FDA News Digest September 29, 2003 ______________________________________________________________ Bogus Products Claiming to Cure Cancer Seized From N.Y. Firm After FDA investigators found that Norway, N.Y.-based Jean's Greens made unapproved medical claims for two of its dietary supplements, Forticel and Forticel Mix, U.S. marshals seized the products from the company. The products were touted to treat and cure various life-threatening illnesses such as cancer. Commented FDA Commissioner Mark B. McClellan, M.D.: "These unscrupulous merchants not only cheat unsuspecting consumers, but they also endanger patients by encouraging them to substitute their bogus products for legitimate and proven remedies." http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00947.html ___________________________________________________________ FDA Offers Online Information About the Chemical Perchlorate in Food FDA has created a list of questions and answers regarding actions it is taking to develop analytical methods and determine the environmental impact of the chemical perchlorate in food. Perchlorate is used in this country as the primary ingredient of solid rocket propellant. It also occurs naturally, for example, in nitrate fertilizer deposits from Chile. The chemical also has been found in lettuce and drinking water and, when consumed, can interfere with iodide uptake in the thyroid gland, disrupting its functions. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/clo4qa.html ______________________________________________________________ RECALLS The following products are being recalled for the reasons shown. Go to the linked page for more information. BioMerieux Inc. VIDAS chlamydia assay; two lots (possible degraded performance) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/bioMerieux09_03.html Ariza Cheese Co. Cotija Cheese (possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/ariza09_03.html ______________________________________________________________ RECENT SPEECHES FDA Commissioner Mark B. McClellan, M.D., at First International Colloquium on Generic Medicine (Sept. 25) http://www.fda.gov/oc/speeches/2003/genericdrug0925.html ______________________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to FDA News Digest. Our next posting will be October 6. 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
