Consumers Fear Injury over Tainted Food Products

Over the past month, there have been some disturbing claims of horsemeat used in European meat supplies that brands such as Burger King, Nestle, Tesco and Ikea have allegedly used for their meat products.  This begs the question, are we at danger for injury of tainted meat products from meat suppliers? In a recent statement, Ikea assured consumers that in their US stores, they only obtained meat from US suppliers.  But our European counterparts are apparently not so lucky, according to the European Union's evidence. 

This year, food safety has certainly come into focus.  As consumers, we have experienced a variety of health scares from various food safety concerns.  Whether it was tainted agricultural products or tainted meat products, consumers have faced injury due to a variety of infectious diseases.  

The Danger of Injury from Tainted Food Products

Whether tainted by foreign animal products or infectious diseases, consumers are vulnerable to injuries from consuming food or food products that are tainted.  Depending upon the nature of the food consumed, consumers could be injured in multiple ways, including:

• infectious disease
• bacterial infections
• loss of balance
• brain problems
• painful urination
• joint pains
• convulsions
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• death

If you've consumed tainted food products, you could be at risk for injury.  In some cases, this even leads to death.  If you have been injured severely due to consuming tainted products, call a skilled product liability attorney to gain the compensation you deserve. Don't take any chances with your health. Call a skilled product liability attorney today.

Actos Trials Begin in Los Angeles Alleging Bladder Cancer Injuries

In Los Angeles, Asian pharmaceutical maker, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, has been on trial.  The first Actos trials have begun of over 3,000 lawsuits filed alleging the popular drug gave consumers bladder cancer. In these lawsuits, consumers are alleging Actos caused them bladder cancer injuries.  

According to court filings, Takeda Pharmaceuticals may have known about the potential for bladder cancer injury.  In court filings, Takeda Pharmaceuticals allegedly polled doctors in 2003 to determine whether they would prescribe the drug to patients with a bladder cancer warning on the box.

According to litigators, “a bladder cancer warning would destroy the sales of Takeda’s most important drug."  As the trial continues, litigators will try to prove that Takeda Pharmaceuticals knew about the potential for bladder cancer injury and still marketed a potentially dangerous drug to consumers.  As of 2011, Actos was responsible for approximately $4.5 billion in sales for Takeda Pharmaceuticals. If litigators are successful, their lawsuits alleging Actos produced bladder cancer injuries could be quite costly to the manufacturer. 

Actos Dangers for Consumer Injury

In February 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer warning that Actos could be responsible for as much as a 40% increase in danger for bladder cancer injury.  Consumers have made thousands of complaints to the FDA prior to this warning, alleging the following Actos injuries:

• heart problems
• stroke, cardiac arrest
• bladder cancer
• kidney failure
• fertility impairment

The Actos trials will be focusing on one alleged consumer injury- bladder cancer.  As the trials progress, they will help to determine the ability for other injured consumers to recover for bladder cancer injuries.  If you or your loved one has suffered a bladder cancer injury after taking Actos, you should call a skilled product liability and personal injury attorney.  A skilled product liability attorney can help you to determine whether you may be able to obtain compensation for your bladder cancer injuries.

Study Cites Women More Likely to Experience Hip Implant Failure

Often, when elderly people fall and break a hip, people react as if this injury may be a death sentence.  The reason for this kind of alarm is that with reduced mobility, increased pain, and the risks for fixing the bones, an elderly person's health could very well suffer.  

Hip implant makers sought to remedy these fears, offering a sturdy hip replacement that could increase mobility and offer people a richer lifestyle. Of the approximately 400,000 Americans with hip implants, a new study cited in USA Today states women are 29% more likely to experience a failure in hip implants. This U.S. Food and Drug Administration funded research was recently published in the JAMA Internal Medicine, a highly prestigious medical journal. This research has prompted many consumers, particularly the elderly, to question whether or not they are at risk for injury due to a failed hip implant. 

The Danger for Injury that Hip Implants Pose to Consumers

There has been a marked increase in consumer attention to failing hip implants recently.  Specifically, thousands of consumers have sued a popular hip implant maker, Depuy, as a part of the Johnson & Johnson brand for alleged injuries and side effects from particular hip implants. The Depuy ASR™ XL Acetabular Hip System and DePuy ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System have been voluntarily recalled by the company in response to alleged injuries. These alleged injuries include:

• grinding in the socket
• joint dislocation
• fragments of metal lodged in other organs and tissue
• organ damage
• tissue damage
• internal bleeding
• failure of the device
• pain and swelling
• tissue death
• fractures and broken bones
• parts coming loose inside your body

These devices hold high potential for painful injuries if they fail inside consumers' bodies.  The voluntary recall was intended to prevent further consumer injury.  If you have suffered an injury due to your hip implant, please call a skilled personal injury and product liability attorney today to discuss how you may be able to obtain compensation for your injuries. 

