FDA News Digest April 12, 2004 ______________________________________________________________ THIS WEEK'S NEWS -- FDA Warns About Possible Lead Contamination in Certain Mexican Candy -- Public Warned Not to Use Florida Company's 'Street Drug Alternatives' -- New Guide Educates Health Professionals about Foodborne Illness -- FDA Tips Can Help Prevent Fires in Electrically Powered Hospital Beds -- Safety Alert -- Public Meetings ______________________________________________________________ FDA Warns About Possible Lead Contamination in Certain Mexican Candy FDA is warning that children should not eat certain candy imported from Mexico because the products may be contaminated with lead. One example is lollipops coated with chili and powdery mixtures of salt, lemon flavor and chili seasoning. FDA suspects the contamination is due to a manufacturing problem with the chili powder used in the candy and is working with the Mexican government and candy makers to solve the problem. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01048.html Public Warned Not to Use Florida Company's 'Street Drug Alternatives' FDA is warning consumers not to buy or use products marketed by Florida-based Cytotec Solutions Inc. as purportedly legal versions of illegal street drugs. The action expands on an FDA warning earlier this year to avoid "Green Hornet," one Cytotec product marketed as a "street drug alternative." FDA considers any product promoted as a street drug alternative to be in violation of federal law. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01049.html New Guide Educates Health Professionals About Foodborne Illness FDA and four other government and professional organizations have published a free educational guide to help health professionals identify and treat foodborne illnesses. The guide, which updates a version published three years ago, includes new sections on hepatitis A, norovirus, salmonella and toxoplasma. Officials estimate that about 76 million Americans suffer from foodborne illness yearly, and 5,000 die. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01047.html FDA Tips Can Help Prevent Fires in Electrically Powered Hospital Beds FDA has received 95 reports since 1993 of fires involving electrically powered hospital beds. To help prevent future fires, the agency has developed an updated list of safety tips. Though the tips apply to all electrically powered hospital beds, they may be especially useful for older models. http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/bedfires.html _____________________________________________________________ SAFETY ALERT Clozaril: New label warnings describe the increased risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2004/safety04.htm#clozaril _____________________________________________________________ PUBLIC MEETINGS April 14 -- Meeting for the public to present information related to how prescription drugs could be imported safely and what the consequences would be for American patients. http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/04-6145.htm April 22 -- FDA Science Board meeting will discuss the recent report of the FDA Obesity Working Group and the recently released "Critical Path" white paper about medical product development. http://www.fda.gov/oc/advisory/accalendar/2004/fda12603d042204.html For a list of upcoming FDA meetings, seminars, and other public events, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/hpmeetings.html. ______________________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to FDA News Digest. Our next posting will be April 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
