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News, January 12, 2010
FDA Begins Transparency Initiative
Today, as the initial phase of an ongoing initiative towards greater transparency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the launch of a new website that the agency is calling "FDA Basics." FDA Basics, according to an agency press release, is aimed at helping the public better understand what the agency does and how it does it. The website includes an agency-related Q&A, short videos about the agency, and interviews with important agency personnel. In the press release FDA commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg stated that "this initiative will make information about the FDA more user-friendly and accessible to the public."
Most States Fail When Tobacco Control Assessment
The American Lung Association (ALA) published its State of Tobacco Control 2009, which assesses and assigns letter grades to each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia for four key tobacco control policies: Tobacco Prevention and Control Spending; Smokefree Air; State Cigarette Excise Tax and Cessation Coverage (how well states help smokers quit). The grades are disappointing; nearly all states have an overall failing grade. The ALA pointed out some positive trends, including the doubling of the federal tax on cigarettes and individual action of 14 states to raise state taxes on tobacco. Yet the negatives outweigh the positives; many states severely reduced funding for tobacco control and prevention programs, and it seems as though the push to end smoking has stalled – 20% of adults still smoke, the same amount as the year before.
The American Lung Association (ALA) published its State of Tobacco Control 2009, which assesses and assigns letter grades to each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia for four key tobacco control policies: Tobacco Prevention and Control Spending; Smokefree Air; State Cigarette Excise Tax and Cessation Coverage (how well states help smokers quit). The grades are disappointing; nearly all states have an overall failing grade. The ALA pointed out some positive trends, including the doubling of the federal tax on cigarettes and individual action of 14 states to raise state taxes on tobacco. Yet the negatives outweigh the positives; many states severely reduced funding for tobacco control and prevention programs, and it seems as though the push to end smoking has stalled – 20% of adults still smoke, the same amount as the year before.
If you're trying to quit, visit the smoking cessation learning center for a wide range of tools that may help. Or visit our smoking cessation expert's blog, Freedom From Smoking, to learn about the best ways to quit.
Soda Fountains May Contain Fecal Matter, Study Shows
According to a study published in the January issue of International Journal of Food Microbiology, nearly half of 90 fountain drinks taken from restaurants in Virginia tested positive for coliform bacteria – which could be a sign of fecal contamination. In addition, 11 percent contained E. coli (which are mostly harmless, but some can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia), and 17 percent had Chryseobacterium meningosepticum (which could sicken newborns or adults with weakened immune systems). CNN reports that industry spokespersons, including representatives from the National Restaurant Association, the American Beverage Association, and Manitowoc Foodservice (a leading manufacturer of beverage equipment), all rushed to distance themselves from the findings. Dr. Renee Godard, lead author of the study, admitted that food-related illnesses are notoriously challenging to pinpoint.
Learn more about E. coli and other issues related to drinking water quality and safety.
Excess TV May Help Draw Death Near
According to a large-scale Australian study published in Circulation, too much TV can be catastrophic for your health. The study followed 8,800 adults for six years at a time, and found that, compared to those who watched less than two hours of TV a day, those who watched four or more hours were 80 percent more likely to die from heart disease. According to the study, ach additional hour spent in front of the TV increased the risk of dying from heart disease by 18 percent. For TV-lovers though, there is a silver lining: the cause of health risk is not TV in-and-of-itself, but rather the "default position" for TV watching; that is, sitting down. Too much TV equals too much sitting and not nearly enough movement – not to mention all of the junk food that tends to be consumed during prolonged TV watching sessions. Basically, TV watching leads to bad health practices. So, if you want to watch TV, make sure you're eating well, getting enough exercise, no watching for too long – and try to exercise during the commercials.
Written By: Elijah Wolfson
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