| Sunday, January 29, 2006 |
| Bird Flu Poses Threat To International Security, Illinois Scholar Says |
In the past, when government leaders, policymakers and scholars have turned their attention to peace and security issues, the talk invariably has focused on war, arms control or anti-terrorism strategies. But Julian Palmore believes it's time to expand the scope of the conversation.
"One thing that is not talked about enough is infectious diseases," said Palmore, a mathematics professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the director of the university's Program in Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security. "Of course, the spread of AIDS has been and continues to be a major concern worldwide," he said, "but an even greater threat, with regard to international security, may well be avian influenza," or bird flu, as it's commonly called.
And while biologists, epidemiologists and other scientists are engaged in efforts to better understand how the disease is contracted and spread in animals and in humans, Palmore said world leaders and policymakers need to seriously consider the potential international security implications that would result from an avian influenza pandemic.
"Natural disasters, especially pandemics, can and do affect international security in many ways," the U. of I. professor wrote in an article titled "Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: A Clear and Present Danger to International Security," scheduled for publication in an upcoming issue of the journal Defense & Security Analysis.
"They can have disastrous effects on countries' economies, infrastructures, populations, public health and stability. As a consequence of natural disasters, governments may fail and populations may be decimated.
"Thus," Palmore writes, "planning for international security needs must take into account the effects of natural disasters.
"Since avian influenza is of utmost concern in Asia and in many other parts of the world, it is imperative that states' governments and nongovernmental organizations pay attention to the evolution of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus."
Palmore, who also addresses this topic in a brief critical commentary in the March issue of Defense and Security Analysis, said avian flu poses a potential threat to human security on two fronts.
Because the virus attacks poultry, in effect, it attacks economies by wiping out the foodstocks of affected nations. Both the poultry and tourism industries in China and other Southeast Asian countries where the virus has been detected already have been disrupted by outbreaks of bird flu.
And in today's global marketplace, such disruptions could have broader, more long-lasting consequences, as economic ripple effects could impact other countries as well.
To date, only 80 deaths have been attributed to avian flu worldwide by the World Health Organization, and those deaths have resulted from human contact with infected birds. But, Palmore said, the greatest looming threat to international security is a scenario in which the virus mutates in an abrupt manner, resulting in human-to-human transmission.
If that occurred, he said, the number of human deaths tallied would likely be "on a wider scale than any attack by humans on humans other than nuclear war."
"People think of international security as things people do or don't do," Palmore said. But, he noted, the consequences of infectious-disease outbreaks and natural disasters can be equally severe. We've recently witnessed the effects of just one tidal wave … one hurricane. And as devastating as those occurrences have been, they are not ongoing events over an 18-month period."
While theories on how the avian flu is transmitted and spread among poultry and other fowl remain inconclusive, Palmore said scientists suspect that migratory birds play a major role.
Ducks, geese and other waterfowl -- including those migrating from Asia to Europe and others using flyways that take them from Asia to the United States through Alaska and Canada -- "pose a significant delivery system for avian influenza as they infect domestic birds, then animals by droppings laden with viruses," he said.
So, what can the world's populations do to arm themselves against such a potentially destructive, yet virtually invisible, enemy?
"We cannot stop or divert this delivery system," he said. "What we can do is detect and prevent transmission from domesticated animals to humans as animal infections become apparent through intensive surveillance."
Such efforts already are under way in various locations, Palmore said, including in the United States where volunteers from wildlife organizations are monitoring local bird populations for disease.
But government officials need to step up their efforts as well, he said -- even if that means shifting national-security priorities somewhat.
"The international community is right to recognize the threat posed by international terrorism, but not at the expense of threats such as avian influenza," Palmore said. "For this reason the threat to human life -- worldwide -- must be prioritized and resources allocated accordingly. By strengthening the surveillance and detection of avian influenza the public health organizations will provide an early warning to the onset of an avian influenza epidemic. In turn this warning may provide the opportunity to limit the spread of a virus that has mutated into a form that allows efficient human to human transmission, thereby thwarting a pandemic."
