Earlier this month, the anticoagulant (blood-thinning) drug heparin was linked to 19 deaths in the U.S.A. as well as several hundred allergic reactions. A contaminant was thought to be the cause of these deaths, and now the Food and Drug Administration has said they have identified the contaminant: The contaminant, the regulators said, is a….
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Diet Soda strongly linked to Metabolic Syndrome
Those who drink a can of diet soda a day are 34% more likely to develop metabolic syndrome than those who don’t. “Metabolic syndrome” is a cluster of symptoms that are risk factors for heart disease. The reason for this link is still unknown: it might be chemical or it might have something to do….
Continue ReadingBotox Associated with Deaths
Botox is a neurotoxin used to relax muscles. People take it to relieve pain as well as for cosmetic purposes. However, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen is arguing that it should come with a much stronger warning label because of 16 deaths and many serious injuries that the drug has been associated with. For….
Continue ReadingEnergy Drinks Linked to Heart Problems
A new study, presented to the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions, has found that consumption of energy drinks is linked to heart disease and high blood pressure. The linked article contains a description of the study. These results are unsurprising because most energy drinks contain caffeine. Any problems associated with coffee, particularly excessive coffee drinking….
Continue ReadingPopcorn Supplier ConAgra Will Drop Diacetyl
ConAgra, the world’s largest popcorn supplier, has announced on Tuesday September 4th that it will stop using diacetyl–a synthetic butter flavoring. Diacetyl has been linked to lung disease in workers, who developed severe symptoms (extreme wheezing, for example) after inhaling the vapors of this synthetic butter while on the job. The disease is known as….
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