Cook Medical Issues Recall Correction of Zenith Alpha™ Thoracic Endovascular Graft and Removes Specific Sizes from the Market

Cook Medical initiated a correction to the Instructions For Use (IFU) for the Zenith Alpha™ Thoracic Endovascular Graft. This correction removed the indication for blunt thoracic aortic injury, also known as BTAI or “transection” of the aorta because Cook has received an increase in reports of graft thrombosis and occlusion with these grafts specifically in the treatment of BTAI. Cook also initiated a voluntary recall of Zenith Alpha Thoracic products in sizes of 18-22mm, including the 26-22mm tapered device. These specific sizes are primarily used for BTAI, and are no longer available for purchase.

Recall of Certain Frozen Organic Dark Sweet Pitted Cherry Products Due to Possible Contamination by Listeria Monocytogenes

Out of an abundance of caution, SunOpta Inc’s subsidiary, Sunrise Growers Inc., has issued a voluntary recall of certain frozen organic dark sweet pitted cherry products due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Centurion Labs Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Ninjacof (Lot # 200N1601) and Ninjacof A (Lot# 201NA1601) Products Due to Potential Burkholderia Cepacia Contamination

Centurion Labs is voluntarily recalling, as a precautionary measure, 1 lot of Ninjacof (Lot# 200N1601) and 1 lot of Ninjacof A (Lot# 201NA1601) manufactured by Vilvet (Dania Beach, FL) and distributed by Centurion Labs to the retail level due to potential contamination with Burkholderia cepacia. Centurion was notified by the FDA regarding the potential contamination as they discovered this product may have been manufactured in a Pharmatech, FDA registered facility, in Davie, FL. that was found to have a product that contained B. cepacia.

Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. – FDA is carefully evaluating prescription opioid medications approved to treat cough in children

There’s perhaps no more important mandate that we have at the FDA than safeguarding the health and safety of children. For that reason, I believe it’s important that parents and health care providers have the best information available to inform the decisions they make about a child’s health. There are few more common decisions that parents and providers are asked to make than the question of how to appropriately treat a child’s cough and cold symptoms. Sometimes symptoms can be severe enough that prescription medication is needed, but some of these medications pose their own risks – especially for younger children – because they may contain opioids. Other times medication might not be necessary at all.

Vital Rx, Inc. d/b/a Atlantic Pharmacy and Compounding Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of all Compounded Injectable Prescription Medications Due to Lack of Sterility Assurance

Vital Rx, Inc. d/b/a Atlantic Pharmacy and Compounding is voluntarily recalling all lots of all compounded injectable prescription medications to the consumer level. The compounded injectable prescription medications have been found to lack sterility assurance. Atlantic Pharmacy and Compounding became aware of this issue during an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) inspection of the pharmacy.