Consumers with Type 2 Diabetes May Be at Risk Taking Actos Medication

Recently, the former Surgeon General of the United States declared that there is a silent killer among us, obesity.  Since 1980, the Surgeon General's office claims adult weights have more than doubled and children's weights have tripled.  This troubling risk factor is thought to be behind a huge explosion in Type 2 diabetes in America.

Type 2 diabetes used to be referred to as adult onset diabetes until children began exhibiting these signs due to growing obesity problems.  It is now more frequently referred to as lifestyle diabetes.  This growing concern has exploded across America, affecting huge groups of the population, but particularly affecting groups of African Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Latinos.  As a result, Americans have been exhibiting increased injuries allegedly due to treatments of this disease. 

The Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

When a person exhibits symptoms of type 2 diabetes, it is the body signalling that it is not producing enough insulin or that the body has become resistant to insulin.  Insulin is used by the body to use glucose as energy.  When a person eats and cannot use the sugars in foods for energy, they start to exhibit troubling symptoms and complications which can worsen over time.

Complications and health problems often associated with Type 2 diabetes include the following:

• cataracts
• neuropathy, numbness of the feet
• skin infections
• hypertension, high blood pressure
• heart disease
• hearing loss
• depression
• loss of circulation, which can necessitate amputation

The Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

Often, unless a patient is willing to make significant lifestyle changes, they are forced to take what can be risky medications.  One  such medication is Actos, which has come under fire from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  The FDA has declared patients who take Actos could be at an additional 40% increase in risk of bladder cancer.  This warning was based on thousands of reports from consumers who claimed that as a result of taking Actos, they became injured and developed bladder cancer.  

Actos was initially marketed as a safer alternative to Avandia, which has previously been linked to rising reports of heart attacks and other heart problems.  However, despite being marketed as a safer alternative, thousands of Americans began to report injuries to their doctors and the FDA.  As a result, these patients have begun to file lawsuits, which are now under multidistrict litigation.  To date, over 1,000 patients have filed suit alleging taking Actos injured them and gave them bladder cancer.

If you have been injured as the result of taking your Type 2 diabetes medication, Actos, you could possibly be entitled to compensation for your injuries.  You should speak to a skilled product liability attorney to determine whether or not you have a case.  Protect your health and speak with a product liability attorney so you can ensure you get the help you need.

Health Officials Warn OTC Study Aids Could Cause Injury

Growing up, I remember hitting the books and studying with such aids as coffee and unhealthy snacks like pizza to fuel me.  But these days, it appears students are turning to prescription drug use like the attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) drug Adderall, or even more dangerous, over the counter "dietary supplements" which are marketed to produce effects similar to that.  Students believe these drugs can help them stay up all night and study for their exams.  But health experts are warning against the use of these drugs, fearful that over the counter knock offs of this prescription drug could potentially injure unsuspecting consumers. 

What's the Danger?

Over the counter drugs labelled for sale as "dietary supplements" are not required to be regulated by health regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA.)  Because of this label, health officials are fearful drug makers will include the same powerful ingredients that are usually found in prescription drugs.  Unregulated, these could produce severe injuries in consumers.  In many instances, the knock off drugs of Adderall include many of the same active ingredients, including powerful amphetamines.  In over the counter supplements, consumers who pop these pills do not require screening for heart problems that might pose a problem.  And in fact, could injure themselves in the following ways, causing:

• chest pains
• shortness of breath
• irregular heart beats
• heart attack
• stroke
• death

These drugs could pose significant problems to consumers who may be unaware.  Given the massive popularity of the ADHD drug Adderall as a study aid, this off label use and the subsequent copycat "dietary supplements" are a growing concern for health officials.  

If You Have Been Injured

Over the years, consumers have reported a dizzying array of serious consequences due to "dietary supplements" with amphetamine components. This has ranged from burning holes into their hearts to strokes.  Consumers should realize that they could be at significant risk for injury. If you have taken these products and suffered an injury, you may be entitled to compensation. You should seek both medical treatment and the sage counsel of a skilled product liability lawyer who can help you. 

