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Health Highlights: Aug. 23, 2012
Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: Licorice Recalled Due to High Lead Levels One-pound packages of Red Vines Black Licorice Twists have been recalled because they contain high levels of lead. The recall was issued Wednesday by the California-based American Licorice Company after the California Department of Public Health warned consumers to discard the licorice twists, ABC News reported. The candy "contained as much as 0.33 parts per million of lead," said a statement on the department's website. "This concentration of lead could provide up to 13.2 micrograms of lead per serving. Children under 6 years of age should not consume more than 6.0 micrograms of lead per day from all dietary sources." The recalled one-pound bags of licorice twists have the best before date "020413," which is printed on the back of the package, ABC News reported. The California Department of Public Health advised pregnant women and parents of children who may have eaten the licorice to consult a doctor to determine if medical testing is required. ----- Michael J. Fox to Return to TV A new drug regimen has helped actor Michael J. Fox better manage the tics and tremors caused by his Parkinson's disease and he will star in a new sitcom that will premiere on NBC in fall 2013. The network said the new show will feature Fox in a role "loosely drawn" from his real life and his Parkinson's disease will be written into the script, The New York Times reported. NBC has committed to ordering a season's worth of the episodes, 22 in total, without making a pilot episode of the still untitled show. Fox publicly disclosed his Parkinson's disease in 1998 and left the ABC sitcom "Spin City" in 2000 after his symptoms worsened. He then focused his efforts on securing financing for research to find a cure for Parkinson's, The Times reported. ---- Reumofan Products are Dangerous: FDA Consumers should not use Reumofan dietary supplements because they could cause serious problems such as bleeding, stroke and death, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Reumofan Plus and Reumofan Plus Premium are marketed as natural remedies for arthritis and muscle pain, but the FDA says the products contain several prescription drugs that can interact with other medications and cause life-threatening side effects in some people, the Associated Press reported. The FDA first warned consumers about Reumofan products in June, but issued a new safety alert Tuesday because it has continued to receive reports about complications associated with the products. Reumofan products are made in Mexico by Riger Naturals and sold in the U.S. at some retail outlets, flea markets and over the Internet, the FDA said. -----
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved. URL:http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?id=667953
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