Mayfield Vanilla Classic Ice Cream Recalled

Another ice cream recall
Mayfield Vanilla Classic Ice Cream Recalled By Mayfield Dairy Farms

tag: FDA Recall, food recall, Recallsglobal, Mayfield Vanilla Classic Ice Cream Recall

Pierre’s Ice Cream Company Recalls Ice Cream

Recallsglobal is reporting that Pierre’s Ice Cream Company Recalls Homestyle Brand of Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream



tag: FDA Recall, Food Recall, Pierre’s Ice Cream Company recall, Homestyle Brand of Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream

RecallsGlobal.com Acquired

RecallsGlobal.com (not live yet) was Acquired by our team to handle recall news and information related to recalls. The amount of recalls have taken major part of our reporting here at Meddesktop, which we are/were glad to do. We were concerned with children health as so many products were recalled due to lead paint violations. Most of these were Chinese Toys or manufactured in China following US Toy makers requests. But this extended to reporting more recalls as it was hard for us to draw lines regarding which and which is not health related recalls.
Since MedDesktop need to cover the general medical news and health news, we will use Recallsglobal.com to let you know about the recalls, every sort of recalls, from every corner of the world.
Wish Us Luck!
tag: Recallsglobal, Recalls, toy recalls, products recalls, recall news

New CPSC Recalls: children’s necklaces, Memory Testing Cards

Family Dollar Recalls Magnetic Dart Boards; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Family Dollar, of Charlotte, N.C., is voluntarily recalling about 250,000 FUN ‘N SAFE Magnetic Dart Boards. Small magnets at the ends of the darts can detach. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

Children’s Metal Jewelry Recalled by Pecoware Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Pecoware Co. Inc., of Chino, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 2,900 Children’s Metal Necklaces. The children’s necklaces contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Children’s Memory Testing Cards Recalled by Riverside Publishing Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Riverside Publishing Co., of Rolling Meadows, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 5,300 Memory Testing Cards (sold as part of educational testing kits). Surface paint on the cards contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Rinnai Recalls Wall Furnaces Due to Carbon Monoxide Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Rinnai America Corp., of Peachtree City, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 52,000 Direct-Vent Wall Furnaces, Models RHFE 431 and RHFE 556. A gasket in the unit can fail, posing a risk of poisonous carbon monoxide gas leaking into the home.

Greenheck Fan Recalls Indirect Gas Fired Furnaces Due to Risk of Fire

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Greenheck Fan Corp., of Schofield, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 1,500 Indirect Gas-Fired Furnaces. The ignition control module can fail preventing the unit from shutting down in high temperature conditions. This poses a risk of fire, as well as hazardous fumes being released from burning/melting insulation.

Portable Electric Heaters Recalled by Aloha Housewares Due to Fire Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Aloha Housewares Inc., of Arlington, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 152,000 Portable Electric Heaters. The portable electric heater can overheat and melt plastic parts, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Louisville Ladder Recalls Extension Ladders Due to Fall Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Louisville Ladder Inc., of Louisville, Ky., is voluntarily recalling about 25,000 “Louisville/Davidson” and “Michigan” Brand Fiberglass Extension Ladders. The extension or “fly” section can fail to lock, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

tag: CPSC recall, Fiberglass Extension Ladders recall, Louisville Ladder Inc. recall, Aloha Housewares Inc.Recall, Portable Electric Heater Recall, Greenheck Fan Corp Recall, Gas-Fired Furnace recall, Rinnai America Corp Recall, Direct-Vent Wall Furnace Recall, Riverside Publishing Recall, Memory Testing Cards Recall

The Deloitte survey : U.S. Consumers Want Major Changes in Health Care Design, Delivery

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 20, 2008 – American consumers want more from their health care system than they’re currently getting – greater online connection to health care providers and medical records, customized insurance coverage and wider access to emerging innovations such as retail clinics, a new survey from Deloitte reveals.

At the same time, they express anxiety about future health care costs – only 7 percent say they’re adequately prepared financially – and increasingly search for alternative medicines and services that can save them money and offer convenience. But many also say they are willing to pay extra for wellness programs, and to support or consider tax increases to cover the uninsured.

The 2008 Survey of Health Care Consumers, a representative poll of more than 3,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 75, was conducted by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. It was directed by Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, and William Copeland, Jr., national managing director of the Life Sciences and Health Care practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP.

“More than anything, the findings convince us that Americans no longer see themselves only as patients, but as consumers who want to take greater control of their health care,” Keckley said. “Consumers will redefine our health care market, but how they do it is the most important strategic question the health care industry must answer.”

Copeland said the survey’s scope makes it one of the most thorough and comprehensive efforts to date to measure consumer attitudes, behaviors and unmet needs. “We believe these attitudes and consumer demands could have a transformative impact on the way health care services and products are developed,” he said.

