Defective Products

A Nebraska-based meat packer is recalling more than 40,000 pounds of ground beef products that were shipped to institutions and distributors in California and other states over food poisoning concerns. According to an Associated Press news report, the meat, produced by Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. was also shipped to 15 other states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted tests on samples, which detected the presence of the deadly E. coli bacteria in the ground beef products. Other states affected by this recall include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

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The manufacturer of a defective child seat, which caused several skull fractures and head injuries among young children, has made no effort to improve their products or make them safer, according to consumer safety advocates. A Reuters report states that despite facing several lawsuits from parents of injured children, South Africa-based Bumbo has done little to reconfigure these seats or make them safer.

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The America College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Urogynecologic Society have issued a joint Committee Opinion stating that there is an "urgent need" for the development of a national registry to track outcomes for all current and future patients who receive vaginal mesh implants. There have been serious concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of these synthetic mesh products that are placed vaginally to treat a condition known as pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Given the horrific side effects thousands of women are experiencing as a result of receiving these transvaginal mesh implants, these groups now recommend that use of these mesh implants should only be reserved for high-risk women "for whom the benefit may justify the risk."

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A California food company has issued a recall for 6,141 cartons of cilantro in seven states over food poisoning concerns. According to an Associated Press news report, Salinas-based Pacific Cilantro recalled the herbs in seven states after U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors found salmonella in a sampling of the products. So far, no illnesses or fatalities have been reported. The recall has been issued in seven states including California, Arizona, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Indiana, South Carolina and Missouri, as a precaution. Those who have these products in their homes are asked to return them. The herbs were grown by Salt River Farming in the Phoenix area.

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A California farm is voluntarily recalling bags of chopping romaine lettuce due to food poisoning concerns. According to an Associated Press news report, True Leaf Farms of Salinas is recalling 90 cartons of lettuce, which is believed to have been contaminated with listeria bacteria. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified the company that a sample taken as part of a random check tested positive for listeria. The recall covers products with a "use by" date of September 29, 2011 and a bag and box code of "B256-46438-8."

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Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Inc. is recalling its f&e-brand organic baby spinach over food poisoning concerns. According to an Associated Press news report, this food recall was issued due to concerns that the spinach could be contaminated with listeria, a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children or those with weak immune systems. The company, which is based in El Segundo, California, said the recall was issued after one bag of spinach tested positive for listeria. The products involved in this recall have an "enjoy by" date of August 1, 2011 and were sold in Fresh & Easy stores in California, Nevada and Arizona.

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A study of nearly three million women taking the newest and most popular contraceptives, particularly Yaz birth control pills, between 1997 and 2009, found a small, but statistically significant risk of gallbladder disease. Yaz, manufactured by Bayer, is a combination of drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol and has also been associated with other side effects such as blood clots, heart problems and seizures.

Several Studies Show Adverse Effects

Another recent report on Bnet, about 190 women have died after taking Yaz and its predecessor Yasmin. The Swiss media says that Bayer is facing a shareholder motion condemning its marketing of these two contraceptive pill brands.

Further, two new studies show women who take these defective products with the newer hormone, drospirenone, have a higher risk for developing potentially serious blood clots than women who take pills that have the older hormone levonorgestrel. Women in the studies took oral contraceptives containing drospirenone such as Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, Gianvi and Zarah. These medications increased the risk of nonfatal blood clots by two to three times, the studies said. Read the rest »

According to a recent report on Bnet, about 190 women have died after taking Bayer's popular contraceptive pills Yaz and Yasmin. The Swiss media says that Bayer is facing a shareholder motion at the end of this month condemning its marketing of these two contraceptive pill brands. The vote, although unlikely to pass, will put the pharmaceutical giant's increasing problems especially with regard to contraceptive pills Yaz and Yasmin in the spotlight.

Lawsuits Proliferating

As of February 2011, Bayer faced 6,950 lawsuits in the United States stemming from these two brands of contraceptive pills. The lawsuits allege that these defective products create potentially deadly blood clots and gall bladder damage. So far it had not been known how many women actually died from taking Yaz and Yasmin. But, a German language report on Swiss television last year claimed that a search of the Food and Drug Administration's adverse event database found 140 fatalities associated with Yasmin and 50 fatalities linked to Yaz, which is the newer brand. Read the rest »

The family of Mary Ellen Kise, who died after receiving contaminated IV fluid at an Alabama hospital, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the manufacturer of the IV bags. According to a Reuters news report, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of Kise's daughter, Barbara Young, against Meds IV, the manufacturer of the fluid. So far, federal health officials have confirmed that the bags containing the intravenous fluids were contaminated with the deadly serratia marcescens. So far nine deaths and several illnesses have been attributed to the contaminated IV bags. Meds IV pulled the products off the shelves this month. Read the rest »

The BISNAR | CHASE Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys have struck again with the most recent success being the result of Del Taco's negligence. The premises liability action was filed against contractors and inspectors of Del Taco for an unsafe ramp that allegedly caused the death of an elderly woman. The suit has recently resulted in a substantial settlement which has left the victim's family members with more than an apology.

The absence of handrails along the path to guide disabled users to the safe boundaries of the wheelchair ramp, or to help gauge the height difference between the curb and the level of the parking lot, violated applicable building codes as well as Federal Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. A few days after the accident, a bar was constructed and the ramp was made safer. Read the rest »