The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is only months away from two major milestones involving the COVID-19 vaccines: full approval for Pfizer's vaccine, as well as authorization to administer the vaccines to children under the age of 12. The latter milestone is expected to arrive this winter, while the full COVID-19 vaccine approval may kick off in early 2022.
The US FDA and CDC have made an unexpected announcement on COVID-19 vaccine boosters, downplaying hints that a third shot might be necessary to protect against coronavirus variants. Just how long the current COVID-19 vaccinations can actually be expected to remain effective has been a contentious point over the past twelve months, amid the accelerated push to begin immunizations during the global pandemic.
Today we're taking a look at each of the dog and cat food recalls announced by the FDA in the USA in the year 2021. We've previously reported on most of these recalls in the past, soon after they were initially tipped by the FDA through the first months of this year. Today we're making absolutely sure you are up-to-date on all the recalls as such, just in case any were missed during this tumultuous time.
Freshpet has recalled some of its bite-size dog treats over the possible risk of salmonella contamination, which could make dogs and their owners ill. Only one lot of the company's Select Small dog Bite Size Beef & Egg Recipe Dog Food sold in one-pound bags have been recalled, with Freshpet providing identifying details like UPC and Lot codes.
Beech-Nut has announced the recall of its Stage 1 Single Grain Rice Cereal, a type of baby food that is being removed from the market. The recall was due to levels of inorganic arsenic that tested above the FDA's guidance level. Inorganic arsenic is a naturally occurring substance and health officials have previously warned that rice products may inadvertently feature it in risky quantities.
For the first time since 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved a weight management pharmaceutical intended to help overweight and obese adults lose weight. Called Wegovy, the newly approved appetite suppressant is a weekly injection for overweight and obese adults who have at least one other condition related to excessive body weight, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type-2 diabetes.
Sunshine Mills is back with another dog food recall, noting that it is voluntarily recalling several of its products over the risk of salmonella contamination. The possible contamination was found during routine testing by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, which alerted Sunshine Mills' distributor Fleet Wholesale Supply Company.
You've probably heard lobster and shrimp referred to as the 'bugs' of the ocean and a new advisory from the Food and Drug Administration aims to underscore that point. Now that summer is approaching, the FDA has reminded the public not to eat cicadas -- the big, noisy insects that keep you up at night -- if you're allergic to seafood.
The FDA is warning the public to stop using two COVID-19 rapid testing kits over the potentially high risk of inaccurate results. The agency says the tests aren't authorized, but were distributed to pharmacies and sold directly to consumers in the US. A false result may make someone think they have COVID-19 when they're not infected or it may produce a negative result in an individual who is infected.
The US Food and Drug Administration has authorized marketing for software designed to help diagnose autism spectrum disorder in young kids. The software, which is called Cognoa ASD Diagnosis Aid, is intended for healthcare providers who have observed possible ASD symptoms in toddlers and young children ages 18 months to 5 years.
The US Food and Drug Administration is once again going after a company it says is promoting chlorine dioxide products as ways to treat, prevent, or otherwise cure COVID-19. The agency has sent a warning letter to OCLO Nanotechnology Science, which says that both it and the FTC reviewed a website and social media account used by the company.
Another big batch of mushrooms have been recalled due to the possible risk of Listeria contamination, according to a new recall notice from Marquis Worldwide Speciality Inc that was recently published on the FDA's website. The California company is recalling all of its organic enoki mushrooms sold in 200-gram packages because of this possible contamination, which can be deadly in some people who contract it.