The public has been warned about using unauthorized Ayurvedic medicinal products sold by Kerela Ayurvedic & Natural Herbal Consultation in Toronto by Public Health Canada after a report of heavy metal poisoning following the use of products obtained from this clinic. You can get a copy of this advisory in Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Urdu upon request. All Ayurvedic medicinal products sold at that facility, which is located at 2900 Markham Road, Unit L13 in Majestic City Mall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, are affected by this public health notice. This includes products that were ordered by the clinic from a supplier and shipped directly to consumers. As of February 1, 2022, the testing of products seized from Kerela Ayurvedic & Natural Herbal Consultation in Toronto has … [Read more...]
Products From Kerela Ayurvedic Consultation in Toronto May Have Lead
Health Canada is warning consumers that products sold by Kerela Ayurvedic & Natural Herbal Consultation in Toronto, Ontario are unauthorized and may pose serious health risks. Health Canada seized products from the company after Public Health Ontario notified the department of a case of lead poisoning following the use of products from that clinic. Lab testing found high levels of lead and mercury in products that patient consumed. This warning pertains to all Ayurvedic medicinal products sold by that company, which is located at 2900 Markham Road, Unit L13 in Majestic City Mall, Toronto. This includes products ordered by the clinic from a supplier that were shipped directly to consumers. Lead and mercury are heavy metals that can can cause serious short term and long term … [Read more...]
FDA Announces Action Plan on Heavy Metals in Baby Food
After the U.S. House Subcommittee report that was issued last month about the amount of toxic heavy metals in baby food, the FDA is announcing new actions. The report found that four of the seven major baby foods made in this country have unacceptably high levels of cadmium, mercury, and lead. The remaining three corporations refused to supply information about their products. First, a letter to industry was issued reminding manufacturers of their responsibilities when producing these foods. And the agency will put a plan into action to reduce toxic elements in foods for babies and young children to levels "as low as is reasonably achievable." Manufacturer's responsibilities include considering risks from chemical hazards, including toxic elements, when conducting a hazard … [Read more...]
FDA Revises 2017 Fish Advice For Pregnant Women, Young Children
The FDA is revising its 2017 fish advice for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and young children, given the worries about mercury in fish. Dr. Susan Mayne, director of the FDA's Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said in a statement, "Fish and shellfish are an important part of a well-rounded diet. However, we know many consumers worry about mercury in fish and even choose to limit or avoid fish because of this concern. In fact, we have seen that women in the U.S. who are pregnant are consuming far less than the recommended amount of seafood." In 2017, the FDA released a reference chart to help consumers choose the types of fish to eat more or and less of because of their levels of mercury. The fish species are listed under Best Choices, Good Choices, and Choices to … [Read more...]
FDA and EPA Release Fish Consumption Advice
The FDA and EPA have issued advice about eating fish, geared toward pregnant women, women of child-bearing age, breastfeeding mothers, and parents of young children. The issue regarding fish consumption is mercury content. A reference chart sorts 62 types of fish into three categories: "Best choices" you can eat two to three times a week; "good choices" that you can eat once a week, and "fish to avoid." Fish in the "best choices" category include almost 90% of the fish eaten in this country. FDA conducted an analysis of fish consumption data and found that 50% of pregnant women surveyed ate less than 2 ounces a week. That is much less than the recommended amount. The nutritional benefits of eating fish are important for growth and development during pregnancy and early … [Read more...]
EWG Warns of Mercury in Seafood
Environmental Working Group (EWG) has produced a new study called "U.S. Fish Advice May Expose Babies to too Much Mercury." In it, they say that "adhering to the federal government's recommendations on seafood and mercury may be risky, potentially leading women to eat too much of the wrong kind of fish." The guidelines were issued as a draft recommendation in 2014 that recommended that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding eat more fish that is lower in mercury. Their tests found that mothers who eat species of fish in the amounts recommended by the EPA and FDA may risk exposing their fetuses to harmful levels of mercury. And those species do not have enough omega-3 fatty acids that are recommended in the diet. Mercury has toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, … [Read more...]