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Over 29,000 kg of butter recalled in US for skipping one key word: Milk

Over 29,000 kg of butter recalled in US for skipping one key word: Milk

Time of India5 days ago
More than 29,000 kilos of butter have been recalled in the United States after a labelling error failed to mention milk, a major allergen, on the product packaging. The voluntary recall was issued by
Bunge North America
Inc. and later classified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a Class II recall on July 30.
The butter, distributed in 500-gram blocks under the NH European Style Butter Blend label, was packed in 1,800 cases. Each case contained 36 butter blocks and was shipped to 12 distribution centres across the US and one in the Dominican Republic. The company initiated the recall on July 14.
Milk not listed as ingredient
Though butter is made from cream, which is derived from milk, the ingredient was not clearly mentioned on the label. Milk is considered a major allergen and must be declared under FDA regulations.
The FDA defines a Class II recall as 'a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.'
No illnesses reported yet
So far, there are no reports of any allergic reactions linked to the recalled butter. However, the omission is considered serious due to the risk it poses to people with milk allergies. The FDA has advised that if someone with a milk allergy has consumed the butter and experiences symptoms, they should 'stop eating the food immediately, evaluate the need to use emergency medication (such as epinephrine) and seek medical attention.'
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Understanding food allergy risks
Food allergies can cause reactions ranging from mild discomfort, such as hives or swelling, to severe, life-threatening conditions like
anaphylaxis
. This occurs when the immune system reacts aggressively and can lead to shock if not treated promptly.
To prevent such risks, the FDA mandates that food packaging must clearly state the presence of any of the eight major allergens, including milk.
This recall follows another incident earlier in the week involving High Noon Hard Seltzers. A labelling error led to some vodka-containing cans being incorrectly packaged as non-alcoholic Celsius Astro Vibe Energy Drinks.
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Indian doctors more confident about oestrogen therapy for menopause as USFDA may scrap black box warning
Indian doctors more confident about oestrogen therapy for menopause as USFDA may scrap black box warning

The Print

time4 hours ago

  • The Print

Indian doctors more confident about oestrogen therapy for menopause as USFDA may scrap black box warning

The move came after the findings of a Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study—the largest-ever randomised controlled trial of hormone therapy in 2002—went public. The study found a combined oestrogen-progestin therapy linked to a rise in heart attacks and strokes, and a slightly elevated risk of breast and endometrial cancers. The USFDA, in 2003, mandated a black box warning—the highest level of warning associated with approved drugs when proven to be associated with serious or life-threatening adverse events—on all menopause treatments containing oestrogen, regardless of form or absorption rates. New Delhi: The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has declared its plan to remove the currently mandated, strictest health warning on oestrogen replacement therapies. The development has triggered a debate around the treatment, once widely used to manage menopausal symptoms but later linked to harmful side effects, such as cancer. However, the FDA panel, which held a discussion telecast publicly last month, was of the view that at least local oestrogen therapy, such as vaginal cream, is safe and should not carry the same warnings as systemically delivered oestrogen via patches or pills taken orally. The panel suggested that the risks associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) likely were overstated. The FDA has now invited submission of broad, public comments on the risks and benefits related to menopause hormone therapy, including 'data that could support updates to the labelling of such products'. Typically occurring between the ages of 45 and 55, menopause is the cessation of menstruation and the decline in ovarian function. This biological process comes with hormonal fluctuations, mainly the lowering of oestrogen and progesterone levels, which can lead to a variety of physical and psychological symptoms. 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India never updated the official regulatory stance to reflect the advanced risk-benefit understanding associated with the treatment. However, experts maintained that clinicians had been hesitant in prescribing it. Now, many, including those in India, believe the situation will change. 'I am glad at the development concerning the warning status related to HRT for menopause,' Dr Archana Dwiwedi, the chair of the mid-life committee in the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), told ThePrint. A large number of women undergoing menopause or post-menopause can benefit majorly from HRT but remain deprived of it, mainly on account of evidence that may now be outdated, she said, adding that current scientific understanding is that HRT's benefits for most women far outweigh the risks. 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And while there is no equivalent to the FDA's black box warning on systemic risks like breast cancer, stroke, or clots here, the Indian drug monographs and medical literature still describe side effects for estrogen therapy, such as deep vein thrombosis, hypertension, breast and endometrial cancer, and dementia. Moreover, the guidelines from Indian expert groups mirror international concerns about systemic oestrogen use in women with certain risk factors, usually after age 60 or more than 10 postmenopause years, pointed out Dr Sweta Kumar, a gynaecologist and obstetrician with Surya Mother and Child Super Speciality Hospital in Pune. While many gynaecologists in India are aware of HRT and do prescribe it to some patients, a significant number are hesitant or prefer alternative options. Younger or less experienced clinicians tend to be more cautious, and alternative therapies are still quite common in practice, Kumar said. 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The hidden danger of kratom: Two grieving mothers expose the deadly truth behind the 'natural' supplement
The hidden danger of kratom: Two grieving mothers expose the deadly truth behind the 'natural' supplement

