Safety
Study: Chicken, Ground Beef Are Riskiest Meats
April 23, 2013 12:15 pm | by Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press | News | CommentsAn analysis of more than 33,000 cases of foodborne illness shows that ground beef and chicken have caused more hospitalizations than other meats. The report by the Center for Science in Public Interest says chicken nuggets, ham and sausage pose the lowest risk of foodborne illness.
Mitsubishi Motors Recalls Outlander PHEV
April 23, 2013 7:23 am | News | CommentsMitsubishi Motors Corp. said Tuesday it will recall its Outlander plug-in hybrid vehicle due to control program defects only three months after its launch. Subject to the recall are 3,839 units produced for the Japanese market between January and March, the automaker said in a report to the government.
NTSB Probes Safety Testing Of Boeing 787 Batteries
April 23, 2013 3:14 am | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | News | CommentsAs airlines prepare to begin flying Boeing's beleaguered 787 Dreamliners again, federal investigators are looking at how regulators and the company tested and approved the plane's cutting-edge battery system, and whether the government cedes too much authority to aircraft makers for safety testing.
Fla. Compounding Pharmacy Recalls Sterile Drugs
April 22, 2013 8:41 am | News | CommentsA Florida-based compounding pharmacy is voluntarily recalling all lots of its sterile non-expired drug products sold nationwide over concerns the products are not sterile and may contain bacteria, Food and Drug Administration officials said Sunday.
Safety Rules Limited For Small Fertilizer Plants
April 22, 2013 8:05 am | by Jack Gillum and Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press | News | CommentsSmall fertilizer plants nationwide fall under the purview of several government agencies, each with a specific concern and none required to coordinate with others on what they have found. The small distributors — there are as many of 1,150 in Texas alone — are part of a regulatory system that focuses on large installations and industries.
Natura Expands Pet Food Recall
April 21, 2013 8:31 pm | News | CommentsThe company, a unit of Procter & Gamble Co., first announced a voluntary recall in March of its dog, cat and ferret foods because they may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. The company's recall now includes all dry pet food products and treats with expiration dates prior to and including March 24, 2014.
Statement From Adair Grain Inc. Regarding West Fertilizer Co. Fire and Explosion
April 19, 2013 5:23 pm | News | CommentsDonald Adair, lifelong resident of the community of West, Texas and owner of Adair Grain Inc., today issued the following statement: "This has been a terrible week for everyone in West, Texas and I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt sympathy for those affected and my appreciation for those who responded."
FAA To Approve Resumption Of Boeing 787 Flights
April 19, 2013 2:23 pm | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Federal Aviation Administration has accepted Boeing's revamped battery system for its beleaguered 787 Dreamliners and agreed to lift its grounding order, according to a congressional official.The order gives Boeing the go ahead to begin retrofitting planes with an enhanced lithium ion battery system.
Maine Clinical Drug Trials Called Lifesavers
April 19, 2013 11:15 am | by Glenn Adams, Associated Press | News | CommentsMore than half of those trials targeted six of the most debilitating chronic diseases — asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mental illness and stroke — and led to safer and more effective treatments, according to the report presented by Gov. Paul LePage, the drug industry and business leaders.
66 Years Ago This Week, Another Deadly Texas Blast
April 19, 2013 8:53 am | by Michael Graczyk, Associated Press | News | CommentsTexas is no stranger to ammonium nitrate fertilizer explosions. Exactly 66 years ago this week, what remains the nation's worst industrial disaster occurred when a series of explosions rocked the huge waterfront petrochemical complex at Texas City, southeast of Houston and across the bay from Galveston.
Nissan Recalls SUVs To Fix Brake Problem
April 19, 2013 8:20 am | News | CommentsNissan is recalling more than 19,000 Nissan and Infiniti SUVs because a brake part can fail and make it harder for the driver to stop the car. The recall affects Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti JX SUVs from the 2013 model year. The automaker says an iron brake caliper part wasn't made properly and can crack or fail.
Texas Requires Sprinklers, Feds Told None In Plant
April 19, 2013 7:54 am | by Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press | News | CommentsTexas Commission on Environmental Quality air permit chief Mike Wilson says the agency required sprinklers and safety barriers for the fertilizer storage and blending facility in West. The measures are required because the plant handles anhydrous ammonia, a flammable substance that can be used as a fertilizer.
Honda Recalls Nearly 205K Vehicles To Fix Shifters
April 19, 2013 7:50 am | News | CommentsHonda is recalling nearly 205,000 minivans and SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem with the automatic shifters. The recall includes the Honda CR-V small SUV and Odyssey minivan from the 2012 and 2013 model years. Also covered is the 2013 Acura RDX SUV.
