FDA News Digest for May 30, 2006

FDA News Digest <fdanewsdigest@xxxxxxxxxx> · Tue, 30 May 2006 15:55:19 -0400

FDA News Digest      
May 30, 
2006
________________________________________________________

IN THIS WEEK'S 
ISSUE
»  News
    -- Vaccine Licensed to Reduce Shingles Risk in People Over 
60
    -- FDA Initiative Aims to Boost Medical Device 
Development 

»  Recalls/Safety Alerts 
»  Upcoming Public 
Meetings
»  Question of 
the Week
____________________________________________

NEWS

Vaccine Licensed to Reduce Shingles Risk in 
People Over 60
FDA has licensed Zostavax, a vaccine to reduce the risk 
of shingles (herpes zoster) in people 60 and older. Caused by the same virus 
that produces chicken pox, shingles is characterized by clusters of blisters 
that can be severely painful and last from weeks to years. Shingles is estimated 
to affect about 20 percent of the population at 
some time in their lives.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01378.html

FDA Initiative Aims to Boost Medical Device 
Development
FDA has launched the Medical Device Innovation 
Initiative, which aims to speed up the availability of new medical devices. The 
initiative promotes early interaction between FDA and industry with the 
goal of improving review times and encouraging new product 
development.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01377.html

To 
view an archive of past FDA news releases, go to
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/hpnews.html.   

To access the RSS feed of FDA news releases, go 
to
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/rssPress.xml. 
[What 
is an RSS feed? See http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/newsfeeds.html.]

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RECALLS/SAFETY 
ALERTS 

Food Recalls:  

Various House of Thaller salads, 
spreads and dips 
    Reason for 
recall: possible bacterial contamination
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/thaller05_06.html

Various Mrs. Gerry's Kitchen salads 
(sold under the brand names Mrs. Gerry's, SYSCO, Knowlan's (Festival), Spoon 
River, and Fareway)
    Reason for 
recall: possible bacterial contamination
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/gerrykitchen05_06.html

Various Made-Rite chicken salad and 
tuna salad sandwiches (sold under the brand names Great American Deli, Granny 
Green, and Lil' Cindy's)
    Reason for 
recall: possible bacterial contamination
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/maderight05_06.html

762 of Jumbo Foods' Smoked Turkey on 
Sourdough Triple Decker Sandwiches
    Reason for 
recall: possible contamination with Listeria 
monocytogenes
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/maderight05_06.html

For a 
list of recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts involving 
FDA-regulated
products 
from the past 60 days, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html.

To access the RSS feed of FDA recalls information, go 
to
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/rssRecalls.xml.
[What is 
an RSS feed? See http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/newsfeeds.html.]
_____________________________________________

UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS 

June 2 -- Oncologic Drugs Advisory 
Committee 
    Under discussion: proposed leukemia 
treatment
    Location: 
Atlanta
http://www.fda.gov/oc/advisory/accalendar/2006/cder12542d060206.html

June 2 -- 
Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Devices Panel of the Medical Devices 
Advisory Committee
    Under 
discussion: recommendations for reclassifying a noninvasive bone growth 
stimulator

Location: Gaithersburg, Md.
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E6-5783.htm

June 6-7 -- Food Safety and Defense 
Workshop
    Under discussion: current Good 
Manufacturing Practice regulations for foods and other topics of interest to 
regulated industry, especially small businesses
    Location: Fayetteville, 
Ark.
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/06-4366.htm

For a list of FDA meetings, seminars, and other 
public events, go to
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/hpmeetings.html.
_____________________________________________

QUESTION 
OF THE WEEK

What should I know if I'm planning to buy a 
laser pointer over the Internet?

FDA 
warns consumers that some laser pointers being sold on the Internet may not meet 
federal safety requirements and should not be available for purchase by the 
general public. In some cases, these products are overpowered and may be unsafe 
if not used responsibly. In other cases, products are intended for use only by 
licensed medical professionals, trained operators, or other approved users. 

FDA is 
concerned about recent reports of laser pointers directed at aircraft - a 
potentially hazardous situation. The agency is particularly concerned about the 
increased availability of overpowered green laser pointers, which may have been 
modified to emit more radiation than the manufacturer's original product. 

The agency is working to identify 
manufacturers of overpowered green laser pointers and other illegal laser 
products and will take action to prevent unsafe products from being sold in the 
United States. Illegal products may 
be refused entry into the country, 
returned to the seller, or destroyed.

FDA urges you 
to be cautious when buying laser products online. You 
may unknowingly purchase an illegal laser product or may lose your money if the illegal product is refused 
entry into the U.S. or destroyed. 

For more information on buying laser products online, 
see http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/comp/internetlasers.html.
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Hey, kids! Take our fun poll! We want to know your 
favorite place to have a picnic. Is it the park? The beach? How about your own 
backyard? Go to http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids/default.htm and 
let us know!
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       To learn more about FDA's 100th birthday, 

     go to http://www.fda.gov/centennial/default.htm 