Alerts

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 April 2012 15:25
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NYS Health Commissioner bans the sale of synthetic marijuanaBelow are selected alerts for residents to take note of:

April 11, 2012 -- Heineke USA announces partial recall of certain bottled  Mexican beers

HEINEKEN USA today announced a voluntary recall of several products and packages in specific states due to a defect in the 12-ounce brown bottles used for certain batches of Carta Blanca and Dos Equis Ambar, which are available in 6-packs and 12-packs as well as “Beers of Mexico” and “Best of Mexico” pack varieties. Indio 12-ounce bottles, which are only featured in the “Best of Mexico” pack (available only in Texas), are also affected. 

March 29, 2012 -- State Health Commissioner Orders a Stop to Sale of Synthetic Marijuana

If you see any synthetic marijuana for sale in local stores, email us with the  name and address of the store and the product name, so we can get it off the shelves.

New York State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H. has issued an order of summary action banning the sale of synthetic marijuana products in New York State. These substances, generally referred to as "synthetic marijuana", consist of plant material coated by chemicals that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. These products are being sold as a "legal alternative" to marijuana in convenience stores, smoke shops, and tobacco stores with brand names such as "Spice", "K2", "Mr. Nice Guy", and "Galaxy Gold".

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo called upon the Department of Health to take action to ban the sale of these dangerous products.

The order states, "synthetic cannabinoids have been linked to severe adverse reactions, including death and acute renal failure, and commonly cause: tachycardia (increased heart rate); paranoid behavior, agitation and irritability; nausea and vomiting; confusion; drowsiness; headache; hypertension; electrolyte abnormalities; seizures; and syncope (loss of consciousness).

The Commissioner's order calls for sales and distribution of these products to cease immediately. And it calls upon local health officials to distribute the order and check for compliance.

Last week, the Commissioner sent special health alerts to local health departments, emergency departments and other health care providers to make them aware of the dangers of these products.

 

Feb. 27, 2012 -- Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets: Recall - Packaging Error, Potential for Incorrect Dosing Regimen
Glenmark Generics Inc. issued a nationwide, consumer-level recall of seven (7) lots of Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets USP (0.18 mg/0.035 mg, 0.215 mg/0.035 mg, 0.25 mg/0.035 mg), because of a packaging error where select blisters were rotated 180 degrees within the card, reversing the weekly tablet orientation and making the lot number and expiry date visible only on the outer pouch. As a result of this packaging error, the daily regimen for these oral contraceptives may be incorrect and could leave women without adequate contraception, and at risk for unintended pregnancy.

Feb. 16, 2012 -- Get the Facts about Lipstick and Lead
The FDA has recently received a number of inquiries from consumers concerned about the amount of lead present in lipstick. The FDA's studies have found no lead levels that would pose safety concerns when lipstick is used as intended.
 
FDA scientists developed an analytical method, published in 2009, for measuring the amount of lead in lipstick. The initial findings, as well as there expanded findings posted in December 2011, confirmed that the amount of lead found in lipstick was very low and did not pose any safety concerns. To learn more about the study, view the FDA's list of questions and answers.

Jan. 12, 2012 -- Tissue Box Cover Alert
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission notified several states that a shipment of 220 metal tissue box covers from India that contained Cobalt 60, a radioactive element, were distributed to Bed Bath & Beyond stores nationwide. In New York, county health officials confirmed that all of the identified products have been removed from store shelves and have been secured for disposal. None of the identified covers had been sold.

Nov. 16, 2011 -- Limited Voluntary Recall on Two Specific Best-If-Used-By Dates of 16 oz. Smucker’s® Natural Peanut Butter Chunky Due to Possible Health Risk
The J.M. Smucker Company today announced a limited voluntary recall on two specific Best-If-Used-By dates of 16 oz. Smucker’s® Natural Peanut Butter Chunky because it may be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Oct. 31, 2011 -- Natural Disasters
Before you begin storm clean up, take inventory with a camera so you can document any damage claims. 

Before you enter your home, there are certain important steps to take; walk carefully around the outside and check for loose power lines, gas leaks,structural damage, roof, foundation and chimney cracks. If you have any doubts about safety, have your residence inspected by a qualified building inspector or structural engineer before entering.