American Academy of Pediatrics Introduces New Type 2 Diabetes Guidelines for Children to Prevent Injury

As the obesity epidemic in this country continues to rise, so too does the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in children.  For the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued guidelines to doctors for treating this preventable disease. The hope is that in following these guidelines, doctors can avoid the need for escalating treatment, such as putting children on adult medications, some of which have been linked to serious injury

American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Treating Children with Type 2 Diabetes

For the first time, doctors have received a road map for treating children who have developed Type 2 diabetes in the hopes of preventing further injury.  Since children have been a large part of the growing obesity epidemic, it has been difficult to determine if their detected diabetes is indeed Type 2.  Following a test of the islet antibodies, doctors are recommended to follow this course of treatment in children:

• prescribe lifestyle choices like exercise and better food choices
• monitor hemoglobin A1c  levels to determine if further changes are needed
• self monitoring of blood glucose levels
• increased nutrition counseling to educate children on their lifestyle choices
• encourage children to exercise outside and play at least 60 minutes per day

These are considered moderate treatment options for Type 2 diabetes.  Should children not respond to doctors' treatment, there is a very real chance that they could suffer further injury as the result of their Type 2 diabetes requiring escalation of treatment. 

The Dangers of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can be very dangerous to children.  If left untreated, or if children do not adhere to recommended treatments, they could suffer serious injury and experience the following complications:

• glaucoma, cataracts
• numbness in the feet
• heart disease
• hearing loss
• high blood pressure
• diabetic coma
• amputation
• nerve damage
• stroke
• death

More Rigorous Treatments that Can Be Dangerous

When more rigorous treatment is called for, often doctors prescribe pills.  One such common pill is Actos, prescribed to Type 2 diabetes patients. Actos can be dangerous to patients because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned it has been linked to reports of both bladder cancer and congestive heart failure.  There is currently ongoing litigation on behalf of clients who claim they developed bladder cancer as a result of taking Actos.

If your child has Type 2 diabetes, it is important to get them the help they need before treatment needs to be escalated to prevent further injury.  If you've been injured by your Type 2 diabetes medication, you should consult a skilled product liability attorney to protect your rights.

Consumers Injured Consuming Raw Beef Infected with Salmonella

Food safety has been a growing concern in America and has been a hot button issue for many groups from federal regulators to consumers and special interest groups alike.  With good reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been taking increased action to clean up our food sources.  In order to prevent injury to consumers, these agencies have toughened their stance on food safety issues.

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Production warn that 16 individuals in 5 states have been injured after eating raw beef.  These consumers were injured after consuming a dish called Kibbeh, a traditional Arab dish made of ground raw meat (usually beef, lamb or goat), bulghur, and minced onions. The dish that injured these individuals was served at a restaurant which used meat from Jouni Meats Inc. and Gab Halal Food of Troy, Michigan.  In response, these companies recalled over 1,000 pounds of ground beef last week.

The Danger Raw Beef Poses to Consumers

These 16 consumers were injured after consuming raw beef which was infected with the salmonella Typhimurium, a rare strain of salmonella.  These consumers have been injured to various degrees, with an estimated half of them requiring hospitalization.  Salmonella can infect people who ingest products tainted with the bacteria and can injure people in the following ways:

• gastroenteritis or food poisoning 
• bloody diarrhea
• toxicosis
• sepsis
• salmonella meningitis
• severe dehydration
• death

Consumers who ingest food infected with this dangerous bacteria are at severe risk for injury and dependent upon their existing health condition and other complications, could even be at risk for death.  

If you have been injured by consuming infected food such as this raw beef, you should call your physician immediately.  After you obtain the necessary medical treatment, you should also consider calling a product liability and personal injury attorney.  Depending upon the unique circumstances of your case, you could be entitled to compensation. 

Consumers File Lawsuits Alleging Actos is Dangerous

As obesity rates rise in America, so too do health problems such as diabetes.  Type 2 diabetes, once very rarely seen in America, is now a common problem, and one in which we have a variety of medications to treat. One such treatment is Actos (pioglitazone) which is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals and distributed in America by Eli Lilly.

Approximately 20% of the diabetes medication today is Actos (pioglitazone.)  As one of the most commonly prescribed medications, this drug has earned Takeda Pharmaceuticals over $5 billion in sales per year.  However, it has also been linked to some severe problems over the years.

The Alleged Dangers of Actos 

Since its introduction to the market in 1999, some researchers have been wary. Over the years, many reports have emerged that paint a grim picture of the drug.  Study after study has linked Actos (pioglitazone) to the following:

• bladder cancer
• heart failure 
• liver failure
• and even bone fractures.  

Studies such as Kaiser Permanente's 2008 decade long meta study concluded that taking Actos for a year or longer increased the risk of bladder cancer among patients.  This damning study was no isolated report, though.  Similar studies have emerged to allegedly confirm these suspicions such as France's Medicines Agency's 2006 to 2009 study, leading to their classification that this drug was dangerous. 

After enough of these reports have emerged, and enough consumers complained about allegedly unusual side effects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stepped in to issue a safety alert in June 2001 claiming there is as much as a 40% chance that taking Actos (pioglitazone) for a year or longer is related to developing bladder cancer.

