Chris Barton : Time to come clean before public on tainted meat

Officials charged with overseeing public health and ensuring the safety of our food have some explaining to do over their handling of two listeria contaminations this month.
It's bad enough that the contaminations occurred at the…

Source: http://www.meat.pro/2008/02/26/chris-barton-time-to-come-clean-before-public-on-tainted-meat/

NASA Delays Mars Scout Mission to 2013

NASA announced today that the next mission in the Mars Scout program, originally planned for launch in 2011, is now targeted for launch in 2013.

Sweet Drinks and Gout, Arthritis

In recent research published in the UK, the article: "Surge In Gout Blamed On Sweet Drinks", describes the connection between sugary drinks and the increase in incidence of gout. Appended to this article are Dr. Mercola's comments and suggestions for finding natural ways to relieve these painful symptoms.

Enjoy and seek wellness.

Men who drink two or more sugary soft drinks a day have an 85 percent higher risk of gout than those who drink less than one a month, according to U.S. and Canadian researchers.

Gout has been increasing steadily in the UK in recent years, and the researchers believe it is linked to a rise in soft drink consumption over the same period.

During the 12-year study, 46,000 men aged 40 and over were asked questions about their diet.

The risk of developing gout significantly increased among men who drank five to six servings of sugary soft drinks a week. Fruit juice and fructose-rich fruits such as oranges and apples also increased the risk.

Gout causes painful, swollen joints, usually in your lower limbs, caused when uric acid crystallizes out of your blood into your joints.

Fructose is known to inhibit the excretion of uric acid, which may help to explain the study’s findings.
Sources:

* BBC News February 1, 2008

* British Medical Journal February 9 2008;336:285-286

Dr. Mercola's Comments:
An estimated 2 million to 5 million Americans have gout, a type of arthritis that causes stiff, swollen and painful joints. It occurs when your uric acid levels build up in your blood, and although gout is commonly blamed on eating too many high-purine foods, such as organ meats and some seafood, there is clearly another dietary culprit: high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

It never ceases to amaze me that the number one source of calories for American’s is HFCS in the form of sodas. This is so tragic because soda can be one of the easiest items to change in your diet. If you can’t do it by simple will power you can easily use Turbo Tapping.

I had a guest stay with me for a week in Maui and his wife would drink six Dr. Pepper’s a day -- and had done so for many years. A quick treatment of EFT rapidly and easily resolved the problem and she hasn’t even had the desire for the Dr. Pepper since.

Fruit juices are also often loaded with fructose, and if you still believe that this is an acceptable form of sugar, think again.

Fructose contains no beneficial enzymes, vitamins, minerals or accessory micronutrients for you, and actually leeches them from your body. Unbound fructose, found in large quantities in HFCS, can interfere with your heart's use of vital minerals such as magnesium, copper and chromium.

Fructose also reduces the affinity of insulin for its receptor, which is the principle characteristic of type 2 diabetes. Further, HFCS has been implicated in elevated blood cholesterol levels, and it has been found to inhibit the action of white blood cells in your immune system.

Meanwhile, fructose is not metabolized the same as other sugars. Instead of being converted to glucose, which your body uses, it is removed by your liver. But, because it is metabolized by your liver, fructose does not cause your pancreas to release insulin the way it normally does. So fructose converts to fat more than any other sugar, which may be one of the reasons Americans continue to get fatter.

Natural Tips for Treating Gout

Gout can be extremely painful but there are some natural solutions that can help.

1. Find out your nutritional type. This will tell you what foods your body needs to thrive, including whether or not you should be eating high-purine foods or not.

2. Avoid drinking soda, fruit juice and other sweet beverages. Instead, drink plenty of pure water, as the fluids will help to remove uric acid from your body.

3. Limit the alcohol you drink (or eliminate it altogether). Alcohol may raise the levels of uric acid in your blood.

4. Exercise. Being overweight increases your risk of gout, and regular exercise will help you to maintain a healthy weight.

5. Try tart cherries, or concentrated tart cherry juice. Tart cherries contain two powerful compounds, anthocyanins and bioflavonoids. Both of these compounds slow down the enzymes Cyclo-oxyygenase-1 and -- 2, which helps to relieve and prevent arthritis and gout in your body.

