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Two Victories on Reducing Antibiotics in Meat

From Consumer Reports:

With the passage of SB27, California is the first state in the nation to outlaw the routine use of human antibiotics in livestock.

After two years of intense lobbying, consumers scored a victory with a new law in California restricting the use of antibiotics in meat production—a first in the nation. It will go into effect in January of 2018 and prohibits the routine feeding of antibiotics to healthy food animals, including for the purposes of preventing disease or promoting growth. The news was picked up by many media outlets, including LA Times and Wall Street Journal, while our Facebook post reached nearly half a million people. And in another piece of good food news, Subway announced it will stop selling chicken raised with antibiotics. The sandwich chain recently received an "F" in our joint report and scorecard for lack of progress on its antibiotics policies. This decision marks a turnaround for the company, and makes Subway the latest in a series of fast food chains to respond to marketplace demand.

A Surprising Way Big Pharma Keeps Drug Prices High

Delaying the release of generics drugs can cost consumers millions, and should be illegal, say consumer groups and the FTC

By Steve Mitchell
Last updated: October 13, 2015

Ten years ago, consumers were on the verge of getting a lower-priced, generic version of the brand nameantibiotic Doryx (doxycycline). But the drug's manufacturer, Warner Chilcott, stopped making the drug in its original capsule form and instead began producing it as a tablet. This seemingly minor change meant that generic manufacturer, Mylan, was blocked from being able to market the matching generic tablet it had been developing.

Warner Chilcott is now embroiled in a lawsuit that charges it used those and similar tactics—such as adding score lines to the tablets and ceasing production of the unscored tablets—to manipulate the patent and generic laws to stay one step ahead of generic manufacturers.

That tactic, called “product hopping,” is a strategy drug makers have begun using in recent years to stall the development of generic versions of a medication so they can keep brand-name drug prices high. But it is coming under fire from the Federal Trade Commission and several consumer groups, which charge in a federal court case that it’s a violation of antitrust law that bilks consumers of millions of dollars in high drug prices.

In the case, the generic-drug company Mylan accuses Warner Chilcott of using product hopping to prolong its patent on Doryx. A district court in Pennsylvania sided with Warner in April, ruling that its product hopping tactics did not violate antitrust law.

But Mylan has appealed the decision. And last week it got a boost from several consumer groups, includingConsumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, AARP, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Families USA, U.S. PIRG, and others, which jointly filed an amicus brief in support of the appeal.

The FTC also flexed its muscles, filing a separate amicus brief in support. The consumer groups and the FTC fear that if the initial decision is left to stand, it will open the door for other drug companies to use product hopping to stifle generic competition and keep drug prices high. And that would mean consumers would be stuck with a hefty bill.

The delay of getting even one generic drug on the market could easily cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars, says George Slover, a senior policy counsel for Consumers Union. “If product hopping is allowed to become standard practice, the cost to consumers could be staggering."

Slover says there’s hope the courts will declare product hopping illegal. In May, a different federal appeals court, the Second Circuit, upheld a ruling that Actavis’ product hopping with its Alzheimer’s medication Namenda was illegal. In that case, New York state accused Actavis (now Allergan) of switching Namenda from an immediate-release to an extended-release formulation to delay generic immediate-release alternatives from being launched.

When we contacted Allergan, which now owns both Doryx and Namenda, for this story, it declined to comment on either case.

It could take a prolonged battle in the courts to finally settle the law against product hopping. But Slover notes that it took more than a decade for consumer advocates to stop another generic-blocking scheme called “pay for delay.”

Under that tactic, the brand-name drug maker pays off a generic manufacturer to delay the launch of its generic formulation of the drug, so the brand name can continue to sell at a high price. For years, courts ruled that drug companies were shielded from the antitrust laws because of their patent. The FTC ultimately took the fight against pay for delay to the Supreme Court, which ruled in 2013 that the antitrust laws apply to the scheme.


Editor's Note: These materials were made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by a multistate settlement of consumer fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin (gabapentin).

Easy Steps for Getting Rid of Expired Medication

It's okay to toss some old drugs in the trash, but others need special handling

Consumer Reports
By Ginger Skinner
October 07, 2015

At least a few expired or unwanted medications are lurking in your medicine cabinet. But if you missed your local Take Back event—held twice a year as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take-Back Initiative, there are other ways to dispose of your old meds, year round.

