Quality
FDA Seeks New Powers To Police Pharmacies
November 14, 2012 10:22 am | News | CommentsTestimony released ahead of the first congressional hearing on the incident shows that Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg will ask lawmakers to give her agency more authority and funding to oversee compounding pharmacies.
Three Things To Look For When Purchasing Wire
November 8, 2012 8:50 am | by Samiha Al-Sabbagh, Publicist, Cerro Wire | Articles | CommentsJust as two cars may be of vastly different quality even though both have one steering wheel and four tires, not all wire is exactly the same, even though it appears to be on the outside. Those purchasing building wire should be aware that wire manufactured “on the cheap” may nominally meet the same UL standards, but that does not mean it will perform as well as better quality wire.
Toyota On Top In Latest Consumer Reports Survey
October 29, 2012 1:01 pm | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsJapanese brands took seven of the top 10 spots in Consumer Reports' annual reliability rankings, pushing aside their U.S. and European rivals. Toyota Motor Co.'s Scion, Lexus and Toyota brands took the top three spots and the Toyota Prius C, a subcompact hybrid, got the best overall score. Mazda, Subaru and Honda were close behind.
FDA: 5 Reported Deaths With Monster Drink Link
October 23, 2012 11:31 am | by David Dishneau and Matthew Perrone, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe highly caffeinated Monster Energy Drink has been cited in five deaths and one non-fatal heart attack, according to reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating. The reports claim that people had adverse reactions after they consumed Monster Energy Drink, which comes in 24-ounce cans and contains 240 milligrams of caffeine, or seven times the amount of the caffeine in a 12-ounce cola.
Quality Inspection Capture In Your Smartphone
October 15, 2012 2:45 pm | Products | CommentsGuardian Business Solutions, Inc. has released its Quality Inspection Capture (QIC) app, which is the first in its smartphone/tablet library of Mobilize-IT Enterprise apps. The Android application (iOS version coming soon) is a combination of native device capabilities and a middleware framework that is designed to handle data synchronization and application management.
Outbreak Spotlights Risks From Custom-Mixed Drugs
October 5, 2012 11:43 am | by Marilynn Marchione, AP Chief Medical Writer | News | CommentsUnlike manufactured drugs, these products are not subject to approval by the FDA, and some have turned out to be dangerously contaminated. Compounding pharmacies often obtain drugs from manufacturers and then split them into smaller doses, or mix ingredients sold in bulk. Any of those steps can easily lead to contamination if sterile conditions aren't maintained.
Defective Generic Pill Revives Quality Concerns
October 4, 2012 6:42 pm | by Matthew Perrone, AP Health Writer | News | CommentsThe government's revelation this week that it mistakenly approved a defective generic antidepressant could stoke longtime concerns about the quality of knockoff drugs. The Food and Drug Administration asked Teva Pharmaceuticals to withdraw its drug Budeprion XL 300 after testing showed the drug did not properly release its key ingredient.
Thermo Fisher And METTLER TOLEDO Introduce Streamlined Water Analysis Workflow
October 3, 2012 10:30 am | Products | CommentsThermo Fischer Scientific has joined up with METTLER TOLEDO for a combined Titration/Ion Chromatography (IC) system, which is designed to provide fast and accurate automated water analysis for laboratories testing the quality of water.
Sunland Plant Shut After Peanut Butter Recall
September 26, 2012 11:01 am | News | CommentsA peanut processing plant in Portales has been shut down since Saturday after an outbreak of salmonella was linked to peanut butter made at the facility. The Sunland, Inc., plant is being scrubbed top to bottom and tests are being done to see if the bacteria is on the plant's equipment.
Economically Motivated Adulteration: Is Your Brand At Risk?
September 19, 2012 8:34 am | by Don Hsieh, Director of Commercial and Industrial Marketing, Tyco Integrated Security | Articles | CommentsEconomically motivated adulteration (EMA) is estimated to cost the global food and consumer products industry $10-15 billion a year, with the cost of one adulteration incident averaging between 2-15 percent of yearly revenues. Clearly, with such a significant economic impact, EMA deserves attention.
Restoring Consumer Confidence During A Product Recall
September 14, 2012 10:03 am | by Mike Rozembajgier, Vice President of Recalls, Stericycle ExpertRECALL | Articles | CommentsProduct recalls can prove to be costly and detrimental to a company’s reputation and brand. Fortunately, a recent study conducted by the American Marketing Association (AMA) found that the majority of American consumers are quick to forgive a firm that effectively responds to and manages a recall event. But that patience can be limited.
