Posted on March 12, 2015 in Food Poisoning

Most Americans recognize the potential dangers of undercooked meat or raw eggs. In fact, many restaurant menus carry warnings that beef cooked less than well-done may place the diner at elevated risk for foodborne illness. While the concerns over meat, eggs, and often dairy products, are certainly based in fact, government research indicates that, more than any of these, fruits and vegetables represent the largest source of foodborne illness in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 9 million Americans are affected by food poisoning, or foodborne illness, each year. More than 50,000 require hospitalization, and about 1,000 cases every year prove to be fatal. In an effort to better understand foodborne illness, causes, impacts, and the types of foods affected, the CDC regularly commissions and conducts extensive research into the issue. Last month, the agency releases its latest study and the findings may be a bit surprising.

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 Posted on March 05, 2015 in Food Poisoning

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that food poisoning outbreaks related to raw milk increased by nearly 70 percent in the last several years. Between 2007 and 2009, 30 such outbreaks were reported, growing to 51 from 2010 to 2012, causing nearly 1000 illnesses. Outbreaks, defined as two or more cases from a common source, occurred in 26 states, including Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Iowa. The CDC determined that Campylobacter infections made up 77 percent of these incidents, while Salmonella and e-Coli infections were also quite common.

According to the study, there were only 3.3 Campylobacter outbreaks per year from 1993 to 2006. Researchers concluded that unpasteurized milk sales was a “public health challenge,” in part because the bacterial infections generally target seniors and children. Adding to the challenge is the reality that each state maintains its own laws regarding pasteurization and raw milk sales. Illinois, for example, only has a partial ban on raw milk sales: consumers may purchase raw milk directly from a dairy farm that meets certain qualifications.

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 Posted on February 12, 2015 in Food Poisoning

A Colorado food processing company which failed to include peanuts in an on-label ingredient list blamed the incident on an “inadvertent packaging error.” The mistake could lead to severe, and possibly fatal, allergic reactions in millions of people.

Broomfield-based WhiteWave Foods distributed over 62,000 mislabeled boxes of Horizon Cheddar Sandwich Crackers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and 28 other states. The inner label states that the sandwich crackers contain peanut butter, but the outer label only says that the package contains “cheddar” sandwich crackers.

WhiteWave claims it is working with its partners to recover unsold product and that it has “taken measures to prevent this from happening in the future.”

Food Allergy Every three minutes, someone visits an emergency room seeking treatment for anaphylaxis or a similar dangerous food allergy reaction. Specifically, over three million Americans have a peanut or tree nut allergy, and even trace amounts can cause a life-threatening reaction. Thousands of other people are allergic to fish, eggs, shellfish, and other food products.

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 Posted on February 05, 2015 in Food Poisoning

State and county health officials recently linked a 2013 Salmonella outbreak in North Carolina to a hotel restaurant in Fayetteville. One of the most serious food poisoning events in The Tar Heel State's history sickened an estimated 100 people.

Inspectors were unable to identify a single cause, but they recorded numerous violations, including temperature violations, bare-handed contact with ready-to-eat food, improper water temperatures, a defective dishwasher, and absence of hand-washing supplies. Investigators theorized that cross-contamination probably triggered the outbreak. The first 29 cases came from the restaurant staff, and an overly-strict leave policy may have made the outbreak worse. Investigators confirmed that seven people worked while they were sick.

The outbreak lasted from May 1 to May 17, 2013. Although most of the victims were from North Carolina, residents of South Carolina, Alabama, Illinois, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York were also affected.

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 Posted on January 29, 2015 in Food Poisoning

1 in 10 hip replacement surgeries fail, forcing the patient to undergo risky revision surgery. If the hip implant fails, it usually infects the bone. In the subsequent osteotomy, the doctor must remove both the defective implant and the infected bone. That bone loss makes the revision surgery a very low-percentage gamble, because there is not enough remaining healthy bone to anchor a second implant.

Some doctors say that a temporary spacer increases the success rate. The bone cement is laced with antibiotics, thus treating the infection without removing as much bone. Now, researchers in the United States and China have used a 3D printer to make a biometric sheath from hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate and create a more custom fit.

In the near future, doctors hope to optimize the design, making the new spacer more like natural bone tissue.

Hip Implants

Following the lead of manufacturers like DePuy and Styker, many companies began making Metal on Metal (MoM) hip implants in the 1970s and 1980s. These devices were touted as more durable than Plastic on Metal (POM) implants, and thus more desirable for patients who were still physically active. A number of these implants have been recalled, and for good reason.

