InjuryBoard National News Desk

Thermal Imaging May Top Mammograms

Jane Akre — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:47:57 GMT

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International Academy of Clinical Thermology –find a practitioner
Dr. Susan Lark -Web site
US Preventive Services Task Force –Breast Screening Recommendations, November 2009

IMAGE SOURCE: IMAGE SOURCE: Dr. Lark Web site, Healthy Directions LLC

What is a woman to do with the information this week discouraging annual mammograms?

It was almost as shocking as the 180-degree turnabout when doctors went from encouraging hormone replacement therapy to almost overnight in 2002, deciding HRT was linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

The U.S Preventive Services Task Force, which sets recommendations for the nation, essentially said that women between the ages of 40 to 49 should not get annual mammograms unless they are high-risk such as a family history because the risks of screening outweigh the benefits.

Mammograms should be reserved for women over the age of 50, but every two years instead of annually. Most perplexing was the recommendation that women should no longer be encouraged to do self-breast exams.

Dr. Susan Lark, an anti-aging, preventive medicine, and women’s health specialist with a strong online presence, says she is angered by the new guidelines that discourage self-exam and agrees with other recommendations.

She has been writing about a better alternative to mammograms for decades because of the risks.

In her February 2008 issue of her newsletter, Women’s Wellness Today she writes,
"A routine mammogram's sensitivity (how good it is at detecting suspicious tissue) varies. If a woman is still menstruating, her breast tissue is denser, which drops the sensitivity of routine mammograms to below 70 percent. That means that as many as 30 percent of existing breast cancers are missed, which is troubling because cancers in younger women tend to grow faster.”

The other problems with mammograms:

Smaller rumors are less likely to show up if they are about four-tenths of an inch
Human error missing tumors in reading mammograms is always possible, giving them time to grow

Dr. Lark instead encourages women 40 and over a breast imaging test called thermography. Like a person’s fingerprint, the image is uniquely yours and doesn’t change much over time.

Here’s how it works. When an adult stops growing, her breasts register cool on the thermogram.

Tumors, however, exert energy as they grow and requires blood supply and usually generates extra heat, enough to show up on a thermogram. The heat reading will show up long before it would on a mammogram. Over time as the tumor grows, they get hotter.

Noncancerous structures such as cysts and abscesses on the other hand cool down, something the thermogram can see. An added benefit – thermography does not involve radiation so you can return to be reevaluated.

Dr. Lark recommends getting a baseline thermogram that compares the left and right breasts so the two sides can be compared for suspicious tissue. Repeating the procedure every couple of years provides a baseline for comparison images taken in the future.

“A spot on one breast but not the other might be a normal part of your "fingerprint" that's been there for years, or it might be entirely new-and clinically significant,” says Dr. Lark.

“In short, mammography looks at the structure of a woman's breast tissue, while thermography looks at its behavior,” she says.

Dr. Lark encourages high risk women to get mammography and thermography, as well as keep up with breast self-exams, because you are best able to know about the health of your breasts. #

Originally posted at Jane Akre

Vicks Nasal Spray Recalled By P&G

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:14:47 GMT

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Vicks Press Release
IB News - Parents Warned Against Using Vicks VapoRub On Children, Jan. 2009
IB New York City – P&G Warned Over Vitamin C In Vicks Products, Oct. 2009

IMAGE SOURCE: © Vicks Web site

Proctor & Gamble is voluntarily recalling three lots of its Vicks Sinex nasal spray in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.

During a routine quality control inspection small amounts of bacteria B. cepacia was detected. The recall affects about 120,000 bottles.

While there have been no reports of illness associated with the recalled products, the bacteria could cause serious infections for an individual with a compromised immune system or a chronic lung condition such as cystic fibrosis, P&G said in a news release. However, the bacteria pose little medical risk to healthy individuals.

The recalled medication should not be used. Consumers should contact P&G for a full refund or replacement coupon.

The nasal sprays were sold in 15 milliliters bottles in all three markets and include the following lot numbers:

In the U.S.: 9239028831 - Vicks Sinex Vapospray 12-Hour Decongestant Ultra Fine Mist

In the U.K.: 9224028832 - Vicks Sinex Micromist Aqueous Nasal Spray Solution

In Germany: 9224028833 - Wick Sinex Schnupfenspray Dosiersystem

* The lot number is listed on both the outer carton and the bottle.

