Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week but also give us an avenue to share some of the other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels.
Beginning this week, we’re moving Weekly Highlights to Mondays to recap the week before. But of course, because we missed last weekend you’ll get two weeks in one today. Happy reading!
In the News:
Adult-Inspired Lingerie Marketed for Young Girls - A French lingerie company aims to create a new market for loungerie (lingerie inspired loungewear) for girls ages 4-12. Much controversy ensues. What’s your take?
FDA Says Walnuts Are Illegal Drugs - I can think of better ways that the FDA can spend their time.
Schools Restore Fresh Cooking to the Cafeteria – A back-to-scratch movement is taking shape in schools in response to concerns over obesity and nutrition in our children. Let’s hope this movement gains momentum.
Asian Honey, Banned in Europe, Is Flooding U.S. Grocery Shelves - Investigative reporting highlighting concerns over imported honey.
Tax-Free School Shopping Underway - Sales-tax holidays are taking effect in various states over the next few weekends.
Babysitter Charged After Putting a Baby In a Stroller in the Back of a Moving Pickup Truck -”It’s not like they give you a handbook…” What??
New Research:
Window Falls Remain a Childhood Hazard
Based on data collected from 6,100 hospital emergency rooms over a 19 year period ending in 2008, an average of nearly 5,200 children a year — about 14 a day — are admitted to hospital emergency rooms after falling from windows. 83% of these falls were from windows with screens. Take note: A window with a screen is not enough.
Diabetes, Pesticide Link Intensifies in New Study
“Another study has drawn a link between high levels of pesticides in blood tests and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly in individuals that are already overweight.”
Preschoolers Lunches Carried Into the Danger Zone
An examination of 1,361 food items in packed lunches of 235 preschool children (ages 3 to 5) found only 22 items at food-safe temperatures…even though 49 percent contained ice packs and another 12 percent were stored in a refrigerator. Read the article for tips on packing safe meals.
Toxicity of Insecticides = The Sum of its Parts
A study of pyrethyroid insecticides commonly used on food crops found that their combined effect on rodent brain cells was equal to the sum of the effects of each individual insecticide. The study verifies prior animal studies and confirms that mixtures of these insecticides produce an additive effect when combined.
Good Reads:
Q. What’s With the Turkey Recall? A. Same Old, Same Old. from Food Politics - How the USDA has dragged its feet in the latest turkey recall.
Family Happiness and the Overbooked Child from The NY Times - Let’s relax, and enjoy life along with our children at a slower pace.
GoodGuide Toolbar: Help for Busy Parents Seeking Safer and Greener Products from Non-Toxic Kids - An internet toolbar that helps you identify products that are safe, healthy, green, and socially responsible? Sounds like something I’d like to look into.
Recalls, August 7 – August 22:
CPSC Child Product Recalls
- Table-Top Clip-on Chair Recalled by phil&teds USA Due to Fall and Amputation Hazards
- Riding Toy Recalled by Radio Flyer Due to Fall Hazard
Child Safety Seat Recalls
No child safety seat recall announcements this week.
USDA/FDA Recalls
- Vantage Foods Recalls Ground Beef Products That May Contain Foreign Material
- Minnesota Firm Recalls Summer Sausage Products Due To Misbranding And An Undeclared Allergen
- Canadian Firm Recalls Diced Bacon Products for Possible Listeria Contamination
- Michigan Firm Expands Recall of Ground Beef Products Due To Possible E. Coli O157: NM Contamination
- Michigan Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination
- The Christie Cookie Company Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Eggs, Soy Lecithin, Wheat and Milk On The Labels Of the Following Gift Tins
- Atlanta Oriental Food Recalls Cut Napa Kimchi Because Of Possible Listeria Monocytogenes
- Winn-Dixie Issues Voluntary Recall On Winn-Dixie Choco Charm Chocolate Drink™ Due To Mislabeling And Undeclared Allergen
- Whole Foods Market announces recall for marinades in six Mid-Atlantic states and Washington, D.C. because of undeclared allergens
- Fresh Food Concepts, Inc. recalls Layer Dip products containing guacamole because of possible health risk
- Miss Bonnie’s Gourmet Recalls Classic Cheddar Cheese Spread
- Unilever United States, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert for Mislabeled 24-Count Boxes of Popsicle® Sugar Free Orange,Cherry and Grape Flavor Due to Undeclared Milk
- Fresh Strawberries From Washington County Farm Implicated In E. coli O157 Outbreak In NW Oregon
- XYMOGEN® ISSUES ALLERGY ALERT ON UNDECLARED Peanut Protein IN 3 Varieties of OrganiX Bars: Omega-3, Spice and Greens
- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Voluntarily Recalls One Date Code Of f&e Brand Organic Baby Spinach Because Of Possible Health Risk
- Winn-Dixie Issues Voluntary Recall On Specific In-Store Bakery Items Due To Mislabeling And Undeclared Allergens
We’d love your feedback! If there is anything you’d like us to add or change, we’d love to hear it! If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it our way to purebebeblog@gmail.com. We hope your week is off to a great start!
XOXO,
Jasmine & Heather
