Defective & Dangerous Products

• Nokia Recalls 46 Million Cellphone Batteries for Overheating

  Courtney Mills | August 15, 2007 9:40 AM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  The Nokia Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of cellular phones, announced on Tuesday that lithium-ion batteries in nearly 46 million phones would need to be recalled after reports of 100 incidents of overheating. There have been no injuries to date.Nokia specified that the company's faulty BL-5C battery, a product of the Matsushita Battery Industrial Company, was placed in nearly 46...

• Stent Sales Down, Investigations Up

  Staff Writer | August 14, 2007 7:26 AM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  With cardiac stent sales faltering, doctors and patients worried about their safety, and new investigations cropping up, the industry appears to be in a downward spiral. Now, Congress wants to investigate the manner in which the stents are manufactured. According to a story in the Wall St. Journal, "The House Committee on Energy and Commerce sent out letters today to Johnson & Johnson and the...

• Breast Implants Lead to Increased Suicide Risk?

  Brenda Fulmer | August 09, 2007 10:58 AM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  Women with breast implants are three times more likely to kill themselves than women who have not undergone the operation, a study released yesterday revealed. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center linked breast implants to suicide in the study which examined more than 3500 women who go implants between 1965 & 1993."Such findings warrant increased screening, counseling and perhaps...

• FDA Warns Consumers to Avoid Red Yeast Rice Products

  Chrissie Cole | August 09, 2007 1:02 AM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert warning consumers not to buy or consume three different types of red yeast rice products sold and promoted online. The products may contain an unauthorized drug that can be harmful. The product is promoted as a dietary supplement used to aide high cholesterol.The potentially harmful products are: Red Yeast Rice and Red Yeast...

• Maui Man Suffering from Botulism Poisoning after Eating Recalled Castleberry Product

  Chrissie Cole | July 28, 2007 7:37 PM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  A 33-year-old Maui man is suffering from what appears to be botulism poisoning after eating a recalled Castleberry product, according to the State Department of Health.The Cattledrive Chili was purchased at Costco in Kahului and made by Castleberry's Food Co. At the time of purchase, he was unaware of several recalled Castleberry products. Wednesday night he ate the chili and became ill hours...

• Senate Wants Graphic Warning Labels on Cigarettes

  Staff Writer | July 27, 2007 6:15 PM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  A Senate committee has added an provision to a bill to place more graphic warning labels to packages of cigarettes. Canada already has a similar law to stop people from smoking cigarettes. The aim is to show the potentially deadly side effects of cigarette smoking. The amendment was accepted as part of overall legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration authority for the...

• Lawsuit Filed Over Salmonella Outbreak at Food Fest

  Chrissie Cole | July 25, 2007 10:07 PM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  Eating at the Taste of Chicago food festival left several hundred people sick. One couple was hospitalized for four days due to salmonella poisoning. Now, the couple filed a lawsuit against Pars Cove Persian Cuisine, whose taste booth was the source of the salmonella contaminated hummus, the lawsuit states.The couple suffered from high fever, dehydration and diarrhea. The suit was filed in Cook...

• Botulism Causes Canned Food Recall

  Shannon Weidemann | July 23, 2007 9:53 PM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  An "urgent" product recall for canned stews, chilis, dog food and other products has been issued by the FDA because of a possible contamination by Botulism. Botulism is a nerve toxin that can cause paralysis. Several people have been hospitalized after eating the recalled food. "This is a very big recall," David Elder of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's office of regulatory affairs...

• Infantino Recalls Toy Castles for Choking Hazard

  Chrissie Cole | July 05, 2007 10:52 PM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  Infantino LLC is recalling approximately 68,000 toy shape-sorting castles. The plastic rod can loosen during play, allowing the colored beads to slide off the toy, posing a potential choking hazard to children.The company has received four reports so far of children nearly choking on the beads.The toy castles being recalled have counting beads, four play figures and many different shapes and...

• Veggie Booty Snacks Recalled for Salmonella Contamination

  Chrissie Cole | June 30, 2007 5:32 PM | 0 CommentsTampa Bay, FL

  The FDA is advising consumers to discard any Veggie Booty Snacks, marketed by Robert's American Gourmet, due to possible contamination of Salmonella Wandsworth, a bacterium that causes gastrointestinal illness.Parents who are aware that their children have eaten Veggie Booty Snacks should watch for symptoms and seek medical attention immediately if signs of illness appear.Anyone who has eaten...