FDA, DEA struggle to take down rogue pharmacy websites
The FDA has issued a warning about the growing presence of fake online pharmacies selling drugs like oxycodone and Xanax through Google, exploiting search engine loopholes to mimic legitimate pharmacies. These rogue sites are targeting consumers with illegal drugs, often without requiring prescriptions, raising concerns about safety and abuse.
Kubapharm.com, one such site flagged by the FDA in 2022, continues to operate today. The website allows customers to buy fentanyl-laced pills without prescription verification.
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A recent video by The Washington Examiner demonstrated the ease of finding such dangerous sites through Google search results.
The video showed one person searching the internet for cocaine by looking up “buy cocaine.” The search showed a misleading .gov site for disaster assistance. However, that site had a link to another website that had contact information for a drug dealer.
Google’s algorithms block over 40 billion spam pages daily. However, an update in 2022 made it easier for malicious sites to create fake pages within reputable government domains. The tech company advises organizations to block internal search pages from appearing in results, yet loopholes allow some fake pharmacies to slip through.
Experts warn these trends put consumers at serious risk, potentially leading them to bypass traditional pharmacies entirely. Officials urge anyone seeking medication online to verify sites carefully, consult with a doctor and only buy from reputable, certified pharmacies.
New wrongful death lawsuit against Boar’s Head is first linked to ham
Boar’s Head is facing more fallout from a deadly listeria outbreak at its Virginia plant. For the first time, a wrongful death lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, Oct. 23, claims a man died after eating something other than the company’s “ready-to-eat” liverwurst products, which were the initial sources of the listeria incidents.
Other wrongful death lawsuits have been brought against Boar’s Head but have not been linked to Boar’s Head ham.
Prosecutors say that 79-year-old Otis Adams Jr. of Florida died in early May after eating Boar’s Head ham and contracting listeria. The family’s attorney released a statement saying, “We don’t want anyone else to go through this” and promised a swift legal resolution.
Boar’s Head has not yet responded to the newest wrongful death lawsuit as of the publishing of this report. The company previously apologized for the listeria outbreak and recalled around 7 million pounds of deli meat and poultry products.
In September, Boar’s Head released a statement, saying, “We understand the gravity of this situation and the profound impact it has had on affected families. Comprehensive measures are being implemented to prevent such an incident from ever happening again.”
At least one grocery store chain appears to be cutting ties with Boar’s Head over the outbreak. Missouri supermarket chain Schnucks announced, on the same day as the wrongful death lawsuit filing, that it was switching to Boar’s Head competitor Dietz & Watson in November.
Straight Arrow News previously reported on dozens of alleged health violations at Boar’s Head’s Virginia plant over the last year, including inspectors noting mold, bugs and puddles of blood on the floor of the facility during visits to the plant.
Health officials report that at least 10 deaths and 59 hospitalizations have been linked to the Boar’s Head listeria outbreak, though they believe the number of those sickened by the outbreak may be much higher due to underreporting by those who have recovered.
How a DC pizza chain got tossed into controversy over a dessert advertisement
Washington D.C.-based restaurant chain &Pizza’s owner apologized for and removed a controversial dessert on Wednesday, Oct. 23, that referenced the late Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry. The apology came after protests outside the store and social media backlash from critics who claim it tarnished Barry’s legacy.
Some community activists, like Ronald Molten, even urged people to boycott the restaurant earlier this week.
The owner of &Pizza, Mike Burns, apologized for the pizza joint’s advertisement for a new dessert called “Marion Berry Knots.”
&Pizza advertised the menu item on Monday, Oct. 21, using what appeared to be several drug references such as “These knots will blow you away,” and “Our classic knots got a bump,” as well as imagery of powdered sugar on glass mirrors.
The advertisement seemed to reference Barry’s 1990 drug arrest. The sting was videotaped by the FBI, and Barry famously accused his ex-girlfriend of setting him up.
The former four-term mayor and civil rights leader was convicted of crack cocaine possession and sentenced to six months in prison.
Burns released a statement about the dessert advertisement, saying, “Candidly, we made a mistake. And for that, we sincerely apologize. We hear the D.C. community and have removed Marion Berry Knots from our menu effective immediately.”
Burns also said that he was reaching out to community activists who have expressed anger over the dessert’s advertisement. Adding, “We have read the countless messages and social media posts and understand the frustration this has brought forth, especially to the Barry family. We recognize his impact on the district and greater capital area and understand why his legacy remains as strong as it is today.”
