Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

The teenage daughter of a Pennsylvania family has been suffering with residual seizure disorder since she was 6-months-old, says UPI.com, and her parents believe the illness is due to a vaccination she received as an infant. The preventative was ordered in the mid-90s to shield the child from diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. But instead of simply providing the family’s new daughter with immunity from disease, the vaccine allegedly had other negative physical, mental, and emotional side effects on the girl during her formative years. The childhood impacts caused irreversible damage and left the girl a life-long dependent.

In 2009, the Pennsylvania family sued the vaccine manufacturers, Wyeth, who had become a branch of larger brand Pfizer Inc. that same year. But the suit was overruled by federal legislation that cited a 1986 law, the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act that protected vaccine manufacturers from product-liability lawsuits. The act stated that makers of an anti-body could not be brought to trial if their product caused immediate harm or long-term damage to recipients. However, on Monday, March 8, 2010, the Supreme Court took a harder look at the case to decide if the 1986 law did not actually interfere with the family’s lawsuit. The trial will go forth in spring or autumn 2010.

Continue reading "Supreme Court Reviews Pennsylvania Product-Liability Suit" »

Toyota and the government are looking into complaints that the Corolla is difficult to steer straight. This is raising another safety concern before the upcoming congressional hearing about the automaker’s recalls.

According to an article on Philly.com, the Toyota executive in charge of quality control said the company was reviewing about 100 complaints about power steering in the Corolla.

The executive said drivers may feel as though they were losing control over the steering, but it was unclear why. He mentioned problems with the braking system or tires as possible underlying causes. U.S. officials are also investigating.

The article stated that the company was prepared to fix any defects it found and that it would install a backup safety system in all future models worldwide that will override the accelerator if the gas and brake pedals are pressed at the same time. Acceleration problems are behind most of the 8.5 million vehicles recalled by the automaker since November of 2009.

Consumers have the right to assume that products they purchase or use have been produced in a manner that would ensure that they are safe and free from unreasonable risks. If a company manufactures a product that is hazardous to the user, the company must be held liable for any injuries or fatalities that occurred due to the faulty product.

Continue reading "Corollas Pose New Concern for Toyota" »

Patients not only have their health to worry about, but they also have to concern themselves with the medical devices that are used to diagnose and treat their ailments. According to an Latimes.com report, the well publicized CT Scan malfunction which resulted in accidental radiation overdosing to patients could be a national dilemma.The FDA found that a 3rd L.A area hospital, Providence St. Joseph, has overdosed 34 patients over a 20 month interval. The patients, who had gone to the hospital to have a brain scan performed, were found to have been exposed to unsafe levels of radiation.

The CT Scan, which scans those who have suffered a stroke, aids hospital officials in determining how much damage has been done to the brain. Another issue that raises concerns for FDA officials and the public is that the problem with the first two hospitals involved scanners from GE, but the scanner in the third hospital is manufactured by Toshiba. A doctor who is the acting director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health said, “Given the fact that we are dealing with two manufacturers and multiple institutions, we wouldn’t be surprised if there are more problems at other institutions”.

Hospitals throughout the country have been directed by the FDA to review radiation dosing guidelines when a CT perfusion scan will be performed. This means that CT technologists must be trained to check the display on the scanner prior to the scan. According to the FDA, an estimated 150,000 CT brain perfusion scans are carried out yearly throughout the country. It is of the utmost importance for all the machines to be checked properly and hospital personnel must be accurately trained to operate them as soon as possible. The FDA is continuing their investigation as to whether the overdoses are a result of human error, defective machines, or both.

Continue reading "FDA Orders National Review of Hospital Scanners" »

Parents of newborns should take special heed of the following story about faulty baby crib products. The Associated Press reported that government officials have ordered a second recall of two crib models from LaJobi Inc., a company based in Cranbury, New Jersey.

The first recall was issued back in 2001 because of potential entrapment and strangulation hazards. Officials at the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that they had received a report of a one year old Mississippi girl lodging her head between the decorative cutouts on the headboard, causing her death. The accident took place in 2003 but officials declined to specify when they were made aware of this sad accident.

CPSC reports that the cribs were manufactured back in the year 2001 which could make it particularly difficult to inform parents as they probably have given or sold the crib to another individual or it may be being offered at second hand stores. The LaJobi models were made in Italy and are called Molly and Betsy Style. If you believe that you possess one of these cribs LaJobi urges you to contact them by phone for replacement panels at 1-800-266-2848.
Parents expect that their children will be completely secure in a crib, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are a number of ways in which the crib you choose could potentially harm your child. Although baby products are highly regulated to prevent injuries, some manufacturing problems and other mistakes can hurt your infant.

Continue reading "Crib Models "Betsy" and "Molly" Recalled" »

Most Pennsylvanians have heard the news of a hospital in Los Angeles, California that accidentally exposed CT scans patients to dangerous levels of radiation. Officials believe that patients received up to 8 times the prescribed dosage at the Cedars-Sinai hospital.

The troubling revelation has many experts proclaiming that there is too much reliance on medical machinery in the health industry and that this is a growing problem of modern technology.

Chief medical officer for Siemens, a manufacturer of CT scanners, said, “It’s in your face on the screen,” when describing the radiation levels during a CT scan. Investigators are trying to figure out why no one noticed the problem for 18 months. Director of the Center for Radiological Research said, “It’s pretty mystifying to me.”

The state Department of Public Health and the FDA are investigating while Cedars-Sinai claims that the overdoses happened as a result of the hospital reconfiguring a scanner in order to improve physicians’ capability to see blood flow in the brain. Cedars-Sinai released a statement that said they have “added double-checks to our process whenever a protocol is changed.”

Continue reading "Cedars-Sinai Overdoses at Least 206 CT Scan Patients With Radiation" »

According to a report by Fox News, 10 million cans of the popular diet drink Slim-Fast have been recalled by its parent company, Unilever PLC. Unilever claims that this move is strictly precautionary. They believe that the cans may possibly be contaminated with bacteria that can make consumers ill, but were quick to point out that the recall only affects their “Slim-Fast ready-to-drink” products; their snack-bars and powder products remain untainted with the bacteria.

