More than 800 homeowners across the country have registered Chinese drywall complaints with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).

According to an update on the CPSC’s website, consumers largely report that their homes were built in 2006 to 2007, when an unprecedented increase in new construction occurred in part due to the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005, the CPSC said.  Common features of the reports submitted to the CPSC from homes believed to contain problem  Chinese drywall have been: (more…)

At least 1,000 people remain evacuated this morning due to a fire at the the El Dorado Chemical plant in Bryan, Texas.

The El Dorado Chemical Co. uses ammonium nitrate to make fertilizer.  The highly combustible chemical can also be used to make explosives, and can be detonated under conditions of heat and pressure.  The possibility that the fire at El Dorado Chemical could have sparked a massive ammonium nitrate explosion was very real.  Inhalation of ammonium nitrate fumes can cause irritation to the respiratory tract.  Symptoms may include coughing, sore throat, and shortness of breath. (more…)

We have yet another recall of children’s clothing with dangerous drawstrings to report.

In February 1996, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or becoming entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. In May 2006, the CPSC’s Office of Compliance issued an announcement that such outerwear with drawstrings at the hood or neck would be regarded as both defective and a substantial risk of injury to young children. (more…)

Fresh cilantro is being recalled by Frontera Produce because of potential Salmonella contaminaiton.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

According to a posting on the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Website, the recalled lot of cilantro was distributed to two retail store chains in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Louisiana, and New Mexico. This product originated in Mexico and was procured by Frontera Produce, who subsequently routinely tested for contaminants as part of their internal food safety program.

The cilantro recall involves lot 118122, which would have been purchased between July 20, 2009 and July 27, 2009. The cilantro bunches in question have a white twist tie with pink lettering spelling the word ‘Cilantro’ and the UPC number 033383801049.   Consumers have been advised to destroy the recalled cilantro.

Consumers with questions may contact Frontera Produce at 1(877)-381-5701, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm central standard time, or email fpltd.mail@fronteraproduce.com.

Two dietary supplements are being recalled today because they contain undeclared drug ingredients.  The recalls involve STEAM  and S-DROL dietary supplements made by Nutracoastal Trading LLC.

Customers who have either of these products in their possession should stop using it immediately and contact their physician if they have experienced any problems that may be related to the supplements.  Consumers should return any unused product to the retail location where they were purchased or contact Nutracoastal Trading LLC directly at 866-803-2434 Monday – Friday, 9 am to 5 pm EDT. (more…)

In an order dated July 27, Judge Eldon E. Fallon announced the members of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in the Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation (MDL NO. 2047).  Jerrold Parker, Managing Partner with Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, was appointed  to the  PSC.

All pending Chinese Drywall lawsuits filed around the country have been consolidated before Judge Fallon in the  U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans. On July 2, the Court issued Pretrial Orders regarding procedures for the transfer of cases, and appointing Plaintiffs’ and  Defendants’ Liaison Counsel.  On June 9, a monthly status conference was held before Judge Fallon to consider issues raised by Liaison Counsel.  The next monthly status conference will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., CST. (more…)

Senator Charles Grassley, R-IA, has written Medtronic Inc. about a prominent spine surgeon who was being paid by the company when he testified before a Senate committee in 2006.  According to The Wall Street Journal, Dr. David Polly of the University of Minnesota did not tell lawmakers at the time that he had received compensation from Medtronic.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Medtronic said it was not aware that Polly had failed to tell the Senate committee about his financial ties to the company when he testified in May 2006.  Polly’s testimony involved funding for research into combat-related injuries.  One of Medtronic’s products, Infuse Bone Graft, has been used to treat wounded soldiers, the Journal said. (more…)

U.S. health regulators are warning consumers to stay away from any body building supplement that claims to contain steroid-like ingredients. According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA although products containing synthetic steroids are frequently marketed as dietary supplements, they are in reality unapproved new drugs that have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.

Such body  body building products have been linked to a variety of adverse events,  including liver damage, stroke, kidney failure and pulmonary embolism (artery blockage in the lung). The FDA is advising consumers to stop taking body building products from any manufacturer that claim to contain steroid-like substances or to enhance or diminish androgen-, estrogen-, or progestin-like effects in the body. (more…)

Parents are being warned today that LeapFrog Inc.’s My Pal Scout Electronic Plush Toy Dogs have been recalled for a choking hazard.

The decals on the paws of the plush toy can be removed and ingested by a child, posing a choking hazard.  LeapFrog has received two reports of children removing the decals from this toy, including one report of a child ingesting part of the decal. (more…)

A new report is blasting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its slow response  to the toxic trailer debacle that followed hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The report, issued by the Homeland Security Department inspector general says FEMA “did not display a degree of urgency” when responding to reports of dangerous levels of formaldehyde in  the trailers. Among other things, the report says FEMA took too long to tell hurricane victims about the risks they faced by living in the trailers. (more…)