Among the survey’s key findings:

• 93 percent say they are not well prepared for future health care costs
• 79 percent of consumers believe health care will be an important issue in the 2008 election; 46 percent described it as one of the top three issues affecting their vote
• 34 percent say they would use a retail clinic; 16 percent already have
• 60 percent want physicians to provide online access to medical records and test results, and online appointment scheduling; one in four say they would pay more for the service
• 1 in 3 consumers say they want more holistic/alternative therapies in their treatment program
• 3 of 4 consumers want expanded use of in-home monitoring devices and online tools that would reduce need for visits and allow individuals to be more active in their care
• 2 in 5 consumers want a wellness program to improve health and/or save money; one in four say they would pay more for it
• 84 percent prefer generic drugs to name brands
• 29 percent support a tax increase to help cover the uninsured; another 34 percent say they would consider a tax hike
• 52 percent of consumers say they understand their insurance coverage; only 8 percent understand their policies completely
• For additional findings, visit www.deloitte.com/us/consumerism/library

The way Americans think and behave in buying, managing and using their health care varies widely by gender, age group and cultural background, according to the survey. Women and men, for instance, have very different approaches to how they select and pay for their health care.

The Deloitte survey, however, found that consumer needs overall are basic -- better service, personalization, value – and that they want specific tools to customize the health services and insurance programs they use. Consumers are embracing innovation. Respondents said they wanted health plans to provide help with clinical decisions, not simply administrative services, and many want to customize their insurance with unique coverage and pricing features.

In addition, the survey revealed the consumer health care market is not homogenous; key distinctions exist within different groups. An analysis of the data found that the more than 3,000 respondents fell into six discrete segments, ranging from “content and compliant” consumers more accepting of the status quo to “out and about” health care shoppers who tend to be more independent and willing to try unconventional treatments.

Those factors taken together carry with them the potential for dramatic near-term change in the way U.S. doctors, hospitals, health plan administrators, drug makers and biotech companies operate, Keckley noted.

For general information on the survey, please contact Scott Ladd. For information on the Health Plans, Health Providers, and Life Sciences practices of Deloitte, please contact Marykate Reese.

tag: health care, Medical News, Deloitte Center for Health, medical records, insurance coverage, health care costs, Deloitte survey,

Google, Cleveland Clinic Teams On A Pilot To Manage Medical Records

Alan Newberger, of Google has a post about his thoughts on building tools that will help manage personal health information more effectively. Google recently entered into an agreement with The Cleveland Clinic. A large academic medical center, to run a pilot program to manage patient records more effectively.
"Cleveland is just the first of many healthcare providers that will securely send medical records and information via Google APIs at your request. We've been hard at work collaborating with a number of insurance plans, medical groups, pharmacies and hospitals. While this pilot is open initially to just a few thousand patients, I see it as an important first step to show how Google can help users get access to their medical records and take charge of their health information."
Official Google Blog: A pilot with the Cleveland Clinic for health information access
tag: google health, patient records, The Cleveland Clinic, Gdata

Secretary of Agriculture's Statement Regarding Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company.

Statement by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer Regarding Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company Two Year Product Recall
February 17, 2008


"Today, USDA is announcing additional actions as a result of the ongoing investigation at Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has evidence that Hallmark/Westland did not consistently contact the FSIS public health veterinarian in situations in which cattle became non-ambulatory after passing ante-mortem inspection, which is not compliant with FSIS regulations. Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection FSIS has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall.

The United States enjoys one of the safest food supplies in the world. To help ensure the safety of the food supply, we implement a series of safeguards to protect against foodborne disease. These safeguards include in-plant procedures to reduce dangerous foodborne pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. It also includes the removal of specified risk materials-those tissues demonstrated to contain the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent in infected cattle-from the human food chain, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 1997 ruminant to ruminant feed ban. The prohibition of non-ambulatory cattle from the food supply is an additional safeguard against bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Upon notification of possible violations of USDA regulations, we immediately began an investigation and placed products from this plant destined for the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations on hold. Since then, we also suspended all Federal food and nutrition program contracts with Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. To date, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company remains suspended by the Food Safety and Inspection Service. The products destined for the Federal food assistance programs, including the National School Lunch Program, will now be removed from schools and other holding facilities and destroyed.

I am dismayed at the in-humane handling of cattle that has resulted in the violation of food safety regulations at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. It is extremely unlikely that these animals were at risk for BSE because of the multiple safeguards; however, this action is necessary because plant procedures violated USDA regulations.

In addition, our Office of the Inspector General and the Food Safety and Inspection Service continue the investigation. We will respond immediately if further findings warrant. Details about this recall and USDA actions are available at www.usda.gov/actions . "

tag: Beef Recall, USDA recall, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company, Hallmark/Westland Meat Recall, Secretary of Agriculture, FSIS regulations, FSIS, foodborne disease,