Unilever describes the bacteria, called Bacillus cereus, as a micro-organism that can cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting when ingested. The company spokeswoman did not have information on whether calls from consumers had prompted the recall or if consumers would be compensated for any problems. Unilever’s spokeswoman did say that, “The probability of serious, adverse consequences is remote.” The company also announced that, “Out of an abundance of caution, the company is recalling all ready-to-drink products in cans that are currently in distribution centers, on shelf or in back room retail outlets or in consumer’s homes.” Unilever asked the public to throw away any cans they have and contact them for a full refund.

Continue reading "10 Million Cans of Slim Fast Recalled" »

Federal health officials announced the recall of 2 million medical needles last month because of a risk they can push bits of silicone into patients’ bodies. According to an article on Philly.com, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Nipro Medical Corp. voluntarily recalled its Exel/Exelint Huber needles manufactured between January 2007 and August 2009.

The needles are used to access injection ports, which are devices implanted beneath the skin of patients who require frequent injections. The ports connect to a vein and allow easy delivery of chemotherapy, antibiotics, and other injectable drugs.

Huber needles are designed to be non-coring, or to penetrate an injected material without retaining any of it.

However, an FDA investigation found that the needles could dislodge bits of silicone from the ports, potentially pushing them into the patient’s bloodstream. The problem can also damage the ports themselves, resulting in problems delivering drug therapy.

According to the FDA, 60 to 72 % of the company’s needles had the design problem.

The FDA is working with 19 other manufacturers to determine if their needles have the same problem.

Doctors may have difficulty identifying the problem of silicone shards in patients. The FDA recommended that physicians watch for signs of tissue or nerve damage in patients, which could be a sign of damage to their port. And, they suggested throwing out the first syringe injected into a port, in an effort to discard any bits of silicone.

Continue reading "FDA Announces Recall of 2M Defective Needles" »

According to an Associated Press article on Philly.com, Oxmoor House is recalling nearly 1 million home improvement books because of errors that could lead people to make risky mistakes while installing or repairing their electrical wiring themselves.

Although the Consumer Product Safety Commission said no incidents have been reported so far, the errors in diagrams and wiring instructions could cause people to be shocked or create a fire hazard.

The 951,000 recalled books have nine different titles, including “Lowe’s Complete Home Improvement and Repair” and “Sunset You Can Build, Wiring.”

They have been sold at bookstores and home improvement stores nationwide for as many as three decades.

Continue reading "Books with Bad Do-It-Yourself Advice Recalled" »

On November 24, the head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) promised swift action to get dangerous products off the market. According to an Associated Press article that appeared on Philly.com, the CPSC chairman acknowledged that her agency did not move quickly enough on a record recall of 2.1 million cribs linked to four infant suffocations.

The recall involves drop-side cribs made by Stork Craft Manufacturing of Canada, affecting 1.2 million cribs in the United States and almost one million in Canada. Sales of the affected cribs date back to 1993.

Stork Craft has insisted that its cribs were safe if used properly. Their chief executive claimed the deaths were found to be a result of improper use and that parents should install a free kit from the company that converts the drop-side to an immovable side.

Drop-side cribs have one side that moves up and down to allow parents, especially shorter adults, to lift children from the cribs more easily. The CPSCS said that there have been 110 incidents of the drop-side detaching from the Stork Craft cribs.

More than five million drop-side cribs have been recalled in the last two years — recalls associated with the deaths of a dozen children.

Continue reading "Crib Design Standards May Become More Strict" »

A new study raises new concerns about Zetia and Vytorin, drugs taken by millions of Americans to lower cholesterol. According to an article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, Zetia failed to shrink buildups in artery walls while a rival drug, Niaspan, did so significantly. Zetia users also suffered more heart attacks and other problems although the numbers of these events were too small to draw firm conclusions.

A preventive cardiology chief at Johns Hopkins University said that in the seven years Zetia has been on the market, it hasn’t proven that it improves clinical outcomes.

Lipitor and Crestor (statins) have long been used to lower LDL, or bad cholesterol, and are known to cut the risk of heart problems. Because many statin users still suffer heart attacks, doctors have been testing adding a second medicine to further lower risk.

They are trying Niaspan, a slow-release version of niacin, a type of B vitamin that raises HDL, or good cholesterol. The other is Zetia, which lowers bad cholesterol in a different way than statins do, by blocking its absorption in the gut.

Vytorin is a pill that combines Zetia with a statin.

Abbott Laboratories sponsored the new study in which researchers enrolled 363 people with heart disease or a high risk for it who had been taking statins for six years on average.

Half were given Niaspan and the others, Zetia. Ultrasound images of neck arteries showed that Niaspan shrank buildups by about 2 percent, while Zetia had no effect on this even though it lowered bad cholesterol as expected.

Continue reading "Study on Merck Pill Zetia Raises New Questions" »

Federal health regulators have found tiny particles of trash in drugs made by Genzyme, a biotechnology company. This is the second time this year the company has been cited for contamination issues. According to an Associated Press article, on November 13, the Food and Drug Administration said that bits of steel, rubber, and fiber found in vials of drugs used to treat rare enzyme disorders could cause serious adverse health effects for patients.

The FDA said the products would remain on the market because there are few alternative treatments. They also said doctors should closely inspect vials for particles before injecting them into patients. Doctors should return the defective pharmaceutical to Genzyme if they suspect contamination and watch for potential allergic reactions, blood clots and other problems in patients.

In June, Genzyme was forced to shut down a key production facility due to viral contamination.
The drugs affected by the latest announcement include: Cerezyme, Fabrazyme, Myozyme, Aldurazyme and Thyrogen. All are manufactured at a biotech plant in Allston Landing, Mass., where FDA regulators are conducting an inspection.

Genzyme specializes in biotech drugs to treat rare diseases.

Continue reading "FDA Discovers Pieces of Steel and Rubber in Genzyme Drugs" »

On November 17, federal health officials said that a popular variety of heartburn medications can interfere with the blood thinner Plavix, a drug taken by millions of Americans to reduce risks of heart attack and stroke. The Associated Press reported in an article that the Food and Drug Administration said the drugs Prilosec and Nexium cut in half the blood-thinning effect of Plavix, known generically as clopidogrel.

Regulators said the key ingredient in the heartburn medications blocks an enzyme the body needs to break down Plavix, muting the drug’s full effect. Procter & Gamble’s Prilosec OTC is available over-the-counter and AstraZeneca’s Nexium is only available with a prescription.

