Egg-white meringues baked an hour and left overnight in a closed oven, topped with pears poached in orange juice and finished with shaved dark chocolate. Eight servings at 117 calories and 2 g fat each.
Food Consumer
Biological
E. coli found in Nestle cookie dough
The FDA said it found E. coli O157:H7 in a sample of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough from the Danville, Va. plant, but had not determined whether that strain caused the outbreak, which had sickened 69 people in 29 states and hospitalized 34.
Food
Drinking alcohol raises pancreatic cancer risk
Among 470,681 U.S. adults aged 50 to 71 followed through 2003, heavy drinkers were 45 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer and heavy liquor drinkers 62 percent more likely than light drinkers. The authors cannot rule out confounding by smoking.
Letter to Editor
Doctors Boo Obama in Chicago
Physicians at the American Medical Association's annual meeting booed President Obama when he said he would not advocate caps on malpractice awards. The writer argues the AMA has long been obstructionist and that vitamin D drew more attention this year than care for troops and veterans.
Alerts
FDA Warns Not to Eat Two Brands of Pistachios
The FDA told consumers not to eat California Prime Produce or Orange County Orchards pistachios, repacked by Orca Distribution West from lots recalled by Setton Pistachio over possible salmonella. The 6-ounce bags went to airport and hotel retailers nationwide.
Government
Acetaminophen and Liver Injury: Q & A for Consumers
Ahead of a June 2009 FDA advisory committee meeting on acetaminophen-related liver injury, this Q&A explains what the drug is, where it appears (Tylenol, Vicodin, Percocet, cold and sleep combinations), and that exceeding the recommended amount can cause liver damage up to acute failure and death.
Disease
Former Georgia Aquarium director Jeffery Swanagan dies from heart attack
Jeffery Swanagan, former executive director and president of the Georgia Aquarium, died Sunday at 51, apparently of a heart attack. The rest of the piece reprints earlier foodconsumer reports tying tea, coffee, tobacco and seven prescription drugs to heart attack risk.
Alerts
Company Recalls Various Products Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
Plainview Milk Products Cooperative is recalling two years of instant nonfat dried milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers and gums after the FDA found Salmonella on equipment at its Minnesota plant. The products went to industry customers, not shoppers; no illnesses have been linked.
Miscellaneous
Cancer stem cells may revolutionize the cancer fight
University of Rochester researchers write in Science that cancer stem cells, a subtype that resists current treatments, may be the root of tumors, and that targeting them rather than killing all cells could improve on conventional therapy.
Healthcare
Why California Needs Health Reform
A fact sheet on California's health costs: 19.7 million residents get coverage at work, where family premiums average $13,297 and have risen 114 percent since 2000. Nineteen percent are uninsured, and families and businesses carry about $1,400 a year in hidden costs for them.
Biological
Beef recall and E. coli poisoning
JBS Swift has expanded its June 24 recall to 380,000 pounds of beef primal products over possible E. coli O157:H7, up from 41,280 pounds. A spokesman said no illnesses were reported; a food safety attorney cites a CDC inquiry into 24 illnesses, at least 18 apparently linked.
Government
Secretary Sebelius Releases New Report: Hidden Costs of Health Care (PR)
HHS released “Hidden Costs of Health Care,” reporting that someone with employer coverage paid an average $1,522 out of pocket in 2006, up from $1,260 in 2001. Counting premiums, costs rose 30 percent to $3,744, and the average family plan cost $12,680 in 2008.
Vitamins
Dietary folate does not reduce risk of pancreatic cancer
Following 120,852 Dutch adults for 13.3 years, researchers found those with the highest dietary folate intake ran a 37 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer than those with the lowest, and found no link for individual folate vitamers.
Alerts
Recall for beef products expanded
JBS Swift expanded its June 24 recall to 380,000 pounds of assorted beef primal products over possible E. coli O157:H7, up from about 41,280 pounds. FSIS and CDC were investigating 24 illnesses across several states, at least 18 of which appeared linked.
Vitamins
Low vitamin D may raise metabolic syndrome risk
A study in Diabetes Care of 3,262 Chinese adults aged 50 to 70 found insufficient or deficient vitamin D was associated with a 52 percent higher risk of metabolic syndrome. Ninety-four percent of participants had low vitamin D, and 42 percent of those had metabolic syndrome.
Diet
Fatty diet linked to high risk of pancreatic cancer
Among more than 500,000 adults in the NIH-AARP study followed about 6.3 years, those eating the most saturated fat were 36 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, rising to 43 percent for saturated fat from animal sources.
Healthcare
Timing of cardiac arrest critical for optimal care
A study in JAMA found 14.7 percent of people survived cardiac arrest in hospital at night or on weekends, against about 20 percent during the day. The gap held everywhere but the emergency room, and researchers point to thinner staffing at off-peak hours.
Disease
Farrah Fawcett dies from anal cancer: What you need to know
Farrah Fawcett died at 62 of anal cancer. Doctors quoted say HPV, a sexually transmitted infection, can cause the disease, though multiple sexual partners, receptive anal intercourse and smoking also raise risk. The piece reprints NCI background on anal cancer.
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