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40 tonnes of butter recalled for absurd reason

Costco has recalled nearly 40 tonnes of butter for an absurd reason. America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent out an initial recall for 36,000kg of Kirkland Signature butter in October because the label failed to mention that the kitchen staple contains milk. Packages for both the salted and unsalted version of the butter listed cream as an ingredient, but did not include an allergy warning for milk. The bizarre recall left many internet users scratching their heads, with many slamming the wasteful move stating the obvious: "It's butter". “Costco butter was just recalled, because the label doesn’t say that it contains milk. It’s butter. News articles are telling people how they can return, or safely dispose of, the butter. It’s butter,” one person deadpanned. “Can y’all please safely dispose of it at my house? I have a lot of holiday baking to do," another joked. “If you need to government to tell you that butter is a dairy product then … well, I can’t help you God I loathe the state," a third added. “To be called ‘Butter’ it must contain milk or milk derivatives. Talk about useless government,” another social media user wrote. “Rather than waste (40,000kg) of butter why don’t they print stickers that say “Contains Milk” and save perfectly good food? So wasteful,” a fifth wrote. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention mentioned in the recall that milk is one of the main foods that “account for most serious allergic reactions in the United States”. The FDA did not say if there has been any illnesses or adverse reactions from the product. Image: The Image Party / Shutterstock.com

Legal

Newly approved Alzheimer’s drug raises serious concerns

United States health officials have approved the first new drug to treat Alzheimer’s in twenty years. But independent advisors and some Alzheimer’s experts have said the approval comes without enough evidence that the drug can help patients with the brain-destroying disease. The Food and Drug Administration said it approved the drug, aducanumab, based on results that its benefits for Alzheimer’s patients were “reasonably likely”. Aducanuman, which will go by the brand name Aduhelmm, is produced by American biotechnology company Biogen and is to be administered as a monthly infusion. As the first approved treatment to directly attack the disease process of Alzheimer’s instead of just treating the symptoms like anxiety and insomnia, the drug is intended to slow the cognitive decline in those with mild memory and thinking problems. The drug is thought to reduce harmful clumps of plaque in the brain in order to slow the progression of the deadly disease. Why this matters With the approval of the treatment despite limited evidence that it works, experts are concerned it could set a precedent for the approval of future experimental therapies that only show incremental benefits. Currently only five medications have been approved by the FDA for patients with Alzheimer’s, though these only delay cognitive decline for several months. As a result, patient advocacy groups lobbied for approval to expand the number of treatments available of Aduhelm, with other more-promising candidates likely to be three to four years away from potential approval. But, the FDA advisory committee, as well as an independent think tank and several prominent experts - including Alzheimer’s doctors who were involved in clinical trials of the drug - have said the evidence raises doubts about its effectiveness. Concerns have also been raised about the small benefits being outweighed by the risk of swelling or bleeding in the brain that occurred during the trials. The risk of bleeding is also heightened for those with the APOE4 gene, which is associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s. Caleb Alexander, an FDA advisor who recommended against the drug’s approval, said he was “surprised and disappointed”. “The FDA gets the respect that it does because it has regulatory standards that are based on firm evidence. In this case, I think they gave the product a pass,” said Dr Alexander, a medical researcher at John Hopkins University. Dr Patrizia Cavazzoni, the FDA’s director of the Centre for Drug Evaluation and Research wrote on the agency’s website: “The data included in the applicant’s submission were highly complex and left residual uncertainties regarding clinical benefit,” But, she said the agency had approved the drug through a program called accelerated approval, which is designed to provide earlier access to therapies for diseases with few treatments, “and where there is an expectation of clinical benefit despite some residual uncertainty regarding the benefit.” Dr Cavazzoni also told reporters: “The data supports patients and caregivers having the choice to use this drug.” What happens next Though approved, the FDA has required the drug manufacturer to conduct a follow-up study to confirm the benefits. If this study fails to show the drug's effectiveness, the FDA can - but isn’t required to - withdraw the drug from the market. Biogen has said it aims to complete the follow-up trial by 2030. Image: Getty Images

Body

These pet food brands have been linked to heart disease in dogs

Pet food that has been marketed in Australia as healthy for dogs has been linked to several cases of canine heart failure. Sixteen brands were linked by the United States’ Food and Drug Administration to cases of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is a condition that leads to heart failure. Three brands, Earthborn Holistic, Orijen and Nutro were found in Australia and can be purchased through outlines including My Pet Warehouse and Pet Circle. This is according to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/the-pet-food-brands-that-have-been-linked-to-heart-failure-in-dogs-125010665.html">7 News.</a> The FDA found that the problem brands were commonly labelled as grain-free and contained a high proportion of peas, lentils and other legumes as well as potatoes. More than 500 cases of DCM have been reported to the FDA since the beginning of 2018, which prompted the organisation to issue a warning to pet owners. Over 90 per cent of products linked with cases of DCM were grain-free and 93 per cent of products had peas and/or lentils. Symptoms of DCM include decreased energy, coughing, difficulty breathing and episodes of collapse. The FDA urged pet owners to take their animal to a vet immediately if they suspect their dog is showing any symptoms.

