Three cheers for better eggs!

The Senate has just passed a bill that would give the FDA the authority, and the money, to inspect food processing plants, helping it prevent outbreaks of food borne illnesses, not just respond to them. The FDA will also have the authority to recall food. Plus, under the new law food imported into the US must meet the same safety standards as food produced in this country.

This is the first overhaul of food safety regulations in 70 years, and everyone who was nervous about buying an egg last summer for fear of salmonella should be relieved that this law, which was stalled in the Senate for a year after it passed the House of Representatives with bi-partisan support, has finally passed.  Why would anyone oppose this law?Some opposed it because they thought the new regulations would be too much for small farmers and food producers, so,Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser wrote in an Op/Ed in yesterday’s New York Times, an amendment was added by Senator Jon Tester of Montana which created an exemption to address those concerns. Continue reading »

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Do you smoke around your children?

Do you smoke around your children?

If you do, a new study suggests your little one could have high levels of tobacco carcinogens in their system.

While the size of this recent study done by the American Association for Cancer Research was small in size; only including 79 U.S. children, between the ages of one month, to ten years old – the findings are alarming for all parents.  It shows a very serious and direct impacts second-hand smoke has on young children, as well as their future health. Continue reading »

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The Food and Drug Administration is charged with, among other things, protecting the public health by regulating prescription and non-prescription drugs.  As part of that responsibility, they decide which drugs are safe for over-the-counter use and which can be obtained only with a doctor’s prescription.  Drugs that are intended to be taken daily for an unlimited amount of time are never approved for use without a prescription.  But when it comes to birth control pills, is this kind of restricted access really in the best interest of women? Continue reading »

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Flibanserin, a new drug from the Germany-based pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, claims to be the female Viagra.  Intended to help women who suffer from hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), it is supposed to usher in “the beginning of an era” for women with low sex drive.  Touted as an effective and safe drug that offers a “unique and historic opportunity for women in the U.S.,” it has been the subject of much excited discussion of late.

Unfortunately, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review of the data detailing the drug’s safety and effectiveness may put a damper on all that excitement. Continue reading »

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The government may take criminal action against McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the Johnson & Johnson unit that that recalled millions of bottles of liquid children’s Tylenol, Motrin, and other over-the-country pediatric medicines last month.

Sloppy quality control and a lack of corporate responsibility led to the recall, Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, the F.D.A.’s principal deputy commissioner, said at a congressional hearing on the issue yesterday.

The FDA said the company may face criminal penalties, product seizures or other sanctions, according to The New York Times. Continue reading »

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For some time now, hot dogs have been singled out as a particularly dangerous toddler food due their unique shape and ability to the plug the airways of small children.  Back in March, the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) called for a redesign of the standard cylindrical wiener to make it choke proof.  Answering that call was RKS Design, who came up with the brilliant “Slinky-esque Spiral,” a coiled hot dog that, while still bun-friendly, is much more child-safe.

But hots dogs aren’t the only foods that threaten our children’s lives.  Raw carrots, peanuts and popcorn all possess dimensions and density properties that allow them to become lodged in a child’s throat.  Rather than try to redesign what nature gave us, the AAP says that the Food and Drug Administration should treat such hazardous foods the same as dangerous toys and require prominent warning labels on their packaging. Continue reading »

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Happy National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day! Okay, maybe it’s not a reason to celebrate, but it is a good opportunity to educate yourself about mental health issues in kids.

As someone who has suffered from depression, I know how important it is to have family support and professional treatment. Unfortunately, with so many misconceptions about mental illness in children, some kids are not getting the help they need.

The National Mental Health Information Center estimates that as many as one in five children and adolescents may have a mental health disorder that can be identified and require treatment. Another study found that 13 percent of children ages 8 to 15 had at least one mental disorder, a rate that is comparable to diabetes, asthma, and other childhood diseases. Continue reading »

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