Actos Litigation

To date, over 1,000 patients across America have lawyered up and filed lawsuits against Takeda Pharmaceuticals, alleging the manufacturer knew or should have known that this drug would cause bladder cancer.  These patients are claiming that their bladder cancer is a direct result of taking their prescribed Actos medication. 

If you have taken Actos and have similarly developed bladder cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for your Actos injury.  Call an experienced product liability attorney today to discuss your rights. 

FDA Warns Consumers Metal Hip Implants are Causing Injury

To many elderly people, a slip and fall could cause serious injury.  In many cases, these elderly people break bones in their fall, including breaking their hip.  This is a traumatic injury which not only limits people's mobility, but can cause additional injuries.  To prevent additional injury and to preserve freedom and autonomy, many opt to receive a hip implant.

There are various kinds of hip implants, but recently, the most common hip implant has been metal hip implants.  These metal hip implants commonly act like a ball and a cup, aiding movement.  Approximately 1 in 3 joint replacement surgeries in the United States have utilized metal hip implants.  To date, that accounts for over 500,000 patients with metal hip implants. 

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a safety communication warning consumers of the danger for injury with metal hip implants.  Under their new expanded authority from Congress, the FDA is seeking to protect consumers from injury and close former loopholes that existed in the law. 

The Danger of Metal Hip Implants

According to the FDA, metal hip implants have been failing at alarming rates.  Thousands of consumers have experienced additional injury because their metal hip implants have been failing almost immediately after implantation.  These metal hip implant failures have injured patients, causing a need for more expensive surgery to take out and replace the item.  Unfortunately, many elderly patients are too fragile for major surgery like this.  

Doctors have reported these metal hip implants have not only failed in the joint, but they have additionally injured consumers when its metal debris is released as the joint moves.  These injuries have included: 

• bone damage
• severe tissue damage
• disability

How the FDA Seeks to Protect Consumers from Injury

The FDA is now pursuing regulations that would force metal hip manufacturers to produce data to support their claims of safety and effectiveness.  To date, these products have largely exploited a 1976 law which allowed manufacturers to introduce products for approval which are substantially similar to another product on the market.  Under this law, the FDA alleges manufacturers did a disservice to consumers by failing to do extended testing on device safety over the years.  

The FDA is seeking to make serious regulatory changes this year, and one of their first targets is the metal hip implants that are failing.  Until these devices are either recalled or modified safely, many consumers are still experiencing high rates of injury.  If you have been injured  by your metal hip implant, please call a skilled product liability attorney for help.  You may be eligible for compensation. Get the help that you need and deserve to protect your health. 

FDA Demands Medical Device Manufacturer Provide Information to Determine Device Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is losing its patience.  In a recent letter to St. Jude's Medical, the FDA has called for more information on its popular heart defibrillator lead, called Durata.  After over 278,000 patients have been implanted with the lead, the FDA is still lacking the information it requires to determine whether consumers have suffered any injuries.  The FDA is demanding the company provide information it desperately needs to assess its safety and potential for injury to consumers. 

Last fall, FDA inspectors visited their factory in California and came away with serious concerns.  These focused upon nonconformities in their manufacturing processes, which the FDA feels could be problematic. Specifically, the FDA wants to know how St. Jude Medical monitors device safety, what kinds of records are kept, and how they address safety concerns. 

Could You Be at Risk for Injury

The FDA is essentially worried that consumers may be at injury given their lack of information.  Specifically, the FDA wants the following information:

• rates of injury among users in clinical trials and continuing data
• testing procedures
• corrective action procedures
• testing design verification
• multiple lead holders

According to the FDA's public letter to St. Jude Medical, these procedures are not being followed to ensure safety of its devices. If St. Jude Medical fails to provide evidence that these have been corrected, the FDA has warned the company that these devices will not be approved for use in America. 

The FDA is desperately trying to asses whether or not consumers have suffered injury due to "misbranded" leads.  Because reports were not submitted in a timely fashion, the FDA is unsure of whether the device has malfunctioned and potentially injured or killed people. 

If You Have Been Injured

The FDA has not been able to assess whether consumers have suffered injury from the device as evidenced by their public letter available here.  In an absence of this critical information, the agency is threatening to impose civil penalties and to notify federal agencies currently using the device.  Consumers who have suffered injury using this device are encouraged to call the FDA to report it.  Consumers should also notify a skilled product liability attorney to determine whether or not they may have a case against the manufacturer. 