Palmore plans travel to the United Kingdom in March to participate in a conference on international collaboration on planning for pandemics at Wilton Park, Steyning, West Sussex.
Melissa Mitchell, News Editor
melissa@uiuc.edu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
http://www.uiuc.edu |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 7:53 AM |
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| Saturday, January 28, 2006 |
| Ten Tips on Improving Life in the Winter for Children With Allergies |
Spring and summer are not the only seasons that bring misery to children with allergies.
"The end of the pollinating season is good news for children with hay fever and similar summer allergies, but those who are sensitive to mold spores may have to wait until the first frost to find relief. Allergy to mold spores is more of a problem than pollen allergy because mold grows anywhere and is not limited to a single pollinating season. It needs little more than moisture and oxygen to thrive," says Dr. David Resnick, Acting Director, Allergy Division at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian.
In winter, children spend more time indoors, which increases their exposure to irritants like dust mites, pet dander, smoke, household sprays and chemicals, and gas fumes -- any and all of which can make their lives miserable.
Dr. Resnick offers these ten tips to make the winter months more bearable for children with allergies:
- Keep your indoor humidity level below 35 percent to help prevent the growth of mold and mites. Use exhaust fans when showering or cooking to remove excess humidity and odors.
- Avoid putting rugs in your child's room, if possible, since wall to wall carpeting is an ideal place for dust mites to proliferate.
- When outdoors, keep children from playing in areas that promote mold growth, such as dark, wooded areas.
- Use dust-proof covers for mattresses, box springs, and pillows to decrease exposure to allergens, but consult your child's allergist before undertaking such an expense.
- Wash bed linens and nightclothes in hot water (above 130 degrees) to kill dust mites.
- If you must use a humidifier, keep it clean and change the water frequently to avoid contamination by mold and bacteria. Central humidifiers should be sprayed with an anti-mold agent.
- Don't put plants in your child's room, since decaying leaves and increased humidity can stimulate growth of mold.
- If your child is allergic to household pets (dogs and cats), minimize his or her contact with them. If you cannot remove them from the household, keep them out of your child's bedroom at all times.
- Children with asthma should get a flu vaccine in the fall before the onset of cold weather. Also, keep your child well-hydrated and protected from cold air with proper attire (i.e., a scarf over the mouth).
- Contact your child's physician or allergist for proper evaluation and treatment.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center 525 East 68th Street, Box 144 New York, NY 10021 NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center 627 West 165th Street New York, NY 10032 http://www.nyp.org |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 8:25 AM |
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| Thursday, January 26, 2006 |
| Giving Gifts To Doctors Not Good For Patients |
The medical profession is challenged by the conflict of interest between a doctor's commitment to his/her patient's interests and drug companies' product promotion. The prestigious Institute of Medicine as a Profession at Columbia University, New York, says that current self-regulation on giving gifts to doctors does not protect patients enough.
In a paper, the Institute says more stringent regulation is needed. It proposes a policy for academic medical centers to take the lead in eradicating doctors' conflicts of interest. This would include stricter controls on support for continuing medical education activity carried out by pharmaceutical companies. The paper also calls for the end of free samples.
The President of the Institute, D Rothman, says a gift requires reciprocity. Even though doctors say they cannot be bought, he believes gifts do influence prescribing patterns. He says that what should underlie doctors' prescribing ought to be scientific knowledge and patients' interests, not reciprocity - be it conscious or unconscious.
You can read the paper in the January 25 issue of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association).
The pharmaceutical industry in the USA spends $21 billion on marketing. According to the report, a large part of this is directed at physicians. Even medical students get gifts and attend events paid for by drug makers.
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 3:55 AM |
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| Wednesday, January 25, 2006 |
| Low-fat Eating Pattern Does Not Lead To Weight Gain |
Results of the first study on the long-term effects of a dietary pattern low in fat and high in carbohydrates suggest that a low-fat eating pattern does not lead to weight gain.
