Defective & Dangerous Products

• FDA Panel Recommends That Avandia Remain On Market

  David Lowe | August 01, 2007 7:49 AM | 0 CommentsMilwaukee, WI

  The FDA panel reviewing cardiac safety concerns about diabetes drug Avandia has recommended by an overwhelming 22 to 1 vote that the popular drug should remain on the market. Some panel members recommended that its warning label be strengthened. The recommendations of advisory panels such as this are highly influential but not binding on the FDA.News of the recommendation resulted in a rally...

• FDA Panel To Consider Removal of Diabetes Drug Avandia

  David Lowe | July 30, 2007 7:39 AM | 0 CommentsMilwaukee, WI

  I previously wrote about the FDA's issuance of a safety alert about Avandia following publication of a report in the New England Journal of Medicine about the increased risks of heart attack from use of this diabetes drug.Today a panel of outside experts convened by the FDA is meeting to consider removal of Avandia from the market, or at least restrictions on its use. According to a slide...

• Defective Products from China and Product Liability Here

  Paul Jacquart | July 25, 2007 3:36 PM | 0 CommentsMilwaukee, WI

  The Chinese government has recently taken some radical steps to shore up the reputation of its exports, including the execution of its chief food and drug regulator and the shutting down of three companies linked to putting poisonous ingredients in medicine and pet food. The Chinese government's actions may prompt some change there, but they do little for an injured consumer here, which led...

• Magnetix Toys Still Being Sold Despite Recalls And Lawsuits

  David Lowe | July 15, 2007 3:58 PM | 0 CommentsMilwaukee, WI

  The continued presence of dangerous Magnetix toys on store shelves despite two recalls has led to serious injuries to children, and lawsuits against MEGA Brands, Rose Arts and toy store retailers carrying Magnetix toys, a New York Times story reports today. Bowel perforation injuries from magnet ingestion have often occurred because the symptoms are nonspecific and not recognized until the...

• Fireworks Injure Bystanders, Not Just Users

  David Lowe | July 05, 2007 8:56 AM | 2 CommentsMilwaukee, WI

  Millions of Americans enjoyed fireworks displays yesterday. But I suspect that some families today are struggling with the aftermath of injuries from fireworks. It's not just those foolish enough to buy and use these products themselves. It's the danger of fireworks to bystanders that gives cause for concern. Bystanders are more often injured by fireworks than operators themselves. A...

• Avandia and Avandamet Raise Risk of Heart Attack For Type II Diabetes Patients

  David Lowe | May 21, 2007 7:55 PM | 0 CommentsMilwaukee, WI

  The widely used drugs Avandia and Avandamet significantly increase the heart attack risk for type II diabetes patients according to an alarming report published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The maker of Avandia (also known as rosiglitazone) is GlaxoSmithKline. The firm's own study found a 30 percent increased risk of heart attack, and turned the results of it study over to the U.S....

• Pesticide Drift Endangers Schoolchildren

  David Lowe | May 17, 2007 6:29 AM | 0 CommentsMilwaukee, WI

  The Associated Press has published a startling report about brain injury and death of schoolchildren due to pesticide spraying near schools. The report focuses on California, one of eight states that require a buffer zone around schools to protect children from "pesticide drift". There there were 590 pesticide-related illnesses at schools from 1996 to 2005, according to state records obtained...

• Evenflo Car Seat Recall

  David Lowe | May 11, 2007 6:48 AM | 0 CommentsMilwaukee, WI

  The Consumer Product Safety Commision and Evenflo, Inc. have announced the recall of the Evenflo Embrace Infant Car Seat Carriers. The recall comes in the wake numerous reports of the handle on the car seat/carriers unexpectedly releasing, resulting in 160 injuries to children, including a skull fracture, concussions, cuts, scrapes and bruises.The recalled units are described as follows:The...

• Bush Nominates Fox to Head Consumer Safety Henhouse

  David Lowe | May 09, 2007 10:32 AM | 0 CommentsMilwaukee, WI

  The Bush administration's nomination of Michael Baroody to head the Consumer Products Safety Commission is up for hearing before the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance and Automotive Safety.Baroody's nomination is being opposed by a coalition of eight consumer groups,including Consumers Union and Public Citizen. Public Citzen President Joan Claybrook explains the...

• Focus on Diacetyl and Bronchiolitis Obliterans

  David Lowe | May 07, 2007 4:33 PM | 0 CommentsMilwaukee, WI

  Academic studies have shown a strong connection between the food flavoring diacetyl and the rare but life threatening disease bronchiolitis obliterans that has disproportionately hit workers who handle diacetyl in the manufacture of microwave popcorn and food flavorings. In fact, bronchiolitis obliterans has has been nick-named "popcorn workers" disease. Flavoring manufacturers have already...