FDA Recommends Lowering Women's Ambien (Zolpidem) Dosages to Prevent Risk of Injury

America is one of the most frenetic countries in the world, or so you would believe. Millions of Americans suffer the effects of insomnia every year.  With increased stress, poorer diets, and increased responsibilities, it's no secret that people are feeling sleep deprived.  In a National Sleep Foundation poll, approximately 48% of Americans reported experiencing insomnia, 22% of which experience insomnia on a nightly basis.  

To combat insomnia, there are a variety of treatments out there, including the use of sleep aids such as the popular drug, Ambien.  Over 16 million Americans currently take Ambien per year.  This popular drug is also known as zolpidem, a hypnotic sedative that helps consumers fall asleep and stay asleep for more restful sleep.  

The Dangers Associated With Ambien (zolpidem)

Ambien has become quite the controversial drug.  Ambien sleep aids have been linked to a variety of strange parasomnia sleep activities.  These strange behaviors have led both consumers and federal regulators such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to question whether dosages should be changed to prevent these complications. 

The FDA recently published recommendations that women should lower their dosages of Ambien (zolpidem) by half.  This recommendation is intended to account for a slower absorption rate than their male counterparts.  Their studies concluded that women who had taken Ambien the night before could still have the drug active in their system 8 hours later and be a risk to others. 

Ambien has been identified as a risk factor for the following:

• sleep driving, including 700 reported driving accidents while "asleep" on Ambien
• sleep eating
• sleep walking
• death

A group of researchers at Scripps Health in San Diego identified that in 2010, hypnotic sleep aids like Ambien were the cause for nearly a half a million "excess deaths".  These researchers  found that sleep aid users were three times more likely to die than people who did not use sleep aids.

This evidence echoes a similar study in Sweden where researchers in 2009 found that frequent users of sleep aids were between 2 and 4.5 times more likely to die early depending upon their gender. 

If You Have Been Injured 

Over 70 million Americans take prescription sleep aids every year.  According to a growing body of evidence, Ambien (zolpidem) may be responsible for a host of alleged risky behaviors. If you have been injured as a result of taking Ambien, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.  You should consult an experienced product liability attorney to determine whether or not you have a case.  When people are injured by products available on the market, it can be beneficial to report these injuries and to consult an attorney to determine the best course of action. 

FDA Proposed Food Safety Rules Seek to Prevent 3000 Deaths Per Year

This year, millions of Americans will resolve to lose weight and eat healthier. Some of these people will dive into eating more leafy greens to accomplish those goals. Will they also be at risk for injury and infection with E. Coli?  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a food contamination outbreak from leafy greens in multiple states every year for the past few years.  A recent outbreak is brewing in Ohio, where the Hamilton County Health Department believes it started in a restaurant serving these infected leafy greens. Consumers ingesting these potentially infected leafy greens are warned they may be at risk for injury. 

Soon, if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has its way, these food born illnesses and injuries may be a distant memory.  2 years ago, Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act, which became law.  Over the past 2 years, the FDA has been drafting a revision to food safety and preparation laws which were last updated in the 1930's (prior to industrialized farming and packaging.)  These 1200 pages outline procedures for hygiene, food safety and sanitation procedures. In the next 4 months, the public has a right to respond and weigh in on the proposed rules before they become final.  The FDA is hoping that these updated rules will prevent the estimated 3,000 deaths per year due to food contamination and the 128,000 hospitalizations due to injuries related to food contamination.

The Dangers of Food Contamination 

Human beings are remarkably resilient.  However, despite the daily exposure to millions of germs, we can become sickened and injured when exposed to certain bacterium.  This can include E. Coli, Listeria, and other causes of food born illnesses and injuries. When people are exposed to these bacterium, they can become sick and injured in the following ways:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• skin lesions
• vision problems
• dehydration
• heart problems due to dehydration and violent vomiting
• death

Given these results, it's clear that food born illnesses can be quite serious for people who ingest contaminated food products. Depending upon the strength of your immune system, you could experience increased risk for injury.  The elderly, children, and pregnant women are in high risk for injury categories due to their often compromised immune systems. 

If You've Been Injured 

If you have eaten a food that made you sick and injured you severely, you should seek immediate medical attention.  You may be entitled to compensation depending upon the nature of your injury and the unique circumstances.  You should call a skilled product liability attorney to determine whether or not you have a case. 

Is Genetically Altered Salmon Safe for Consumers- FDA Mulls Approval

If food safety organizations are to be believed, soon you may be eating "frankenfish" at a restaurant near you.  A company named AquaBounty has developed a new genetically engineered salmon which reportedly grows at twice the normal rate of farm raised salmon.  The company claims these fish would be mature faster and be able to go to market sooner, netting a higher profit for farmers.  But what about the amount of hormones and genetically altered foods we're putting in our bodies?  Is this safe for humans to consume? 