It’s yet to be seen if Burns’ letter will lead activists to change of heart on planned protests on Friday, Oct. 25.
Harris, Trump speak on importance of election with 13 days to go
With less than two weeks until Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris got some help on the campaign trail from a former president and a famous rapper, while former President Donald Trump targeted a certain voting block. And one of McDonald’s famous burgers has been linked to a deadly E. coli outbreak. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.
Harris, Trump speak on importance of election with 13 days to go
With less than two weeks to go until the next U.S. president is chosen, both candidates are highlighting the importance of this year’s election as they make their final pushes to sway undecided voters on the campaign trail.
During an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Vice President Kamala Harris once again addressed how her presidency would be different than that of President Joe Biden.
“Let me be very clear, mine will not be a continuation of the Biden administration,” she said. “I bring my own experiences, my own ideas to it, and it has informed a number of my areas of focus, most of which are on to your point, lowering costs. The voters know it, I know it.”
During the interview, Harris was asked about why she is reluctant to talk about the historic nature of her candidacy. If she were to win, she would become the first female U.S. president.
“Well, I’m clearly a woman, I don’t need to point that out to anyone. The point that most people really care about is, can you do the job, and do you have a plan to actually focus on them?” she said. “My challenge is the challenge of making sure I can talk with and listen to as many voters as possible and earn their vote. And I will never assume that anyone in our country should elect a leader based on their gender or their race. Instead, that that leader needs to earn the vote based on substance and what they will do to address challenges.”
In Detroit, a rally was held in support of the vice president featuring rapper Eminem and former President Barack Obama.
“I also think that people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution, or what people will do if you make your opinion known,” Eminem told rallygoers. “I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.”
“We’re not going to play games because we’re going to lose our country, our country is failing,” Trump said. “We don’t know what we’re doing. We’re laughed at all over the world. [Chinese] President Xi [Xinping] thinks we’re stupid. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin thinks we’re stupid. That would have never happened if I were president. Putin would have never ever got into Ukraine.”
Then the former president returned to North Carolina for a rally where he criticized the vice president for not having any campaign events so close to Election Day.
THANK YOU, NORTH CAROLINA! This election is a choice between whether we will have four more years of incompetence, failure, and disaster—or whether we will begin the FOUR GREATEST YEARS in the HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY! pic.twitter.com/JJhJsJcOHk
“You know what she did?” he said. “She took a day off. How do you take a day off 14 days — you don’t take days off, right? I’ve gone 52 days, now, I got 14 more. We don’t take days off we got to win this thing if we don’t win it our country is in big trouble.”
Next up on the campaign trail, Vice President Harris will visit Pennsylvania Wednesday and then on Thursday, Oct. 24, hold a rally in Atlanta alongside Bruce Springsteen. Former President Trump will visit Georgia Wednesday and will record an interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast on Friday, Oct. 25.
The Georgia Supreme Court said it will not step in to reinstate Republican-backed new election rules ahead of Election Day. Seven of the rules, put in place by the State Election Board after the 2020 election, were declared “illegal, unconstitutional, and void,” by a lower-level judge last week.
On Tuesday, Georgia’s supreme court rejected the Republican-led effort to put the rules, which include one requiring ballots be hand-counted and two related to certifying results, back in place and declined to consider an expedited appeal.
Israel says it killed man next in line to lead Hezbollah
Israel said it has killed the man who was next in line to take over as the leader of the militant group Hezbollah. Israeli officials say an air strike in Beiruit, Lebanon killed Hashem Safieddine a few weeks ago, along with other commanders of the Iran-backed militant group.
Hezbollah has not confirmed Israel’s claim that Safeiddine is dead.
🔴 Hashem Safieddine, Head of the Hezbollah Executive Council and Ali Hussein Hazima, Commander of Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters, were eliminated during a strike on Hezbollah’s main intelligence HQ in Dahieh approx. 3 weeks ago.
This comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East looking to broker a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in the wake of the the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and bring more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Israeli leaders told Blinken it’s not Israel’s policy to isolate northern Gaza, despite recent United Nations claims that Israeli authorities have denied efforts to bring more aid to the area, according to an NBC News report.