New Zealand Company Convicted In Deadly Mine Blast
April 18, 2013 11:06 am | News | CommentsA New Zealand judge on Thursday convicted a coal mining company of nine health and safety violations over a 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners. Judge Jane Farish found that Pike River Coal failed to ensure the safety of its workers. The now-bankrupt company didn't defend itself against the charges.
Ethiopian Airlines Readies Grounded 787 For Flight
April 18, 2013 11:00 am | News | CommentsThe chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines says it is seeking approval from America's Federal Aviation Administration and from Boeing to put its grounded Boeing 787s back into service. Ethiopian Airlines chief executive officer Tewolde Gebremariam told The Associated Press that the company expects FAA approval within a few days.
Nissan To Recall 80,000 Minivans
April 18, 2013 8:03 am | News | CommentsNissan Motor Co. in a report to the government Thursday said it will recall a total of 85,220 minivans produced between November 2010 and February 2012 under its Serena and Suzuki Motor Corp.'s Landy brands. A component of an electricity generator attached to the engine could drop out due to a defective installment.
410 Pigs, 122 Dogs Found Dead In China
April 17, 2013 8:40 am | News | CommentsLocal authorities say chemical factories in the area have been ordered to suspend production. The chief of Yanshi city's propaganda office says the deaths are suspected to be related to the factories. Authorities say the deaths have nothing to do with the bird flu virus that recently spread to humans.
No Helmets Required For Elio Vehicle Under Bill
April 17, 2013 8:31 am | by Littice Bacon-Blood, Associated Press | News | CommentsOfficials with Elio Motors, located in the former General Motors plant in Shreveport, said the helmet requirement could harm sales by sending a signal to consumers that the vehicle was unsafe. The bill by Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, would modify the definition of autocycle to include enclosed motorcycles with a roll cage.
5 French Execs In Breast Implant Scandal On Trial
April 17, 2013 8:26 am | by Lori Hinnant, Associated Press | News | CommentsHundreds of women who received faulty breast implants gathered Wednesday in a makeshift courthouse in the south of France for the fraud trial of five executives accused of using cheap industrial silicone to fill tens of thousands of implants that were sold around the world.
Lawmakers: FDA Fell Short In Policing Pharmacy
April 17, 2013 8:16 am | by Matthew Perrone, AP Health Writer | News | CommentsRepublicans and Democrats took turns chastising the FDA for not being aggressive enough in going after compounding pharmacies like the New England Compounding Center, the specialty pharmacy which produced tainted pain injections that have sickened more than 700 people and killed 53 others.
Q&A: Safety On Ice
April 16, 2013 9:22 pm | by Lindsey Jahn, Associated Editor, Food Manufacturing | Articles | CommentsAmmonia refrigeration leaks pose both safety and economic risks to food companies, but many are unaware of these hazards. Attorney J. Tom Boer spoke with Food Manufacturing about ammonia refrigeration regulations and how manufacturers can ensure their system’s safety.
Conn. Bill Requires Labeling Of BPA
April 16, 2013 1:47 pm | News | CommentsThe legislative proposal builds on current state law, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution in Connecticut of certain products containing bisphenol-A. The list includes reusable food or beverage containers, plastic containers or jars that hold infant formula or baby food, and thermal or cash register receipt paper.
BP Faces $1B Lawsuit For Texas Refinery Gas Leak
April 16, 2013 1:21 pm | News | CommentsMore than 470 people are suing BP for $1 billion, saying they became sick due to a 15-day gas leak at its refinery in Texas City.The Galveston County Daily News reports that BP says mercaptan leaked from a storage tank in November 2011.
EU: Tests Show No Safety Issues With Horsemeat
April 16, 2013 11:05 am | News | CommentsThe tests also showed the veterinary anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone, or bute, was present about .50 percent of the horse meat. Bute is banned for human use because in rare cases it causes severe side effects, but veterinary experts say there is little risk from consuming small amounts of the drug in horse meat.
IAEA Reviewing Cleanup At Damaged Japan Nuke Plant
April 15, 2013 7:09 pm | by Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency Monday began reviewing the decommissioning process at Japan's crippled nuclear plant, where new problems are triggering growing safety concerns about a cleanup expected to take decades. The experts will assess and analyze melted reactors, radiation levels and waste management at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant to make its decommissioning process safer and more stable.
