Monthly Archives: March 2007

Menu Foods, Inc. pet food recall issued

Menu Foods, Inc., a private label pet food manufacturer based in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada announced a recall of its “cuts and gravy” style dog and cat food produced at its facility in Emporia, Kansas between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The products are sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

(Information on Eukanuba, Hill’s Science Diet, Iams and Nestlé Purina recalled items can be found below).

Consumer complaints received by the manufacturer and tasting trials conducted by the manufacturer prompted the recall. A small number of reported instances of cats and dogs in the United States developing kidney failure after eating the affected product have been reported. To date, 1 dog and 9 cats have died after eating the affected products. Extensive testing of the products in question is being conducted, but to date they’ve been unable to find the source of the problem.

Menu Foods, Inc. has identified the potentially contaminated products on the Internet at http://www.menufoods.com/recall. Consumers who have any of these products should immediately stop feeding them to their pets. Dogs or cats who have consumed the suspect food and show signs of kidney failure (such as loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting) should consult with their veterinarian.

Continue reading

Time change could affect medical devices

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory to alert hospital officials, healthcare workers, people who rely on medical devices and their caregivers about possible adverse affects of the new Daylight Savings Time (DST) change on some medical equipment and suggestions on how to prevent them.

It’s unknown if any problems will develop or what specific devices may be affected. The FDA is concerned about medical devices or medical device networks that operate together with other networked devices, e.g. where a synchronization of clocks may be necessary.

If a medical device or medical device network is adversely affected by the new DST date changes, a patient treatment or diagnostic result could be:

  • incorrectly prescribed
  • provided at the wrong time
  • missed
  • given more than once
  • given for longer or shorter durations than intended
  • incorrectly recorded
  • Any of these unpredictable events could harm patients and not be obvious to clinicians responsible for their care.

    Continue reading

    The sad state of our Veterans Affairs

    On February 18, 2007 the Washington Post broke a startling story (a long 5 page article) describing neglect and frustration the wounded soldiers from Iran and Afghanistan face when they’re sent to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. One particular building, known as building 18, stands out because of the more advanced deteriorating conditions.

    Deteriorating conditions include rotting ceilings and walls, mouse droppings, dead cockroaches, stained carpets and cheap mattresses. The elevator and garage door don’t work, and sometimes there isn’t any heat or water.

    The report goes on to detail how the 5 1/2 years of heavily sustained combat has transformed the once highly respected Medical Center into a holding ground for approximately 700 physically and psychologically damaged outpatient soldiers and Marines who still need treatment or are awaiting bureaucratic decisions on their treatment before they’re discharged or returned to active duty.

    These outpatients are suffering from brain injuries, severed arms and legs, organ and back damage and various other degrees of post-traumatic stress. The wounded manage other wounded. Soldiers with psychological disorders of their own are in charge of other soldiers at risk of suicide. The average stay is 10 months, but some have been stuck there for as long as two years or more.

    Continue reading