A woman from Birmingham was fined £4,000 and £6,000 costs on 04 October 2006 at Coventry Crown Court for the illegal sale and supply of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Shubao, a product used for slimming. The outcome of the case came about following an investigation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Ms Ming Xia Xie (40) of 30 Anderson Road, Erdington, Birmingham must pay £500 each month, starting in December 2006, until the fine and costs have been paid or receive three months imprisonment if she defaults. Ms Xia Xie had previously pleaded guilty to six offences under the Medicines Act 1968 concerning the illegal sale and supply of Shubao in September 2006.

Enforcement officers from the MHRA began their investigation in early 2004, following a complaint from a pharmacist at the Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Following a visit to a Chinese Herbal Clinic in Dudley, two pots of Shubao were discovered and sent for analysis. The products were found to contain a highly toxic derivative of the banned substance called fenfluramine. Upon further investigation, the supplier was discovered to be Ms Xia Xie, who ran a Chinese Herbal Centre in Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre, Coventry.

The MHRA had also received complaints from members of the public who had bought Shubao capsules supplied by Ms Xia Xie and had severe adverse reactions.

Fenfluramine is a prescription only medicine used as an appetite suppressant. It is associated with cardiac problems and was withdrawn globally on safety grounds. The slimming products in this case contained the substance nitrosofenfluramine, which is toxic to the liver.

If an individual is convicted of offences under the Medicines Act 1968, they can be sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.  Where appropriate the MHRA will use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to determine whether or not benefits were accrued through criminal activity and will recoup illicit earnings if the individual is found guilty.  

Mick Deats, Head of Intelligence and Enforcement at the MHRA said, 'We recognise that many people value traditional Chinese Herbal medicines but there is evidence that standards in production and composition vary significantly.  Some TCMs are unreliable and can contain toxic substances such as the substance nitrosofenfluramine which can cause liver toxicity. We will not hesitate to take action against those who show no regard for public health.' .

London College of Traditional Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (LCTA) has been awarded the prestigious Pearl Award for Media Excellence for its magazine, Dragons Tale.

The Award, presented at a ceremony on Thursday 28th September 2006 at the Shaw Theatre in London, acknowledges the magazine's contribution to the promotion of Chinese medicine and responsible best practice in the UK.

Dragons Tale was created in 1998 as a newsletter for LCTA staff and students. Initially designed to keep students and staff up-to-date with College matters; it was re-assessed and subsequently re-launched in June 2003 as a forward-thinking quarterly magazine aimed at students, teachers, graduates, practitioners and lay people interested or involved in the development, promotion and practice of Chinese medicine worldwide.

(L-R) Laura Jerrard, Marketing Manager LCTA and co-editor Dragons Tale , William Ong, Pearl Foundation, Bonny Williams, Marketing Director, LCTA and editor Dragons Tale

The magazine offers information on research and development in Chinese medicine, articles and opinion on medical issues and news on the College and its courses. It is the only magazine of its kind to be distributed to all members of the British Acupuncture Council, Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture Association for Chartered Physiotherapists; reaching almost all practitioners who work with acupuncture and Chinese medicine in the UK.

'We are delighted and proud to have won this award,' comments Dragons Tale editor, Bonny Williams. 'Dragons Tale intentionally sits on the fence between qualified Chinese medicine practitioners and the interested lay person. Whilst we draw on the expertise and knowledge of innovative practitioners who push the boundaries of their profession, we also ensure that what we publish is interesting and relevant to a wider audience.'

As well as providing crucial information on advances in the various Chinese medicine disciplines, Dragons Tale offers a balanced view of its teaching, learning and practice with expert opinion, insightful case histories and cutting edge approaches to common ailments and conditions. The magazine champions the many facets of Chinese medicine practice and its plethora of benefits and reflects the philosophy of the College and its teaching.

'LCTA has worked hard to promote Chinese medicine in the UK through Dragons Tale - something which was long overdue,' commented William Ong of The Pearl Foundation. 'Many congratulations to all at LCTA on receiving this award.'

www.lcta.com

National Commute Smart Day will be on Wednesday 1 November 2006. With the clocks having gone back the previous Sunday, many commuters will be faced with travelling both to and from work in the dark.

Commute Smart Day will highlight the possibilities of averting despondency felt by workers during the winter months by encouraging employers to adopt smarter working practices such as flexible working times, staggered journeys and part home working.

The call on the day will be for employers to try out smarter working practices for themselves over this winter. Not only will this benefit staff, it will have knock on effects of reducing traffic congestion and public transport over-crowding by extending the rush hour, reducing peak demand.

In addition, smarter working may help mitigate the increase in deaths and injuries which occur on our roads during the winter months.

http://www.workwiseuk.org.