The new Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study examined the relationships between weight changes in postmenopausal women and specific changes in types of food eaten. Women in the intervention group were counseled to decrease fat intake to 20 percent of calories and to replace calories from fat with calories from vegetables, fruits, and grains (with an emphasis on whole grains) - but were not told to cut calories.
The study was designed to test whether a low-fat, increased carbohydrate diet would reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease but was not a weight loss study. The control group received diet-related education materials only. Participants in the low-fat, increased carbohydrate group initially lost about 5 pounds and after 9 years they weighed about 1 pound less than the usual diet control group.
"Low-Fat Dietary Pattern and Weight Change Over 7 Years - the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial," will be published in the January 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.
WHI Project Officer Jacques Rossouw, M.D., of NHLBI is available to provide general comment on the WHI and on this latest study's findings that a low-fat eating pattern does not result in weight gain in postmenopausal women. According to Dr. Rossouw, a low-fat, high carbohydrate dietary pattern may help to contain the age-related rise in body weight seen in post-menopausal women. NHLBI nutritionist Eva Obarzanek, Ph.D., can discuss how this study relates to other research on weight loss.
To schedule interviews, contact the NHLBI Communications Office at 301-496-4236.
NHLBI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal Government's primary agency for biomedical and behavioral research. NIH is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NHLBI press releases and fact sheets, including information on the Women's Health Initiative and on overweight and obesity can be found online at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov.
NHLBI Communications Office
nhlbi_news@nhlbi.nih.gov
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 3:18 AM |
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| Monday, January 23, 2006 |
| Four Antivirals Not Suitable For Routine Seasonal Influenza Control |
The commonly prescribed antiviral medications amantadine and rimantidine should not be used for seasonal or pandemic influenza control because they are ineffective and can cause adverse side-effects, according to a study published online today (Thursday January 19, 2006) by The Lancet. Another two antivirals--zanamivir and oseltamivir--should not routinely be used for seasonal influenza control and should only be used in a serious epidemic or pandemic alongside other public health measures, state the authors. The researchers also found no evidence that zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) were effective against avian influenza.
The news follows the recent interim recommendations from the US Centres of Disease Control (CDC) that neither amantadine or rimantadine should be used for the treatment or prevention of influenza A in the US for the remainder of the 2005-2006 influenza season because of growing resistance to the drugs. The CDC instead recommends the use of zanamivir or oseltamivir for treatment or prevention.
Tom Jefferson (Cochrane Vaccines Field) and colleagues combined data from 50 trials on two classes of drugs, the M2 ion channel inhibitors, amantadine and rimantadine, and the newer neuraminidase inhibitors zanamivir and oseltamivir. They found that while both classes of antivirals prevented or eased symptoms of influenza they did not prevent infection. They also found that neither class of antivirals could effectively treat influenza-like illnesses. Influenza is caused by influenza A and B viruses, whereas influenza-like illness is caused by scores of different viruses, not all of which are influenza. In practice, influenza like-illness is what doctorsdiagnose prior to testing for specific types of influenza.
Another finding was that the neuraminidase inhibitors did not stop virus shedding from the nose (an important mechanism for influenza spread) but did diminish the effect. The M2 ion channel blockers did not have an effect on viral shedding. The investigators also found that the use of amantadine quickly led to the emergence of resistant viral strains and both amantadine and rimantadine caused unpleasant adverse effects, such as hallucinations.
Dr Jefferson states: "The use of amantadine and rimantadine should be discouraged. Because of their low effectiveness, neuramidase inhibitors should not be used in seasonal influenza control and should only be used in a serious epidemic or pandemic alongside other public-health measures such as use of masks, gowns, gloves, quarantine, and hand washing." (Quote by e-mail; does not appear in the published paper)
Joe Santangelo
j.santangelo@elsevier.com
Lancet
http://www.thelancet.com |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 4:39 AM |
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| Sunday, January 22, 2006 |
| Innovative Therapy Helps Seniors Fight Depression |
FRIDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- A "team approach" to treat depression in elderly people produces effective, lasting results, a new U.S. study finds.