Minn. Company Recalls Cantaloupe Packages
September 14, 2012 9:44 am | News | CommentsCut Fruit Express Inc. of Inver Grove Heights says the packages contain cantaloupe which has been recalled by supplier DFI Marketing Inc., due to potential salmonella contamination. The packages were distributed through Sept. 5 and sold in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
U.S. Reports Incidents Of Tainted Ricotta Cheese
September 13, 2012 12:49 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe ricotta salata cheese distributed by Forever Cheese Inc. of New York is linked to illnesses in 11 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Forever Cheese issued a recall of one lot — 800 wheels of ricotta salata, or roughly 4,800 pounds (2,177 kilograms) — on Monday.
FDA Warns Iowa Egg Farm Over Salmonella
September 10, 2012 9:45 am | by Ryan J. Foley. Associated Press | News | CommentsA company that promised to clean up Iowa's egg industry after a nationwide salmonella outbreak in 2010 said Friday that a recent government safety inspection discovered the bacteria in two of its barns and that it took steps to protect consumers.
Judge Refuses To Toss Chinese Drywall Claims
September 7, 2012 10:45 am | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsTaishan Gypsum Co. Ltd. argued that U.S. courts don't have jurisdiction over claims against the Chinese company, but U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon rejected that argument Tuesday. Fallon also refused to vacate a $2.6 million default judgment he entered against the company after it initially refused to respond to the suits.
Ford Recalls New Escapes To Fix Coolant Leaks
September 5, 2012 1:53 pm | News | CommentsThe recall affects 7,600 2013 Escapes with 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines. Plugs that fill holes in the engine may not have been put in properly and can fall out while the motor is running. Coolant can leak and cause the engines to overheat. A Ford spokeswoman says one leak caused a fire at a dealer when coolant spilled onto hot engine parts.
Routine Problems, Routine Explanations
September 4, 2012 10:06 am | by the QA Pharm | Blogs | CommentsOne clever approach to handling a particular recurring deviation was to have a pre-printed form. The investigation was already written with the exception of the slight nuances, which were accommodated by blanks. This "Mad Lib" approach was completed in a matter of minutes, and a quality assurance (QA) approval was handily secured.
Motorcycle Helmets Recalled, May Not Protect Rider
August 31, 2012 9:49 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Chinese-made helmets failed low-temperature impact tests, and the straps also failed tests, according to documents posted Friday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. The helmets also don't have the required labels saying the month and year they were manufactured.
To Scrap Or Not To Scrap
August 31, 2012 9:44 am | by Jason Howton, Director, U.S. Product Management, Take Supply Chain | Articles | CommentsLet’s look at ways these companies are turning part nonconformance into a strategic advantage through supplier collaboration and communication, effective workflow for short-term corrective actions, cause analysis, tracking, auditing and supplier relationship management (SRM) integration.
From Feed To Food (Part II)
August 30, 2012 2:21 pm | by Roger DeGood and Scott Speer, PE, LEED AP, SSOE Group | Articles | CommentsDry pet food manufacturing bears a lot of similarities to dry cereal manufacturing. Both facility types are notoriously negatively pressured when it comes to air flow. With all the cooking, drying, cooling, toasting and so on, it is easy to see why it is so difficult to maintain ideal positive building pressure to keep the bad things out.
FDA Warns Of Drugs In Reumofan Dietary Supplements
August 21, 2012 4:56 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use Reumofan dietary supplements, after receiving reports of bleeding, stroke and death among people taking the pills. Reumofan Plus and Reumofan Plus Premium are marketed as natural remedies for arthritis and muscle pain, but the FDA says the products actually contain several prescription drugs.
Smart Tags Ensure More Quality, Less Waste
August 21, 2012 2:26 pm | by Davor Sutija, CEO, Thinfilm | Articles | CommentsAs the food industry faces stiff competition and ever-shrinking margins, manufacturers, distributors and retailers are looking for ways to maximize efficiencies, minimize costs and avoid waste. And with increased government regulation, it is clear that the industry must closely monitor and ensure high quality of supply chain conditions for food.
GM, Isuzu Recall 258,000 Suvs To Fix Power Windows
August 18, 2012 11:46 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsGeneral Motors and Isuzu are recalling more than 258,000 SUVs in the U.S. and Canada to fix short-circuits in power window and door lock switches that can cause fires. The recall covers Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 97-X SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years. The SUVs were sold or registered in 20 U.S. states, where salt and other chemicals are used to clear roads in the winter.
Feds Checking Nissan Versa Air Bag Problem
August 17, 2012 9:07 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsThe probe affects about 100,000 Versas from the 2012 model year for a pinched cable that will keep the air bag from inflating.
Quality & Safety Systems: Focusing On Prevention
August 15, 2012 1:18 pm | by Nikki Willett, Vice President of Product Marketing & Regulatory Affairs, Pilgrim Software Inc. | Blogs | CommentsAfter a long wait, President Obama signed into law the Food Safety Modernization Act with a focus on prevention and traceability. How does that change today's business?