In a letter this month, Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave Israel 30 days to increase basic humanitarian aid to Gaza or risk restrictions on U.S. military assistance, as required under U.S. law. Israeli officials said they have taken actions in response to the letter, and while Blinken acknowledged progress has been made, he said it is not sufficient.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounders linked to multi-state E. coli outbreak
The CDC has issued a safety alert over a McDonald’s staple: the fast-food chain’s iconic Quarter Pounder. Health officials say McDonald’s Quarter Pounders have been linked to E. coli outbreaks in at least ten states.
E. COLI OUTBREAK: CDC is investigating 49 illnesses in 10 states linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers. If you ate a Quarter Pounder hamburger from McDonald’s and have severe symptoms of E. coli, contact your healthcare provider. https://t.co/g87itkupCQpic.twitter.com/gHzUKCnTi9
The CDC says, so far, it appears the onions used as a topping on the burgers are the likeliest source of the outbreak. McDonald’s has now stopped using the onions and is not serving the Quarter Pounder in affected states.
In a statement, the company said it believes the onions came from a single supplier.
Denny’s closing 150 restaurants, including 50 by end of 2024
It seems Denny’s hasn’t been such a grand slam for Americans lately. The diner chain, known for its Grand Slam breakfast, is closing 150 of its restaurants.
Denny’s, which has been in business for more than 70 years, says the focus is on closing locations that are too old to remodel, as well as some in unprofitable areas. It has not yet specified which locations are shutting down.
FAA finalizes rule for electric air taxis to enter service
We might soon be riding around in flying vehicles called electric air taxis after the Federal Aviation Administration released what its say is the “final piece of the puzzle.”
An extraordinary moment for aviation! Our rule for training and certificating pilots to fly powered lift is the final piece of the puzzle to get these revolutionary aircraft flying safely in our skies. https://t.co/96Q7TQZfkMpic.twitter.com/7RvSqbdGT8
The FAA issued its new rules Tuesday regarding the planes — 880 pages of special regulations including training protocols for pilots and operational requirements for the half-airplane, half-helicopter air taxis. The planes act like a helicopter during takeoff then change modes to be more like an airplane during flight, before switching back for the landing.
The FAA calls it the introduction to “a new category of aircraft.” The first electric air taxi could be operational by sometime next year.
Hurricane Helene spurred IV fluid shortage may delay surgeries for weeks
Hospital officials said on Tuesday, Oct. 22, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene may delay scheduled surgeries for weeks after the storm washed out nearby bridges and water seeped into the factory. Baxter International’s North Carolina plant reportedly supplies 60% of IV solutions nationwide and sterile water for surgeries.
Health systems report rationing fluids and giving some patients Gatorade or water to drink instead of IVs, and hospitals have postponed non-emergency surgeries.
The federal government and medical suppliers are working to ease the supply shortage. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is temporarily importing fluids from other Baxter plants in other countries and is allowing some pharmacies to produce certain IV drugs in short supply.
The supply chain issue also comes at a time when hospitals expect to fill more beds with cold and flu patients.
However, supply experts are hopeful the situation will get better but cannot guarantee whether these moves will fix the shortage of supplies, adding that hospitals usually have extra supplies on-hand to handle planned and emergency surgeries.
The North Carolina plant has reportedly been thoroughly cleaned and employees are testing and repairing equipment. Baxter says it hopes to restart production in phases by the end of the year.
FDA suicide warning on antidepressants may have opposite effect on kids
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has long warned antidepressants have been linked to suicidal thoughts and behaviors among the youth. To raise awareness, “black box” warnings have been put on these medications since 2005.
Black box warnings, labels in bold black border on the medication or in the info pamphlet, highlight the medication’s risks.
The review found a link between black box warnings and decreased mental health care and increases in psychotropic drug overdoses and suicide deaths.
Psychotropic drugs affect how the brain functions and cause changes in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings or behavior.
The study found even after putting black box warnings in place, doctors only monitored about 5% of pediatric patients as the FDA had recommended, which is about the same rate it was before the labels were added. Researchers said the warnings seemed to make doctors think again before prescribing antidepressants to kids and teens — with up to 50% declines in use after they were implemented. They say the same changes could be seen among young adults 18 to 24 years old.
The study’s authors said based on their findings, they recommend that instead of displaying prominent black box warnings, the FDA incorporate the concerns into the regular warnings list or even get rid of them altogether.
