FDA News Digest June 28, 2004 ________________________________________________ IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE -- FDA Says Toxin That Sickened Cows Poses No Risk to Their Milk -- N.Y. Man Receives Prison Term for Selling Bogus Cancer Treatment -- Recalls/Market Withdrawals -- Recent Speeches -- Public Meetings ______________________________________________________________ FDA Says Toxin That Sickened Cows Poses No Risk to Their Milk FDA tests on milk samples from 10 cows exposed to a toxic substance in Washington state show no identifiable risk from the toxin to milk from any of the exposed cows. FDA has identified the toxin as a strong oxidizing chromium compound. Though levels of the toxin in the milk of exposed cows was found well below Environmental Protection Agency thresholds for drinking water, none of the milk was released into the food supply. FDA is continuing its investigation of the case. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01081.html N.Y. Man Receives Prison Term for Selling Bogus Cancer Treatment Jason Vale, president of New York-based Christian Brothers Contracting Corp., received a 63-month prison term after being found guilty of criminal contempt charges related to his illegal marketing of Laetrile as a cancer treatment. Laetrile is a highly toxic product that has not shown any effect in treating cancer. FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations worked on the case with other federal officials. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01080.html ______________________________________________________________ RECALLS/MARKET WITHDRAWALS Alfalfa Sprouts Recalled Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination: Fuji Natural Foods Alfalfa Sprouts (4-oz. cups, 2-lb. and 5-lb.trays), Spicy Sprouts (4-oz. cups), and Zesty Sprouts (4-oz. cups) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/fuji06_04.html Down to Earth Alfalfa and Spicy Mix Sprouts (4-oz. and 1-lb. packages) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/downtoearth06_04.html Perfect Sprouts Brand Green Sprout Mix (4 oz.), Zesty Sprout Mix (4 oz.), and Alfalfa Sprouts (5-oz., 1-lb., 2-lb. and 3-lb. packages) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/perfect06_04.html Northland Soy Products Alfalfa Sprouts (3.5-oz. and 1-lb. packages) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/northland06_04.html Rainbow Garden Kauai Alfalfa Sprouts (4-oz. and 1-lb. packages) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/kauai06_04.html The following other products are being recalled for the reasons shown. Go to the linked pages for more information. Bucks County Distributors entire product line; 148 different products (no ingredient statement included) http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01082.html Fresh Foods Concepts "Deli" Brand Seafood Salad (undeclared shrimp) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/freshfood06_04.html Tekita Brand Pico de Gallo; 13 oz. (possible Listeria contamination) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/isabella06_04.html Archer Farms Breaded Cod Filets (undeclared egg whites) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/highliner06_04.html Tecan Clinical Workstations; used to test for gonorrhea, chlamydia and drug abuse (possible mismatching of patient information) http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/tecan06_04.html For a listing of recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts involving FDA-regulated products from the last 60 days, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html ______________________________________________________________ RECENT SPEECHES FDA Acting Commissioner Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., before the annual conference of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (June 21) http://www.fda.gov/oc/speeches/2004/afdo0621.html To view an archive of speeches by FDA officials, go to http://www.fda.gov/speeches/speechli.htm ______________________________________________________________ PUBLIC MEETINGS July 20-23 - National Health Information Infrastructure 2004: Cornerstones for Electronic Healthcare; Washington, D.C. http://www.hsrnet.net/nhii/welcome.htm 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 July 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
