Florida Products Liability Attorneys

Odwalla Inc. has announced that it has issued a nationwide recall of its Chocolate Protein Monster beverages after receiving several reports of severe allergic reactions to the drink. The bottles of the drink to be pulled have “enjoy by dates” before and including May 23, and were distributed for the past seven weeks to retail food stores and on-premises foodservice establishments.

Odwalla, which is a unit of the Coca Cola Company, said the recall was initiated after four consumers complained they suffered severe allergic reactions after drinking Chocolate Protein Monster.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that those who did have reactions were allergic to peanuts or nut products. According to Odwalla, the facility where the drink is produced does not make any products that contain peanuts. The juice company also claims that the drink itself contains no peanut or tree nut ingredients. However, those who complained of reactions claim they are not allergic to soy or milk, two of the ingredients in the drink.

Meanwhile, the FDA is warning anybody who may have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts and/or tree nuts they may be risking serious, life-threatening allergic reactions if they drink this product.

Odwalla said it is investigating the cause of the reactions. Peanuts and tree nuts are considered major food allergens under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004.

If your personal safety has been unreasonably threatened due to a manufacturer’s product, you have the right to seek compensation if you have suffered injury or illness. The Florida food recall attorneys at Farah & Farah stand ready to fight for you when you have been harmed by a defective product and seek to hold the liable parties accountable. We’re a simple, free phone call away — (800) 533-3555.

Many American consumers have been cautious of Chinese imports since a series of safety scares in 2007 and 2008. That’s when contaminants were found in toothpaste, pet food, seafood, and the blood thinner Heparin. The Heparin contamination — that eventually resulted in 81 deaths and 785 injuries in the United States — was at first discounted by Chinese officials who claimed that the contamination had occurred in the U.S. and not in China. It was later found that a Chinese-based manufacturer had purposely used a heparin-like substitute to save on production costs.

Since those scares, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) China office has been working with Chinese manufacturers to develop a regulatory infrastructure meant to address safety issues before products are imported into the United States.

“The FDA’s China office represents a new era in cooperation between the United States and China on the safety of food and medical products,” said Christopher Hickey who heads the FDA’s 13-person staff in China. He claims that in the past two years, the agency has trained more than 1,600 Chinese manufacturers and regulators on United States safety standards.

In fiscal year 2011, a staggering 24 million shipments of FDA-regulated products were imported into the U.S from 228 countries. The FDA’s commissioner for Global Regulatory Operations and Policy says that the safety and quality of U.S. food and medical products is facing serious challenges in this era of global trade.

A Tallahassee defective product attorney at Farah & Farah applauds any program that improves the safety of imported products used by American consumers. But there is still far to go. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigators prevented more than half a million potentially hazardous imported products from entering the U.S.

If you have been injured due to an unsafe or dangerous product that was poorly designed or improperly manufactured, you may be eligible for compensation. Please give us a call (800) 533-3555 for a free consultation.

In the wake of a recent disturbing report that appeared in the British medical journal Lancet concerning the high failure rate of metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacements, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it will hold hearings in June to determine the risks and benefits of the devices.

In May of 2011, the FDA told manufacturers of MoM hip systems that it wanted them to collect more safety data on their devices. This action came 9 months after DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, voluntarily recalled its ASR MoM hip-replacement technology due to safety concerns amid reports of high 5-year rates of revision surgery among British patients who had been implanted with the devices.

Along with high hip implant failure rates associated with MoM devices, the study recently published in the Lancet also emphasized the need for annual clinical and radiological exams for patients implanted with the devices and pointed out the potential risk of toxicity associated with metal ions released into surrounding tissue and the bloodstream resulting from wear and tear on MoM hip replacements.

The FDA said the hearings have been scheduled to gather expert and clinical input on MoM hip replacement systems and to assemble recommendations concerning the management of patients implanted with the devices.

“We are asking outside scientific and medical experts to discuss recent information on these devices so that the agency can continue making reliable safety recommendations to patients and their health care providers,” said the deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

If you or someone you know is experiencing pain or any other serious complications due to metal-on-metal hip replacements — or have any questions concerning the DePuy hip replacement recall — please call the Florida metal-on-metal hip implant attorneys at Farah & Farah. Call us at (800) 533-3555 for your free consultation today.

Sources: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/761191

It was in December of 2010 that St. Jude Medical stopped selling its Riata wires that were used to connect defibrillators to the heart. A year later, St. Jude sent a medical device advisory letter to physicians warning about problems with the defibrillation leads — problems the Food And Drug Administration (FDA) took so seriously that it ordered a Class I recall of defibrillators — the FDA’s most serious recall category.

Unfortunately, some 79,000 patients still have defibrillators implanted in them that use those wires because surgery to extract and replace the leads may present higher risks than keeping them in, according to U.S regulators.

Now, more problems are being reported in connection with the recalled wires. A study just presented at an American College of Cardiology meeting in Chicago states that the wires have multiple defects that can lead to melted conductors, shocks, and electrical abnormalities.

Of 105 reports on failed wires, the study found that two-thirds had defects that can run along the entire length of the wire. These defects can lead to static-like noise emanating from the wires, and may cause unnecessary shocks or a reduction of the energy needed for heart stimulation.