Time of India

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The hidden danger of kratom: Two grieving mothers expose the deadly truth behind the 'natural' supplement

In recent years, kratom has emerged as a popular so-called 'natural' remedy, praised by its users for easing anxiety, pain, and even aiding in recovery from opioid addiction. Available in gas stations, wellness shops, and online stores across the United States, it is sold in the form of powders, capsules, gummies, and drinks. Its appeal lies in its plant-based origin and accessibility. But behind the glossy marketing and herbal branding lies a darker truth, one that two grieving mothers are now fighting to expose. Pam Mauldin's son, 37-year-old Jordan McKibban, died in April 2022 after consuming kratom in a seemingly harmless way by mixing a spoonful of the powder into a glass of lemonade after work. A resident of Washington state, Jordan was a health-conscious man who worked at an organic food distributor and avoided even ibuprofen for his arthritis. He loved cooking, being outdoors, and was planning a future with a woman he had fallen in love with. He dreamed of starting a family. But that dream ended abruptly in his bathroom. His mother found him lifeless, the result of mitragynine toxicity an active compound in kratom that behaves like an opioid. She performed CPR on her son, but it was too late. 'He shouldn't be in the cemetery,' Mauldin told The New York Post in an exclusive report published August 6, 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2021 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo 'I've lost my son. I've lost the grandchildren I could have had. I've lost the joy of watching him grow into the man he was becoming. ' Mauldin is now part of a growing number of Americans pushing for stricter regulation or an outright ban on kratom. Her wrongful death lawsuit claims that kratom is 63 times more deadly than other natural supplements legally sold to consumers. She finds it deeply frustrating that products like lettuce or potato chips are pulled from shelves over minor safety concerns, yet kratom remains widely available despite documented fatalities. Kratom is made from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. In lower doses, it stimulates the body. In higher doses, it acts as a sedative—just like opioids. According to the FDA, kratom is not legally marketed in the U.S. as a dietary supplement or food additive, yet it continues to thrive in the gray zones of commerce. One major concern is that kratom products are not required to go through quality control checks, meaning consumers have no assurance about what they are actually ingesting. Doctors like Dr. Robert Levy, an addiction specialist and professor at the University of Minnesota, warn that kratom's addictive potential is dangerously underestimated. 'People can become addicted to it, have withdrawal from it, and overdose on it,' Levy told The Post. 'There's a belief that because something is 'natural,' it must be safe. But arsenic is natural too.' The problem is amplified by a newer, more potent version of kratom circulating in the market: 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH. This synthetic kratom variant is more powerful than morphine and even more addictive. The FDA has recently recommended classifying 7-OH as an illicit substance. Dr. Marty Makary, the FDA Commissioner, stated, 'We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic. ' Jennifer Young, a mother from Columbus, Ohio, also knows the pain kratom can inflict. Her 27-year-old son, Johnny Loring, began using kratom for anxiety. Like many others, Young didn't think much of it after reading online that it was a 'natural, safe alternative.' Loring was a delivery driver who loved fishing and playing guitar. 'Everybody loved Johnny,' she said. 'He was the kind of guy who would give you the last dollar in his pocket. ' Then he started having seizures. Doctors didn't connect them to kratom and referred him to a seizure clinic. He never made it. During a family mushroom-hunting trip, he collapsed and died. The toxicology report revealed high levels of mitragynine and gabapentin in his system. After his death, Young found nearly 20 packs of kratom hidden in his room. He would mix the powder into orange juice. She had no idea how addicted he had become. 'The level of kratom shocked me,' she said. 