FDA News Digest for May 21, 2007

[FDA News Digest <fdanewsdigest@xxxxxxxxxx>]

FDA News Digest

May 21, 2007

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IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE

 

»  News

    -- Liquid Surgical Sealant Approved to Help Control Oozing

    -- USDA Allows Processing of Hogs Fed Tainted Food Scraps

»  Recalls/Safety Alerts

»  Congressional Testimony

»  Upcoming Public Meetings

»  Question of the Week

»  New Postings on FDA.gov

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NEWS

 

Liquid Surgical Sealant Approved to Help Control Oozing

FDA has approved Evicel Fibrin Sealant, a liquid product that is applied topically to help control oozing from small blood vessels during surgery. The product can be useful when suturing, compression, or other standard techniques are not effective or practical.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01634.html

 

USDA Allows Processing of Hogs Fed Tainted Food Scraps

Following tests showing that melamine and related compounds do not accumulate in pork, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is allowing hogs fed rations supplemented with pet food scraps containing the chemicals to be released for processing. About 56,000 hogs had been held on farms in seven states pending test results.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01635.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

Pet Food Recall:

 

›  FDA has a special page that lists the latest information on brands of pet foods being recalled. 

http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html

 

Food Recalls:

 

›  Various Adelines biscuit sandwiches (distributed from lunch trucks and vending machines)

    Reason for recall: milk in product not listed on label (allergy hazard)

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/adelines05_07.html

›  IKEA Food Marinated Herring (with "Best Before Date" of 13-02-2008)

   Reason for recall: pieces of glass found in jars

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/ikea05_07.html

›  Margaret Holmes Seasoned Turnip Greens (with product code TURN3 K10GY and "Best by date" of November 2009)

    Reason for recall: trace amounts of diesel fuel found in samples

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/mccallfarm05_07.html

›  Three lots of shark cartilage capsules, made in 2004 and packaged under various brands

    Reason for recall: possible Salmonella contamination

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/nbty05_07.html

 

Safety Alert:

 

›  FDA is examining all available clinical data on the Type 2 diabetes drug Avandia after receiving safety data on the drug showing a potentially significant increase in the risk of heart attack and heart-related deaths in patients taking Avandia. Other studies, however, provide contradictory evidence. Though FDA has not confirmed the significance of the reported increased risk, the agency is urging patients taking Avandia, especially those with underlying heart disease or who are at a high risk of heart attack, to discuss the new information with their doctor.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01636.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.]

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CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY

 

May 16 -- FDA Assistant Commissioner for Policy Jeffrey E. Shuren, M.D., appeared before the House Subcommittee on Health

    Subject: the importance of reauthorization of the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act

http://www.fda.gov/ola/2007/mdufma051607.html

 

May 15 -- FDA Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection David Acheson, M.D., appeared before the House Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture

    Subject: recent outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with fresh produce

http://www.fda.gov/ola/2007/produce051507.html

 

To view an archive of past testimony by FDA officials, go to

http://www.fda.gov/ola/listing.html

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UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS

 

June 11-12 -- 10th Annual FDA-Orange County Regulatory Affairs Educational Conference

    Location: Irvine, Calif.

http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E7-6052.htm

 

June 12-13 -- Public hearing to obtain feedback on FDA's Medication Guide program

    Location: Washington, D.C.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01606.html

 

 

For a complete list of FDA meetings, seminars, and other public events, go to

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/hpmeetings.html.

 

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

 

What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not one single disease or condition. It is a group of different disorders that affect your heart and blood vessels. Some types of CVD occur from birth, and others are developed over a lifetime.

 

To learn more about specific cardiovascular conditions and diseases, go to the following links:

 

-- Angina (chest pain)

http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/conditions/angina.html

-- Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/conditions/atherosclerosis.html

-- Congestive heart failure

http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/conditions/congestiveheartfailure.html

-- Coronary artery disease

http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/conditions/coronaryarterydisease.html

-- Heart attack

http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/conditions/heartattack.html

 

 

NEW POSTINGS ON FDA.GOV

 

FDA has recently posted an upgraded Web page that lists

more than 50 free FDA lists and e-newsletters. The page

categorizes lists by topic and audience.

http://www.fda.gov/emaillist.html 

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