Take Precautions
Leftover medications can put you and others at risk for misuse and accidental overdose. Tossing most medications into your household trash will work just fine, provided you take a few precautions. First, remove the drug from its original container and mix it with a substance that makes them less recognizable such as coffee grounds, kitty litter, or sawdust. Then place the mixture in a sealable plastic bag or other container that won’t leak, and put it in the trash. Before you discard the prescription bottle, scratch away the personal information on the label—or remove the label.

Take the Drugs Back to the Pharmacy
If you don’t want to throw throw away expired medication, or your old drugs may potentially be dangerous if a small child were to obtain them, consider instead taking them back to your pharmacy. Thanks to new DEA regulations, big-box stores, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and long-term-care centers can take these back any time of the year, no appointment needed. (Hard to imagine, but it used to be illegal for those places to accept unused narcotic drugs.) Some locations may also offer mail-back programs. Target, for instance, provides return bags for mailing unused medications directly to a location for safe disposal.

To find a pharmacy near you, try DisposeMyMeds.org. The DEA can also help you locate authorized drop off centers, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care centers in your neighborhood. To find a collection site, call the DEA’s Registration Call Center at 800-882-9539 or visit DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov and search for "drug disposal."

Flush Very Dangerous Drugs Down the Drain
Can’t get to a pharmacy or another location to dispose of more dangerous drugs such as the narcotic painkillers codeine, fentanyl (Duragesic and generic), hydrocodone (Vicodin and generic), meperidine (Demorol and generic), morphine, and oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet, and generic)? The FDA recommends flushing these down the toilet.

No one usually likes this idea because of the risk of contaminating the water supply and potentially harming aquatic life, but the FDA recommends doing so if no other disposal option is possible so that the medications don’t get into the hands of children.

Other Exceptions
Asthma inhalers, insulin syringes or any other syringes, medications containing iodine, marijuana, and mercury thermometers are not accepted at most collection sites. In some parts of the country, you can put asthma inhalers in the trash or recycling. But in others, they are considered hazardous waste and can’t be tossed in the regular trash. For proper disposal instructions, contact your local sanitation company, recycling facility, or the health department. For syringe-disposal information, call 800-643-1643 or go to SafeNeedleDisposal.org. For other medications not accepted under DEA regulations, check with your pharmacist.

These materials were made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by a multistate settlement of consumer fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin (gabapentin).

What You Need to Know About GMO Labeling

Should all labels tell you what’s in your food? A federal court is addressing that question.

By Consumer Reports
Last updated: October 08, 2015

Almost from the minute it was proposed, Vermont’s 2014 law mandating labeling for foods that contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, has been challenged by the food industry. Today in federal appeals court, the issue will be debated again.

The Vermont Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Act requires that by July 2016 all food and beverages sold in the state—including bread, cereal, snack chips, soy milk, and more—contain GMOs carry a label that reads produced with or partially produced with genetic engineering. GMOs are plants or animals that have had their genetic makeup altered in a lab. Unlike cross-breeding, which involves the transfer of DNA between closely related plants or animals, genetic engineering techniques move genetic material from any organism to any other organism.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association, Snack Food Association, International Dairy Foods Association, and the National Association of Manufacturers sued to block the law, and wanted the courts to postpone implementing it while that case was being argued. This past April, a judge denied that request, the organizations appealed, and the case is now with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York City. Meantime, the clock continues ticking toward the July deadline.

The outcome of today’s hearing could have far reaching implications, affecting what consumers not only in Vermont but also nationwide will see on the packaging of the foods they buy.

Here's what you should know about this law:

How Would the Outcome of This Court Hearing Affect You?

An appeals court decision in favor of the food-industry groups would make it more difficult for other states to enact their own GMO-labeling laws. For example, Connecticut and Maine have GMO labeling laws that will go into effect when nearby states pass similar laws. Massachusetts and New York have their own labeling bills in the works.

Should the food-industry appeal be unsuccessful, companies will have to begin to change food labels to comply with Vermont’s July 2016 deadline. If manufacturers find it difficult to create special labels for just one state, they might decide to put GMO labels on products they sell in every state. Here at Consumer Reports, we believe this transparency would allow you to make more-informed buying decisions at the supermarket.

