Iams, Eukanuba Pet Food Recall

Procter & Gamble is expanding a dog and cat food recall to include veterinary and some specialized dry pet food as a precautionary measure because there is the possibility of salmonella contamination. Though it should be emphasized that no salmonella-related illnesses have been reported.

The following dry pet food products are included in the recall:

Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas

Eukanuba Naturally Wild

Eukanuba Pure

Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin

For a full list consult the Iams website. The affected products are sold in veterinary clinics and specialty pet retailers throughout the United States and Canada. No canned food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement. A full listing of UPC codes can be found at the Iams site.

These products are made in a single, specialized facility. In consulation with the Food and Drug Administration, P&G decided to recall all foods made at that facility.

The company advises consumers who have purchased the specific dry pet foods listed should discard them. People handling dry pet food can become infected with salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms.

Pets with salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Husqvarna Lawn Tractor Recall: Fire Danger

Husqvarna is recalling a series of riding lawn tractors sold this year after getting more than 50 complaints of damaged fuel lines, something that could cause a fire, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The CPSC said the fuel line to the rear-mounted fuel tank is too long and can get damaged by moving parts when the tractor is in use. Those who have the lawn tractors are urged to stop using them until a free repair can be arranged by Husqvarna.

No injuries have been cited in the 53 reports of fuel-line damage received by Husqvarna.

Husqvarna said it has sold about 1,700 of the gas-powered tractors, which are designed for residential use. The tractor being recalled is the GTH27V52LS with model numbers 96043009100 and 96043009900 and serial numbers 010810A00XXXX through 05061000XXXX.

For more information, please call 1877 MESSALAW.

Toyota Recalls over 400,000 Vehicles over Steering Issues

Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it was recalling more than 400,000 older-model vehicles sold in the United States, citing potential steering-related problems in both.

The Japanese automaker said the recall would affect 373,000 Toyota Avalon’s manufactured between 2000 to 2004. The company said the vehicle's steering lock bar could break under certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Toyota also cited steering issues in its recall of some 39,000 Lexus LX 470 vehicles. The company said that if the vehicle experienced a severe impact to the front wheels, such as striking a pothole, the steering shaft could disengage over time. The recall only affects vehicles from model years 2003 to 2007.

The company said it was not aware of any accidents related to its Lexus LX 470.

The company said it would begin to send out notifications in mid-August to owners of the vehicles affected by Thursday's recall. Drivers will be able to bring their car to a local dealer to have the vehicle fixed at no charge.

For more information, please call 1877 MESSALAW.

30,000 Nap Nanny Baby Recliners Recalled after Baby Dies

Nap Nanny Baby recliners are being recalled after a 4 month-old Michigan girl was found dead in one. She was in the harness on the recliner but was found hanging over the side, stuck between a crib bumper and the Nap Nanny.

Baby Matters, who makes Nap Nanny, said over 30,000 of the recliners will be a part of the recall. The recliners were made in China and sold nationwide for about $130.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said that there has been over 21 other incidents involving the product that have been reported, mostly with infants younger than five months falling over the side.

Anyone with a Nap Nanny is asked to stop using it immediately.

1 Million Shades & Blinds Recalled

Smith + Noble has issued a recall for more than 1 million shades and blinds after a boy nearly strangled in Washington State.

The recall includes all custom Roman shades from the company as well as roller shades without a tension device on the cord. The shades were sold under the following brands:

Smith + Noble, Christopher Lowell, Jessit Gold, Shop Blinds, & Window Elements.

Tens of millions of shades have been recalled in the past year as a part of a major industry initiative to help prevent the strangulation deaths of children. Children can strangle in the cords on the back of the shades and in the loop of the roller shades.

Consumers are asked to stop using the shades until they obtain a repair kit which they can get by calling the Window Covering Safety Council at (800) 228-7638.

GSK Agrees to $460 Million Avandia Settlement

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) agreed to settle 10,000 lawsuits alleging that its popular diabetes drug Avandia injured patients.

The settlements come as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) begins two days of hearings into the safety of the drug. Earlier today, documents were released that suggested GSK hid data that showed Avandia increased the risk of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes.

For more information please contact 1877 MESSALAW.

Avandia Heart Risks Buried by Drug Company

The pharmacy company that makes the popular diabetes drug Avandia, SmithKline Beecham, knew for over a decade that the drug caused an increased risk of heart problems – but covered up the information according to a report published in the New York Times.

The Times report said that SmithKline did not post results of its drug trial findings on its website or submit them to federal regulators. This information was based on internal company documents it obtained.

According to a March 21, 2001 email the Times obtained, a company executive wrote about the study results:

“This was done for the U.S. business, way under radar. Per Sr. Mgmt request, these data should not see the light of day to anyone outside of GSK.” (GlaxoSmith Kline is the corporate successor to SmithKline)

Today, FDA panel will begin determining what to do about Avandia. More than half a million Americans have been prescribed Avandia, but the covered up studies issue that the drug have linked it to a raised risk of stroke, heart attack, and even death.

For more information please call 1877 MESSALAW.