Consumer Goods
Posted on September 21, 2011 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Women's Health
Another study touting the health benefits of coffee suggests that women who drink caffeinated coffee are less likely to be depressed—and that the more coffee they drink, the more the risk of depression goes down.
The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, surveyed more than 50,000 women between the ages of 30 and 55 about their coffee-drinking and health habits. Although none of the women were diagnosed with depression at the beginning of the study, around 5% received a depression diagnosis or began taking antidepressants in the 10 years that followed.
When compared with women who drank little or no coffee, women who drank two or three cups a day were 15% less likely to develop depression. Drinking four cups daily was associated with a 20% lower risk of depression. Although researchers weren’t sure of the reasons, some health experts have suggested that the antioxidants in coffee may have benefits. Others speculate that people who aren’t depressed may be more drawn to a lifestyle conducive to coffee drinking.
This isn’t the first study to link caffeine consumption to a boost in happiness. A study published last year conducted on men in Finland found that caffeine consumption led to a lower risk of depression and suicide.
Tell us – how does coffee impact your mood?
Posted on September 19, 2011 in Consumer Goods, Parenting, Recalls
Drop-side cribs have been under attack since health experts found them potentially dangerous for children. Now, Chicago is the first municipality of the nation to ban crib bumpers, citing safety risks that include suffocation. Will bumpers be outlawed everywhere soon?
Bumpers were first marketed as a way to keep babies’ arms and legs in the crib after regulations required crib slats to be narrow enough to prevent babies’ bodies from falling through. Now, they’re mostly used as decorative items in a crib, sold alongside coordinating nursery sets.
But there’s a dangerous side to the padded crib guards: if babies get their heads near the bumpers and can’t move away, there’s a chance they could suffocate. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to remove bumpers from cribs once kids are old enough to stand. Toddlers may be able to shimmy out of cribs and fall by using the bumpers to boost themselves out.
Meanwhile, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association is asking Chicago to “reconsider all scientific data on crib bumper pad use.”
Where do you stand on the crib bumper debate?
Posted on September 17, 2011 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Recalls
Cargill Inc. recalled more ground turkey products Sunday after a test showed that salmonella was still present in a sample. The company recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey last month after a salmonella outbreak sickened 107 people and caused one death.
The salmonella was found in a sample from Cargill’s plant in Springfield, Ark. The plant was shut down on August 17 after the earlier recall took place. Cargill had resumed limited production at the plant after the U.S. Department approved additional safety measures.
The USDA said Sunday that Cargill was recalling about 185,000 pounds of ground turkey products made after production resumed because a sample tested positive for salmonella. No illnesses linked to those products have been reported. The meat was distributed through retailers nationally under the Honeysuckle White, HEB and Kroger brand names.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are acting quickly in response to USDA’s sample testing,” said Steve Willardsen, president of Cargill’s turkey-processing business, said in the statement. “There are no known illnesses associated with this positive sample.”
Are you impacted by this recall?
Posted on September 12, 2011 in Consumer Goods, FDA, Health & Medicine, Recalls
- Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. is recalling more ground turkey after a small amount of salmonella was found in a sample. The latest recall includes about 185,000 pounds of turkey meat.
- Australian company Cochlear is recalling its fifth generation hearing aid implant after reports that the device suddenly stopped working.
- MedTronic is recalling its SynchroMed II implantable pump models 8637-20 and 8637-40, distributed between 2004 and July 2011. The pumps may fail to deliver drugs designed to treat chronic pain.
- Honda will voluntarily recall 310,773 Pilot vehicles from the 2009 through 2011 model years in the U.S. and another 9,954 Pilots in Canada from the same model years. The effort is to inspect and potentially replace the driver’s and/or front passenger’s seat belt.
- Volkswagen is recalling more than 32,294 of its 2011 and 2012 Jettas for stainless steel tips (an appearance item installed at the port when the Jettas arrive) that may burn people.
- Target is recalling about 447,000 Embark Resistance Cords and Cord Kits. A black plastic ball attached to the resistance cord’s door anchor can unexpectedly release and strike the user, posing an injury hazard to consumers.
- About 6,100 off-road motorcycles are being recalled by KTM North America because their handlebars may slide out of their normally fixed positions and cause a crash.
- Quaker Oats Company is recalling its 8-count Quaker Chewy Smashbar Graham Pretzel Snackbars due to an undeclared milk allergen.
- Pottery Barn Kids is recalling 84,300 soft dolls named Chloe, Sophie, and Audrey because of a strangulation hazard. The hair and headband on the dolls contain loops that are large enough to fit around a child’s neck.
