Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Red Bull Cited in Injury Reports: FDA
The energy drink Red Bull was mentioned in 21 injury reports in
the United States since 2004, including hospitalizations for heart
problems and vomiting, according to Food and Drug Administration
documents.
The agency posted the reports on its website Friday, just days
after the company that makes Red Bull said it was unaware of any
such cases,
The New York Timesreported.
Even if a product is cited in a report of an injury or death, it
does not mean the product caused it or contributed to the
event.
On Saturday, Red Bull repeated that it was not aware of any
injury filings to the FDA that mentioned its energy drink. The
company has said its beverages are safe.
In recent weeks, the FDA has confirmed or released 18 reports
involving deaths and more than 150 others involving injuries that
mentioned one of the four top-selling energy drinks: Red Bull,
Monster Energy, Rockstar and 5-Hour Energy,
The Timesreported.
Like the maker of Red Bull, the manufacturers of the other three
popular energy drinks say their products are safe and did not cause
any of the injuries or deaths reported to the FDA.
However, a federal report released last year found that more
than 13,000 emergency room visits in 2009 mentioned an energy drink
as a possible cause,
The Timesreported.
-----
Company Knowingly Shipped Tainted Nut Products: FDA
A New Mexico company linked to a recent nationwide salmonella
outbreak knowingly shipped tainted peanut butter and almond butter
after company tests showed that the products were contaminated,
according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The salmonella outbreak caused 41 illnesses in 20 states in
September and led Sunland Inc. to recall hundreds of nut and nut
butter products made since 2010.
FDA documents released last week showed that repeated agency
inspections found problems at the Sunland plant since 2007.
However, government officials did not release the inspection
results or take action until after the salmonella outbreak began,
CBS News/Associated Pressreported.
An FDA inspection of the plant in September and October found 28
different samples of salmonella in the plant. The agency also noted
improper handling of products, unclean equipment and uncovered
trailers of peanuts outside that plant that were exposed to birds
and rain.
Between June 2009 and August 2012, tests conducted by Sunland
found that portions of 11 lots, or daily production runs, tested
positive for salmonella but were still shipped to customers,
according to the FDA,
CBS News/APreported.
"Equally important, five product samples collected and analyzed by FDA from Sunland Inc. showed the presence of salmonella, but had not been identified as containing salmonella by Sunland Inc.'s internal testing," the FDA said.
Company officials said they never knowingly shipped contaminated
products.
"At no time in its twenty-four year history has Sunland, Inc. released for distribution any products that it knew to be potentially contaminated with harmful microorganisms," Sunland president and CEO Jimmie Shearer said in a statement on the company's website, CBS News/APreported. "In every instance where test results indicated the presence of a contaminant, the implicated product was destroyed and not released for distribution."