The FDA said that patients at risk for heart attacks or strokes who use clopidogrel to prevent blood clots would not get the full effect of this medicine. Because Plavix can upset the stomach, it is often prescribed with stomach acid-blocking drugs.

The FDA recommended that patients who need to reduce their acid should take drugs from the H-2 blocker family. These include Mylanta and Zantac. FDA scientists said there is no evidence those drugs interfere with Plavix’s anti-blood clotting action.

FDA regulators said they don’t have enough information to say whether other drugs in the same class as Nexium and Prilosec (proton pump inhibitors) shouldn’t be used with Plavix. The warnings on Plavix have been strengthened based on a 150-patient study submitted over the summer. Some consumer advocates argued that regulators should have placed the information in a “black box” warning label.

It was reported last year that taking Plavix with Nexium significantly increased patients’ chances of being hospitalized for a heart attack, stroke or chest pain. Plavix’s labeling was updated to advise against using it in combination with certain heartburn drugs.

Continue reading "FDA Says Heartburn Drugs Can Interfere with Plavix" »

On November 9, about a million Maclaren strollers sold by Target and Babies “R” Us were recalled after 12 reports of children having their fingertips amputated by a hinge mechanism.
According to an Associated Press article, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall includes all nine models of single and double umbrella Maclaren strollers (Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller).

The amputation risk occurs when a child’s finger is placed in the hinge mechanism of a stroller while it is being unfolded. When the opened stroller locks into place, it can cut off the tip of the child’s finger.

The company is offering free hinge covers to prevent future incidents. The covers should not be removed unless the stroller is being cleaned, according to the CPSC.

Continue reading "Stroller Recall Over Fingertip Amputation Danger" »

The family of a Connecticut woman who died after her chenille bathrobe caught on fire has filed a federal lawsuit against a Pennsylvania-based retailer. According to an article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, attorneys for the estate of an 80-year-old woman filed suit last week in U.S. District Court in Hartford, CT against Blair LLC. They are claiming wrongful death and product liability and are seeking $30 million.

The woman was severely burned on Feb. 12, 2005, when her robe ignited as she made tea in her home. She died two weeks later.

The robes were linked to nine deaths. Blair recently expanded its recall of more than 300,000 chenille products it imported from a Pakistani manufacturer.

As a consumer, you have the right to assume that products you purchase or use have been produced in a manner that would ensure that they are safe and free from unreasonable risks. If a company manufactures or sells a product that is hazardous to the user, the company must be held liable for any injuries or fatalities that occurred due to the faulty product.

Continue reading "Bathrobe Fire Death: Connecticut Family Sues" »

A Philadelphia jury awarded $2.5 million to a woman from Bensalem. The jury found that Paxil had caused heart problems in her 3-year-old son who required several surgeries after his birth to fix his heart. They ruled out additional punitive damages.

The case was the first of about 600 lawsuits to go to trial on claims that the GlaxoSmithKline’s Paxil antidepressant caused birth defects in children whose mothers took the drug during pregnancy.

According to an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, legal experts saw the 10-2 jury decision as a big win for plaintiffs in the remaining cases, even though the jurors awarded only compensatory damages.

Jurors linked the plaintiff’s problems to Paxil and said GlaxoSmithKline was negligent in not properly warning the woman’s doctor of the drug’s risk. They did not find the company’s behavior “outrageous,” which would have been necessary to award punitive damages.

The standard for finding punitive damages requires evidence that a company knew about problems but ignored them or covered them up because the product was so profitable.

Continue reading "First Paxil Lawsuit Results in Plaintiff's Favor" »

A man from Tabernacle, PA said a defective Toyota seat belt contributed to his paralysis. According to an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, he thinks that the company may be withholding crash data that could prove it.

The injured man’s attorneys argued in court that Toyota had been evasive when asked whether crash-test videos still exist for the 1991 short-bed, deluxe pickup.

On January 4, 2005, as the plaintiff was heading to work, he stopped to make a left turn onto in Barnegat, Ocean County, NJ and was struck from behind and then by a second vehicle. He filed a year later against the first driver, Toyota, and the seat-belt manufacturer. The man’s legs are paralyzed, although he does have some upper-leg strength that allows limited walking with a walker or crutches.

The seriously injured man claims that he was wearing his seat belt because he always buckled the restraint before starting the vehicle, as required by his employer.

There are allegations in California accusing Toyota of withholding and destroying evidence during civil litigation in unrelated cases. The man’s attorneys said this may be indicative of a widespread practice to conceal damaging evidence.

On October 9, a Superior Court Judge ruled that the company had an obligation locally to clarify whether videos or other electronic information exist showing that vehicles have been properly tested and met all safety standards.

The plaintiff’s lawyers allege that the seat belt, with a design defect, opened upon impact and that he was thrown into the dashboard with such force that he fractured vertebrae. Had the seat belt worked properly, the man would not have been thrown from his seat.

One of his attorneys also alleges that Toyota engineers knew in 1991 the seat belts installed in some vehicles were defective and that they later installed a properly designed belt. But the company never issued a recall.

The case is scheduled for trial in February.

According to the article, attorneys for the injured man are questioning if the company has a broad practice of withholding evidence.

Continue reading "Burlco Man's Suit Has Toyota Safety Data at Its Center" »

A bankruptcy court judge overseeing certain Chrysler assets approved a $24 million settlement in the death of a California longshoreman run over by a Dodge pickup. According to an article, the settlement comes more than two years after a Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded damages of more than $55 million to a deceased man’s family. The family argued the automaker had failed to fix and adequately warn consumers about a transmission defect that made it appear trucks were in park position, when they actually were between gears.

An appeal of the jury verdict by the former DaimlerChrysler was delayed by Chrysler’s Chapter 11 bankrupcty filing in April, leading to negotiations that resulted in a settlement.

The 38-year-old suffered fatal head injuries when he was run over by a 1992 Dodge Dakota at the Port of Los Angeles on April 13, 2004. Both sides in the lawsuit said he had left the truck running without setting the parking brake, but they differed on who was to blame for the accident.