“The problem with this whole defect is there is no easy way to pick it up until an event happens,” the cardiologist who authored the study told Bloomberg News. “We are trying to figure out how to manage these patients, or a way to monitor them safely and effectively.”

The defective medical device lawyers in Tallahassee at Farah & Farah will be keeping tabs on this story as it develops. If you or a loved one has been injured because of a defective medical device, please call us at (800) 533-3555. We will protect your rights and help you hold negligent parties liable.

Sources: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-25/st-jude-s-frayed-heart-wires-may-carry-more-damage-study-finds.html; http://www.fiercemedicaldevices.com/story/study-riata-wires-have-additional-risky-defects/2012-03-25?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss

The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the voluntary recall of some 900,000 child safety locks because of reports that young children could open them.

The locks, produced by Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) Inc., of Columbus, Ind., were designed to prevent children from getting into cabinets that store potentially dangerous household products and other items. The CPSC recall states that Dorel received 200 reports of faulty or damaged locks that didn’t adequately secure cabinets.

DJG received reports of 140 children, between the ages of 9 months and 5 years, who were able to get into cabinets by disengaging the locks. There were three incidents of children swallowing or handling oven cleaner, window cleaner, and dishwashing detergent. Those involved were treated at emergency rooms and released.

The recalled product, called Push n’ Snap Cabinet Lock, was sold in retail stores and online at Amazon.com from January 2004 through February 2012. The affected model numbers are 48391 and 48442. The CPSC has urged that consumers stop using the locks immediately and contact DJG for a free replacement. They also remind consumers to store dangerous items out of reach of children after removing the locks.

The Best of Intentions

When you purchase a product specifically designed to keep your child safe from harm, you have every right to expect the product will do what it says it will do. Your child’s health — and your peace of mind — is at stake. The Hialeah product liability attorneys at Farah & Farah would like to speak with you if a faulty product has resulted in an injury to you or a loved one. Let us start working with you to hold liable parties responsible. Call us at (800) 533-3555 today.

Sources: http://www.news4jax.com/news/money/900-000-child-safety-locks-recalled/-/475848/9669480/-/er4prz/-/index.html; http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12136.html

A new study published in the British medical journal Lancet has found that metal-on-metal hip implants are far more likely to fail and has called for physicians to stop using them.

British researchers looked at the data for over 400,000 hip replacements in England and Wales from 2003 to 2011. What they found was eye-opening. Of the more than 31,000 patients who had metal-on-metal devices implanted in them, almost 6 percent required a second surgery to fix or replace them after just five years— a failure rate far higher than devices made of plastic or ceramic.

Originally, manufacturers touted metal hip implants as more durable than traditional devices made of other materials and claimed they were the right choice for younger, more active patients.

It is estimated that 500,000 people in the U.S. now have them.

Johnson & Johnson recalled metal hip implants in 2010 after they were connected to high failure rates. The new analysis emphasizes that the problem may apply to all metal-on-metal devices and not just to specific brands. Currently, more than 5,000 people have filed lawsuits against various manufacturers.

Coupled with new revelations that metal-on-metal hip replacements may be exposing recipients to toxic levels of chromium and cobalt —which could lead to immune function problems and cancer — one expert thinks this could be the tip of the iceberg:

“I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the beginning of the storm. A lot of products have been allowed onto the market without clinical evidence they work,” a professor of public health at Weill Cornell Medical College told CBS News.

If you or someone you love has experienced pain, infection, or any other serious ailment as the result of a metal-on-metal hip replacement — or if you have any questions concerning the Johnson & Johnson hip implant recall — the Florida hip replacement failure attorneys at Farah & Farah urge you to give them a call at (800) 533-3555 to discuss your legal options.

Source; http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57396125-10391704/metal-on-metal-hip-implants-no-reason-to-take-risk-study-warns/; http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/19/148769073/prone-to-failure-some-all-metal-hip-implants-need-to-be-removed-early

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is tracking dangerous imported skin creams, antiseptic and beauty soaps and/or lotions that contain high levels of mercury and is warning anybody who might be using these products to stop immediately.

The mercury-laden products, marketed as anti-aging treatments and skin lighteners, are manufactured overseas and are being sold illegally in the U.S. — usually in Asian, Latino, African or Middle Eastern neighborhoods. They are also being sold online and imported by private citizens who receive them via international mail or bring the products back with them in personal baggage.

The FDA is warning sellers and distributors that they should not be marketing these illegal products and that they may be subject to product seizure and other legal sanctions if they continue to do so.

A senior medical advisor at the FDA stated, “(Mercury) can damage the kidneys and the nervous system, and interfere with the development of the brain in unborn children and very young children.” One FDA toxicologist said that people — particularly children — can get mercury in their system by breathing in mercury vapors or touching a person who may have used the products.

Texas health officials sampled an imported face cream and found that the product contained 131,000 times the allowable level of mercury. They also cited the case of a teenager who was hospitalized for mercury poisoning after using one of the products as an acne treatment. Elevated mercury levels linked to these products have been found in people in several states.