Be sure to check for the following inside your home: 

  • Natural gas - If you smell gas or hear a hissing or blowing sound, open a window and leave immediately. Turn off the main gas valve from the outside, if you can. Call the gas company from a neighbor’s residence.
  • Sparks, broken or frayed wires
  • Water and sewage damage
  • Food - Throw out all food and other supplies that you suspect may have become contaminated or come in to contact with floodwater. During a prolonged outage, the following foods are potentially hazardous if not stored below 41 degrees Fahrenheit and should be discarded: meat, poultry, seafood, cold cuts, hot dogs, eggs, cream, sour cream, yogurt, milk, custards, puddings, soft and shredded cheeses, cut fruit, cooked vegetables, pasta, casseroles, unbaked cookie and bread dough, grayv, creamy salad dressings, fish sauces, hoisin sauce, opened spaghetti sauce and garlic in oil
  • Appliances - If appliances are wet, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Then, unplug appliances and let them dry out. Have appliances checked by a professional before using them again. 

Keeping food safe during and after an emergency, such as a Nor'easter, flood, fire, national disaster, or the loss of power is extremely important. After a hurricane and/or flooding, people need to assess all food and food preparation areas and equipment to decide what to keep or throw away. Hurricanes, especially if accompanied by a tidal surge or flooding, can contaminate the public water supply. Water in the hurricane-affected area may not be safe to drink. Local announcements should provide updated information on the safety of the water supply

Resources

Aug. 25, 2011 -- Hurricane Preparedness
You and your family should be prepared for any emergency. In order to prepare for a hurricane, you must take steps to protect your family's safety and your property.

Your disaster prevention plan should be your first step and include a family emergency plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.

The next step is to make sure your house and property are protected. Bring in outdoor furniture, garbage cans, planters, and anything else that is not tied down. Make sure the trees and shrubs around your house are well trimmed. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water so you have enough on hand for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. 

Emergency Preparedness Resources 

Recall Dole Fresh Vegetables
Dole Fresh Vegetables Announces Precautionary Recall of Limited Number of Italian Blend Salads. Dole Fresh Vegetables is voluntarily recalling 2,880 cases of DOLE® Italian Blend salad with Use-by Date of June 19, 2011, UPC code 7143000819 and Product Codes 0049A157201A, 0049A157201B, 0049A157202A, 0049A157202B, 0686A157202A, 0686A157202B and 442 cases of Kroger Fresh Selections Italian Style Blend salad with Use-by-Date of June 19, 2011, UPC code 1111091045 and Product Codes A157201A & A157201B, due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. Dole Fresh Vegetables is coordinating closely with regulatory officials.  No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall.

May 23, 2011 -- Bath Salts
New York State Commissioner of Health Nirav R. Shah, M.D. today issued a Commissioner's Order to ban the sale and distribution of dangerous amphetamine-type substances marketed as "bath salts" that are sold over-the-counter and have resulted in hundreds of hospitalizations nationwide.

In an effort to mask their true purpose, a number of products are marketed as "bath salts" and are being sold online, in small convenience stores and other retail outlets. They produce similar effects to cocaine and amphetamines, including hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, suicidal thoughts, and violent behavior as well as chest pains, increased blood pressure, and increased heart rates.

The substances are sold under names like White Lightening, Snow Leopard, Tranquility, Zoom, Ivory Wave, Red Dove, Vanilla Sky, and others.

Commissioner Shah said, "These chemicals marketed as bath salts are a growing and dangerous threat to the public health, and this action to end the sale and distribution of these harmful substances is a critical step needed to stop the proliferation of these drugs here in New York State. These substances present a real and immediate threat to the health and safety of our young adults and the public at large."

The order takes effect immediately and is allowed under Public Health Law provisions that empower the State Health Commissioner to issue orders for summary action in circumstances where he believes people or entities are engaging in activities which constitute a danger to the health of the people and it would be prejudicial to delay action.

The Commissioner's Order will ban the sale and distribution of these chemicals and products in New York State. Commissioner Shah is contacting county health commissioners throughout the state for their assistance in carrying out this order.

The compounds are sold in a variety of forms that contain a number of synthetic chemicals including MDPV (methylenedioxypyrovalerone ) and mephedrone . Use of these drugs has resulted in hospitalizations and death, as well as violent reactions in individuals. Nationwide, calls to poison centers regarding use of bath salts through May of 2011 has increased more than 700 percent from the total amount of calls taken in all of last year.

Legislation to add the synthetic drugs to the list of controlled substance have been introduced in Congress by Senator Charles Schumer, who has worked closely with the Department of Health to identify options for New York to address the spread of bath salts. In addition, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has called addressing bath salts a top priority. The Department of Health also has submitted a departmental bill to limit the sale of these many chemicals to research purposes only.

 

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