FDA updates consumers on food and medical safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has posted on its Web site several Consumer Update videos.

--Food Allergies: Reducing the Risks

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm182842.htm

Food allergies can range from merely irritating to life-threatening. Approximately 30,000 Americans go to the emergency room each year to get treated for severe food allergies.

--Fortify Your Knowledge about Vitamins

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm182737.htm

Vitamins are essential nutrients that contribute to a healthy life. Although most people get all the vitamins they need from the foods they eat, millions of people worldwide take supplemental vitamins as part of their health regimen.

--Avoiding Drug Interactions

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm182745.htm

There are lots of steps consumers can take to avoid the three main types of drug interactions--

drugs with food and beverages, drugs with dietary supplements, and drugs with other drugs.

--Avoiding Medication Mistakes

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm182942.htm

Asking questions, reading drug labels, and following directions are among the ways consumers can lower the risk of medication mistakes.

--FDA 101: Product Recalls

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm182929.htm

When an FDA-regulated product is either defective or potentially harmful, recalling that product--removing it from the market or correcting the problem--is the most effective means for protecting the public.

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