Source:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/2/19/surge-in-gout-blamed-on-sweet-drinks.aspx


Technorati Tags: ssugary soft drinks, gout symptoms, arthritis, tart cherry juice

$5 billion group would join exclusive business club

A proposed radical shake-up of the meat industry could create one of New Zealand's biggest companies.
Southland-based meat processor Alliance Group yesterday proposed creating a single industry entity to manage 80 per cent of New…

Source: http://www.meat.pro/2008/02/13/5-billion-group-would-join-exclusive-business-club/

Air Quality Concerns due to Formaldehyde in FEMA Trailers

Indoor Air Quality-Related Health Concerns Raised by Displaced Gulf Coast Residents

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided either mobile homes or travel trailers to Gulf Coast victims who had lost their homes in the hurricane. Concerns have surfaced recently about air quality in the trailers and the occurrence of respiratory and other symptoms resulting from exposure to formaldehyde or other respiratory irritants among residents of the mobile homes. CDC is working with FEMA to investigate the health concerns of those living in the trailers and mobile homes.

People living in FEMA trailers who are concerned about the level of formaldehyde in their trailers and the possible health risks of contact with formaldehyde should seek appropriate assistance.

* For concerns about conditions in your trailer, contact FEMA at 1-866-562-2381 (TTY 1-800-462-7585).
* For concerns about medical problems that you think may be related to the trailer, talk to a doctor or other medical professional
.


What is Formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is a common chemical in our environment. Sources of formaldehyde in the environment may include:

* Household sources, such as fiberglass, carpets, permanent press fabrics, paper products, and some household cleaners,
* Manufactured wood products used in new mobile homes,
* Cigarettes and other tobacco products, gas cookers, and open fireplaces,
* Smog

Exposure to low levels of formaldehyde may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. It is possible that people with asthma may be more sensitive to the effects of inhaled formaldehyde.
top

Information for Residents

# Formaldehyde-related Health Concerns
# Indoor Air Quality Fact Sheet

* English [PDF, 3201KB]
* Spanish [PDF, 2458KB]
* Vietnamese [PDF, 1900KB]

# Indoor Air Quality and Health in FEMA Temporary Housing: For Trailer Residents

* English [PDF, 3286KB]

Source:http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehhe/trailerstudy/default.htm

Technorati Tags: FEMA trailers, hurricane Katrina, formaldehyde respiratory diseases

NASA to Make Announcement About Mars Scout Evaluation Schedule

NASA will hold a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EST, on Friday, Dec. 21, to make an announcement about the schedule for evaluating its Mars Scout program.

Super Bowl Week: Sarah’s Ultimate Game Day Menu

Filed under: Snacks, Grains, Vegetables, Dairy, Nuts/seeds, Beef, Poultry, Cheese, Fruit, Pork, America, Comfort Food, Meat, Super Bowl XLII
I certainly had fun during Super Bowl Week here at Slashfood, but an entire week is nothing compared to the actual Game Day. It’s here! It’s today! I have been waiting all month year for this day!
Slashfood [...]

Source: http://www.meat.pro/2008/02/03/super-bowl-week-sarahs-ultimate-game-day-menu/

Serious Problems with Botox - FDA Safety Review

FDA issued an early communication about an ongoing safety review regarding Botox and Botox Cosmetic. FDA has received reports of systemic adverse reactions including respiratory compromise and death following the use of botulinum toxins types A and B for both FDA-approved and unapproved uses. The reactions reported are suggestive of botulism, which occurs when botulinum toxin spreads in the body beyond the site where it was injected. The most serious cases had outcomes that included hospitalization and death, and occurred mostly in children treated for cerebral palsy-associated limb spasticity. Use of botulinum toxins for treatment of limb spasticity (severe arm and leg muscle spasms) in children or adults is not an approved use in the U.S. See the FDA's "Early Communication about an Ongoing Safety Review" for Agency recommendations and additional information for healthcare professionals.

Read the complete 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary including a link to the FDA's Early Communication about an Ongoing Safety Review regarding this issue at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#botox

Technorati Tags: botox safety, botox adverse reactions, fda botox review

FDA Warning to Gout Sufferers using Colchicine

FDA Takes Action to Stop the Marketing of Unapproved Injectable Drugs Containing Colchicine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced its intention to take enforcement action against companies marketing unapproved injectable colchicine, a drug used to treat gout.

