Honey Packers Fail to Report Tainted Imports

Strategy aims to battle antibiotic-fueled super bugs

(NEWSER) - The Food and Drug Administration is trying to slow the rise of drug-resistant super bugs by reducing antibiotic use in livestock. The agency will now require farmers and ranchers to obtain a prescription from a veterinarian before they can give antibiotics to animals, reports the New York Times . Close to 80% of antibiotics sold in the US go to animals, and the FDA wants farmers to stop using them simply to make animals grow larger. It has asked companies to start phasing out their non-medical use. More»

Senator Shcarles Schumer questions whether it's safe for kids

(NEWSER) - New York Sen. Charles Schumer isn't convinced inhalable caffeine is a good thing—at least not for kids, the AP reports. He has helped prod the FDA into investigating chapstick-sized caffeine inhalers called Aeroshots. The senator says his concern was prompted by incidents last year when students guzzled too many caffeinated alcoholic drinks for a quick buzz. Kids and teens "are particularly vulnerable to overusing a product," says Schumer. More»

Made in big batches and left sitting out, dips can cause trouble

(NEWSER) - As guacamole and salsa become more popular, they also account for a rising number of cases of food poisoning, new statistics show. The dips once represented 1.5% of foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurants and delis, but between 1998 and 2008, that fraction climbed to nearly 4%. Part of the problem: Salsa and guacamole often sit out at room temperature, and they're prepared in such large quantities that contamination can spread to many people, reports MSNBC . More»

Studies in animals point to risk

(NEWSER) - The Food and Drug Administration is taking a closer look at an antibacterial found in soap and toothpaste. Animal studies of the substance, triclosan, suggest it may alter hormone regulation or help develop resistance to antibiotics, Reuters notes. "There are many troubling questions about triclosan's effectiveness and potentially harmful effects, especially for children," said Massachusetts Rep. Edward Markey, who is calling for a ban on triclosan in soap. FDA officials said there's no proof yet that triclosan is harmful to humans, but officials are reviewing scientific studies. More»

(NEWSER) - The FDA would gain broad new powers to oversee food safety under a far-reaching bill passed by the House yesterday, the Washington Post reports. The measure—representing the first major changes to food safety laws since the 1930s—would give the agency vastly increased oversight of the nation's food chain from field to store, and would boost the number of food-related inspections. Support for the bill was sparked by a string of serious food-borne illnesses the last three years. More»