At least 30 Congressmen and 14 Senators say no, and have encouraged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reject adding this salmon to the nation's food supply.  According to food industry watchdogs, Food & Water Watch, this genetically altered salmon is "full of downsides to consumers, salmon growers and the environment." 

Are Genetically Altered Foods Harmful to Consumers

There are many advocates for whole and natural foods, but to date, the effects of genetically modified salmon are largely unknown.  So what if the fish grows at a faster rate?  Well, there may be hidden dangers associated with consuming this fish that are only triggered later.  And there could be a danger that these fish may take over existing populations of fish in America much like the Asian Karp has. 

But more importantly, according to researchers such as Dr Michael Antoniou of King’s College London School of Medicine in England, laboratory animals fed genetically modified food experience harmful effects.  Part of the reason for this is the inherent pesticides.  Because of genetic engineering, many plants are now resistant to pesticides, causing farmers to use higher amounts and stronger chemicals.  These same chemicals have been linked to various cancers in farmers and growers. 

Additionally, genetically modified foods could pose a problem for new allergens.  As our food supply changes, many people's reactions will similarly change to these foods. Could this create new allergens and risk consumer health?

The Jury is Still Out

To date, the jury is still out.  The FDA has one final step to either approve the fish or reject it.  An approval would mean in 60 days, genetically altered salmon will be sitting on the supermarket shelves alongside the rest of your fish and you may never know the difference.  Consumers who find themselves injured because of food products such as this genetically engineered salmon should seek medical attention and contact a skilled product liability lawyer for advice.

FDA Probes Contaminated Farm as Source of Deadly Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak

As we enter the new year, people are full of resolutions, the most common of which is to eat healthier.  It appears the federal government has a similar resolution because they have taken multiple steps in the first month of the new year to address food safety concerns aimed at cleaning up facilities which had food contamination.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have jointly investigated one farm linked to the production of tainted cantaloupe.  The farm at the heart of the investigation was linked to the dissemination of cantaloupe that was infected with salmonella.  A resulting outbreak affected 261 people in 24 states, killing 3 people in the state of Kentucky.

The FDA Presses Contaminated Farm for Corrective Action to Prevent Consumer Injury

Following this outbreak of consumer injury, the FDA has become concerned that it has not received information regarding how the farm plans to take corrective actions.  How will the farm prevent further food contamination which may lead to consumer injury? Prior to the holidays, the FDA sent the farm a stern letter in which it sought demonstrations of corrective action to prevent further consumer injury due to food contamination.

The FDA believes that based upon soil samples, food contact surfaces, and other samples taken around the farm, there is a "widespread Salmonella contamination" on the farm. Their testing concluded multiple potential sources of contamination including:

• organic material in the conveyor belt that could encourage bacteria growth
• infected food preparation surfaces
• mud, trash, and dirt beneath the conveyor belt and rinsing areas which contained algae 
• bird feces in the roof rafters above the processing equipment, suggesting this feces had dropped onto the food itself 
• contaminated water containing E-coli and C-coli
• potentially unclean carpeted surfaces in the packing area which could harbor bacteria

If You Have Been Injured by Contaminated Food

If you have been injured by contaminated food, you could be at serious risk of lasting injuries, including death.  Depending upon the contamination, you could experience symptoms as mild as nausea to extreme conditions that could kill you.  You should seek immediate medical attention if you have suffered an injury due to a food contamination.  You should also seek the help of a skilled personal injury attorney to determine whether or not you may be entitled to compensation for these injuries. 

15,000 Infant Recliners Recalled Due to Infant Deaths

When you're a parent, you want the best for your child.  Your baby's care is in your hands. Often, this leads parents to buy products that claim to increase comfort and care for a child.  One such product is the Nap Nanny, which is a device parents place their children in while they nap. Essentially, it is a recliner with a safety harness to prevent the child from moving around too much and hurting themselves.

However, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling the item, stating they received 92 reports of infants hanging over the side of the device and 5 deaths.  The shocking truth is this product was originally recalled in 2010 after reports of one death. But the product's manufacturer, Baby Matters, is "unable or unwilling to participate in the recall."

Retailers Amazon, Buy Buy Baby and Toys R Us are recalling the devices, which amount to an estimated 15,000 devices.  In response, the company released a statement expressing their disapproval of the recall and boasting the continued benefits of the device to thousands of infants.

What's the Danger?

Reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission paint a picture of infants nearly wiggling fully out of the harness, falling over the side and even becoming trapped between the recliner and crib bumpers. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, multiple reports to their agency have included:

• entrapment claims
• suffocation hazard claims
• fall hazard claims
• claims of deaths

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is encouraging parents to call them today to report similar hazards.  Additionally, you may want to consult a skilled personal injury and product liability attorney to preserve your rights.  Parents may be able to obtain compensation for their child's injuries.  To determine whether or not you are eligible, please call a skilled personal injury and product liability attorney today. 

Compounding Pharmacy Files for Bankruptcy Following Fungal Meningitis Outbreak

The New England Compounding Center (NECC) has filed for bankruptcy. Following a scandal which left them unlicensed and responsible for injuries to over 600 people, the company has shut its doors for good. To provide relief for the 39 people who died and 600 injured patients, the company intends to set up a fund to distribute funds evenly among injured patients rather than enduring litigation.

With between $1 million and $10 million in assets and an estimated $2 million in debts, the amount of relief the company is offering to patients appears to be quite small. With 39 lives cut tragically short by their tainted products, it seems unfathomable that patients would get so little.  Let's do the math here: assuming the company has $8 million to offer 600 patients in relief, that equals to a little over $13,000 per person. That's not enough to pay for hospital bills and expensive long term care let alone to compensate families for the loss of their loved ones.

The Dangers of Fungal Meningitis

To the over 600 patients who contracted fungal meningitis, these consumers were faced with a particularly dangerous and nasty disease that could cause the following:

• weakness
• loss of sensation
• abnormal body movements
• swelling in the brain
• hearing loss
• abnormal posture
• excessive blood clotting
• danger of strokes
• seizures
• gangrene of the limbs
• death

Fungal meningitis is treatable with long courses of antibiotics.  However, as was the case in this outbreak, patients faced significant resistance to the drugs and reoccurring outbreaks.  Patients did not experience a marked decrease in risk after treating their initial symptoms. 

If You Have Been Injured

If you suffered injuries at the hands of this compounding pharmacy, you should consult a skilled personal injury and product liability attorney to determine your next steps.  Patients may want to pursue another course of action and should discuss this with a skilled attorney instead of hastily accepting something. 

New Study Links Aspirin to Degenerative Eye Disease

A new study was released in the Journal of the American Medical Association which claims that aspirin may be a bigger danger than previously thought.  This over the counter drug is taken regularly for everything from headaches to reduce inflammation to even encouraging heart health.  But this recent study is claiming that it may also be linked to a rare form of macular degeneration.

This may be particularly troubling to the estimated 20% of Americans who take low doses of aspirin daily for heart health.  This wonderful drug which is linked with reducing risk for heart attack may now be associated with a rare risk to a patient's eyes, called age- related macular degeneration.

What is AMD?

Age- related macular degeneration (or AMD) is a progressive eye disease which affects millions of Americans every  year.  According to the Macular Degeneration Project, approximately 15 million Americans are affected by this progressive eye disease. AMD is associated with a progressive form of near blindness, wherein a patient's vision degenerates almost completely.  Patients suffering from AMD can suffer near blindness except a fuzzy peripheral vision.  Approximately 14-24% of Americans over the age of 65 suffer from this disease.

AMD can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• fuzzy vision
• a dark spot in the center of your vision, or lack of anything in the center of your vision
• dimmed vision when concentrating such as reading
• straight lines start to appear curved

How Aspirin May Contribute to AMD

Researchers claim that after 10 years, there was an association between aspirin use and AMD, wherein unusual blood vessels grew behind the eye's retina. Leaking blood or fluids caused a "wet" form of AMD, and according to researchers, this was more prevalent among regular aspirin users. The study asserts a stronger link to aspirin related "wet" AMD, although previous studies found no such links.  

If you have developed "wet" AMD as a result of your aspirin usage, you should consult a physician right away.  In addition, you may want to discuss your experience with a skilled product liability lawyer to determine if you are eligible to collect damages for your injury.  

Study Suggests Warfarin Might Be More Dangerous Than Originally Thought

Things just seem to keep getting worse for heart patients on blood thinners.  For years, Warfarin was the standard blood thinner that many heart patients took to prevent blood clots and strokes.  However, new information has emerged which paints a bleaker picture.  This drug may be much riskier than originally believed.

The Canadian Medical Association Journal is reporting that 4% of the 125,000 patients studied experienced  bleeds per year. In the first month of treatment alone, roughly 12% experienced a bleed as well. Researchers followed this group of patients for years, and after 4 years, determined 9% of them, or an estimated 11,000 patients, had to be hospitalized.  1/5 of these patients later died.  These results are higher than original study outcomes and researchers suggest additional study may be required. 