The two-year study of more than 1,800 depressed people, aged 60 and older, found that patients in the IMPACT (Improving Mood Promoting Access to Collaborative Care Treatment) program suffered less depression, had better physical functioning, better overall health, and better quality of life than patients who received standard care.
IMPACT is specifically designed to treat the depressed elderly. The team included primary care and mental health specialists who worked together using a computer program to track each patient's specific needs and appropriate treatment, including problem-solving talk therapy and antidepressants.
"Depressed older adults rarely get effective treatment. This study shows we can engage these patients in treatment in their usual primary care setting, and help them lead happy, productive lives," study lead author Enid Hunkeler, an investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif., said in a prepared statement.
The findings are published in the current British Medical Journal.
The IMPACT program is currently being distributed in the United States and Canada.
Depression affects an estimated seven million of the 35 million Americans 65 and older, according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. Two million of those seven million suffer severe depression, which greatly increases their risk of suicide.
-- Robert Preidt
SOURCE: Kaiser Permanente, news release, Jan. 20, 2006 |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 7:47 AM |
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| Wednesday, January 18, 2006 |
| Four Key Lifestyle Factors That Can Affect Fertility |
Mark P. Leondires, M.D., FACOG, medical director at Reproductive Medicine Associates Of CT says:
"Few Americans can count themselves 'viceless.' Whether it's having a glass or two of wine with dinner, a mid-day cigarette break or even a couple of cups of coffee to get going in the morning, the majority of us indulge in at least one less-than-healthy pleasure.
But for couples trying to achieve pregnancy, many of these lifestyle choices can make getting pregnant much more difficult.
It's precisely because of the intricacy of the process, and the delicate balance of hormones and timing involved, that we need to take a hard look at lifestyle as a key factor in infertility."
ProfNet
USA
www.profnet.com |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 8:11 AM |
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| Development of immune cells associated with allergy and asthma |
Arthritis and allergy are ‘two sides of the same coin' as immune responses. Both are caused by overproduction of otherwise important immune molecules. Two papers in the November issue of Nature Immunology describe how one type of immune cell associated with allergic inflammation and autoimmunity ultimately causes disease. This new work clarifies how such cells develop, which may help bring treatment for inflammatory diseases such as asthma and allergy.
CD4 lymphocytes (or ‘T helper' cells) are immune ‘helper' cells that were formerly thought to function in one of two ways during immune responses. Now, work from the laboratories of Casey Weaver and Chen Dong describe how a novel third type of T helper cell develops. Molecules such as antiviral interferon-gamma (IFN-g) and allergy-associated interleukin 4 (IL-4) are well known to be produced by distinct ‘lineages' of T helper cells, whereas distinct molecules have been linked to some T helper cells found in people with autoimmunity. Both Weaver and Dong demonstrate that CD4 T cells can be become producers of interleukin 17 (IL-17), a powerful chemical that stimulates inflammation and has been linked to autoimmunity and allergy. IL-17 is triggered by a unique set of signals that defines this new ‘lineage' of CD4 T cells.
This new information may allow treatments for people before they develop symptoms of allergy and autoimmunity instead of only after symptoms occur, which is the basis of the present, less effective treatment.
Nature Journal
DOI: 10.1038/ni1254 &
DOI: 10.1038/ni1261
http://www.nature.com |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 5:32 AM |
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| Monday, January 16, 2006 |
| Erectile dysfunction may be a sign that coronary artery disease is developing |
Erectile dysfunction may be a sign that coronary artery disease is developing, even in men without typical risk factors, according to a new study in the Oct. 18, 2005, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
"We think that erectile dysfunction represents the 'tip of the iceberg' of a systemic vascular disorder; thus potentially preceding severe cardiovascular events. Erectile dysfunction should be part of a cardiovascular risk assessment. These patients should be considered at high risk for coronary artery disease and should have high priority for aggressive treatment," said Emilio Chiurlia, Ph.D. from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Modena, Italy.