- Bui Natural Foods announced the voluntary recall on Saturday of its Shrimp Salad Roll and Vegetarian Salad Roll. The products contain undeclared soy and wheat.
Posted on September 4, 2011 in Consumer Goods, Recalls
- Honda Motor Co. says it will recall a total of 962,000 cars worldwide to fix power windows and computer systems. The recall was prompted by defects in driver’s-side power window switch units, which could potentially melt and catch fire.
- The Consumer Products Safety Commission announced today the recall of 2 million containers of gel-based fuels, used in so-called “firepots.” The pourable fuel can unexpectedly ignite and splash onto users when poured into already-lit firepots, posing a risk of burning the user.
- The fifth recall of a Tylenol product this year is “Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime Rapid Release Gelcaps.” McNeil, a division of Johnson & Johnson, a family company, said the caps had “slightly higher than expected” levels of chlorpheniramine ammonio acetate (CPAA). The recall encompasses roughly 2.5 million packages.
- About 5,500 sling-style swing sets have been recalled by Pacific Cycle Inc. because the “sling-style swing seats can crack or split prematurely, posing a fall hazard to consumers.”
- Various food suppliers in several West Coast states issued recalls of chicken Caesar salad because of undeclared allergens on the product labels. Included in the recall are So Ono Fresh Caesar Salad with Chicken, Signature Café Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, and Taylor Farms’ Caesar Pasta Layered Salad with Chicken.
- Vita Food Products recalled 8,088 individual retail packages of 4 oz. Vita Classic Premium Sliced Smoked Atlantic Nova Salmon because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
- King International LLC recalled 12,000 Shoulderflex massagers after reports of strangulation and a death.
- Pure Encapsulation recalled PreNatal Nutrients lot 3560111 after reports that the vitamins may contain an undeclared egg allergen.
- Manhattan Group LLC is recalling the Twirlla Wooden Rattle because the toy’s U-shaped parts can break, posing a choking hazard.
- Petzl America is recalling GRIGRI 2 belay device due to a fall hazard. Excessive force on the handle can cause it to become stuck in the open position. When stuck open, the assisted braking function is disabled, posing a fall hazard to consumers.
Posted on August 31, 2011 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Recent Studies
Chocolate consumption could be associated with a one third reduction in the risk of developing heart disease, according to new research presented at the European Society of Cardiology conference. Should you be chowing down on chocolate regularly?
The jury is still out on whether eating chocolate actually causes better health outcomes. Countless scientific studies have claimed that dark chocolate, in particular, could be beneficial. Dark chocolate contains flavanols that are supposed to be good for the blood system, but researchers are still concerned about the high sugar and fat content of commercially available chocolate.
The University of Cambridge research team looked at the results of seven studies involving 100,000 people. Two of the studies did not show beneficial results from consuming chocolate. Overall, however, the findings showed the highest levels of chocolate consumption were associated with a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 percent reduction in stroke compared with the lowest levels. The pooled analysis did not differentiate between dark and milk chocolate.
The study was published online in the British Medical Journal.
Posted on August 30, 2011 in Consumer Goods, FDA, Health & Medicine
A weight loss product recalled in 2009 is still surfacing in stores and posing significant hazards to consumers. Pai You Guo, a supposedly natural weight-loss supplement from China, has tested positive for containing a suspected carcinogen and dangerous drugs.
The over-the-counter supplement contains sibutramine, the active ingredient in the now-defunct Abbott drug Meridia. Sibutramine can significantly raise blood pressure and pulse rate and might harm patients with a history of heart problems, the FDA said. Pai You Guo also contains phenolphthalein, an ingredient that was removed from over-the-counter laxatives after it was discovered to be a potential carcinogen.
Despite the 2009 recall, a recent study found that 23% of a group of 565 women reported using the supplement. Eighty-five percent of those who use Pai You Guo experienced side effects, including dry mouth, insomnia, and anxiety.
The FDA continues to work to get the word out about the recalled supplements. Surveillance programs are in effect to screen international shipments for traces of the sibutramine.
Posted on August 29, 2011 in Consumer Goods, FDA, Health & Medicine, Parenting, Recalls
- Vita Food Products is recalling more than 8,000 packages of Classics Premium Sliced Salmon Atlanta Nova Salmon due to listeria contamination.
- Fiskars Brands Inc. is recalling Fiskars® SmartPower™ String Trimmers sold from January 2011 to June 2011. Engine vibration during use of the trimmers can cause wear on the fuel line, leading to a propane fuel leak.
