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Bird flu in Germany - Britain and Europe ban all bird imports

Following the discovery of signs of the bird flu virus in two dead migratory birds at a lake in Neuwied, Germany, a ban is shortly to be imposed on the import of all captive birds from around the world plus a ban on all bird fairs, exhibitions and shows, to protect Britain and Europe from the deadly avian flu virus.

26 Oct 2005

Deadly health crisis imminent in New Orleans

In New Orleans, as a result of hurricane Katrina, health specialists are predicting a vast and potentially deadly crisis for residents.

1 Sep 2005

California wants cancer warnings on french fries and chips

In an attempt to stop restaurant chains such as McDonald's and Wendy's from selling french fries without some form of warning, Bill Lockyer the Attorney General for California has filed a lawsuit to force manufacturers of potato chips and french fries to warn consumers about a potential cancer-causing chemical found in the popular snacks.

29 Aug 2005

Better late than never - Hong Kong and China improve communications on disease issues

A run of food scares in Hong Kong in recent weeks has seen the population frightened to eat pork because of swine flu and eels, and now fish, because of a carcinogenic chemical, plus the ever present worry of bird flu, all of which have emanated from China.

24 Aug 2005

Increase in students with food allergies

As U.S. teachers prepare classrooms for the upcoming school year, school nurses and students with food allergies need to do some early homework of their own.

24 Aug 2005

China on high alert - new case of pig disease in Hong Kong

After the central government said this week that it had the pig disease under control in Sichuan province, the epicentre of the outbreak, China's far south is now on high alert after one person was killed and three were infected by the disease that has killed nearly 40 in the southwest.

24 Aug 2005

California in conflict with FDA over warnings on canned tuna

The state of California has had it's knuckles rapped by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over warnings on canned tuna.

23 Aug 2005

Latest scare in Hong Kong - cancer-causing chemical in eel meat

Health officials in Hong Kong say they have found a suspected cancer-causing chemical in some eels.

21 Aug 2005

Breathing in large quantities of salt particles has just the same effect on blood pressure as eating a salty diet

Workers in salt factories, who inhale large amounts of salt particles, are at risk of high blood pressure due to the increased salt intake.

25 Jul 2005

U.S. Senate approves Crawford for FDA commissioner

The nomination of Lester Crawford as permanent commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was overwhelmingly approved by the U.S. Senate on Monday.

19 Jul 2005

Way now clear for FDA approval of Plan B "morning-after" pill

Now that senators Patty Murray of Washington and Hillary Clinton of New York, have dropped their objections to acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford becoming the permanent commissioner, approval for the sale of the Plan B "morning-after" contraceptive without a prescription should be granted with the minimum of delay.

18 Jul 2005

EU upholds food supplement ban - rejects appeal by health groups

The European Court of Justice has upheld a controversial law which could ban hundreds of vitamin and mineral supplements from being sold in Britain.

12 Jul 2005

Current scientific understanding does not justify the reduction of the daily salt intake for healthy people

In a reaction to the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) announcement at the end of June, the European Salt Producers' Association, in brief EuSalt, maintains its position that the current scientific understanding does not justify the reduction of the daily salt intake for healthy people.

12 Jul 2005

Potatoes found to help reduce blood pressure and other diseases

UK scientists have identified bioactive plant chemicals in the most practical of staple foods, the potato. These natural chemicals have been associated with reduced blood pressure and they selectively affect a chemotherapeutic target for trypanosomes and similar diseases such as sleeping sickness.

30 Jun 2005