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Concerns raised over safety of 'electronic cigarettes'

The increasing popularity of 'electronic cigarettes' is causing concern in Britain.

12 Oct 2008

Controversy over call to arm ambulance workers with capsicum spray

A call for ambulance workers to be allowed to use capsicum spray to protect them against violent and aggressive patients has evoked quite a mixed response across Australia.

7 Oct 2008

FDA issues interim safety and risk assessment of Melamine and Melamine-related compounds in food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued the results of its interim safety and risk assessment of melamine and melamine-related compounds in food, including infant formula.

5 Oct 2008

Kill the tobacco industry, or it will keep killing

This month in Rio de Janeiro, the global tobacco industry's annual conference features a special session on what many are seeing as its Armageddon: plain, generic packaging. All packs are identical except for the brand name, printed in standard font. No colours, no logos, no box variations. Nothing but the brand and the health warning.

2 Oct 2008

Public hearing on ways of reducing harmful use of alcohol

Each year, more than two million people die from alcohol-related causes. WHO was asked by its Member States in May at the World Health Assembly to develop a global strategy to combat the harmful use of alcohol. All parties with an interest in reducing the harmful use of alcohol are now invited to share their views in a public hearing being organized by WHO. The one-month web-based hearing will run between 3 and 31 October.

2 Oct 2008

Food nutrition labelling in the "too hard basket" for many shoppers

A series of almost weekly food scares from China and the U.S. have made many consumers more aware of what goes into a food product and concern over where the ingredients are sourced from, but experts suggest many shoppers 'ignore food label schemes'.

1 Oct 2008

Shoppers happier with 'traffic light' food labelling

A recent survey by a consumer advocacy group in Australia has found that a "traffic light" labelling system is more popular with the public than the current daily intake guide labelling system.

1 Oct 2008

Chocolate giant Cadbury latest victim in Chinese poisoned milk scandal

The British chocolate giant Cadbury has become the latest victim in China's poisoned milk scandal - the company has reported finding melamine in its Chinese-made chocolates.

30 Sep 2008

'Eyes tight shut case' confounds experts

The case of an Australian woman unable to open her eyes on three days of each week is confounding doctors.

30 Sep 2008

Sexual health course satisfying community needs

An understanding of sexuality is a vital prerequisite for any professional who interacts with people on a day-to-day basis, according to Dr Patricia Weerakoon.

30 Sep 2008

Guide to the virtual medical universe

Despite the weak dollar, a growing number of Americans are traveling overseas for less expensive medical care. But there's another way to become a so-called medical tourist, without a passport, luggage, or even leaving your house, notes the October 2008 issue of the Harvard Health Letter. All you need for this version of medical globe-trotting is a computer, an Internet connection, and some curiosity.

29 Sep 2008

Graphic picture warnings to persuade Brits to quit smoking

A nationwide campaign in Britain to get people to quit smoking will be dramatically hiked up this week.

29 Sep 2008

Energy drinks tackled on new web show from Institute For Good Medicine

Energy drinks are all the buzz these days, particularly as controversy rises on the impact they have on the human body. As such, the Institute for Good Medicine at the Pennsylvania Medical Society recently launched its first web show titled Good Medicine at www.myfamilywellness.org, featuring this controversial topic.

24 Sep 2008

News media overlook food system and climate change connection

A study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows the nation's top newspapers have largely overlooked the food system as one of the more important contributors to global climate change.

23 Sep 2008

Anthropologists explore cultural dynamics of mental health in native North America:

In September's special issue of Ethos-the Journal of the Society for Psychological Anthropology-three investigators explore mental health discourses and practices in three diverse Native North American communities, illuminating how clinical and Western ideas of medicine and healing could be reconsidered.

23 Sep 2008

U.S. authorities gunning for makers of bogus cancer cures

Government authorities in the United States are gunning for companies peddling bogus cancer cures.

22 Sep 2008

Almost 13,000 Chinese babies now sick from contaminated milk

China's Health Ministry says almost 13,000 babies have been taken to hospital suffering from the effects of drinking milk contaminated with the chemical melamine - most 2 years old or younger and four children have already died.

22 Sep 2008

World Health Organization cautions against claims made by ‘electronic cigarette’ manufacturers

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an attack on advertisers who are claiming that an electronic cigarette - a battery-powered product usually made of stainless steel and resembling a real cigarette - is a safe or legitimate nicotine replacement therapy for smokers trying to quit.

22 Sep 2008

High salt levels in food banished by seaweed

High salt levels in processed food could be a thing of the past, thanks to new research which has found that a certain type of seaweed can be used as a natural, health boosting alternative that doesn't affect the taste or adversely affect the shelf life of the food.

From Sheffield Hallam University 21 Sep 2008

Toxic baby milk shocks China

In China's latest food scare 6,000 babies have been poisoned and three babies have died from drinking baby milk tainted by the industrial chemical melamine.

18 Sep 2008