The researchers studied 70 men with erectile dysfunction and 73 control subjects who were of similar age and race (all Caucasian), and had similar coronary risk factor scores according to estimates published by the National Cholesterol Education Panel III. None of the men had symptoms of coronary atherosclerosis.
The men with erectile dysfunction had higher levels of C-reactive protein (an emerging coronary risk factor), they were more likely to have abnormal blood vessel responses to changes in blood flow (as measured by flow mediated dilation), and more of them had coronary artery calcifications detected on coronary CT scans.
"When a man is diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, clinicians should be aware that erectile dysfunction would represent an early clinical manifestation of a diffuse subclinical vascular disease and coronary artery disease is the most important problem that needs to be investigated. The smaller penile arteries suffer obstruction from plaque burden earlier than the larger coronary arteries hence erectile dysfunction may be symptomatic before a coronary event," Dr. Chiurlia said.
Dr. Chiurlia noted that this study involved only a small number of men and did not follow them over time to see which ones actually developed heart disease.
"We need prospective studies addressing the precise role of erectile dysfunction as a marker of cardiovascular disease," he said.
While awaiting the results of such future studies, he said erectile dysfunction should raise suspicions about early atherosclerosis, even in men who would not otherwise be considered at high risk.
"In our opinion, erectile dysfunction should be considered, like diabetes, a 'cardiovascular equivalent,'" Dr. Chiurlia said.
Renke Maas, M.D., from the University-Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany, who was not connected with this research, agreed with the main conclusion of the study.
"The present study by Chiurlia et al. lends strong support to the notion that erectile dysfunction may be an early warning sign of clinically-silent coronary artery disease. Despite limitations set by sample size and the cross-sectional study design with a long list of exclusion criteria, it is a strength of the present work that it assesses major aspects connecting erectile dysfunction and more generalized vascular disease in one study," Dr. Maas said.
Paul Schoenhagen, M.D., from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, who also was not connected with the research, said it provides evidence of related problems in two different regions of the arterial tree.
"These results demonstrate the systemic nature of atherosclerosis and the relationship to an inflammatory process of the vessel wall. This understanding of atherosclerosis increasingly allows early interventions aimed at the prevention of disease complications," Dr. Schoenhagen said.
Disclosure Box
Sources quoted in this news release do not report any potential conflicts of interest regarding this topic.
Amy Murphy
amurphy@acc.org
301-581-3476
American College of Cardiology
http://www.acc.org |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 6:41 AM |
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| Research on premature birth boosted with $10 Million NIH grant |
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have received over $10 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for four and a half years to fund research initiatives in preterm births.
The grant from the National Institutes on Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) will form a data management, statistics and informatics core at Yale and support a National Genomic and Proteomic Network for Preterm Birth Research. This five-site network will identify genetic and environmental determinants of premature birth and provide a public resource for future research on preterm birth. Other institutions conducting the research with Yale are the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Utah, the University of Texas Medical Branch and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Heping Zhang, professor of biostatistics in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) and professor in the Child Study Center is principal investigator of the core grant to Yale School of Medicine. He will oversee study design, data management, statistics, informatics, coordination and administration of funding for the entire network.
"This multidisciplinary and multi-center network will be able to recruit a large and representative population of preterm births and utilize advanced genomic technologies and statistical methods," said Zhang. "This combination of a large sample with the advanced technologies is critically important to the understanding of complex diseases and conditions such as preterm births."
Yale School of Medicine Dean Robert J. Alpern, M.D., said, "I am delighted that the NIH has chosen one of Yale's faculty members to lead this program. Dr. Zhang is an outstanding biostatistician with much experience in leading clinical trials such as this one."
Director of the NICHD, Duane Alexander, M.D., said the network is one of the major efforts and top priorities of the Institute. The goal of the network is to obtain an understanding of the pathophysiology of preterm birth, discover target molecules and diagnostic biomarkers and aid in innovating and implementing strategies for premature birth intervention.
Premature birth is a leading cause of infant mortality. Although advances have been made in the identification of some possible causes of prematurity, such as intrauterine infection, uterine bleeding, excessive uterine stretch, maternal psychosocial stress and fetal physiological stress, more understanding is needed to implement effective interventions.