Consumer Contact:

United States, call: 1.877.876.7881

United Kingdom, call: 0800.5555.15

Germany, please call: 0800.111.6131

According to a spokesman for P&G, 4.4 million bottles of the spray were sold in the U.S. alone in 2008.

The recall is just weeks after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned P&G that its Vicks cold formulas with Vitamin C have false and misleading labeling. #

Originally posted at Chrissie Cole

Medtronic Gets FDA Warning After Inspection

Jane Akre — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:02:23 GMT

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Medtronic letter to physicians March 13, 2009
IB Help Center- Sprint Fidelis Leads
FDA on Medtronic
Medtronic Web site
IB News - Medtronic Heart Device: More Fatalities Revealed - April 2009
NEJM Editorial - on The Medical Device Safety Act of 2009, March 18, 2009

IMAGE SOURCE: Medtronic Web site/ Medtronic Sprint Fidelis lead

FDA Inspection Finds Problems

Medtronic, the maker of medical devices that corrects heart rhythms, has been ordered to fix problems at its Minnesota factory following a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection at its manufacturing plant.

The company received a warning letter from health regulators to take immediate action, though the company didn't detail the FDA's concerns uncovered during the August inspection at its Mounds View, Minnesota facility.

The heart implants division makes cardiac rhythm disease implants, including pacemakers and other surgically implanted medical devices that slow or stabilizes the heart beat, reports AP.

The�Wall Street Journal reports that the problems fall into four general categories - corrective and preventive action and field-action timeliness; review and documentation of field-action recommendation; supplier qualification; and control and medical-device reporting timeliness.

So far this year, Medtronic has issued two recalls - one a wiring defect in pacemakers in May. In July it recalled some defibrillators that were malfunctioning in the�presence of humidity.�

These were noted to be Class I recalls, a FDA designation that is the most serious putting patients at risk of injury or death.

In April, Medtronic's Sprint Fidelis cardiac wire was implicated in more than the five deaths the company previously revealed after an independent panel of physicians said the count is closer to 13.

The wire, attached to a defibrillator, was in the heart of some 270,000 patients when Medtronic stopped making the defective product in October, 2007. At that time the company estimated five people might have died as a result of its malfunction.

There are about 2,200 reports of serious injuries from the lead, reported to the Food and Drug Administration.

The company released information about the increased number of deaths after a federal judge earlier this year dismissed more than 700 consolidated cases charging product liability, negligence, fraud, and breach of contract, among others against Medtronic, filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota.

Judge Richard Kyle, cited last year's Riegel decision in dismissing the lawsuits. In Riegel, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of medical device makers affirming they enjoy a shield since their products have FDA approval.

The company has 15 days to respond to the latest problems and says it has already started to implement changes.

Medtronic stock was recently down 15 cents at $40.05 in premarket trading, though is up 28 percent so far this year. #

Originally posted at Jane Akre

Cancer Cluster At The Acreage Moving Toward Litigation

Jane Akre — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:02:59 GMT

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Searcy Denny Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA Law firm
IB Partner, Eddie Farah, Jacksonville – Erin Brockovich Focuses on Florida Cancer Cluster Case – October 2009
The Acreage Map of affected families
Florida DEP – Frequently Asked Questions about The Acreage
Department of Environmental Protection Web site – The Acreage

IMAGE SOURCE: Palm Beach Post Web page/ site of contamination at The Acreage

Three law firms are beginning the process of signing up clients considering legal action as the cancer cluster in the Acreage neighborhood of Palm Beach County remains a mystery.

Residents of the semi-rural area claim there are higher than expected levels of brain tumors or brain cancer among children living there.

Among them, the parents of Garrett Dunsford.

The six-year-old was diagnosed with a brain tumor, one of as many as 70 families that are suffering among the community of 50,000.

In August, the state health department said that the levels of cancer could be elevated, but noted that data includes outdated population figures.

That began a second phase of study by the state including interviewing families of children with brain tumors or brain cancer.

Last month, advocate Erin Brockovich held a town hall meeting to begin gathering information in preparation for the lawsuits. Brockovich is best known for the Oscar-winning movie,

starring Julia Roberts, about Brockovichs’ crusade against toxic water pollution in California.