Why Do Some Companies Prefer Not to Label Products As Containing GMOs?

The Grocery Manufacturers Association has said that Vermont’s law “is a costly and misguided measure that will set the nation on a path toward a 50-state patchwork of GMO labeling policies that do nothing to advance the health and safety of consumers.”

Some companies do support the new Vermont law, as does a broad range of consumer and environmental groups, including Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports. Consumers Union submitted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in response to the trade groups’ appeal of the lower-court decision. Joining Consumers Union was Ben & Jerry’s, the Vermont-based ice cream company that's owned by Unilever.

“Safety is not the point. Almost all the labels required on food—such as ingredients and fat content—are informational. So is GMO labeling," says Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union. "The debate over GMO labeling is about consumers’ right to know what they are eating."

In a recent nationally representative poll from Consumer Reports, 92 percent of people said they want GMO labeling. Halloran adds, "other polls have had similar findings. The food industry should stop fighting the public’s right to know in court and start listening to what their customers want.”

Will You Pay More for Groceries If GMO Labeling Goes Into Effect?

The cost to consumers would be less than a penny a day. That’s according to a report commissioned by Consumers Union and conducted by the independent economic research firm ECONorthwest. In a statement to the lower court, Jerry Greenfield, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, explained that the company makes label changes to 20 to 30 percent of its products every year for different reasons, and label changes have never caused the company to raise its prices.

Many Products Already Carry Non-GMO Labels. Isn't That Good Enough?

Organic foods and those that carry the Non GMO Project verified seal contain—at most—trace amounts of GMO ingredients, if any. However, these products represent a small percentage of the food on store shelves. The vast majority of canola, corn, soy, and sugar beets are genetically engineered, and these foods are a component of many different products. “Federal law already requires labeling of foods that have been previously frozen, made from concentrate, pasteurized, or irradiated,” says Halloran. “We believe the label should also say if food is genetically engineered.”

If the Court Rules in Vermont's Favor, Will More Products Have GMO Labeling Starting in July 2016?

Not necessarily, because this fall the House of Representatives passed the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 (H.R. 1599).

Opponents of this legislation refer to it as the DARK Act—Deny Americans the Right to Know—since it means that federal law would prohibit mandatory GMO labeling and nullify existing state labeling laws.

A Senate hearing on genetically engineered crops is scheduled for October 21, 2015.

If you support GMO labeling, as we do, go to ConsumersUnion.org to send your senators a message to oppose the DARK Act.

Is it OK to Use Expired Neosporin?

It can be, but there are other good reasons to skip this first-aid remedy

Consumer Reports

By Ginger Skinner

Last updated: September 20, 2015

If you’re treating a wound that’s infected—it’s red, painful, and oozing pus—or if the wound still looks dirty after washing it, our experts say it’s fine to use Neosporin topical ointment within a year after it’s expired. That’s because some research suggests many medicines are still effective even several years after the expiration date. The date you see stamped on your medicine is the time until which the drug manufacturer can guarantee its maximum safety and potency based on product testing.

“To assure that medicines stay effective after their expiration dates, don’t store them in bathroom medicine cabinet,” suggests Marvin Lipman, chief medical consultant, Consumer Reports. “Heat and humidity accelerate how fast a drug deteriorates, so store drugs in a cool, dry place and well out of the reach of children.”

But there are situations when you shouldn’t use antibiotics creams at all, which have nothing to do with whether the drug is expired or not. That’s because overusing those creams, like overusing any antibiotic, and others like it—Bacitracin Plus, Curad, Mycitracin, Polysporin, and generic versions, for example—can contribute to the spread of resistant bacteria, making these drugs less likely to work when you really need them. A 2011 study found a link between using Neosporin and other over-the-counter antibiotic ointments and the spread of a resistant MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) strain of bacteria called USA300, which is now being found more commonly.

Instead of using an antibiotic ointment, a safer way to treat a minor cut, scrape, or burn is to wash it with soap and warm water to clear out any visible dirt. Then cover it with a non-stick bandage and keep an eye on it. Your wound should heal on its own in 7 to 10 days; if it doesn’t, see your doctor.

