The company has agreed to recall 14 of its products; however, Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia will remain on the market. One of the most popular diet supplements on the market, Hydroxcut sold 9 million packages last year.

At the current time, the FDA is still trying to figure out what ingredient or combination of ingredients is causing the health problems. Victims are complaining of conditions ranging from jaundice and fatigue to cardiovascular problems and liver failure severe enough to require a transplant. In one case, the 19-year-old victim died from damage to his liver. Although serious reactions are rare, the FDA doesn’t want anyone taking chances. They are warning customers to stop using the supplement immediately.

It’s now been reported that South Korea has ordered the recall and banned sales of pistachios made by Setton Farms of Terra Bella, California, because of possible salmonella contamination. On March 30, 2009 Setton announced that it was voluntarily recalling specific lots of bulk roasted shelled pistachios and tote bags of roasted inshell pistachios sold to wholesale customers due to potential contamination with the Salmonella organism. According to the company, it took this “voluntarily” measure after learning that roasted shelled pistachios it processed and sold to a commercial customer in late 2008 tested positive for Salmonella.

A stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a rapidly developing loss of brain function due to a disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to hemorrhage, thrombosis or ischemia. A transient ischemic attack or TIA (commonly called a mini-stroke) is a short-lived episode usually of 24 hours or less causing temporary impairment. Whether an individual is experiencing a stroke or TIA, it should be considered an emergency situation requiring immediate medical treatment.

Stroke symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; or sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.

How can you tell if a person is having a stroke? Three commands known as the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) can assess the situation quickly. Command the potential stroke victim to (1) Smile- does one side of the mouth sag? (2) Raise both arms- does one arm droop lower than the other? and (3) Speak a simple sentence-are the words slurred? Can the sentence be repeated? If they have trouble with any of these simple commands, call 911 immediately. Time is of the essence when it comes to treating a stroke to limit permanent brain damage. The clot-busting drug TPA (tissue plasminogen activator) and other treatment concepts can reduce stroke severity only if administered swiftly following the onset of the stroke. Urgency is key to successful treatment.

The CPSC has been investigating claims in Florida for more than a month, according to the commission spokesman. Some homeowners are also alleging health problems, such as headaches and sore throats, caused by the high level of sulfur in the drywall. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has received one complaint related to Chinese drywall. The department is in touch with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Health Department, and is “trying to determine what might be the public health impact for Louisiana and what the most appropriate response to this is,” a spokesman for the Louisiana DHH said. It appears that problems with Chinese drywall are ongoing and deserving of more investigation.

Although his plate is already full (pun intended), he recognizes the mess we’re in and the associated urgency.  The President explained that government can’t solve all our problems, and our nation was built on the strength of individual initiative. But, according to the President, there are certain things, like ensuring the safety of the food we eat and the medicines we take, that only government can do.

Not so fast… I’m not sure that the government alone can accomplish this, especially given their pathetic track record. The court system and industry’s self-regulation also have important roles to play.

In any event, President Obama went on to note that this is the mission of the FDA, and it’s  shared by our Department of Agriculture along with variety of other agencies, at a variety of governmental levels. I’m hoping there will be better coordination among the various agencies.

He closed his remarks by underscoring that food safety is something he takes seriously; not just as a President, but as a father.

Obama said when he heard about the peanut butter contamination, his immediate thoughts were of his seven year old daughter who has peanut butter sandwiches for lunch three times a week.

No parent, according to the President, should have to worry about whether their child is going to get sick from their lunch. He concluded by announcing that protecting the safety of our food and drugs is one of the most fundamental responsibilities government has, and that it is a responsibility he intends to uphold.

He certainly is saying some of the right things, but will the funding be there? What about the the political support needed to make this happen?

Sudden movement of the brain within the skull causes the majority of traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases. CT scans or MRIs will show hemorrhage from contusions or vascular injuries in more severe cases, but in most cases of mild TBI, no evidence of injury can be visualized. Movement of the brain inside the skull can cause disruption of the various nerve cells or neurons that make up brain tissue. Axonal shearing is an injury to the long vulnerable axon portion of the neuron. Traditional radiological studies generally do not detect axonal shearing but PET scans can in some instances. Neuropsychological testing may be required to determine specific types of impaired function that did not exist prior to the injury and isolate specific injured regions of the brain based on behavioral and cognitive dysfunction.

According to some studies, TBI can be caused by impacts with speeds as low as 2.5 mph. If you’ve seen the Crash Dummy video of just a 5 mph crash and what it does to your body, you know the potential damage your brain can sustain, as well as the easier to diagnose injuries to your back and neck. So if you are unlucky enough to be involved in a car crash which results in striking or sudden movement to your head, make sure you get adequately tested if you notice any changes in your behavior or ability to think. Otherwise, you may become a real life Crash Dummy.

Both are Harvard educated professionals with vast experience and should being welcomed changes to an agency that is struggling. The FDA is underfunded and unprepared to timely take the appropriate action to protect the public against food contamination and dangerous drugs.

The Government Accountability Office and the congressionally chartered National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine criticized the agency’s abilities to keep unsafe products off the market and respond effectively to observed hazards.

During a Congressional hearing, Dr. David Graham, a 20 year employee of the FDA, testified that the FDA is “broken” and has “let the American people down.” While discussing the Vioxx example, he concluded that “the FDA, as currently configured, is incapable of protecting the America public against another Vioxx. He explained… “We are virtually defenseless.”

It will be interesting to see how the new FDA chiefs deal with these problems. Some suggest we need centralization of the regulatory process. Others suggest a single food safety agency. There apparently is no shortage of ideas and proposals. And we also see legislative relief on the horizon.

Rep. Dingell has introduced the Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act, designed to increase the FDA’s enforcement power. Senator Dick Durbin has introduced The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Hopefully all of this will lead to a healthier food system.