- Taylor Farms is recalling approximately 52,191pounds of chicken Caesar salad products because of misbranding and undeclared allergens.
- Triumph Motorcycles Ltd. says it is recalling certain bikes from the 2011 and 2012 model years to fix a potential problem with their engine-control electronics. If not repaired the problem could cause the motorcycles’ engines to stall unexpectedly while in traffic.
- Silva Sausage Co. is recalling about 28,782 pounds of chicken sausage products due to misbranding and an allergen in the product that isn’t listed on the label.
- 2-pound trays of Lowe’s Foods fresh ground beef are being recalled because pieces of blue plastic were found in the product. The products have establishment number “EST. 34176″ inside the USDA mark of inspection and a sell by date of 8/29/11 on the label.
- Radio Flyer’s Scoot ‘N Zoom children’s riding toys have been recalled due to a hazard of tipping over and allowing the child to fall forward.
- Ajinomoto Brand Vegetable Gyoza Dumplings are being recalled because the product may actually contain Seafood Dumplings made of fish and shrimp.
- Haircare Australia, a company that provides products to more than 5500 hairdressers across the country, has recalled 158 bottles of ”Brazilian Blowout” after the product was found to contain high levels of formaldehyde.
- Rojo’s Ultimate 7-Layer Dip and Fresh Food Concepts’ 5-Layer Dip are being recalled because they may be contaminated with listeria.
Posted on August 28, 2011 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Recent Studies
Scented laundry products and dryer sheets could contain carcinogens, according to a small University of Washington study published in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health. The study suggests that the scented items might waft through vents and increase the risk of cancer.
Researchers asked two homeowners to volunteer their washers and dryers, which were scrubbed clean beforehand. The researchers ran normal laundry cycles for three scenarios in each home: once without detergent, once with a scented liquid laundry detergent, and once with scented detergent and leading brand dryer sheets.
More than 25 pollutants were discovered during the course of the study, including carcinogens acetaldehyde and benzene. The emissions released through dryer vents are essentially unregulated, study authors pointed out. “These products can affect not only personal health, but also public and environmental health. The chemicals can go into the air, down the drain and into water bodies,” lead author Anne Steinemann said in a written statement.
“We focus a lot of attention on how to reduce emissions of pollutants from automobiles,” Steinemann said. “And here’s one source of pollutants that could be reduced.”
Do you use scented laundry products?
Posted on August 26, 2011 in Business/Law, Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine, Holistic Remedies, Technology
- Macy’s is recalling 960,000 Martha Stewart Collection™ casserole dishes because of a laceration and burn hazard. The enamel coating on the cast iron casseroles can crack or break during use.
- Office Depot is recalling 34,000 desk chairs due to a “pinching hazard” discovered after a man got his finger caught in an opening in the chair’s tilt mechanism.
- New Zealand-based manufacturer phil&teds recalled 54,000 clip-on chairs whose missing or worn vice clamp pads allowed them in some cases to detach from tabletops, potentially crushing children’s fingertips. Five injuries have been reported.
- Winn-Dixie stores recalled its “Winn-Dixie Choco Charm Chocolate Drink,” sold at its in-store dairy departments, because the product may be mislabeled and may contain the undeclared allergen of wheat.
- Porsche recalled a recall of several model year cars due to a possible seatbelt problem. Potentially affected vehicles include the 2012 911 Carrera, 2012 Boxster S and Boxster Spyder, 2011 911 Speedster, and 2012 Cayman.
- Johnson & Johnson recalled about 2.45 million packages of Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime Rapid Release Gelcaps after detecting slightly higher-than-expected levels of a compound known as chlorpheniramine ammonio acetate, or CPAA, in certain capsules.
- C. O. Lynch Enterprises Inc. is recalling Itasca Fusion Hiker boots sold exclusively at Big 5 Sporting Goods Stores from March 2011 to June 2011. The boots could fail to provide the intended protection against impact.
- Umarex USA is recalling Browning 800 Mag Air Pistols sold nationwide from July 2006 to February 2008. Under a variety of circumstances, the safety will not prevent the gun from firing.
- Radio Flyer is recalling Scoot ‘n Zoom children’s riding toy sold from August 2010 to August 2011. The toy can tip over, allowing a child to fall backward while riding.
- Maserati has recalled hundreds of cars in the U.S. and Canada to fix a potential rear suspension defect, including 763 Granturismo and Quattroporte models in the U.S. and 38 in Canada that were manufactured between July 3, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2008.
