of analyzing foods. This broadened network will provide effective and efficient testing of food samples to help public health officials respond to chemical or biological terrorism incidents. Fact sheet: http://www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/foodlab.html ______________________________________________________________ Additional Food Safety Proposals Issued Under Bioterrorism Act FDA has proposed the second set of food safety regulations required by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. The proposals deal with establishing and maintaining records among food companies, and the administrative detention of foods that may pose a risk to public health. FDA will accept comments on the proposals until July 8, 2003. Press release: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00902.html Fact sheet (maintaining records): http://www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/records_fs.html Fact sheet (administrative detention): http://www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/detention_fs.html ______________________________________________________________ FDA Seeks Injunction Against Radiation Therapy Company FDA has entered a consent decree that would--when signed by a judge and entered in district court--stop Multidata Systems International from manufacturing and distributing radiation therapy devices designed to treat cancer. The St. Louis-based company's radiation treatment planning software reportedly contributed to 28 patients receiving excessive amounts of radiation at one medical facility, causing several deaths. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00903.html ______________________________________________________________ RECALLS The following product has been recalled for the reason shown. Go to the linked page for more information: Weight Watchers Smart Ones Vanilla Low-Fat Ice Cream Sandwiches (undeclared peanuts) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/frostbite05_03.html ______________________________________________________________ RECENT SPEECHES FDA Commissioner Mark B. McClellan, M.D., to the National Food Policy Conference (May 8) http://www.fda.gov/oc/speeches/2003/nfpc0508.html ______________________________________________________________ RECENT TESTIMONY FDA Efforts to Combat SARS -- Principal Associate Commissioner Murray Lumpkin, M.D., before the House Committee on Government Reform (May 7) http://www.fda.gov/ola/2003/sars0507.html ______________________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to the FDA News Digest. Our next posting will be May 19. To leave this list at any time, send an e-mail to LISTSERV@xxxxxxxxxxxx In the body of the message, write SIGNOFF FDA-NEWSDIGEST-L
