FDA cites claims on 2 green tea beverages

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government is giving the blues to two beverage makers for their claims about drinks flavored with green-tea.
   The Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters about the labeling of Canada Dry Sparkling Green Tea Ginger Ale. The agency issued a similar letter last month to Unilever over website and product labeling for its Lipton Green Tea.
   The FDA has told Canada Dry maker Dr. Pepper Snapple Group that that Canada Dry does not meet federal requirements to carry the claim that the drink is "enhanced with 200 miligrams of antioxidants from green tea and vitamin C."
   Officials also take issue with Unilever's assertion that mentions four studies that showed a cholesterol-lowering effect with tea.
   The two companies have 15 days to respond and to outline there response.
   Nutrient-enriched beverages have grown into a multibillion dollar market.
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   (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Posted 12:25 PM EDT on September 07, 2010

Merck schizophrenia drug approved for 2 new uses

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   WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. (AP) -- Merck & Co. says its schizophrenia drug Saphris has been approved for two additional uses by the Food and Drug Administration.
   The drug was first approved in August 2009 for treating acute schizophrenia episodes in adults and acute mania or manic-depressive behavior in adults with bipolar disorder.
   Merck says the FDA now has approved Saphris for ongoing treatment of schizophrenia and for treating acute mania or manic-depressive behavior in adult bipolar patients along with either lithium, a mood-stabilizing drug often used to treat mania, or the antiseizure drug valproate.
   Merck has not yet reported sales figures for Saphris, also known as asenapine.
   Saphris was developed by Schering-Plough Corp., which Merck bought last November.
   (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Posted 2:50 PM EDT on September 07, 2010

Kia recalling Soul, Sorento autos for wiring fix

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kia Motors is recalling about 35,000 Soul and Sorento vehicles to fix wiring in the interior lighting panels that could lead to fires.
  
The recall affects about 24,000 Kia Soul compact wagons from the 2010 model year and more than 11,000 Kia Sorento sedans from the 2011 model year.
   Kia told the government that some wiring harnesses located in the Soul's front door trim panels and the Sorento's front and rear door trim panels may have been improperly soldered, which could lead to an electrical short.
   The South Korean company said the short in the wiring harnesses could cause fires. No accidents or injuries have been reported.
   Owners will be notified later this month and the wiring harnesses will be replaced.
   (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Posted 10:45 AM EDT on September 02, 2010

Rodents, other violations found at 2 egg farms

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- Food and Drug Administration investigators have found rodents, seeping manure and even maggots at the Iowa egg farms believed to be responsible for as many as 1,500 cases of salmonella poisoning.
   FDA officials released their initial observations of the ongoing investigations at Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms on Monday. The two farms recalled more than half a billion eggs after salmonella illnesses were linked to their products earlier this month.
   Reports released by the FDA show numerous violations at both farms, including rodent, bug and wild bird infestation, uncontained manure, holes in walls and other problems that could have caused the outbreak.
   Several positive samples of salmonella have been found at both farms.
   (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Posted 3:15 PM EDT on August 30, 2010

NY legislators want chickens vaccinated

NEW YORK (AP) -- Two state legislators want to require farmers in New York to vaccinate their chickens against salmonella.
   Sen. Daniel Squadron and Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh announced their proposal Sunday in front of a supermarket in New York City. Their idea comes after a nationwide recall of hundreds of millions of eggs. None of the recalled eggs came from New York.
   The legislators say vaccinations costing one penny per dozen eggs could nearly eliminate the more than 100,000 salmonella cases each year in the U.S. if all states had such a law.
   They plan to formally introduce the legislation this week.
   (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Posted 9:55 PM EDT on August 28, 2010