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 Posted on October 24, 2014 in Food Poisoning

Metal-on-metal hips were first marketed as providing a greater range of motion and longer lasting use for patients. However, due to poor design and performance of certain artificial hips, failure rates have rapidly increased. Medical device manufacturers Stryker and DuPuy both created and promoted products that did not undergo proper testing. As a result, many have suffered.

Reports have revealed that metal debris can slough off the artificial hip device, causing damage to surrounding tissue and entry into the bloodstream. A defective artificial hip can lead to serious conditions such as hip dislocation, disability, and permanent damage.

Two years ago, the FDA ended distribution of Stryker's Rejuvenate and ABG II artificial hip devices. Health concerns associated with these hip systems included:

• metal corrosion;
• damage to tissue, bones and organs;

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 Posted on October 17, 2014 in Food Poisoning

Acetaminophen is one of the most common pain medications in the world. Johnson & Johnson manufactures the most well known brand of pain medication that contains acetaminophen, Tylenol. While many people consider Tylenol to be a very safe, over-the-counter drug, according to MedicinePlus, a publication of the National Institute of Health (NIH), acetaminophen overdose “is one of the most common poisonings worldwide.” It can be deadly if a person takes too large of a dose, according to NIH. Symptoms over acetaminophen overdose can include stomach pain, nausea, sweating, vomiting, appetite loss, coma or jaundice.

Taking too much Tylenol at one time is not the only danger of the drug, however. According to MedPageToday, a publication of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, acetaminophen overdose or poisoning is without question the most common cause of acute liver failure in the U.S. People who are most at risk for acute liver failure as a result of acetaminophen poisoning include people who take drugs or drink alcohol, people who experience depression, and those who take many different medications that contain acetaminophen at the same time. In addition to Tylenol, according to the NIH, several cold or flu medications contain acetaminophen, as well as medications such as Percocet and Anacin.

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 Posted on September 02, 2014 in Food Poisoning

Stryker Orthopaedics (“Stryker”) is one of the world's leading medical technology companies. Recently, Stryker has come under fire for some of its medical devices that have been found to be defective. In fact, over 2,000 plaintiffs have filed suit against Stryker because of faults in Stryker hip implants. A suit, entered on May 20, 2014, asserts that the Accolade TMZF femoral hip stem, designed and manufactured by Stryker, is a defective medical product with a premature failure rate.

The Stryker Hip Implant

The issues with Stryker hip implants have been going on for years. In 2003, the Trident Ceramic Acetabular System was introduced to the public, but soon came under attack following adverse event reports received by the FDA. This hip implant was in 2008.

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 Posted on August 22, 2014 in Food Poisoning

The History of Vaccine Awareness

Vaccines are considered great defenses in helping prevent the spread of serious diseases. In 1986, the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act was introduced. In addition to raising awareness of the potential vaccination dangers in children, the Act also created the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The program, established in 1988, was to help ensure an adequate supply of vaccines, to guarantee that the costs of vaccines were stabilized, and to “establish and maintain an accessible and efficient forum for individuals found to be injured by certain vaccines.”

The VICP program is an alternative to the traditional personal injury system of reporting faulty or dangerous vaccinations. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims determines who will be awarded VICP funds. Because of its status as a federal agency, of course, there is often quite a bit of red tape that a person must go through in order to be awarded these funds. Oftentimes, it can be easier to get the compensation you deserve if you work with a private defective medical device attorney.

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 Posted on May 23, 2014 in Food Poisoning

If you have been implanted with a metal-on-metal hip implant, and you are suffering from pain or other problems, you are not alone. The FDA has received numerous reports about these devices, which lead to the creation of an entire website containing information on what to do if you have been hurt. In some cases, revision surgery may be required to correct the problems caused by the implant.

Depending on your condition, you may need to evaluate whether revision surgery can rectify a problem with your existing defective metal hip implant. If you already have a device fracture, loosening, dislocation, or infection, you should consult with your doctor as soon as possible. And if you find that you are developing local or systemic problems in relation to release of metal particles into your bloodstream, it is in your best interest to get medical attention sooner rather than later.

However, with that said, there are risks with revision surgery. One risk is having a reaction to the anesthesia or experiencing bleeding, infection, or blood clots. Speak with your doctor beforehand so that you are clear on the risks of participating in surgery. The surgery might be harder on you if the original implant affected your bone quality or soft tissue.

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