Attorneys for the man’s family argued that the truck slipped into reverse after the man got out. Those attorneys said DaimlerChrysler had received more than 1,000 “park-to-reverse” complaints involving 1988 through 2003 model Dakotas. The family’s attorneys argued that the company issued a recall in 2000 but it was for repairs that failed to fix the problem.

Jurors found in March 2007 that DaimlerChrysler was negligent in the truck’s design, and for failing to warn consumers or adequately recall the vehicle.

Continue reading "$24M Chrysler Wrongful Death Settlement Approved by Judge" »

On September 16, the FDA ordered the drugmaker Wyeth to put the strongest warning possible about the risks of IV push and Phenergan (promethazine) on the drug label. According to an article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the drug caused one woman, a Vermont musician, to lose her arm. Levine fought drugmaker Wyeth all the way to the Supreme Court and won.

In the spring of 2000, this particular woman had a migraine headache and got the drug Phenergan to treat associated nausea. The drug was administered via a method known as intravenous push, which can cause infection and gangrene. That happened to her and doctors amputated her lower right arm.

She sued Wyeth and the Supreme Court decision in her favor was viewed as upholding all consumers’ rights to sue drug companies.

The article stated that although Wyeth no longer sells Phenergan, many makers of generic drugs still do, and the FDA ordered them to put the strongest warning possible about the risks, sometimes called a “black box,” on the label.

The stronger warning would let medical professionals know that the preferred way to administer promethazine is through intramuscular injection.

Continue reading "Phenergan Ordered to Display Black Box Warning" »

Six companies recalled millions of window blinds and shades after the deaths of three children who got caught in cords that help the coverings move up and down.

According to this article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, the recalls were announced on August 26 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The recalls involve Pottery Barn Kids and IKEA as well as smaller companies that sold their window covers at retailers such as Target.

No deaths were associated with the blinds and shades from Pottery Barn Kids and IKEA, but CPSC says there have been six reports of children becoming entangled in the inner cord of the Pottery Barn Kids shades.

According to the CPSC, the three deaths, which date back to 2006, involved blinds or shades made or imported by Vertical Land Inc., of Panama City Beach, Fla., and Lewis Hyman Inc., in Carson, California.

A one-year-old was killed in 2007 when he became entangled and strangled in the lift cord loop of a roll-up blind from Lewis Hyman that had fallen into his portable crib, The company is recalling about 4.2 million of the blinds.

Continue reading "Wrongful Deaths Cause Blinds and Shades to be Recalled by Six Companies" »

The Little Tikes Co. is recalling about 1.6 million toy workshops and trucks, after an 11-month-old boy got a plastic nail lodged in his throat. According to an article, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says the boy from Goose Creek, S.C., recovered after being hospitalized.

The recall includes a variety of toys manufactured by Little Tikes of Hudson, Ohio, in both the United States and China. They were sold with red or blue plastic toy nails that are about 3 1/4 inches long.

The recalled toys were sold on the Little Tikes Web site and by retailers around the country, including Toys ‘R’ Us, between March 1994 and June 2009.

Dangerous toys and defective child products can cause serious injuries, even death. Products may be dangerous because of design defects, manufacturer defects, incomplete instructions, and failure to provide danger warnings.

Continue reading "Children Products Recall Alert: Little Tikes Toy Workshops and Trucks" »

The Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory warning consumers to stop using products containing steroids or steroid-like substances, many of which are labeled as dietary supplements. According to an article, the advisory came after FDA investigators raided the offices of American Cellular Labs, looking for evidence the company sells steroids under the guise of a supplement.

The FDA sent a warning letter to the company, saying it was selling unapproved and misbranded drugs and telling the company to explain how to prevent the recurrence of violations. Those products include TREN-Xtreme, MASS Xtreme and six others. The FDA received several reports of adverse effects over two years, including serious liver injury, from the American Cellular products and 15 from similar products made by other manufacturers.

These defective products may be popular among athletes in high school, especially football players, who may not be subjected to a thorough drug-testing program. The FDA warned consumers to be cautious when they buy any dietary supplements, not just the ones that claim to build muscle. Many can be contaminated with potentially dangerous substances.

Continue reading "FDA Warns About Supplements with Steroids" »

A report said multiple failings led to a Green Beret's death in Iraq. According to this article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, the Defense Department’s inspector general determined that military leaders and a major military contractor failed to protect a Green Beret who was electrocuted while showering in his barracks in Iraq.

The Staff Sgt.’s wrongful death triggered an investigation, as well as a review of 17 other electrocutions in Iraq. He was a 24-year-old from Pittsburgh, PA. It also led to the ongoing electrical inspections of about 90,000 U.S.-maintained facilities in Iraq.

The inspector general’s found that “multiple systems and organizations” failed and exposed the Sgt. to “unacceptable risk.”

The man was electrocuted while showering when he came in contact with an energized metal shower and hose caused by the failure of an ungrounded water pump located on the roof of the building. The Houston-based military contractor KBR, Inc. installed the pump and adjacent water tanks.

KBR did not ground equipment during installation or report improperly grounded equipment during routine maintenance and KBR did not have standard operating procedures for the technical inspection of facilities.

According to the article, military commanders and key decision-makers failed to ensure that renovations were properly performed and did not address the maintenance situation. The Sgt.’s family has filed a lawsuit against KBR.

Continue reading "Electrocution Death of Pittsburg Sgt, Military and Contractor Faulted" »

On July 22, federal health officials announced they found cancer-causing ingredients in electronic cigarettes, despite manufacturers’ claims that the products are safer than tobacco cigarettes. According to an article, the Food and Drug Administration said testing of products from two leading electronic cigarette makers turned up several toxic chemicals.

The Deputy Commissioner of the FDA said that not much is known about these products, including how much nicotine is there and what other chemicals may be there. FDA scientists tested 19 varieties of cigarettes, half of which contained forms of nitrosamine, a carcinogen known to cause cancer in humans. Many products that claimed to contain no nicotine actually had low levels of the stimulant.

Brands tested by the agency included Smoking Everywhere, marketed by a Florida-based company, and NJoy Cigarettes, based in Scottsdale, Ariz. Public health advocates have also said that the products are aimed at young people and may lead to tobacco smoking. Because electronic cigarettes are not covered by federal tobacco laws, they are also often easier for young people to buy.

