FDA News Digest for July 2, 2007

[FDA News Digest <fdanewsdigest@xxxxxxxxxx>]

FDA News Digest

July 2, 2007

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IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE

 

»  News

    -- FDA Places Hold on Imports of Farm-Raised Chinese Seafood

    -- Generic Versions of Nail Fungus Treatment Lamisil Approved

    -- First Quick Test for Identifying Malaria Cleared for Marketing

»  Recalls/Safety Alerts

»  Congressional Testimony

»  Upcoming Public Meetings

»  Question of the Week

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NEWS

 

FDA Places Hold on Imports of Farm-Raised Chinese Seafood

FDA is detaining at the border all shipments from China of farm-raised catfish, shrimp, eel, basa, and dace until the products are proven free of residues of drugs not approved in the United States for farm-raised seafood. FDA took the action after repeatedly finding antibiotic residues in samples of Chinese farm-raised seafood. Though the drug levels found were low, FDA is concerned about long-term exposure as well as possible antibiotic resistance.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01660.html 

 

Generic Versions of Nail Fungus Treatment Lamisil Approved

FDA has approved the first generic versions of Lamisil, a tablet-form prescription drug used to treat nail fungus infection. The agency also approved a generic version of over-the-counter Lamisil cream to treat athlete's foot.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01662.html

 

First Quick Test for Identifying Malaria Cleared for Marketing

FDA has cleared for marketing the Binax NOW Malaria Test, the first authorized rapid test for the mosquito-borne disease malaria. Standard malaria tests require identifying parasites in a blood sample under a microscope, a difficult task that requires training and experience. The new test produces results in 15 minutes and can differentiate between the most dangerous malaria parasite and less virulent ones.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01659.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.

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RECALLS/SAFETY ALERTS

Safety Alerts

 

›  After finding that the public continues to buy potentially risky drugs over the Internet, FDA is urging consumers to avoid doing business with pharmaceutical Web sites that don't require a prescription. The agency emphasizes that consumers trying to save money shouldn't take chances by buying prescription drugs from foreign Web sites because low-cost generic versions of many of these drugs are available in the United States.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01663.html 

 

›  FDA warns consumers not to eat Veggie Booty snack food, marketed by Robert's American Gourmet, because of possible Salmonella contamination. The warning is based on 52 reports of illness, across 17 states, beginning in March. The product is sold in all 50 states and Canada at retail locations and over the Internet.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01661.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

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CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY

 

June 26 -- FDA Office of New Drugs Director John K. Jenkins, M.D., appeared before the House Subcommittee on Health

    Subject: erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (manmade versions of a protein made by the kidney that stimulates red blood cell production)

http://www.fda.gov/ola/2007/esa062607.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

July 17 -- Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee

    Under discussion: pending application for cervical disc prosthesis

    Location: Gaithersburg, Md.

http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E7-10267.htm

 

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

 

Does "freezer burn" make food unsafe?

Freezer burn is a food quality issue, not a food safety issue. It appears as grayish-brown leathery spots on frozen food. It occurs when air reaches the food's surface and dries out the product. This can happen when food is not securely wrapped in air-tight packaging. Color changes result from chemical changes in the food's pigment. Although undesirable, freezer burn does not make the food unsafe. It merely causes dry spots in foods. You can cut away these areas either before or after cooking the food. When freezing food in plastic bags, you can help prevent freezer burn by pushing all the air out before sealing.   

 

For information on food safety, see http://www.foodsafety.gov/.   

  

 

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