Now a consultant, Brockovich is aligned with a New York City law firm, Weitz & Luxenberg that has been investigating the possible environmental causes of cancer at The Acreage.

That firm has teamed up with Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, a law firm based in West Palm Beach (and an IB Partner). The Romano Law Group of Lake Worth has also signed up six young adults with different types of cancer and is awaiting the results from a Colorado-based environmental assessment of the site, reports the Palm Beach Post.

Weitz and Luxenberg and Searcy Denny are focusing on the radiation danger in the area.

The firm has taken Geiger counter readings of radiation at 10 homes with cancers. Radiation is known to cause brain tumors and the state says some homes in the area have well water with radioactive substances and elevated levels of radium.

Radiation can occur naturally in the ground. The state has not tested for radiation caused by man-made activity but did test 50 private wells at random and found four wells didn’t meeting state drinking water standards for radium or alpha particles, a measure of radiation.

"Some of this can't be explained by naturally occurring sources," said attorney Lemuel Srolovic. “You can’t just assume all radioactivity in the community is naturally occurring.”

He said additional tests pointed to man-made manipulation of radium and the two law firms believe there may ultimately be three defendants, none a “government entity” said Mara Hatfield, an attorney working with Searcy Denny.

The Suspects

Many eyes are focusing on Pratt & Whitney, the rocket and jet engine company that worked nearby on Beeline Highway and is responsible for leaks and spills on its 7,000 acres dating back 30 years.

In the 1980s the company has its own on-site cancer scare and is cleaning up petroleum in the groundwater as well as various metals and volatile organic compounds, and a chemical solvent the company used, which is a likely human carcinogen, called 1,4-dioxane, jet fuel, and PCBs.

Clients do not have to pay a law firm to get involved but work with them on a contingency fee basis, meaning when the case is concluded and there is an award, the law firm gets a percentage. If the lawsuit is not successful, the firm does not get compensated for attorney hours, environmental testing, and the experts it has paid as consultants.

"They wouldn't be putting all of this time and effort into the situation out here if they didn't think something was wrong," said Jennifer Dunsford, the mother who requested the state study. #

Originally posted at Jane Akre

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Affecting Teen Girls

Jane Akre — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:22:20 GMT

Teen Girls Affected

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CDC- Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2008 report
CDC- Treatment Guidelines, 2006
IB News - Teen STD Rate is Alarming - March 2008

IMAGE SOURCE: CDC chart on chlamydia rates from Web site

There are almost 19 million cases of sexually transmitted disease diagnosed in the U.S. every year, almost half among 15 to 24 year olds.

A new federal report says teenage girls account for the largest number of cases.

The report considers the 1.5 million newly diagnosed cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea in the U.S. in 2008, and finds that the largest number, more than 409,531 occurred in teen girls ages 15 to 19.

African-American females continue to be disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted diseases (STD), more so than any other racial or ethnic group, with a 20 times higher rate of gonorrhea than among whites.

Adolescent males also have a similar prevalence of STDs but for females the health consequences are more severe such as infertility, pelvic pain, and ectopic pregnancy. Often the cases of STD go undetected, leading an estimated 24,000 women to become infertile each year in the U.S.

Socio-economic barriers to obtaining quality health care means there are fewer effective prevention and treatment services in local communities.

The federal data is reported in the Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2008 report, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of STD Prevention.

Among the findings:

* Gonorrhea rates among African-Americans were 20 times higher than among Caucasians, even though blacks represent about 12 percent of the population. They account for 71 percent of reported gonorrhea cases, 48 percent of chlamydia and 49 percent of syphilis cases.

* Men having sex with men accounted for about 63 percent of the 13,500 cases of syphilis in 2008. Syphilis, once on the verge of elimination began re-emerging in 2001 and by 2008, there were 13,500 cases reported, an 18 percent hike from the year before. Syphilis rates among women increased 36 percent from 2007 to 2008.

* Chlamydia rates are higher in the south and effect more young women than men with a total of 1.2 million cases reported in 2008.

"We cannot ignore the glaring racial disparities in rates of STDs, particularly when we consider the hard truth that gonorrhea rates among African-Americans are 20 times those of whites," Dr. John M. Douglas Jr., director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of STD Prevention, said in a news release.

The CDC’s Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention says more needs to be done to prevent unintended long-term health issues.