Electronic cigarettes produce a nicotine mist absorbed directly into the lungs. Most can easily pass as a tobacco cigarette with slim white bodies and glowing amber tips. They even emit what look like puffs of white smoke. Regulators said they have halted 50 shipments of electronic cigarettes at ports and borders since last summer. The FDA said it is authorized to seize the products because, for legal purposes, they are a medical device used to deliver nicotine.

Continue reading "FDA Says Electronic Cigarettes Contain Toxic Chemicals" »

Because the number of Simplicity drop-side crib recalls has now reached two million, government safety regulators said that parents should discard drop-side Simplicity cribs sold mostly through Wal-Mart and other mass retailers. According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, ten infant deaths in recent years have been blamed on Simplicity cribs' defective products.

A spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned, “You should not put your baby to bed tonight in a Simplicity drop-side crib.”The agency said its warning did not apply to cribs on which parents had installed special hardware.

The agency recalled an additional 400,000 Simplicity cribs earlier this month, which brought the total number of recalled Simplicity cribs to two million in the last two years. The cribs recalled on July 2 were sold at discount stores between January 2005 and last month.

The Simplicity cribs’ hardware can break or deform, allowing the drop side to detach and create a gap between the mattress and the side of the crib where a small child could be trapped and suffocate.

Continue reading "400,000 More Recalls of Simplicity Cribs" »

The Philadelphia Daily News reported in a story that Synthes, Inc., a medical-device manufacturer in West Chester (as well as one of its subsidiaries and four company executives), was charged by a federal grand jury for allegedly scheming to conduct clinical trials using a bone cement on spinal fractures without the approval of the FDA.

Synthes Inc. specializes in trauma products and devices to treat damaged bone. According to the article, from May 2002 into fall 2004, a subsidiary, Norian Corp. conspired with Synthes and four Synthes executives to conduct unauthorized clinical trials of a bone cement called Norian SRS and Norian XR in surgeries to treat vertebral-compression fractures of the spine.

The article stated that the surgeries were performed despite a warning on the FDA-cleared label for Norian XR against this use. Before the marketing program began, the company knew that the bone cement reacted chemically with human blood in a test tube to cause blood clots. Despite knowing this, the company proceeded to market the defective product Norian XR for vertebral-compression fractures, and didn’t stop until three patients died on the operating table.

The patients were dependents of people serving in the U.S. military and died of hypotension, or a rapid drop in blood pressure.In January 2004, Norian and Synthes did not recall Norian XR from the market after the third patient died. Instead, they tried to cover up the details of the patient deaths by lying to FDA regulators during an official inspection in May and June 2004.

Continue reading "West Chester Company Penalized for Unlawful Clinical Trials" »

An FDA advisory panel recommended banning Vicodin and Percocet because they contain acetaminophen, which can cause liver damage if taken at higher-than-recommended doses. According to this article on Philly.com, the panel also urged the FDA to lower maximum doses for acetaminophen (also known as the branded drug Tylenol).

The FDA is not required to follow the panel’s advice, but usually does follow their recommendations. Vicodin and Percocet were recommended for a ban because some research has showed greater evidence of drug injury and liver damage with these medications. It could be because many patients take painkillers over the long term, while also taking other medicines they do not realize contain acetaminophen, such as NyQuil and Theraflu.

If the FDA bans Vicodin and Percocet, doctors may need to explore other ways to manage their patients’ pain. Vicodin contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Acetaminophen was included as an ingredient in the two drugs because it acts on different pain receptors than do hydrocodone and oxycodone. Other painkillers like aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also come with risks, such as kidney problems and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Experts said there are solutions that could reduce the chance of acetaminophen overdose, such as making sure all labels list acetaminophen. This could reduce the possibility that a patient might take too much of the drug. Doctors could also ask more questions about which drugs patients are taking. Doctors need to know how often a person takes Tylenol and NyQuil.

The pharmaceutical industry likely will fight the proposed ban since prescription drugs containing acetaminophen generated $1.4 billion in 2008 sales.

Continue reading "FDA Recommends Ban on Painkillers" »

Matrixx, the manufacturer of Zicam intranasal cold remedies, is issuing a voluntary recall of all Zicam Nasal Gel and Zicam Cold Remedy Gel Swabs, according to this news report. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had issued an alert warning consumers that these Zicam products were unsafe and unlawfully marketed by Matrixx. FDA officials have received numerous complaints from consumers who say that they have lost their sense of smell as a result of Zicam drug injury.

Matrixx has disagreed with the FDA's assessment that these zinc-containing cold remedies are hazardous to consumers. However, the company has restated that it is conducting this drug recall because it wants to cooperate with the FDA. Matrixx officials also plan on meeting with FDA officials to present "comprehensive scientific and medical data and analyses, demonstrating that these products are safe," the news report states.

Losing one's sense of smell not only destroys an individual's quality of life, but also puts him or her in a potentially dangerous situation if not able to smell smoke or a gas leak. The Zicam drug recall has already sparked numerous complaints and class-action lawsuits across the nation.

Continue reading "Zicam Defective Drug Recall" »

The JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colorado voluntarily expanded its beef recall to include about 380,000 pounds of products because of possible E. coli contamination. According to this article by the Associated Press that appeared on Philly.com, a recall earlier this week involved about 41,000 pounds of products.

On June 28, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that all the beef products in the expanded recall were produced on April 21.

The USDA said an investigation by its Food Safety and Inspection Service of 24 illnesses in multiple states prompted the company to re-examine its food safety system. The department says 18 of the personal injury illnesses appear to have the same cause.

The USDA does not currently have an update of what states reported illnesses or received beef products covered by the expanded recall. But the earlier recall covered products that were made April 21-22 and shipped to Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.

According to the U.S. CDC, common symptoms of E. Coli infections include stomach cramps and diarrhea and, in rare cases, there have been fatalities. Children may be susceptible to complications.

Continue reading "JBS Swift Beef Co. Expands Beef Recall" »

A safety foundation has asked General Motors Corp. to recall its 2000-01 sedans and refit their trunks with emergency-release latches. According to this article by the Associated Press on Philly.com, this comes after two Arkansas children were found dead in the trunk of a 2000 Chevrolet Malibu.