Dangerous Products and the Global Market

With the growing prominence of the global market, the risk of importing dangerous, unregulated products into the United States is rising. Regardless, it is the responsibility of a seller or distributor to sell safe products and they can be held liable if a product they have marketed has caused harm. If you have been injured or made sick by an unsafe product, the Florida product liability attorneys at Farah & Farah want you to call them at (800) 533-3555. The call is free and confidential.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm294849.htm?utm_source=fda&utm_medium=website&utm_term=MercuryPoisoningCU&utm_content=f3&utm_campaign=HomePageSpotlight

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and Lenovo has received reports of both in Lenovo ThinkCentre M70z and M90z all-in-one desktop computers. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lenovo of Morrisville, South Carolina is recalling about 50,500 of the computers due to a defect in an internal component in the power supply that can lead to overheating and pose a fire hazard.

The all-in-one desktop computers in question are flat-panel monitors with the PC integrated into the housing itself. The power supply is also inside of the monitor or PC housing. In some ways, all-in-one desktops — which tend to be thin and have all the components integrated into one package — are similar in design to laptops which have had a storied past when it comes to overheating and burn hazards.

The computers, which were manufactured in Mexico, were sold online at Lenovo’s websites and through direct sales at Lenovo-authorized dealers across the U.S. from May 2010 to January 2012. The CPSC recommends that consumers stop using them immediately, unplug the machines, and contact Lenovo to determine if their computer is included in the recall.

Computer Fires

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, computers and computer peripherals were responsible for a majority of office-equipment related fires in both private homes and offices in the United States from 2005-2009. Experts recommend that you keep computer vents clean and uncovered, make sure cords are not damaged, and never try to douse a computer fire with water.

Legal Options for Injured Consumers

You should be running Excel on your computer, not running for the exits because it just caught fire. If you have been injured or your property has been damaged due to a faulty product, the Jacksonville manufacturing defect attorneys at Farah & Farah would like you to call us to discuss what your next plan of action should be. We’re just a call away at (800) 533-3555.

Sources: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12129.html; http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Officefactsheet.pdf

Globe All Wellness of Hollywood, Florida stated on its websites that its supplements were made of safe, all-natural ingredients and herbs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) begged to differ, at least concerning two of the company’s supplements — weight-loss supplement SlimXtreme and sexual enhancement supplement ViaXtreme — stating in a warning letter to Globe All Wellness that it had found ingredients which were not entirely “natural” and that the company was violating the law.

The FDA declared that SlimXtreme contained the drug sibutramine hydrochloride, an obesity drug that is no longer sold in the United States due to health risks associated with its use. The FDA also found that ViaXtreme contained the drug siladenfil, which is the active ingredient in Viagra.

The letter went on to state, “Sibutramine may pose serious health risks to consumers, including heart attack, stroke, increased blood pressure, hallucinations, coma, and tachycardia in individuals with existing medical conditions.”

The owner of Globe All Wellness said that they had done their own laboratory tests on the supplements and had not found any drugs in them. He blamed counterfeit versions of his supplements, but has decided to cooperate with the FDA and initiated a voluntary recall of the two products.

An FDA spokeswoman said the administration wasn’t aware of anyone being harmed from taking the supplements.

A company that sells a product, especially a product that claims it is “all-natural,” has a special responsibility to ensure that the product is what it states it is. Mislabeled products or improperly marketed drugs can be dangerous and can injure people. If a misrepresented product has harmed you, the Tallahassee pharmaceutical litigation attorneys at Farah and Farah are a simple phone call away. Just call us at (800) 533-3555 for a free, no obligation consultation.

Sources: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57388615/cpsc-recalls-night-lights-because-of-fire-risk/; http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12124.html

Despite years of anti-smoking campaigns aimed at America’s youth to heighten awareness of the dangers of tobacco, a recently released report from the U.S. surgeon general’s office has revealed that smoking among young people in this country has reached epidemic proportions.

According to the report, one in four high school seniors are regular smokers and 80 percent will remain smokers into adulthood.

The report goes on to say that every day, nearly 3,800 children pick up their first cigarette and that 99 percent of first time tobacco use happens before the age of 26.

Why are so many young people picking up smoking? The report lays the blame squarely on widespread tobacco marketing that specifically targets youth. The tobacco industry spends more than $1 million an hour in promoting tobacco products. That adds up to $27 million a day — $10 billion a year — doubling the amount the industry spent in 1998.

“Targeted marketing encourages more young people to take up this deadly addiction every day,” said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius.

Tobacco-related illness kills 1,200 a day and is still the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Amazingly, according to Reuters, for every tobacco-related death, two new “replacement-smokers” under 25 take their place.

Everyday, people in Florida and nationwide are dying from the highly addictive and deadly habit of smoking. The Jacksonville tobacco litigation lawyers at Farah & Farah find it reprehensible that Big Tobacco is still exerting a powerful pull on our children through advertising and targeted marketing. Please call us at (800) 533-3555 for up-to-date information on your legal rights when it comes to tobacco-related legal issues.

Sources: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/08/us-usa-smoking-youth-idUSBRE8270Z520120308