“We know adolescent girls and minorities are most impacted by STDs. So it is up to us as a nation, to reach out to them and ensure we are providing the necessary prevention, testing and treatment services. Taking these critical steps now could help reduce the number of couples who may not be able have children in the future because of a previously undiagnosed, yet treatable, STD.”

A study last year found one in four teenage girls had a sexually transmitted disease. #

Originally posted at Jane Akre

Mammogram Recommendation Major Turnabout

Jane Akre — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:46:22 GMT

Health Care Community Divided

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Annals of Internal Medicine –Screening for Breast Cancer – November 2009
American Cancer Society – Recommendations for mammogram screening, 2002
ACS- Statement from Otis Brawley, MD, chief medical officer American Cancer Society
Breast Cancer Action Web site

IMAGE SOURCE: Breast Cancer Action logo from Web site

It’s no wonder women are confused, as are doctors and health care providers. For years women have been told the importance of having an annual mammogram to screen for breast cancer.

Now, an influential group is saying that women in their 40s don’t need routine mammograms, according to a report published online Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

For Joy Fashauer, 49, the overhaul in breast-screening recommendation doesn’t make sense. The Jacksonville, Florida woman is a staunch supporter of mammograms, even though one failed to detect a lump in her right breast two years ago.

“If you ask any woman who’s had breast cancer, she’ll tell you it’s well worth it,” says Fashauer who has been treated and is now cancer free.

The Recommendations

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released the recommendations. As the group that sets government policy on prevention, it questions the benefits over risk.

"There are important and serious negatives or harms that need to be considered carefully” says vice chairman of the group, Diana Petitti.

A survey of major studies reveals that mammograms produce false-positives in about 10 percent of cases. Upon hearing the news, doctors often recommend surgery, disfiguring biopsies, radiation, and chemotherapy, all that result in a lot of anxiety.

The recommendations now state that women should have mammograms every other year beginning at age 50, not annually or every other year at age 40, as previously recommended, and that women over the age of 74 do not need to continue regular mammograms.

Women with a family history of breast cancer should continue annual screenings.

What stands out as particularly odd is that the panel recommends women not do regular self-exams of their breasts. It also questions whether the more expensive yet clearer picture that comes from digital mammography is superior to images that use film.

Not Everyone is Onboard

The American Cancer Society and American College of Radiology are not onboard with the change. The groups believe that regular mammograms reduce the number of more advanced cancer cases that are detected therefore reduce the number of mastectomies and deaths.

“The American Cancer Society continues to recommend annual screening using mammography and clinical breast examination for all women beginning at age 40” said chief medical officer Dr. Otis Brawley in a statement.

He admits that there are more false positives at the younger age and “overall effectiveness of mammography increases with increasing age.”

“The USPSTF says that screening 1,339 women in their 50s to save one life makes screening worthwhile in that age group. Yet USPSTF also says screening 1,904 women ages 40 to 49 in order to save one life is not worthwhile. The American Cancer Society feels that in both cases, the lifesaving benefits of screening outweigh any potential harms. Surveys of women show that they are aware of these limitations, and also place high value on detecting breast cancer early” continues the statement.

The new recommendation echo the same change promoted in 2007 by the nation’s internists. Dr. Douglas Owens, a health policy expert and researcher with the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University, who led the recommendation back then, told the San Jose Mercury News that he applauds the new guidelines.

“There is growing recognition of some modest but potential harm that needs to be weighed with modest benefits of using mammograms in younger women,” he tells the paper.

The Mayo Clinic’s Jacksonville campus expressed concerns about the message. Michelle McDonough, a radiologist tells the Times-Union,”We’ve made great strides in this reduction in breast cancer mortality. And we’re afraid that if we prematurely tell those patients not to use those screenings, we could see some of those gains eroded away.”

A patient advocacy group, Breast Cancer Action applauds the decision.

Deputy Director Joyce Bichler says, “The benefit of mammography has been totally oversold. What the task force is recommending may confuse women, but we hope they’ll be able to look at the evidence and discuss it with their doctor, to make the right decision.”

The group points to not only false positive results but the cumulative exposure to radiation that occurs from mammograms over the years. #

Originally posted at Jane Akre

Long-Term Health Problems Linked To Foodborne Illness

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:05:00 GMT

Salmonella

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Make Our Food Safe
Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention
CSPI – Ten Riskiest Foods Report, October 2009
CDC on Foodborne Illness

IMAGE SOURCE: © Wikimedia Commons / salmonella

A recent study by the Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention finds foodborne infections can have long-lasting health effects that can be as serious as kidney failure, paralysis, hearing or visual impairments, mental retardation, seizure and possibly death.

