archive
The Salt
In Raw Milk Case, Activists See Food Freedom On Trial
May 22, 2013 Activists say the case against Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger is about raw milk — and much more. His supporters have turned the case into a rallying cry for personal food freedom and the rights of farmers and consumers to enter into private contracts without government intervention.
The Salt
Tiny Mites Spark Big Battle Over Imports Of French Cheese
May 11, 2013 Microscopic bugs called cheese mites are responsible for the distinctive rind and flavor of the bright orange French cheese Mimolette. But now, the FDA has blocked more than a ton of Mimolette from entering the country, because the agency says the mites left on it make it unfit for consumption.
Shots - Health News
Judge Denies Administration's Request To Delay Plan-B Ruling
May 10, 2013 Iin denying the government's motion for a stay, U.S. District Court Judge Korman, who has overseen the case since 2005, also laid out several substantive problems with the situation that last week's approval by the Food and Drug Administration created.
Shots - Health News
FDA OKs Prescription-Free Plan B Pill For Women 15 And Up
April 30, 2013 Under the proposal, teenagers below 15 would now need a prescription to purchase the morning-after pill. That age was previously 17. The plan would also allow the product to be sold on retail shelves, rather than behind the pharmacy counters, with age to be verified by cashiers rather than pharmacy staff.
Shots - Health News
Recalls Of Dietary Supplements Highlight Mystery Ingredients
April 23, 2013 More than 200 dietary supplements have been recalled in recent years because they contain drugs that aren't listed on the label, an analysis finds. The ingredients are potentially harmful, researchers say.
Shots - Health News
Federal Judge Strikes Down Restrictions On Plan B
April 5, 2013 The ruling could end a more than decade-long battle that has spanned two administrations. The decision overturns a controversial 2011 action by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius overruling the Food and Drug Administration's decision to allow sale of morning-after pill without a prescription or regard for a person's age.
Shots - Health News
FDA: 'Ninja Mojo' And 'Love Rider' Contain Hidden Drugs
April 4, 2013 The Food and Drug Administration says it can't keep up with all the dietary supplements that claim to enhance sexual performance. Many have been found to contain potentially harmful ingredients, so the agency is warning people to beware of the entire bunch.
Shots - Health News
Popular Workout Booster Draws Safety Scrutiny
February 15, 2013 Exercise buffs who take dietary supplements with the ingredient know as DMAA say the stimulant gives them a boost of energy. But some researchers and the Food and Drug Administration are worried that these products could be dangerous.
Shots - Health News
FDA Advisers Favor Limits On Vicodin
January 25, 2013 Painkillers containing the drug hydrocodone have provided relief to many in pain. But a panel recommended the federal government place restrictions on access to the drugs to lessen the odds of addiction.
Shots - Health News
Painkiller Paradox: Feds Struggle To Control Drugs That Help And Harm
January 23, 2013 Prescription drugs like Vicodin have provided much-needed relief for many people suffering from pain. But these painkillers can be addictive, and they kill thousands each year. Doctors and regulators are looking into how to limit access to the drugs without causing more suffering for pain patients.
Shots - Health News
A Worm's Ovary Cells Become A Flu Vaccine Machine
January 18, 2013 The Food and Drug Administration just approved a flu vaccine made by cells taken from the fall armyworm, an agricultural pest. The cells produce copies of a piece of the flu virus's outer coat that primes the immune system. Conventional vaccines use the whole virus and take longer to produce.
Shots - Health News
Pictures May Speak Louder Than Words When It Comes To Smoking
January 15, 2013 Researchers found that graphic warning labels had a greater impact on smokers' intentions to quit than written warnings. Reactions to the visual warnings were similar across racial and income groups, which researchers say is important because of higher rates of tobacco-related disease among some minorities and the poor.
Shots - Health News
Wake-Up Call: FDA Pushes Drugmakers To Weaken Sleeping Pills
January 10, 2013 The active ingredient in many sleep aid medications like Ambien stays in the body longer than had been thought, which could leave people drowsy the next day. So the Food and Drug Administration is ordering pharmaceutical companies to change the labeling on drugs containing the ingredient zolpidem.
The Salt
FDA Releases Rules To Strengthen Safety Of Food Supply
January 4, 2013 Two years after a food safety bill became law, the FDA issues a rule to prevent foodborne illness in produce and one to require food manufacturers to have plans in place to prevent contamination. Foodborne illness sickens about 48 million Americans each year.
Shots - Health News
Social Media Help Diabetes Patients (And Drugmakers) Connect
December 3, 2012 The number of Americans with diabetes is set to skyrocket in the next 40 years. Social media has given patients an online support network and information repository for dealing with their disease. Big drug companies are hopping on the bandwagon as well.