Safety

Walmart is recalling thousands of bottles of a Better Homes & Gardens aromatherapy spray over potential contamination with a deadly bacteria called Burkholderia pseudomallei. The recall follows four illnesses in the US earlier this year that resulted in two deaths, according to the US Centers for Disease Control, which found the bacteria in a bottle of the aromatherapy spray sourced from one of the patients' homes.

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The CDC, FDA, and other public health officials have been investigating a multi-state salmonella outbreak that has resulted in more than 600 known illnesses and 129 hospitalizations. Though the probe continues, an update has been shared with the public: the illnesses may be linked back to onions imported over the summer from Mexico, resulting in a voluntary recall.

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Razer revealed a concept for a smart air purifying mask earlier this year as "Project Hazel." Since then, said project evolved into the Razer Zephyr, a fully realized product available for sale to the public. Razer Zephyr was released for sale this afternoon for approximately $100 USD, and will be available on its own or with additional filters for top-notch N95 filter action.

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A batch of muscle relaxant tablets has been recalled because the bottles may contain a higher dosage than listed on the label. The company notes in its recall advisory that taking too much of this drug may result in excessive depression of the central nervous system, potentially causing issues that can include fainting, falling, coma, seizures, and death.

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Honda has announced a new omnidirectional safety and driver assistance system called Honda SENSING 360. The new safety system will be rolled out first in China starting in 2022 before being expanded globally. Honda SENSING 360 has an expanded sensing range that not only covers the front and rear of the vehicle but functions omnidirectionally completely around the vehicle.

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Facebook is back with a response to the latest criticism of its platform, stating in a lengthy new statement that it has drastically reduced the amount of hate speech its users have seen over the past three quarters. The company focuses on the prevalence of hate speech, which it describes as content that users actually see, not the sum total of problematic content found on its platform.

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The FDA has published a new recall advisory from Lupin Pharmaceuticals over two different drugs: Hydrochlorothiazide and Irbesartan. The company, which stopped marketing these particular drugs in January, says it is recalling the batches due to potentially higher than acceptable levels of an impurity called N-nitrosoirbesartan.

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A chemical found in many consumer cosmetic and plastic products may be responsible for around 100,000 premature deaths in the US every year, according to a new study from NYU Langone Health. Phthalates, which are a group of plasticizers, can be found in many soaps, shampoos, hair spray products, nail polish, food packaging, and even plastic toys.

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Butterball, the poultry company best known for its frozen turkeys, has announced a new turkey product recall over potential contamination with plastic. The announcement comes only a few weeks ahead of Thanksgiving, but shouldn't impact turkey availability for the holiday -- the issue impacts ground turkey products, not whole birds.

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The US Food and Drug Administration has granted its first market authorization for a small batch of electronic cigarette (vape) products, the agency has announced. The approval underscores the agency's intentions to target 'appealing' vape products amid growing public criticism over non-tobacco flavors and youth vaping trends.

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The USDA has published a recall covering more than half a million cans of beef and gravy products over the presence of lead. The recall comes from Crider Foods of Georgia, which says the lead contamination has been traced back to a mix of spices provided by a third-party company. The recalled cans were made starting in October 2020.

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The European Union has banned the use of a common food additive commonly used to produce white colors. The decision follows years of contention over whether titanium dioxide represents a health risk when used as a food additive. Though officials still have not concluded whether titanium dioxide is genotoxic when used in food, the "evidence along with all of the uncertainties" fueled the decision to ban its use.

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