Sushi Lovers beware of Ginger from China poisened by unapproved pesticide

Attention Sushi Eaters - Beware Ginger from China!

Today the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) warned consumers not to eat fresh ginger imported from China after they found aldicarb sulfoxide in some batches of imported Chinese ginger.

Aldicarb sulfoxide is a pesticide that is not approved for use on ginger due to its toxicity to humans, including carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and acute toxicity.

CDPH and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are tracing the imported ginger from the importer (Modern Trading Inc. in Alhambra, California) to determine the full distribution of the product and to identify other retail stores that may have received the product.

Consumers who may have purchased fresh ginger from Albertson's stores and Save Mart stores in northern California should discard it immediately.

Symptoms of aldicarb poisoning in humans are likely to occur within the first hour following exposure. Ingestion of foods contaminated with aldicarb at low levels can cause flu-like symptoms (nausea, headache, blurred vision) which disappear quickly, usually within 5 or 6 hours. However, at higher levels, ingestion of aldicarb contaminated food can also cause dizziness, salivation, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle stiffness and twitching, and difficulty in breathing.

Individuals who may have consumed this product and have any of the above symptoms should contact a medical professional immediately.

Dentapro and Brightmax Toothpaste Recalled from DEG poisened supply in China

Donnamax Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, has initiated a voluntary recall of the following brands of toothpaste made in China for the possibility of DEG contamination:

DentaPro Toothpaste brand CAVITY FIGHTING FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE, FRESH SPEARMINT FLAVOR, NET WT. 6.4 oz. - Item No. 9112, UPC 8 71290 – 00062 5, and

Bright Max Toothpaste, NET WT. 6.4 oz. - Item No. 9111

CONSUMERS WHO HAVE THESE BRANDS OF TOOTHPASTE SHOULD STOP USING THEM IMMEDIATELY, AND RETURN THEM TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE, OR THROW THEM AWAY.

Retailers should immediately examine their inventory for the recalled brands of toothpaste, remove them from sale, destroy any units found, and report the quantity destroyed on the response form to Donnamax Inc. as soon as possible. For more information contact Raymond Zeitouny at (718) 854-0273.

The toothpaste products were sold to retail stores located in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Idaho.

This recall has been initiated because the products may contain diethylene glycol (DEG), also known as "diglycol". According to the FDA "Chronic exposure to DEG in certain populations, such as children and individuals with kidney or liver disease. DEG in toothpaste has a low but meaningful risk of toxicity and injury to these populations."

The language used by the FDA above is someone played down in this blogger's opinion, especially when you consider that DEG in cough syrup caused 339 children in Bangladesh to develop kidney failure (most of them died) back in 1990, and more than 80 children died from the same thing in Haiti (http://www.news-medical.net/?id=24765) five years later. The concerns about DEG-contaminated toothpaste here in the States follow a recent tragedy in Panama where over 300 deaths were reported as a result of DEG poisoning.

The New York Times paints a disturbing picture of the effects of DEG on children:
"The kidneys fail first. Then the central nervous system begins to misfire. Paralysis spreads, making breathing difficult, then often impossible without assistance. In the end, most victims die."

It is true that no injuries have been reported as a result of DEG-contaminated toothpaste here in the United States, but the dangers are not to be ignored. DEG wasn't put in Chinese toothpaste by accident. It was used as a cheap alternative to triol glycerin (i.e. glycerol) which is non-toxic, naturally occurring and about three times as expensive as diethylene glycol (DEG). Your life and your child's life has been put at risk so some company (whether in China or here in the US - or both) could save money on production costs. Someone knowingly put a toxic chemical used in the manufacture of polyester resins, plasticizers and anti-freeze coolant into toothpaste to save money. We hope this point has been made very clear because it is why US Recall News recently issued this press release, calling for the partial boycott of Chinese products until the US and Chinese governments, as well as American corporations importing from China can get their act together.
Officially reported August 9 07

Toshiba exploding battery packs , Satellite and Tecra

More Exploding Laptop Batteries - Toshiba Satellite and Tecra Computers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Toshiba America Information Systems, today announced a voluntary recall of about 1,400 laptop computers. Consumers should stop using the recalled Toshipa laptops immediately and contact Toshiba to receive a free replacement laptop battery. In the meantime, computer users can continue to use the laptops safely, by turning the system off, removing the battery, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received.

The lithium-ion laptop batteries (made by Sony Energy Devices Corp., of Japan) are being recalled because the pose a fire hazard to computer users. Toshiba has received three reports outside of the United States of notebook batteries overheating. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled lithium-ion laptop batteries were sold with, or sold separately to be used with the following notebook computer models: Satellite A100, Satellite A105 and Tecra A7. The battery model is printed on the battery. To see pictures of these recalled Toshiba laptop batteries, including the battery and the laptop unit, please scroll down below the video.

These recalled laptop batteries were sold through authorized electronics retailers nationwide from January 2006 through April 2006 for between $680 and $1,300 for the computer systems and for between $90 and $120 when the batteries were sold separately.

Manufactured in: China (battery packs)

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Toshiba at (800) 457-7777 anytime or visit their Web site at www.bxinfo.toshiba.com

original report August 9 07