Kansas-based Kids and Cars said that although Ford has installed glow-in-the-dark handles inside all trunks since 2000, General Motors offered the latches only as an option on models made before 2002.

GM did not say what action the company might take in the wake of deaths regarding their trunk's auto product liability.

A Washington County Coroner said it appears a 5-year-old and a 4-year-old of Springdale died accidentally in the car’s trunk last week.

Police said it is likely that the children were playing in the trunk when it closed and they likely died of asphyxiation. Temperatures were nearly 90 degrees the day they died. Further investigation of the wrongful deaths is needed.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released data for “non-traffic” deaths in January that showed three people died in 2003-04 after being closed inside a trunk. In a one-month period of 1998, 11 children were found dead in car trunks, prompting calls for trunk-release latches.

Continue reading "Safety Group Asks GM for Trunk-Latch Recall" »

The Associated Press reported in an article that consumers should immediately stop wearing a certain type of chenille robe made by Blair, LLC due to a fire hazard that is believed to have caused the wrongful death of at least six people.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Blair LLC, issued the second recall notice in two months after receiving reports of six deaths due to the robes catching on fire. In five of the six cases, the victims were women who were cooking at the time; three of the victims were in their 80s. The recall applied to 162,000 robes.

The article said that the CPSC urges all consumers to report any incidents or injuries involving consumer products, even after a recall has been announced. Contacting the CPSC may help prevent tragic deaths or injuries.

CPSC and Blair initially announced their voluntary recall in April, citing three reports of the robes catching on fire, including one report of second-degree burns.

The robes are a one-piece garment made of plush sculpted chenille, a shaped stand collar, and horizontal chenille front and back yolks and cuffs. The robes have a full-button front with seven matching button closures.

Continue reading "6 Deaths Result in Robes Recall" »

On June 16, federal health regulators said consumers should stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and related products because they can permanently damage the sense of smell. According to this article by the Associated Press, scientists said the zinc in these over-the-counter products might damage nerves in the nose needed for smell. The FDA said about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using Matrixx Initiatives’ Zicam products since 1999.

Other products affected by the FDA’s announcement are adult and kid-size Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs.

Loss of the sense of smell is potentially life threatening because people without the sense of smell may not be able to detect life dangerous situations, such as gas leaks or something burning in the house.

The article stated that Zicam Cold Remedy was never formally approved because it is part of a small group of remedies that are not required to undergo federal review before launching.

Known as homeopathic products, the formulations often contain herbs, minerals, and flowers.

The FDA issued a warning letter to Matrixx asking the company to stop marketing its zinc-based products. The agency did not issue a formal recall.

According to federal regulators, Matrixx would have to submit safety and effectiveness data on the drug. And, if they wish to continue marketing Zicam intranasal zinc products, they need to seek FDA approval.

Continue reading "Zicam Nasal Spray Linked to Loss of Smell" »

On June 8, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers not to use skin products made by Clarcon because of high levels of disease-causing bacteria found during a recent inspection. According to this article by the Associated Press that appeared on Philly.com, Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc. of Roy, Utah, issued a voluntary recall of some skin sanitizers and skin protectants marketed under several different brand names to prevent any further incidents of personal injury.

Consumers should not use any Clarcon products and should throw them away.

Analyses of several samples of over-the-counter topical antimicrobial skin sanitizer and skin protectant products revealed high levels of various bacteria, including some associated with unsanitary conditions. Some of these bacteria can cause opportunistic infections of the skin and underlying tissues and could result in medical or surgical attention as well as permanent damage.

Examples of products that should be discarded include Citrushield Lotion, Dermasentials DermaBarrier, Dermassentials by Clarcon, Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer, Iron Fist Barrier Hand Treatment, Skin Shield Restaurant, Skin Shield Industrial, Skin Shield Beauty Salon Lotion, Total Skin Care Beauty and Total Skin Care Work.

The FDA said its findings are concerning because these defective products are promoted as antimicrobial agents that claim to treat open wounds and damaged skin and protect against various infectious diseases.

As a consumer, you have the right to assume that products you purchase or use have been produced in a manner that would ensure that they are safe and free from unreasonable risks. If a company manufactures or sells a product that is hazardous to the user, the company must be held liable for any injuries or fatalities that occurred due to the faulty product.

If you have a Pennsylvania defective product claim, you will require the representation of Philadelphia's skilled products liability attorneys from Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano, LLP to handle all of the complexities involved with this type of case. There are many steps to a product liability case; beginning with proving that the product was in fact defective, next proving the product was the cause of the injury, and finally proving that the product was not used unreasonably. Please contact our firm today to discuss your case with an experienced legal professional.

A 23-year-old Indiana County man died and a teenage girl suffered major injuries after the all-terrain vehicle they were in crashed into a utility pole, according to this news report. Ryan Dixson Henry was driving around the borough with a 15-year-old passenger when he drove off the road near 3rd and Main streets. Pennsylvania State police officials said Henry first struck a newspaper box and then a utility pole, causing both him and the girl to get thrown from the vehicle in this PA wrongful death accident. Neither person was wearing a helmet. Henry was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after the ATV crash. He apparently died of head and chest injuries. The girl, who has not yet been identified, suffered serous injuries, the report stated.

ATV auto accidents in Philadelphia can cause serious injuries and even deaths. In this case, it is unfortunate that both the rider and the passenger were not wearing helmets. Safety gear is a must while riding an ATV. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 750 deaths and 146,600 injuries reported in 2006 as a result of ATV accidents in the United States. Officials say that at least one-third of ATV accident victims are children under 16 years of age.

ATV accidents can happen because of driver error, inattention or simply inexperience. However, often times, ATV crashes also occur because of a manufacturing or design defect. If you believe you have been seriously injured in an ATV accident because of a product defect, you would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Pennsylvania product liability attorney. You may be eligible to receive compensation from the manufacturer of the defective product to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings and other related damages. If you have been seriously injured as a result of a product defect, please call Cherry, Fieger & Marciano LLP. for a free and comprehensive consultation.

Over the past year, the optical products company Bausch and Lomb has quietly settled nearly 600 fungal-infection lawsuits for causing multiple cases of personal injury, with dozens more individual claims yet to be resolved. So far it has cost the company more than $250 million.