Another reason to go easy on topical antibiotics: the risk of skin reactions. Both bacitracin and neomycin carry a small risk of skin irritation and allergic reactions, such as contact dermatitis. The risk is slightly less for bacitracin.

Good to know for all your medication: Cases where you should stick closely to the expiration date include certain liquid medications such as nitroglycerin, insulin, and epinephrine, and especially the antibiotic tetracycline—which, past it expiration date can become toxic and cause kidney problems—should not be used past the expiration date.

Still to be on the safe side and be sure you’re getting a medicine’s full potency, experts advise replacing medicines that have expired years ago with a new supply. Although take-back programs are a good way to get rid of expired medications, it’s OK to toss your old tube of Neosporin in the household garbage. But you’ll want to be sure to take precautions so that children or pets don’t get their hands (or paws) on it, says Barbara Young, Pharm.D., editor of consumer-medication information for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist about proper disposal.  

These materials were made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by a multistate settlement of consumer fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin (gabapentin).

Emma is 3 months!

My granddaughter is absolutely beautiful. She takes my breath away every time I see her. 

Thank you God for her. 

Emma created by David & Danielle

Chair from Pottery Barn purchased by Gram

Decoration design & blanket by Judy Bottone

12 Hospitals You Might Want to Avoid

Posted from consumerreports.org

They have high rates of MRSA, C. diff, 
and other dangerous infections

By Joel Keehn

Last updated: September 30, 2015

Every year, an estimated 648,000 people in the U.S. develop infections during a hospital stay, and about 75,000 die with one of those infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s more than twice the number of people who die each year in car crashes.

To highlight the growing problem of dangerous hospital infections, Consumer Reports recently rated hospitals based on their infection rates for two of the most common and deadly bacterial infections in hospitals, MRSA and C. diff. And we identified the 12 hospitals in the country that earned low scores not only against those hospital infections but also three other infections in our Ratings. Those include infections following surgery as well as infections associated with urinary catheters and central-line catheters (large tubes that provide medicine and nutrition to patients).

Those 12 low-scoring hospitals performed poorly across all five types of hospital infections, based on data they provided to federal government agencies, between October 2013 and September 2014. "Getting a low score across all five infection categories is a red flag that the hospital is not focusing proper resources on infection control," says Doris Peter, Ph.D. director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center.

Low-Scoring Hospitals for Infection Prevention
Here are the 12 low-scoring hospitals, listed alphabetically:

Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Decatur Memorial Hospital, Decatur, Ill.
Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services, New Albany, Ind.
Fremont-Rideout Health Group, Marysville, Calif.
Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers., Evergreen Park, Ill.
Mercy St. Anne Hospital, Toledo, Ohio
Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, N.J.
Rockdale Medical Center, Conyers, Ga.
St. Petersburg General Hospital, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Torrington, Conn.
UF Health Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Fla.
Venice Regional Bayfront Health, Venice, Fla.

Note that the data our hospital Ratings are based on are released ​periodically throughout the year by the CDC. The CDC adjusts that data to account for factors such as the health of a hospital’s patients, its size, and whether it’s a teaching hospital. See our complete and the most current hospital Ratings as well as more about how we rate hospitals.

We’ve asked these hospitals what they are doing to improve, and why their infection rates were higher than average during the reporting time period of October 2013 to September 2014. To date, we have received written responses from the following hospitals:

Brooklyn Hospital Center
Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services
Fremont-Rideout Health Group
Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers
Rockdale Medical Center
St. Petersburg General Hospital
UF Health Jacksonville
Venice Regional Bayfront Health

Decatur Memorial Hospital called us after we published our Ratings to discuss our findings but has not yet submitted a written response. We will add that response and any other as we receive them.

How Hospitals Can Improve
Our report, "How Your Hospital Can Make You Sick," revealed how hospitals and doctors contribute to hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic resistance and what hospitals and patients can do to protect against the problems.

Specifically, hospitals must do these things to prevent infections:
Follow infection control protocol, such as using protections including gowns, masks, and gloves by all staff.
Reduce overuse of antibiotics.
Have an antibiotic stewardship program. That should include mandatory reporting of antibiotic use to the CDC.
Accurately report how many infections patients get in the hospital.
Promptly report outbreaks to patients, as well as to state and federal health authorities.

Join our efforts to stop hospital infections and support our work in stopping the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.