How Warfarin Works to Prevent Strokes

Warfarin is the most common blood thinner in America.  On any given day, approximately 3 million people take the drug to thin the blood to prevent blood clots.  In patients with irregular heart beats, blood clots can accumulate and travel to the heart or brain, causing a stroke. To prevent this clotting, patients take the drug to thin the blood in a therapeutic manner. This is used in conjunction with a strict diet and strict doctor monitoring. 

Warfarin is a complex drug and works within a rather narrow window to thin the blood, but not produce blood thin enough to cause a fatal bleed.  Because the body changes and adapts to treatment, frequent blood tests are required to keep the bleeding time in a therapeutic range.  Warfarin specifically inhibits Vitamin K from interacting with enzymes to produce blood clots.  Because 4 of the 13 clotting factors require Vitamin K to produce clots, Warfarin is able to slow these clotting interactions by as much as 50%.  Should a potentially fatal bleed occur, patients can counteract these affects with large amounts of Vitamin K introduced into their system at once. 

How You May Be at Risk

Researchers in the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) study assert the drug may not be suitable for everyone that is prescribed this blood thinner.  The reason why is that many of their observed patients suffered sever hemorrhages, particularly in the brain, which led to death.  Researchers admitted that further study was needed to adequately determine the risks that potential side effects could have on patients.  But the study's observed results recorded higher percentages of potentially serious health outcomes than the drug's initial clinical trials suggested. 

There are many heart medications on the market, and unfortunately, the news is full of reported serious outcomes.  Heart patients should speak to their doctor about the risks and which might be appropriate for them.  However, if you suffer a serious health outcome as the result of your heart medication, you may want to speak to a skilled product liability attorney to determine whether you may be eligible for compensation to help with your medical costs. 

Report Claims a Child Dies Every 3 Weeks from Falling TV's

A new report today says a child dies every 3 weeks from a falling television.  Since 2000, approximately 200 children have died as a result of falling televisions.   According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 43,000 people are further injured per year by falling televisions, 18,000 of which are treated for their injuries. 

These statistics are astonishing and it begs the question whether or not parents are aware of the risk associated with falling televisions.  I'm also curious whether or not these statistics have risen or fallen as flat screens become increasingly popular in homes.  

When I grew up, we had huge behemoth sets that usually sat on little legs and were the size of your stove.  As televisions evolved, bigger became better.  Televisions were placed on stands, on bureaus, entertainment centers, and they were huge.  Today, televisions are sleek and light.  I just bought a new television a month ago that was so easy to carry and install on my wall that I was astonished. 

Consumer Product Safety Advice for Parents

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, even flat screens can be deadly if they fall on children.  And only 27% of parents have seen media reports that this is a danger to their child.  To help secure your child, the agency recommends the following:

• securing your television by anchoring it to the wall
• if you can't anchor the television, secure it on a low base
• remove articles from the top of the television that might cause it to topple or that might attract children who the television may topple onto

Parents should use common sense.  These products can outweigh children, and if perched precariously, could pose a significant risk to your child's health.

Protect Yourself

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, brackets are made incorrectly, mounts break, anchors are ineffective.  You've placed your trust into these devices to help keep your child safe and it didn't work.  You may want to call an experienced product liability attorney to discuss your rights.  You may be entitled to compensation for your loss or your child's injury, which may go a long way towards helping you with mounting bills.

Actos Litigation Status Hearing Looming

Actos litigation is well underway.  Tomorrow, December 13, 2012, marks the next status hearing regarding the multi-district litigation case, In re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation - MDL No. 2299.  As the Actos litigation heats up, patients are still coming forward with claims that they developed bladder cancer, potentially after taking their prescription medication, Actos.

What are the Actos lawsuits about?

The Actos litigation centers on patient claims that the manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and other defendants concealed information that taking Actos could cause bladder cancer.  Patients allege that they were not adequately warned about the potential for bladder cancer, and have become ill as a result. 

Actos was originally intended to be the answer to Avandia, a predecessor which was often linked to heart problems.  Yet if this information is true, both of these type 2 diabetes drugs sound like they were bad choices.  They were intended to control the body's sensitivity to insulin that happens with type 2 diabetes' insulin resistance.  Doctors usually prescribed this drug in conjunction with dietary changes and regular exercise.  Yet, scientific studies have emerged which strongly suggest that Actos is linked to bladder cancer.  And the FDA released a health warning that taking Actos for a year or longer could cause a 40% increase in risk for bladder cancer. 

Have you been injured by Actos?

Patients across the United States have filed suit against Takeda Pharmaceuticals and other defendants, claiming Actos caused bladder cancer.  If you have similarly developed bladder cancer which you suspect may be due to your usage of Actos, you may want to discuss your legal options with a skilled product liability attorney.  You may be entitled to compensation for these injuries.  Don't mess with your health.  Obtain the relief you need.