Thursday, November 7, 2013

FDA Eyes Ban on Trans Fats Due to Heart Disease Risk

 
The Food and Drug Administration has announced plans to have so-called "partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs)," which are the main source of artificial trans fats in processed foods, to be classified as food additives. That means they won't be allowed to be used in food without authorization of the FDA, which may effectively ban the substances.
FDA commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg told reporters Wednesday that the action is being considered because PHOs are "not generally recognized as safe for use in food."
 
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57611285/fda-eyes-ban-on-trans-fats-due-to-heart-disease-risk/
 
 

Monday, November 4, 2013

J&J Will Pay More Than $2.2 Billion to Settle U.S. Cases

          
Johnson & Johnson will pay more than $2.2 billion to resolve criminal and civil probes into the marketing of the antipsychotic drug Risperdal and other medicines in one of the largest U.S. health-care fraud cases.

J&J’s Janssen unit will plead guilty to a misdemeanor criminal charge over misbranding Risperdal for uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including for elderly patients with dementia. Under the plea deal announced today, Janssen will pay a $334 million fine and forfeit $66 million.

Janssen also settled civil claims that it marketed Risperdal without approval for the elderly, children and mentally disabled, and that it paid kickbacks to physicians and to Omnicare Inc., the largest pharmacy for nursing homes.
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Reported by Laurie Asseo, David Voreacos & Margaret Cronin Fisk - Nov 4, 2013 12:28 PM ET

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-04/j-j-settlement-over-risperdal-said-to-be-announced-today.html