Colchicine is a highly toxic drug that can easily be administered in excessive doses, especially when given intravenously. There is a narrow margin between an effective dose of the drug and a toxic dose that can result in serious health risks, including death. The FDA is aware of 50 reports of adverse events associated with the use of intravenous colchicine, including 23 deaths. Potentially fatal effects include low blood cell counts, cardiac events, and organ failure.

"Today's action supports our ongoing efforts to end the marketing of unapproved drugs with serious health risks," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., FDA's deputy commissioner for scientific and medical programs, chief medical officer, and acting director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). "Such products put consumers' health and sometimes their very lives at grave risk. It is a priority that these products be removed from the market."

Individuals and companies must stop making these products within 30 days and stop shipping the product within 180 days or face regulatory action which could include seizure, injunction or other legal action deemed appropriate by the agency. After these dates, all injectable colchicine drug products must have FDA approval to be manufactured or shipped interstate.

In June 2006, the FDA began taking action against marketed unapproved drugs. That effort seeks to ensure that all drug products marketed in the United States are shown, through the drug approval process, to be safe and effective and to meet appropriate standards for manufacturing and labeling. The agency published a Compliance Policy Guide (CPG) in June 2006 that describes the FDA's risk-based enforcement approach to marketed unapproved drugs. This represents the seventh action taken by the agency against companies that market and sell unapproved drugs since issuing its CPG.

"Until recently, there was one manufacturer of unapproved injectable colchicine, and that firm has ceased manufacturing the product," said Deborah Autor, director of the FDA's Office of Compliance, CDER. "This serves as the agency's warning that firms wishing to make injectable colchicine in the future must not manufacture the product until they apply for and are granted approval by the FDA to do so."

In addition to being manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, injectable colchicine products are sometimes formulated on a smaller scale by compounding pharmacies, often for use in the treatment of back pain. Three of the deaths from intravenous colchicine occurred in March and April of 2007 and were associated with the use of compounded colchicine that, due to an error in preparation, was eight times more potent than the amount stated on the label. The FDA has not approved colchicine in any dosage form for the treatment of back pain. In May 2007, the FDA informed all health care professionals about these deaths associated with compounded injectable colchicine products. The FDA's policy on pharmacy compounding is stated in a CPG on pharmacy compounding.

This action does not affect colchicine products that are dispensed in tablet form and are frequently used to prevent gout attacks.

For more information, please visit http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/unapproved_drugs/colchicine_qa.htm


Technorati Tags: colchicine, gout drug warning, gout

Cell Phone Towers and Cancer Danger

The Cell Phone "Tower of Doom"


Orange mobile phone company agreed to remove its cell phone mast -- dubbed the "Tower of Doom" -- from the top of a five-story London apartment building after seven of its residents got cancer.

The cancer rate among those living on the top floor, where residents from five of the eight flats were affected, is 20 percent -- 10 times the national average.

The mast, along with a second mast owned by Vodafone, was put up in 1994. Since then, residents have battled cancer, headaches and other health problems they say are caused by radiation from the masts. Three residents have died from cancer, while another four are still fighting the disease.

The World Health Organization and other agencies say there is no risk of radiation from cell phone masts, so the companies had no legal obligation to remove the masts.

In August 2007, after a long legal battle, Orange agreed to move the mast from the building -- to another area near homes, a public library and a primary school.

Vodafone has no plans to remove their mast from the building, and is working on securing a new long-term lease.

Sources:

* This Is London August 6, 2007



Technorati Tags: cell phone towers and cancer.cancer, cell phone towers radiation

NASA Awards Johnson Space Center Logistics Operations Contract

NASA has awarded a potential 10-year, $89.5 million contract to L&M Technologies Inc. of Albuquerque, N.M., for logistics operations services at the Johnson Space Center.

Super Bowl Week: We love BYOT (Build Your Own Taco)

Filed under: Lunch, Dinner, Grains, Vegetables, Dairy, Beef, Poultry, Cheese, Fruit, Pork, How To, Condiments, America, Spices, Meat, Super Bowl XLII
“I already ate dinner…Oh, BYOT? Did you say BYOT?!?! I’ll be there in 10 minutes.”
Such was my end of the mobile conversation with my sister last night when she called me over to her place [...]

Source: http://www.meat.pro/2008/01/29/super-bowl-week-we-love-byot-build-your-own-taco/