Ackley Law Group Represents Two in Nationwide Tattoo Ink Infection Outbreak

Health officials have traced an outbreak of tattoo infections, causing bubbly rashes, not to problems with the needles or equipment sterilization, but to infected ink.  Specifically, the infection is traced to contaminated water used in making the ink.  Read the full CBS News article here.

Ackley Law Group represents two individuals in Washington State with infections caused by tattoo ink.  The culprit bacteria can cause itchy and painful blisters that often require antibiotics with serious side effects, and months of treatment, to clear up.

Both the federal Center for Disease Control and our local Department of Public Health have investigated the outbreak.  

 

More Toyota/Lexus Recalls

Toyota/Lexus announces recall of 1.53 million cars in Japan and the U.S. for a brake problem that causes fluid leak. Yes, a brake problem.

Eggs-actly: manure floods in laying houses too darn nitpicky

An enormous surprise to all, the farmers responsible for infecting 1,600 people with salmonella from contaminated eggs, and then the largest egg recall in U.S. history, are (1) contrite puppy dogs before Congress, (2) repeat offenders, and (3) circle back through (1) and (2) next time (though hopefully not).

As reported by the Seattle Times, the DeCoster farm has apparently been cited numerous times for sanitation violations. The DeCosters insisted they had taken steps to clean up facilities, but offered no explanation as to why problems kept coming up.

Here is a good reason why: the post-recall FDA inspection revealed rodent holes, liquid manure streaming through holes, and dead birds and maggots in the laying houses. In several cases the manure built up so much as to push open the door. Peter DeCoster described the FDA's inspection as nitpicking, and noted that only four doors were opened by manure overflow, out of 292.

Similac Formula Recall... for what??

Abbott Labs is recalling 5 million containers of Similac powdered infant formula due to contamination with, wait for it... beetles and their larvae. The FDA believes the formula poses no immediate health risks other than stomach aches, so the recall is more of a precaution. See the NPR article here.

Egg Recall Update

CNN updates consumers on the status of the egg recall and its toll thus far.

Dead Pets in Pet Food

Pet food is advertised as wholesome, natural, nutritious, and delicious, usually with a picture of fresh tuna or seared lamb. The reality is that, not only are many pet foods not nutritious, some actually contain inedible waste and byproducts.

As reported by Newswire.com, in a 2007 Florida lawsuit, "the Plaintiffs contend the food is actually made from “inedible” slaughterhouse waste products of the human food chain such as spines, heads, tails, hooves, hair, and blood. Rendering companies who process this waste have also added other inedible “waste” such as euthanized cats and dogs from veterinarian offices and animal shelters, road kill, zoo animals, rancid restaurant grease, toxic chemicals and additives. Additionally, dead animals and those declared unfit for human consumption due to disease and illness are also placed in the mix."

Brands targeted by this lawsuit include:

Pedigree®, Sheba®, Goodlife Recipe®, Royal Canine, Iams®, Eukanuba®, Science Diet®, Prescription Diet®, 9 Lives®, Amore®, Gravy Train®, Kibbles-n-Bits® and Nature’s Recipe®, Snausages®, Milk Bone®, Pup-Peroni®, Meaty Bone®, Canine’s Carry Outs®, Jerky Treats®, Wagwells®, Alpo®, Beneful®, Beggin’ Strips®, Dog, Cat, Puppy and Kitten Chow®, Fancy Feast®, Friskies®, Mighty Dog®, Deli-Cat®, Pro Plan®, Purina One®, Natural Choice® Dog and Cat Products, Max® Dog Products, Max® Cat Gourmet Classics, Natural Choice® Complete Care® for cats, Ultra™ Products for dogs, Americas Choice Preferred Pets, Authority, Award, Best Choice, Big Bet, Big Red, Cadillac, Companion, Compliments, Demoulus Market Basket, Eukanuba, Fine Feline Cat, Food Lion, Food Town, Giant Companion, Hannaford, Hill Country Fare, Hy-Vee, Iams, J.E. Mondou, Laura Lynn, Li’l Red, Loving Meals, Medi-Cal, Meijer’s Main Choice, Mighty Dog Pouch, Mixables, Natural Life, Nutriplan, Nutro Max, Nutro Max Gourmet Classics, Nutro Natural Choice, Ol’ Roy, Paws, Pet Essentials, Pet Pride, President’s Choice, Price Chopper, Priority US, Publix, Roche Brothers, Save-a-Lot Special Blend, Schnucks, Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans, Sophistacat, Special Kitty, Springfield Prize, Sprout, Stop and Shop Companion, Tops Companion, Wegmans, Weis Total Pet, Western family US, White Rose, Winn Dixie, Your Pet, LIFELong™, Ol’ Roy and Special Kitty.

Learn more about the pet food industry here, and check out what to buy here.

Egg Farm Worker Says Complaints Ignored

U.S. Agriculture Department employees worked full time at the egg farms responsible for the recent salmonella outbreak and subsequent recall. However, the workers ignored complaints about the conditions on site, claiming that their duty was to grade the eggs, not to look for health problems. The Seattle Times reports:

"In response to the outbreak that has led to a recall of about 550 million eggs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration examined the Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms and noted in a report this week that inspectors found rodents, wild birds, seeping manure and maggots in the operations there."

Recent Recalls

Honda recalls
Toyota recalls
Egg recalls