Family & Pets

These pet food brands have possibly been linked to heart disease in dogs

Pet food that has been marketed in Australia as healthy for dogs have possibly been linked to several cases of canine heart failure. Sixteen brands were linked by the United States’ Food and Drug Administration to cases of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is a condition that leads to heart failure. Three brands, Earthborn Holistic, Orijen and Nutro were found in Australia and can be purchased through outlines including My Pet Warehouse and Pet Circle. This is according to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/the-pet-food-brands-that-have-been-linked-to-heart-failure-in-dogs-125010665.html">7 News.</a> The FDA found that the problem brands were commonly labelled as grain-free and contained a high proportion of peas, lentils and other legumes as well as potatoes. More than 500 cases of DCM have been reported to the FDA since the beginning of 2018, which prompted the organisation to issue a warning to pet owners. Over 90 per cent of products linked with cases of DCM were grain-free and 93 per cent of products had peas and/or lentils. Symptoms of DCM include decreased energy, coughing, difficulty breathing and episodes of collapse. The FDA urged pet owners to take their animal to a vet immediately if they suspect their dog is showing any symptoms. Champion Petfoods, makers of Orijen, have released a statement in regards to the matter. "On June 27, 2019, the FDA released an update saying that it is “continuing to investigate and gather more information in an effort to identify whether there is a specific dietary link to development of DCM.” More specifically, its update provides no causative scientific link between DCM and our products, ingredients or grain-free diets as a whole. "Our hearts go out to every pet and Pet Lover who have been impacted by DCM. We take this very seriously and will continue to work internally and with other industry leaders on research into the cause of DCM in order to help Pet Lovers understand the facts. Our own research, and the millions of pets who have thrived by eating our food over 25 years, have shown that Champion pet foods are safe. "DCM is a serious but rare condition. Of the 77 million dogs in the U.S., 0.5% to 1% have DCM, and of those dogs with DCM, fewer than 0.1% are speculated to have DCM related to diet, although that is not scientifically proven. In the recipes Champion makes, we emphasize fresh and raw meat with total animal-derived ingredients ranging from 60 to 85 percent of the finished product. Legumes are not a significant feature in Champion’s recipes, and never have been. "Champion’s mission is to provide high quality foods that are Biologically Appropriate and enhance the long-term health and well-being of cats and dogs and we carry out state-of-the-art nutritional research to ensure that our products remain that way. As Pet Lovers ourselves, everyone at Champion will continue our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards for ingredients and food safety."

Family & Pets

Antibacterial soap banned in the US due to health fears

There’s long been debate about the effectiveness of antibacterial soap, but the US Food and Drug Administration may have put a stop to arguments for good, banning their use due to the risk of “long-term harm” to health. The FDA looked at 19 ingredients in particular, including the two most commonly used in consumer soaps – triclosan and triclocarban – and concluded that antibacterials had the potential to damage the immune system. “Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water,” director of the FDA drugs division Janet Woodcock said. “In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.” The ban extends to around 40 per cent of antibacterial soap available to consumers, but does not affect those used in hospitals and medical practices. Not everyone is convinced with the FDA’s findings, however, with the American Cleaning Institute arguing that the antibacterial ingredients were in fact safe. “Antibacterial soaps are critical to public health because of the importance hand hygiene plays in the prevention of infection,” the ACI said in a statement. “Washing the hands with an antiseptic soap can help reduce the risk of infection beyond that provided by washing with non-antibacterial soap and water.” What do you think about the ban? Should New Zealand follow in the US’ footsteps? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/09/why-you-should-not-eat-after-7pm/">Why you shouldn’t eat dinner after 7pm</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/09/why-you-should-never-put-lemon-slices-in-your-drinks/">Why you should never put lemon slices in your drinks</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/08/food-has-more-salt-in-it-than-a-big-mac/">This food has more salt in it than a Big Mac</a>

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