According to this article, more than 700 lens wearers in the United States and Asia say they were exposed to a potentially blinding infection known as Fusarium keratitis while using ReNu with MoistureLoc, a new-formula multipurpose solution for cleaning, storing, and moistening soft contact lenses.

Sometimes, the eye injury damage was irreparable, including seven people who had to have an eye removed and 60 more Americans who needed vision-saving corneal transplants. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 180 cases in 35 states from June 2005 through September 2006. The CDC continued to hear of sporadic, unconfirmed cases in the months after MoistureLoc was withdrawn.

Among out-of-court settlements reached in May was one brought by a Broadway actress and comedienne whose eye was scarred. In Colorado, a corneal transplant ended a race-car driver’s career. The culprit was a rare infection that most eye doctors had never seen before. The outbreak appeared first in Hong Kong in spring 2005 and reached its peak in the United States just days after MoistureLoc was removed from domestic markets in April 2006.

Victims typically complained of eye irritation that progressed to a sudden onset of searing pain. Many were mistakenly treated with antibiotics and steroids, which actually worsened the condition. Leading eye doctors and government scientists concluded that MoistureLoc was the only lens solution that contributed to the outbreak. Yet the mechanics of how it caused the problem are still not fully clear.

Continue reading "Dangerous Contact Lens Solution: Bausch & Lomb Settles 600 Eye Fungus Lawsuits" »

According to this article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the popular bodybuilding and weight-loss supplement, Hydroxycut, has been linked to liver damage. It is uncertain exactly how many people have suffered Hydroxycut drug injury, although a few incidents have been noted. For instance, a 33-year-old woman went to the emergency room at Yale-New Haven Hospital because of dark urine, yellowish skin, and profound fatigue. Her lab results showed she had acute liver inflammation.

Joseph Lim, a liver specialist at Yale on the woman’s case, noted that the woman had been taking Hydroxycut supplements for weight loss for two weeks. Several reports in the medical literature had linked Hydroxycut (which is used for both bodybuilding and weight loss) to liver damage. His patient improved after she stopped taking the supplement.

In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers to stop taking Hydroxycut, which had been linked to liver damage and jaundice in 23 case reports received by the agency. These complaints included one liver transplant and one fatality. Those who have suffered injury due to using Hydroxycut in Pennsylvania would be well advised to contact a Philadelphia Hydroxycut recall attorney to help them receive compensation for any medical costs, treatment, or lost wages from not being able to work.

Iovate Health Sciences, the manufacturer, voluntarily recalled 14 Hydroxycut products. According to the article, the company sold more than nine million bottles of Hydroxycut in 2008. It is unclear how many people Hydroxycut may have injured or even which of its ingredients are dangerous. Although Hydroxycut was pulled from drug store shelves, many of its ingredients were widely available in other products still for sale. The FDA said that the agency was investigating those ingredients and other products that contain them.

The Hydroxycut ingredient that shares the product’s name is hydroxycitric acid or HCA. Two other ingredients in Hydroxycut could also be toxic: the mineral chromium and Camellia sinensis, the tea plant. They could be potential liver toxins. Recalling Hydroxycut does not fully protect the public if consumers buy another weight-loss supplement. Weight-loss and bodybuilding supplements may all be dangerous and have the potential to cause personal injury in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation. Unfortunately, adverse events are dramatically underreported because patients often fail to tell their doctors about supplement use.

Continue reading "Hydroxycut Linked to Liver Damage" »

General Motors Corp. is recalling 1.5 million vehicles because of potential engine fires, according to an Associated Press news report. The recall includes the 1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue; the 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix; 1997-2003 Buick Regal; and the 1998-2003 Chevy Lumina, Monte Carlo and Impala. So far there have been no known cases of engine fires. The auto product liability defect involves vehicles with a 3.8-liter V6 engine. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drops of oil could fall into the exhaust system and cause a fire in the engine.

Auto product defects are responsible for a number of traffic accidents and collisions. When a vehicle malfunctions because of a mechanical problem or a defective product, it is tough even for an experienced driver to avoid an auto accident. Examples of vehicle product defects are seatbelt defects, airbags that won't deploy, tire tread separation, engine fires, gas tank explosions and seatback failure.

In cases where there have been serious injuries or deaths as a result of auto product defects, the auto manufacturer or the company that made the defective product such as a tire, may be held liable. Victims in such cases could receive compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings and other related expenses. If you have suffered serious injuries or have lost a loved one as a result of an auto product defect, please call the experienced Pennsylvania product defect attorneys at Cherry, Fieger and Marciano LLP for a free consultation today.

On March 25, Philadelphia City Council members and community groups held a conference to urge the city’s law department to take action against CVS drugstore for repeatedly selling expired products.

According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the State of New York sued CVS in December over the chain’s sale of expired products and California is in the process of suing the drugstore. The purpose of the press conference on the 25th was to seek help from the city. Philadelphia council members want to encourage the city solicitor to follow the similar legal actions of those two states.

Council members are willing to take necessary legislative action including fines for the sale of expired medicines causing adverse drug reactions in Pennsylvania.

The conference had a display of 36 expired items bought at 15 CVS drugstores around Philadelphia from January to March. They included over-the-counter medications and infant formula to dairy products.

Allergy tablets had expired over a year before purchase and an infant’s gas relief medicine was close to two year’s outdated.

According to one of the Councilmen, legal action is needed to protect the community from the dangerous products in Pennsylvania sold at CVS drugstores. Citizens are at risk.

Continue reading "Philadelphia Seeks Action against CVS for Selling Expired Products" »

The FDA had concerns about new antipsychotic drugs shortly after they came on the market in the 1990s. According to this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the agency was worried they might trigger diabetes in some patients.

In 2000, the FDA asked AstraZeneca P.L.C. to share data on cases of new-onset diabetes and related illnesses in patients taking the antipsychotic drugs. AstraZeneca told the FDA that patients and doctors had reported 12 new cases of diabetes and five cases of related illnesses among the 623,000 who had taken its drug Seroquel.

However, court documents showed that the company had reported the number as 27 cases of diabetes and two of hyperglycemia.

The article stated that these documents surfaced in lawsuits filed in Orlando, Florida. The suits were filed by patients who claimed taking Seroquel caused their diabetes. Last month, the FDA required AstraZeneca to make information about Seroquel and weight gain more prominent on the drug’s label.

