Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels.
In the News:
The Onion Fake Story No Laughing Matter for Parenting Institute - A media practical joke has turned into a nightmare for a California parenting institute. The Onion, a satirical news organization, recently published a story that all styles of parenting cause children to grow up into “profoundly, unhappy adults” based on a study credited to the California Parenting Institute of Santa Rosa. Unfortunately, not everyone got the joke. The Institute is now fielding calls left and right from people concerned about the study. Personally, I find it pretty amusing that any one would take this seriously.
‘Jon and Kate Plus 8′ Editor Arrested for Child Pornography - While he had no contact with the children, it is no less disturbing.
MAPLE Act – Selling Fake Maple Syrup Would Be Felony Under Proposed Law – In an effort to protect consumers and producers of authentic maple syrup from cheap cane syrup immitations, a new law would make selling fake maple syrup a felony. If only such standards were applied to manufacturers who adulterate any food product…
Advisory Panel Urges U.S. to Conduct Controversial Anthrax Vaccine Trial on Children - Anthrax vaccine trials have already been completed on adults, and now the question is when or even whether to test it on children. A working group advising the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spent three months weighing the pros and cons and voted 12-1 last week in favor of testing on children to ensure that they are safe and effective to be administered in the event of a disaster. However, the same board has indicated that a separate review board should look into the ethical issues of such tests.
New Research:
Heavy Metals in Halloween Makeup
A nonprofit group called the Ecology Center tested 31 types of novelty makeup purchased from retailers in Southeast Michigan, including Target, Party City, and Spirit Halloween, and found about half of them contained detectable levels of cadmium. Sure it will only be on your child’s face for a short while, but why not opt for homemade or more natural face products, or better yet nothing, if you can?
Pill or Candy? Can You Guess Which of These is Medicine?
Follow the link above and take the test. How did you do? I failed. A Cincinnatti seventh-grader asked 30 kindergartners and 30 teachers at a local elementary school to identify the candy and the medicine between M&Ms and Coricidin HBP, an OTC cold remedy. The volunteers were wrong about 43 percent of the time, and surprisingly adults and children tested about the same. The seventh grader is the daughter of ER doctors, and unintentional ingestions of medicine are the top cause of hospitalization due to injury at her father’s hospital, Cincinnati Children’s. The seventh-grader just presented her findings at the annual meeting of the AAP in Boston!
Good Reads:
Zombie vs Baby: A Guide from The Inquisitr – A good chuckle in honor of Halloween.
Weekend Meditation: Persnickety from The Kitchn – A food challenge for this week. Challenge yourself to try something new or overcome a previous dislike. The persnickety perception that I’m working to realize? Vegetarian meals can be tasty and filling. Stay tuned as I publish some of my finds.
Five Things You Don’t Expect When You Are Expecting from The Huffington Post – Most often you here talk about breastfeeding or labor and delivery, but this very insightful article from a psychology expert focuses on the emotional reactions we may face.
Recalls, October 26 – October 31:
CPSC Child Product Recalls
No child product recall announcements this week.
Child Safety Seat Recalls
No child safety seat recall announcements this week.
USDA/FDA Recalls
- Rite Aid Voluntarily Recalls 12 oz. Tins of Rich Fields Butter Cookies
- Pacific Oyster Company Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Sulfites In Nate’s Spiced Prawns
- Eating Right Soy Protein Burgers Allergy Alert And Voluntary Recall Due to Undeclared Milk
- Rhythm Superfoods Announces Allergy Alert and Voluntary Recall of Kool Ranch Kale Chips
- Wells Enterprises Issues Allergy Alert and Voluntary Recall due to Undeclared Wheat in some Blue Bunny Personals Ice Cream
- Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Announces Recall of Bulk Turkish Pine Nuts Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
- Nike All-American and Nike Super Poor Boy Recalled by Landshire, Inc Because of Possible Health Risk
- Emporium Packaging & Spice Co. Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Milk And Soy In Ponchatrain Sauce Mix
- California Firm Recalls Ready-To-Eat Meals Produced Without Benefit of Inspection
- Texas Firm Recalls Carne Guisada Due To Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen
If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it our way to jasmine@purebebe.com. We hope your week is off to a great start!
Happy Halloween!
Jasmine & Heather
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