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 Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments: - Brownies with melatonin unsafe: FDA Melatonin-laced "Lazy Larry" brownies are unsafe and may be seized from store shelves, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a warning letter sent to the Memphis-based company that makes the brownies. Melatonin is a hormone that helps control the sleep-wake cycle. The brownies can make people sleepy and are advertised by HBB LLC as a stress reliever. Until July, the brownies were called "Lazy Cakes," the Associated Press reported. The brownies are sold in some convenience stores and online through HBB's website. The FDA says melatonin is not a safe food additive and the brownies are considered "adulterated" because they contain the hormone. The agency said it can seize the brownies if HBB continues to make and market them. Company executives are reviewing the warning letter with lawyers, an HBB spokeswoman told the AP Monday. Deadly radiation levels found at fukushima plant Lethal levels of radiation have been detected in a part of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, but the discovery won't slow attempts to bring the plant's damaged reactors under control, Tokyo Electric Power says. The plant was damaged after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and has continued to emit radiation since the disaster. On Monday afternoon, workers found an area near Reactors No. 1 and 2 where radiation levels exceeded the highest reading (10 sieverts per hour) on their measuring device, The New York Times reported. The workers who found the deadly levels of radiation near a ventilation tower were wearing anti-radiation suits. The affected area has been closed off, company officials said. They also said the high radiation levels in that area will not impede work to build a new reactor cooling system and remove contaminated water, The Times reported. Ground turkey source of salmonella outbreak Contaminated fresh or frozen ground turkey is the cause of a salmonella food poisoning outbreak that's claimed one life and sickened at least 76 other people in 26 states since March, says a public health alert issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Tests on four ground turkey samples bought from stores between March 7 and June 27 showed they were contaminated with the salmonella strain linked to the outbreak, msnbc.com reported. The strain of salmonella Heidelberg appears to be resistant to many common antibiotics, which may increase the risk of serious illness or hospitalization. The outbreak has led to the hospitalization of 22 people so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Illnesses related to the outbreak began on or after March 9 and have continued through Aug. 1, officials said. The reported number of illnesses in the 26 states range from 10 each in Ohio and Michigan and nine in Texas to only one in several states, msnbc.com reported. Consumers are being told to cook fresh or frozen ground turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and to use a food thermometer to ensure the proper cooking temperature. (Source: medicinenet)   Socialize this Subscribe to our RSS feed to stay in touch and receive all of TT updates right in your feed reader
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| Last Updated on 03 August 2011 13:48 |