NH DHHS - Parents and Physicians Advised Not to Use SimplyThick Food Thickening Agent for Infants

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) informs consumers that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert not to use SimplyThick, a thickening agent for the management of swallowing disorders in preterm infants. The FDA is aware of 15 cases, including 2 deaths, of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a life-threatening condition characterized by inflammation and death of intestinal tissue, in premature infants who were fed SimplyThick for varying amounts of time.

The thickener is added to infant formula or breast milk to aid in feeding for premature infants, born before 37 weeks gestation. The product is sold in packets of individual servings or in 64-ounce dispenser bottles.

While most babies would be in the hospital if receiving this product, it is possible that a premature infant may be discharged and still on this regimen.

“This product has been distributed nationally,” said Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, New Hampshire State Epidemiologist, “so there is a possibility that some parents may have been advised to use this product with their babies and we want to make sure this message gets out to ensure no one else becomes ill.”

The FDA is advising that preterm infants currently under hospital care and those discharged from the hospital within the past 30 days stop using the product. FDA has sent out a public advisory recommending that parents and caregivers contact their child’s health care provider if they have any questions or concerns about using the product.

For more information, go to MedWatch safety alert, including links to the Press Release and product photos, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm256257.htm. To speak with someone at DHHS, Division of Public Health Services call 603-271-4496 (after hours 1-800-852-3345 ext.5300).

NH DHHS Monitoring Damaged Japanese Reactor Situation

Concord, NH – The State of New Hampshire public health and emergency management agency officials along with federal counterparts are closely monitoring the situation in Japan regarding the damaged nuclear reactors as a result of last week’s earthquake and tsunami. Although the situation surrounding the nuclear reactors in Fukushima Daiichi remains grave, radioactive material is not expected to reach New Hampshire in any quantity sufficient to produce health concerns, according to scientists with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the White House.

The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) and Department of Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) officials along with other State partners are tracking events in Japan as they unfold and working with federal agencies to take any appropriate steps that may be needed. DPHS does historic monitoring of radiation across the State on a regular basis and will continue to do so. Monitoring for radioactivity in the air, waters, and soil is done on a continuing basis in New Hampshire. Unusual increases in radioactivity would be quickly detected.

“Some people in New Hampshire are wondering if they should be taking potassium iodide because of the events in Japan and the answer is no,” said Dr. José Montero, DPHS Director. “While potassium iodide can protect the thyroid gland against some harmful radiation, it can produce adverse side effects and it does not last very long in the body. It should only be taken if exposure to considerably elevated levels of radiation is going to occur and as a supplemental action to evacuation. If that were ever the case, New Hampshire officials would notify people of when to take it.”

For more information, visit the following sites:
State of New Hampshire readiness www.nh.gov/readynh
NH Department of Health and Human Services www.dhhs.nh.gov
US Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov
US Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov

To Donate to the Japan Response Efforts www.usaid.gov



CEI Weekly: Lies,Truths, and Videotape About Makeup

Friday, February 25, 2011

Feature: CEI Studios releases a short video on "The Truth About Makeup."

FEATURED VIDEO: Lies, Truths, and Videotape About Makeup Ever since Annie Leonard released "The Story of Cosmetics," the blogosphere has been buzzing about "toxins" in personal care products. But the truth is that a lot of the "toxins" Leonard talks about are all around us---even in the natural foods we eat---and they're harmless. This week, CEI Studios released a short video responding to some of the more absurd recent allegations about cosmetics. Watch "The Truth About Makeup" here. SHAPING THE DEBATE Fixed Labor Game is Ending in Wisconsin Iain Murray and Vincent Vernuccio's op-ed in The Washington Times Tobacco Tax Hike Was a Backroom Deal Hans Bader's op-ed in The Washington Times The Case for Reform of the Railway Labor Act Russ Brown and Ivan Osorio's CEI OnPoint Comments on Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Service Hours Marc Scribner's comment letter submitted before the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration George Washington Was a Brilliant Entrepreneur John Berlau's op-ed in NewsMax Bad Publicity, Good Results Ryan Young's op-ed in The Daily Caller Madison Fight Remains in Public Spotlight Iain Murray and Vincent Vernuccio's citation in The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Tough Terms May Land Apple's Subscription in Hot Water Ryan Radia's citation in E-Commerce Times

CEI PODCAST February 24, 2011: On Wisconsin CEI Vice President Iain Murray discusses the labor reforms that have led to a thousands-strong protest in Madison, Wisconsin. While the reforms themselves are relatively minor, both sides know that the stakes are high. We may be at a watershed moment in the relationship between public sector unions and taxpayers. BEST OF THE BLOGS Unions Bucking the Will of the People By Vincent Vernuccio Obama Fans the Flames in Wisconsin, Seeking to Block State Budget Reforms By Hans Bader House De-funds Ethanol in Budget Bill By Brian McGraw Lesson From Four Loko: Don't Be Too Good By Michelle Minton



CEI - New Video: Truth About Makeup

Truth About Makeup

 

Recently, there have been reports about endocrine disruptors and carcinogens in everyday cosmetics. These facts might seem shocking, but one has to be careful when dealing with campaigns that attempt to scare people. The truth is that many of the foods we eat have natural carcinogens or endocrine disruptors, and nobody is trying to ban them, nor should they.

As a result, the Competitive Enterprise Institute released a short video addressing this issue.  It's not 1950 anymore...

Truth about Makeup

We would be grateful if you would share the link with friends or post on Twitter or Facebook: http://youtu.be/20xPn7wpmpM



CEI Daily - George Washington, Makeup, and the Latest Alcohol Regulation Roundup

George Washington

Americans celebrated George Washington's birthday this month; but many don't think of Washington as a successful entrepreneur.

Director of the Center for Investors and Entrepreneurs John Berlau talks about Washington's legacy as a capitalist.

"Now, some pioneering scholars are documenting little known aspects of [George] Washington's life. His pursuits can be said to be just as creative as those of Franklin and Jefferson, but in a different way. Washington's creativity of the type one associates with modern entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates and even Donald Trump. Whereas Franklin built gadgets at his homestead, and Jefferson built fancy buildings, the notable things Washington built were a series of interconnected businesses. In the 2006 biography 'The Unexpected George Washington,' historian Harlow Giles Unger calls Washington 'one of America's leading entrepreneurs' and chronicles Washington's transformation of Mount Vernon from a sleepy tobacco farm into a type of industrial village."

 

Makeup Recently, there have been reports about endocrine disruptors and carcinogens in everyday cosmetics. CEI Studios just released a video explaining why women who use makeup shouldn't be concerned:

Alcohol Regulation Roundup

In her latest blog pot, Policy Analyst Michelle Minton summarizes ongoing fights against alcohol regulations around the nation.

Read "Alcohol Regulation Roundup" here.