In 2000 AstraZeneca told the FDA it was “unlikely” that taking Seroquel led to diabetes.

A lawyer who wrote the document for plaintiff firm said AstraZeneca should have reported the larger number.

Documents released last week contained AstraZeneca e-mails in which employees discussed “buried” studies showing connections between Seroquel and weight gain.

AstraZeneca faces personal-injury claims from about 15,000 people who took Seroquel and say it caused diabetes.

If you or a loved one has suffered adverse reactions from taking Seroquel and would like to be kept informed about the most recent developments, news, or to discuss your legal options, please call Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano.

People of all ages take prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and supplements on a daily basis in the United States to prevent and treat various illnesses. Although these medications are supposed to help people, many people have suffered serious side effects, and even death.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a dangerous drug reaction in Pennsylvania, the skilled Pennsylvania pharmaceutical drug litigation attorneys at Cherry, Fieger, and Marciano, LLP may be able to help you recover the monetary compensation that you deserve.

If a manufacturer produces drugs or supplements that are defective, they can and should be held responsible for the injuries they cause. As a manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, the company has an obligation to make a safe product, which includes various aspects such as thoroughly inspecting the product and affixing an appropriate label on the packaging. It is extremely important that you hire a skilled Philadelphia defective product lawyer to prove that the manufacturer was responsible for producing an unsafe product, as this is a very complicated and difficult part of the case.

It is essential to have representation on your side that has extensive experience representing people in similar matters. Contact Cherry Fieger and Marciano, LLP today for a free consultation.

Ohio distributor recalls two brands of peanut butter

An Ohio distributor, King Nut Companies, has recalled two brands of its peanut butter after an open container tested positive for salmonella bacteria.

According to the article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, federal health officials said the company's peanut butter had not been conclusively linked to a national salmonella outbreak. The peanut butter recall involves approximately 1,000 cases of peanut butter.

King Nut asked customers (food service providers in Ohio, Michigan, North Dakota, Minnesota, Arizona, Idaho, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Florida) to stop distributing all peanut butter under its King Nut and Parnell's Pride brands with a lot code that begins with the numeral "8."

The Minnesota Department of Health found salmonella bacteria in a 5-pound container of King Nut brand creamy peanut butter.

The Minnesota tests had not linked it to the type of salmonella in the outbreak that has sickened almost 400 people in 42 states, but additional results are expected early next week.

Continue reading "Salmonella in Recalled Peanut Butter From Ohio's King Nut" »

Lasko, a West Chester manufacturer of fans and space heaters, has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle allegations that it did not promptly tell regulators about defective products (fans) that overheated. According to the article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) criticized Lasko for waiting several years before reporting problems consumers experienced with fans overheating, smoking, melting, catching fire, and, in some cases, burning users or their homes.

In 2002 Lasko began receiving complaints about portable box and floor fans but did not fully report them to the CPSC until September 2005. Those models were discontinued because of a faulty motor.

According to the CPSC, such incidents, once reported to a company’s upper management, must be reported within 10 days. Lasko agreed to the settlement, but denied that it knowingly violated the law.

In February 2006, the company recalled 5.6 million fans—19 models in all — that had been sold between 2000 and 2004.

Continue reading "Company fined over defective fans" »

A recall on Monday of nearly 1.6 million cribs, triggered by the suffocation of two 8-month-old infants, has prompted a government agency to urge parents to inspect older drop-side cribs for safety problems.

Both of the suffocations involved infants who got stuck in a gap created when the movable side came off of its guide track.

The incidents, which involved Delta Enterprises cribs, were related to safety pegs that are intended to prevent the drop side from lowering too far and slipping off the track. If these pegs are not installed or if they fail to engage, the drop-side can detach and create a dangerous gap where babies can get stuck.

"We ask parents to inspect your crib from time to time and tighten up the hardware," Nancy Nord, acting head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said in an interview Tuesday. "It's very important that parents understand they need to inspect the integrity of the hardware."

One 8-month-old infant died because the safety pegs were missing and the crib's side detached, leaving a gap. The infant got stuck in the gap and suffocated. In the second case, another 8-month-old child died in one of the defective cribs after a spring-loaded safety peg failed and allowed the side to detach.

Nord urged parents to make sure that moving parts on cribs are functioning smoothly and securely and cautioned them not to try makeshift repairs.

The Delta Enterprises defective crib recall included 985,000 drop-side cribs of various models, because of the potential for missing safety pegs. These cribs were manufactured in Taiwan and Indonesia and sold by major retailers including Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target.com, between January 1995 and September 2007. The recall also included 600,000 cribs of various models with spring-loaded safety pegs. These cribs were manufactured in China and sold between January 2000 and January 2007.

The recall doesn't affect any cribs now in retail inventory.

The company will offer consumers replacement safety pegs or spring peg kits.

"We're erring on the side of caution," said Jack Gutt, spokesman for New York-based Delta Enterprise said Monday. "Anyone who calls and has these cribs that were constructed in these time periods, we're going to send anybody and everybody either additional safety pegs or the retrofit kit."

Continue reading "Defective Cribs recalled after infants suffocated" »

Studies show the chemical bisphenol A, found in baby bottles, has been linked to cancer, diabetes, and early puberty. According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, three state attorney generals urged eleven makers of plastic baby bottles and formula to stop using the chemical.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and his counterparts sent letters to bottle-makers such as Energizer Holding Inc.'s Playtex Infant Care and formula producers including Abbott Laboratories Inc. and Wyeth, Blumenthal's staff said. Some companies have already replaced the chemical in their bottles.

Bisphenol A, or BPA, has been used for decades to help stiffen plastic to make many baby bottles and food-storage containers and to line metal cans. Although the FDA claims the chemical is safe, research from other agencies has identified serious health risks when the chemical leaches into food and beverages. Labels on baby bottles and formula containers are not required to say whether they contain bisphenol A.

According to the article, Blumenthal told the companies to immediately eliminate this dangerous chemical from our children's food.

Adults exposed to higher levels of BPA are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease or diabetes, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association last month.
Animal studies reviewed by the National Toxicology Program this year also linked the chemical to developmental changes in fetuses and young children.

Continue reading "Studies link chemical in baby products to cancer, diabetes, and early puberty" »