Prakash Nadkarni, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and EPH, and Kei Cheung, assistant professor at Yale Center for Medical Informatics and Genetics, will direct the data management and informatics. Laura Ment, M.D., professor of pediatrics at Yale, and Kenneth Williams, director of Yale's W.M. Keck Foundation Biotechnology Resource Laboratory, will provide clinical and scientific expertise. Analisa Lozano, coordinator in EPH, will serve as network coordinator.
Karen N. Peart
karen.peart@yale.edu
Yale University
yale.edu |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 4:53 AM |
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| Teach The Importance Of Healthy Eating And Physical Activity - Healthy Tips For Your Teens |
A healthy diet and adequate exercise maximizes the likelihood of teens growing up healthy and strong. Because teens are still growing and adding bone mass, a balanced diet is essential to your child's health. Provide three nutritious meals a day, with fruits and vegetables, supplemented with healthy snacks.
Avoid foods and drinks that are high in sugar, fat or caffeine. Choose fruits, vegetables; bread cereal, other grains; lean meats, chicken, fish; and low fat dairy products.
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines, as well as the new recipe book A Healthier You based on the Guidelines, can help you plan healthy meals for yourself and your teen. Teenagers also need 30 to 60 minutes of physical activities 3 or more times a week.
Obesity and overweight, even in children, can significantly increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses, and the vast majority of overweight teens go on to become overweight adults. Healthy eating and exercise will ensure that your child maintains a healthy weight.
healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/index.html
Tips from The US Surgeon General
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
www.hhs.gov
www.surgeongeneral.gov |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 3:32 AM |
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| Sunday, January 15, 2006 |
| Nutrition Education And Weight Loss Among Low-Income Mothers |
Weight-management programs, especially for low-income women, need to include strong nutrition education components to "alleviate knowledge inequalities and promote more effective weight control," according to researchers at the University of Texas. In a study of 141 overweight or obese women - recruited from schools, Women, Infants and Children clinics and public health clinics - the researchers found "successful weight loss was associated with greater nutrition knowledge."
Eight-week classes for the low-income women emphasized diet, physical activity and behavior modification. The researchers found that, on average, the women who scored highest on nutrition knowledge tests both before and after the classes lost the most amount of weight.
The researchers acknowledge that factors other than nutrition knowledge "may contribute to successful weight reduction in this population," including social support, depression, stress and attitudes toward nutrition and weight loss. Even so, the researchers write: "Information about the Food Guide Pyramid, weight loss, energy nutrients and vitamins/minerals need reinforcement in low-income populations to improve knowledge and promote weight loss."
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics. With nearly 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Based in Chicago, ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. Visit ADA at www.eatright.org.
Julia Dombrowski
media@eatright.org
American Dietetic Association
www.eatright.org |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 4:38 AM |
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| FDA Issues Recall Of Tropical Fruit Ackee Because Of Possible Health Risks |
FDA is announcing the recall of some shipments of ackee - a tropical fruit imported from Jamaica - because the fruit has levels of a naturally occurring toxin called hypoglycin that are of health concern. The recall involves 31 cases of Ashman's Ackees in Brine, distributed by Harvest Foods, Hartford, CT.
The products were sold in 19-oz. cans and were shipped in early November to one wholesaler in New York, and to retail stores and restaurants in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. No illnesses have been reported to FDA concerning the Harvest Foods product.
The ingestion of under-ripe ackee has been linked to sudden vomiting. Infrequently, high levels of hypoglycin can lead to convulsions, coma, and death.
Hypoglycins in the ackee are found in toxic levels when the fruit is picked too early and is under-ripe. Because of the potentially serious health issues associated with consuming high levels of hypoglycin, FDA is advising consumers not to eat Ashman's Ackees in Brine. Consumers can return this product to the point of purchase. Consumers who have eaten this product should contact their doctors.
http://www.fda.gov |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 4:31 AM |
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