At particular risk are children because their developing immune systems don’t have the same ability as adult systems to fight foodborne pathogens. Also, children’s stomachs don’t produce the same volume of acids as adult digestive systems.

The report, released last week, listed the five main foodborne illnesses in the U.S. along with possible long-term effects:

Campylobacter: arthritis, paralysis.

E. coli O157:H7: High blood pressure, gallstones, kidney problems, irritable bowel syndrome, neurological problems, such as seizures.

Listeria monocytogenes: miscarriage, premature infant death or stillbirth in pregnant women.

Salmonella: arthritis, eye irritation and painful urination.

Toxoplasma gondi: visual impairment or mild to severe mental retardation.

The report also discusses how under-reporting, inadequate follow-up and a lack of research make it difficult to assess the impact that foodborne illness is having on Americans.

The most common symptoms of food-borne illness are vomiting and diarrhea. They typically last only a few days. But, in 2 to 3 percent of cases, foodborne disease can cause serious long-term health problems, according to the FDA.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) released a report last month on the top ten foods likely to sicken people and includes – leafy greens, eggs, tomatoes, berries and sprouts. Leafy greens alone account for 363 outbreaks and 13,600 illnesses, mostly from E. coli and Salmonella poisoning.

The list only focuses on foods overseen by the FDA.

An estimated 76 million Americans become sick each year from foodborne illness, 325,000 are hospitalized and 5,000 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nearly half are children younger than 15. #

Originally posted at Chrissie Cole

Report - Companies Underreporting Work-Related Injuries

Chrissie Cole — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:15:00 GMT

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GAO Report
OSHA News Release
IB News, Top 10 Safety Violations for 2009
InjuryBoard Workplace Injuries Help Center

Work-related illnesses and injuries are often under-reported finds a new report by The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the “investigative arm of Congress.”

The findings call into question, the accuracy of nationwide data compiled by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) each year.

The report finds many employers did not report workplace illnesses and injuries for fear of jeopardizing their chances of winning contract bids for new work, increasing their workers’ compensation costs or because they were worried their co-workers might lose awards, as part of safety-based incentive programs.

Moreover the report also found that at least a third of occupational health providers said they were pressured to withhold medical treatments or downplay serious illness and injury so companies could avoid filing reports with OSHA.

By properly auditing employer records and not relying solely on employer data, OSHA could catch some of the underreporting, the report said.

“Many of the issues highlighted in the report are alarming and the agency will be taking strong enforcement action where we find underreporting,” said Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, OSHA's role is to promote safe and healthful working conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, outreach and education.

The report was sought by Democratic lawmakers who were skeptical of the numbers that have shown a decline in the rate of workplace illnesses and injuries between 1992 and 2007.

Employers with more than 10 workers are required to record every work-related illness or injury that results in lost work time or medical treatment other than first aid.

In 2007, there were 4 million cases in which workers became ill or were injured as a direct result of unhealthy or unsafe working conditions.

The report also found OSHA does not review the accuracy of illness or injury records for worksites in eight “high hazard” industries – including amusement parks – because it has not updated industry codes used to identify these industries since 2002. ##

Originally posted at Chrissie Cole

Kids' Allergies Skyrocket

Jane Akre — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:40:06 GMT

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Pediatrics – Food Allergy Among Children in the United States – November 2009
Europrevall Web site
Allergy Kids Web site
Dr. Arpad Pusztai Web page
Organic Consumers – Interview with Dr. Pusztai
CDC – Food Allergies
Kids Health: Nut and Peanut Allergy
School Safety - Peanut treats and Anaphylaxis Shock

IMAGE SOURCE: iStockPhoto / peanuts / author: billberryphotography

More Than Ever

Why are there more children with allergies in the U.S. than ever before?

This new study speculates that a growing awareness may partially account for the dramatic increase in rates of sometimes life-threatening pediatric food allergies.

To put together data in this published study in the December issue of Pediatrics, statisticians looked at four different national data sources to assess food allergies as they occur in the U.S.

Between 1997 and 2007 incidents shot up 18 percent and parents of almost four percent reported a food or digestive allergy in their child.