In response to a fourth case of botulism being linked to Bolthouse Farms, Bakersfield, California brand carrot juice, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to drink Bolthouse Farms Carrot Juice, 450 ml and 1 liter plastic bottles, with "BEST IF USED BY" dates of NOV 11 2006 or earlier.  Consumers should discard this product. FDA is also reiterating its advice to consumers to keep carrot juice — including pasteurized carrot juice — refrigerated.

The fourth case of botulism poisoning involves an adult female in Florida who is currently suffering from paralysis. To date, one link between the illness and the consumers appears to be that the juice they drank was not properly refrigerated once it was in the home, which allowed the Clostridium botulinum spores to grow and produce toxin.  FDA is investigating other possible links.

Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium commonly found in soil.  Under certain conditions these bacteria can produce a toxin that if ingested can result in botulism, a disease that may cause paralysis or death.  Cases of botulism from processed food are extremely rare in the U.S.

Symptoms of botulism can include: double-vision, droopy eyelids, altered voice, trouble with speaking or swallowing, and paralysis on both sides of the body that progresses from the neck down, possibly followed by difficulty in breathing. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

Adequate refrigeration is one of the keys to food safety and is essential to preventing bacterial growth. Refrigerator temperatures should be no higher than 40°F and freezer temperatures no higher then 0°F. Consumers should check the temperatures occasionally with an appliance thermometer.

Consumers should look for the words "Keep Refrigerated" on juice labels so they know which products must be kept refrigerated. FDA is looking into whether industry's current juice labels provide clear refrigeration instructions.

The contaminated spinach disaster in western USA is worsening. To date, 199 cases of illness due to E. coli O157:H7 infection have been reported, including 31 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), 102 hospitalizations and three deaths. The first death was an elderly woman in Wisconsin. The second death of a two-year-old in Idaho and the third death of an elderly woman in Nebraska have also been confirmed.

FDA announced on September 29, 2006 that all spinach implicated in the current outbreak has traced back to Natural Selection Foods LLC of San Juan Bautista, California. This determination is based on epidemiological and laboratory evidence obtained by multiple states and coordinated by CDC. Natural Selection Foods issued a recall of all implicated products on September 15, 2006. Four other companies have issued secondary recalls because they received the recalled product from Natural Selections. Spinach processed by other manufacturers has not been implicated in the outbreak.

There has been a long history of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks involving leafy greens from the central California region. Spinach processed by other manufacturers has not been implicated in this outbreak, but based on discussions with industry, and given the past E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks, FDA and the State of California still expect the industry to develop a comprehensive plan which is designed to minimize the risk of another outbreak due to E. coli O157:H7 in spinach grown in central California. While this plan is under development, FDA and the State of California reiterate previous concerns and advise firms to review their current operations in light of the agency's guidance for minimizing microbial food safety hazards.

FDA and the State of California have previously expressed serious concern with the continuing outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of fresh and fresh-cut lettuce and other leafy greens. After discussions with industry, FDA and the State of California, as part of a longer term strategy, now expect industry to develop a plan to minimize the risk of another outbreak due to E. coli O157:H7 in all leafy greens, including lettuce.

Two complaints about a a national press advert by Bionetics Ltd were upheld after an investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The advert, for a food intolerance test, claimed 'The bionetics team have developed an innovative new diagnostic test (that requires just a few strands of your hair), which can establish whether or not your body has become intolerant to 123 of the most common problem foods and ingredients ...'. The complainants challenged the efficacy of the test.

In response, Bionetics said they were surprised by the complaint, because they had conducted many tests and had received positive responses from the majority of their customers; they sent customer testimonials as proof. They said the technology they used was very well established and based on radionics and applied kinesiology practices, which they believed had been used for thousands of years. They said they used a modern scanner and sophisticated computer programs; they also said their test procedures were supervised by a qualified practitioner and sent her curriculum vitae as proof of her experience.

Assessment: Complaints upheld

The ASA noted the positive customer testimonials and the training undertaken by the supervising practitioner. Nevertheless, we considered that, without robust clinical evidence to support them, the claims that Bionetics methods of hair testing could 'establish whether or not your body has become intolerant to 123 of the most common problem foods and ingredients' and 'report on ... accumulations of toxins, problem pathogens and nutritional deficiencies' were not justified.

We concluded that testimonials alone were not sufficient to substantiate the efficacy of the testing methods and told Bionetics to consult the CAP Copy Advice team before advertising the test again.
The ad breached CAP Code clauses 3.1 (Substantiation), 7.1 (Truthfulness) and 50.1 (Scientific substantiation).

Action: The ad should not be repeated in its current form.

www.healthysoul.co.uk is a web size packed with information on women's, children's and men's health, nutrition, complementary therapies and much more. Every month there's a competition and in October the first prize is a year's supply of Viridian Nutrition's High Five Multivitamins/Minerals, and three runners up prizes of the new book, Food is Better Medicine than Drugs by Patrick Holford and Jerome Burne.

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