Depression is a leading cause of suicide in the U.S. and suicide is the second-leading cause of death among 10- to 14-year-olds and the third-leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
While researchers said they recognized the link between black box warnings and youth suicide rates, that does not necessarily mean the warnings are what caused the change.
Help is available for those struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm. You can call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential support 24/7.
US pays $72 million to pharmaceutical companies for bird flu vaccine
As the number of human cases of H5N1, also known as bird flu, grow, the United States announced on Friday, Oct. 4, that it is providing vaccine manufacturers with $72 million to double their ready-to-use bird flu vaccine stockpile. Manufacturers currently have nearly five million ready-to-use doses and expect to have about 10 million by the beginning of 2025.
The funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will allow four companies producing the inoculations to bring the vaccine out of a storage stockpile and put them in pre-filled syringes for quick distribution in case of a public health emergency.
Other companies like Pfizer and Moderna are continuing efforts to develop an mRNA bird flu vaccine similar to COVID-19 shots.
The announcement by the U.S. comes as two more farm workers in California tested positive for the virus on Thursday, Oct. 3. They continue to be monitored for symptoms. At the time this report was published, the workers had no respiratory symptoms and only exhibited conjunctivitis or pink eye.
The latest human infections bring the total number of cases in people to 16 in the United States. Currently, there are no recommendations for anyone in the country to get a bird flu shot and health officials maintain that the risk of the virus to humans remains “low.”
DHHS said that its spending on the vaccinations is out of “an abundance of caution” and “is essential in preparing for a public health emergency.”
High levels of lead found in a dozen brands of spices
Fall is here and that means pumpkin spiced everything, but there’s a new warning about some of the most popular seasonal spices. Consumer Reports found high levels of lead in cinnamon and other spice powders from 12 different brands: Paras, EGN, Mimi’s Products, Bowl & Basket, Rani Brand, Zara Foods, Three Rivers, Yu Yee Brand, BaiLiFeng, Spicy King, Badia and Deep.
The ground cinnamon and multi-spice powders Consumer Reports tested showed lead levels above one part per million. In New York specifically, that’s the level where a product should be recalled – but, in general, these products should be avoided.
The Food and Drug Administration does not have any limits on the amount of lead allowed in foods, except in certain cases, but it maintains there is no safe level. The agency said there is no way to completely prevent lead from entering the food supply, but companies have a responsibility to reduce levels by changing agriculture or manufacturing processes.
Consumer Reports said just a quarter teaspoon of the spices it tested contains more lead than anyone should ingest in a day.
ADHD medications are amphetamines, which increase the levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine helps with things like motivation and mood, and has long been linked to the potential to increase psychotic symptoms.
The discovery comes as more and more Americans are taking this kind of medication. A separate recent study found prescription rates for amphetamines to treat ADHD went up 30% from 2018 to 2022 just among people between 20 and 39 years old; it went up 17% for those 40 to 49 years old.
So, what exactly is considered a “high dosage” of this kind of medication? That depends on the specific medication.
Harvard researchers looked at Adderall, Vyvanse, and the generic medication dextroamphetamine.
For Adderall, a medium dose is 20 to 40 milligrams while a high dose is anything over 40. For Vyvanse, medium would be 50 to 100 milligrams and high would be more than 100, and generic’s medium dosage is 15 to 30 milligrams – so high is anything above 30.
Researchers linked the medium dosages to a 3.5 times higher risk of developing psychosis.
They also looked at another popular ADHD medication: Ritalin. Ritalin is not an amphetamine, and researchers found no increased risk associated with it.
Based on national insurance claim data, about 6% of people prescribed amphetamines for ADHD are on the highest dose, while 17% were prescribed medium doses.
The study’s authors also point out that even though these drugs significantly increase the risk of psychosis, the odds of it actually happening are still about 1 in 1,000.
The study’s authors said only low levels of the metals were found in the organic and non-organic tampons they studied. However, the Environmental Protection Agency has said for decades there is no safe level of lead exposure.
Researchers did not test whether the metals were released from the tampons when used, or if they could get into the bloodstream that way — so that’s what the FDA’s investigation will focus on.
Authors of the study say up to 80% of women in the U.S. use tampons, and in a letter asking the FDA for this study, the Democratic Women’s Caucus said each woman will use about 7,400. tampons over the course of their reproductive years.
The FDA has not yet said when it expects to release its findings from this study.