Rates of skin allergies (eczema) rose to 8.9 percent from 7.9 percent.

Approximately 3.9 percent of U.S. children under the age of 18 experience food allergies.

Children are tested for food allergies by measuring the immunoglobulin E, or IgE antibodies in their blood.

Peanut allergies accounted for nine percent and egg allergies seven percent and milk allergies accounted for 12 percent. Proteins are frequently the source of allergies.

CDC statistician and study author, Amy Branum, believes that the numbers may reflect more than an increased awareness because the numbers hiked among parents as well and health care workers.

"We do think this is an increasing trend," confirms Branum. And "anytime you see any health condition going up – that's always a concern. Going up is not the right direction."

Children seeking emergency treatment is also on the rise, tripling in the past few years. In 2006, 317,000 were rushed to the ER because of a reaction to something they ate, reports Newsweek.

Allergies can be life threatening when they lead to trouble breathing an anaphylactic shock, a tightening of the throat that can cut off oxygen. Symptoms can appear minutes after people eat an offending food or up to several hours after. A reaction might start with a tingling in the mouth or a swelling of the tongue.

And the reaction does not appear to be in proportion to the amount of food ingested. One peanut can have a child turning blue.

EuroPrevall

Europe has seen a rise in allergies as well.

EuroPrevall is a project that includes teams from 19 countries in Europe, Ghana, India and China. It is tracking 9,000 children looking for common food allergies.

Newsweek reports in the Mediterranean, peaches are frequently an allergen, but not so in northern Europe. Fish and citrus might affect those in Russia, but not Sweden. Even kiwi, the little green fruit from New Zealand is sparking an allergic reaction in Europe.

It wasn’t until the office of Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) began asking for a federal analysis two years ago was the issue of food allergies even on the CDC radar. That’s when the lead author of this study, Amy Branum began the task.

One Theory

For years, opponents of bio-engineered foods, which introduce novel proteins into re-mixed DNA combinations, have warned of food allergies.

Dr. Arpad Pustai, at the Rowett Institute in Scotland, found that rats fed genetically engineered (GE) potatoes developed immune system harm and allergic reactions. Dr. Pusztai was fired from his position and his work largely discredited, though there are many admirers who believe he was on the right track.

30 international scientists from 13 countries have supported Dr. Pusztai and in 2005 he won a Whistleblower Award from the German Section of the International Association of Lawyers against Nuclear Arms and the Federation of German Scientists.

Approximately 70 percent of grocery store food contains GE ingredients which are not labelled. The U.S. FDA has approved GE foods under a GRAS designation, generally recognized as safe, and there is not testing required of producers, who largely grow GE soy and corn in the U.S. #

Originally posted at Jane Akre

FDA Crackdown on Energy Drinks With Alcohol

Jane Akre — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:43:47 GMT

Caffeine and Alcohol

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FDA letter to alcoholic energy drink makers, September 25, 2009
FDA News Release - Inquiry Into Caffeinated Alcoholic drinks

IMAGE SOURCE: Lotus Vodka Web site

27 makers of so-called energy drinks, a favorite of young drinkers, are getting some attention from the Food and Drug Administration.

The drinks contain some mixture of caffeine and alcohol and are marketed under provocative names such as Evil Eye, Max Fury, and Slingshot Party Gel.

The FDA wants to make sure that the products are safe since the agency has never approved the combination caffeine/alcohol.

The drinks are the next generation to the Red Bull energy drinks.

While alcohol eventually intoxicates, caffeine makes you wide awake and could lead to a wide-awake drunk.

A task force of state attorneys general urged the FDA in a September 25^th letter to scrutinize the combination. "The ultimate goal is a nationwide ban on alcohol-energy drinks marketed to young drinkers," said Conn. Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal, a co-chair of the task force.

"We're asking for their side of the story," said Joshua Sharfstein, the FDA's deputy commissioner.

To date, caffeine in alcoholic beverages has been listed as GRAS, generally recognized as safe.

Makers have 30 days to respond to the FDA request, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Already Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors have suspended sales of caffeinated alcoholic drinks after a task force investigation.

The chief executive of Lotus Vodka, Rob Bailey says his drink contains caffeine, vitamins and other ingredients and it marketed to consumers in their 30s for fine dining, not as an energy drink. #

Originally posted at Jane Akre