'It made my gut sick.' Young, too, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. But her focus is not on the financial settlement. 'There's no amount of money I could put on my child's life,' she said. After losing Johnny, she spent a year in bed and began taking antidepressants. Her other children have struggled with mental health in the aftermath. Christmas was 'miserable,' she said. 'Our house is silent now. The void of Johnny is just loud.' Despite these tragic stories, kratom remains largely unregulated. From 2011 to 2017, poison control centers recorded over 1,800 calls related to kratom. Physicians say that number has only gone up. Dr. Michael Greco, an emergency medicine doctor, told The Post that patients on kratom often arrive at the hospital with agitation, psychosis, dizziness, elevated blood pressure, or are completely unresponsive. For now, grieving families are doing what the federal government has not: warning the public. They want parents, teenagers, and health-conscious consumers to understand that 'natural' does not mean harmless. Both Mauldin and Young believed their sons were making responsible choices. Both were wrong. As these cases show, kratom is not the safe, plant-based wonder product it is made out to be. It is an addictive substance with the potential to destroy lives. Regulation is long overdue. Until that happens, awareness is the only defense parents and families have. As Mauldin put it: 'He didn't even like to take ibuprofen. That's the kind of man he was. He trusted what was on the label. And now he's gone.' How does kratom affect the body? The wisdom Kratom, a lush tree native to Southeast Asia, has come a content of heated discussion in heartiness circles, indispensable drug forums, and nonsupervisory debates. In regions like Thailand and Indonesia, the factory's leaves have long been used by sloggers seeking relief from physical strain or internal fatigue. Over the once decade, its dried or pulverized form has gained traction in Western requests, frequently promoted as a natural remedy for pain, anxiety, and low energy. Yet, the line between benefit and detriment is thin. Kratom's impact on the mortal body isn't only complex, it's also changeable, especially in the absence of regulation. How the body responds? Kratom generally begins working within half an hour of ingestion. The peak of its goods generally hits within two hours and may last up to five or six. During this time, the body may suffer a conspicuous shift in energy or mood. Common short- term goods include Increased energy and talkativeness( low boluses) Muscle relaxation and pain relief( high boluses) A calmer or further balanced mood Mild swoon or internal clarity jacked focus or bettered work performance Not all gests are positive. Indeed moderate use has touched off side goods in some individualities Nausea or puking Dizziness or blurred vision Sot mouth or sweating Trouble concentrating Fatigue after the goods wear off These symptoms may vary depending on body weight, general health, former exposure to instigations, and whether kratom is taken alone or with other substances. The current medical station Kratom's legal status varies across regions. In the U.S., it remains legal under civil law but is confined or banned in certain countries. The FDA has expressed concern about its eventuality for abuse, while others argue that banning kratom outright could push druggies toward more dangerous synthetic opioids. Medical professionals generally advise caution. Until large- scale studies clarify kratom's long- term impact, especially on the liver, brain, and heart, it's wise to treat the factory as a serious pharmacological agent not just a herbal tea. Kratom is neither a panacea nor a substance to be taken smoothly. Its goods on the mortal body can be remedial in some cases and dangerous in others. As the heartiness assiduity continues to experiment with natural druthers, kratom sits at a critical crossroads, promising for some, problematic for numerous. Anyone considering its use should speak to a certified healthcare provider and insure they're sourcing it from a estimable supplier, if at all. Source of the case: The New York Post, "Our sons died taking an 'all-natural' supplement you can buy at gas stations people don't realize it's so addictive and dangerous", August 6, 2025. ( source of image Pinterest) Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !

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