Consumer

Millennium Laboratories Sues Ameritox for Libel

April 27, 2012

Drug screening is a growth industry in the United States. And so are the lawsuits and countersuits being filed by some of the nation’s drug test companies against each other. This week Millennium Laboratories sued Ameritox for libel in California federal court, alleging the nation’s largest drug screening lab made false and misleading statements about [...]

Confusing Hospital Charges Give Patients Sticker Shock

April 25, 2012

If you’ve ever gone to an emergency room or been admitted to a hospital – you’ve probably gone through sticker shock when you saw your bill. $1,135 for an ultrasound? $158 for saline solution? Did that blood test really cost $1,212? A provocative new study at the University of California, San Francisco found a startling [...]

Environmental Groups Blast FDA Decision on BPA

April 2, 2012

Water bottles and other plastic containers that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA.

The Food and Drug Administration has rejected a request from an environmental group that would have banned bisphenol (BPA) from food and beverage containers. The agency said it lacked scientific evidence to warrant a ban, but would continue to study the plastic hardening chemical, which has been linked to obesity, diabetes, cancer and other health [...]

Chocolate and Popcorn Lovers Take Delight

March 27, 2012

While you still can’t ditch the fruits and veggies if you want to eat healthy, some surprising research is touting the potential health benefits of both chocolate and popcorn. In a survey of over 1,000 people, those who had the lowest Body Mass Index (BMI) ate chocolate most frequently. The strong association was found even [...]

Supplement Industry Fighting New FDA Rules

March 15, 2012

There’s leutin for eyesight, lycopene for the prostate and fish oil for the heart. There’s even a supplement for chronic pain – magnesium. Millions of Americans take supplements every day to improve their health; from vitamins and minerals to amino acids and bovine hormones. But are these products safe? And are they effective? The $20 [...]

Study Links Red Meat with Higher Risk of Death

March 13, 2012

A large-scale, long-term study suggests that eating any amount of red meat — both processed and unprocessed — can increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, more so than previously thought. The Red Meat Consumption and Mortality study was published online in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Harvard researchers studied more than [...]

Mars Puts its Chocolate Bars on a Diet

March 12, 2012

Downsizing is a dirty word in most businesses. But dietitians and nutritionists are cheering a decision by the Mars company to downsize its most popular chocolate bars, including Snickers and Milky Way. King sized chocolate bars – which pack a whopping 500 calories – are being phased out. “We have committed not to ship any [...]

Industry Reacts to Silent Spring Institute’s Harmful Chemicals Study

March 11, 2012

A new study conducted by the Silent Spring Institute has revealed that common everyday consumer products — like soaps, cleaners, cosmetics, and sunscreens — are comprised of a host of potentially harmful chemicals that are not listed on product labels. Many of the products contain phthalates and polyfluorinated compounds; known hormone disruptors that have been linked [...]

Surgeon General Warns of “Epidemic” of Teen Smoking

March 8, 2012

Millions of American teenagers are smoking tobacco despite decades of warnings about its health consequences, according to a new report by the U.S. Surgeon General. And tobacco companies are fueling the epidemic by targeting young people in their advertising. More than 3.6 million teens smoke, including 600,000 who are still in middle school. Preventing Tobacco [...]

FDA Revises Safety Warnings for Statins

March 1, 2012

After years of complaints from statin users about side effects such as muscle pain, cramps and memory loss, the Food and Drug Administration has revised its safety warnings for the cholesterol lowering medication. Millions of Americans take statins daily to lower their risk of heart disease. The FDA made the decision after reviewing databases that [...]

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