Posted on 02/05/2003 3:58:09 PM PST by RCW2001
WASHINGTON, Feb 05, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Adulterated imported honey was seized Wednesday from a Texas company after the Food and Drug Administration confirmed the presence of an unapproved food additive.
U.S. marshals seized 266 drums of honey, each containing 639 pounds of bulk honey, and five totes, each containing a net weight of 3,000 pounds, from Hoyts Honey Farm in Baytown, Texas.
The additive, chloramphenicol, is prohibited by the FDA in food because of concerns about the potential for serious blood disorders in humans. Cloramphenicol is an antibiotic used to control disease in shrimp, crawfish and bees.
The seizure is the third one against similarly contaminated honey in six months, the FDA said.
Always bought the 'local' honey...at least it supposed to be "local".
A gallon jar used to cost around $10.00...
Precautions to Consider
Species sensitivity Cats—Chloramphenicol should not be used in the cat for more than 14 days {R-7} because it can cause dose-related blood dyscrasias. The reported increased susceptibility of cats to development of blood dys-crasias relative to dogs or horses may be attributable to chloramphen-icol’s significantly longer elimination half-life in the cat. {R-12}
Blood dyscrasias; gastrointestinal reaction Incidence rare
Gray syndrome in neonates only; hypersensitivity reactions; neurotoxic reactions; optic neuritis; peripheral neuritis Note: Gray syndrome (or ‘‘gray baby syndrome’’) almost always occurs in newborn infants treated with inappropriately high doses of chloramphenicol. Typically, the infant has been started on chloramphenicol within the first 48 hours of life; symptoms first appear after 3 to 4 days of continued treat-ment with high doses of chloramphenicol; and serum con-centrations are high, often between 40 and 200 mcg/mL. If detected early and chloramphenicol is discontinued, the in-fant may have a complete recovery. On rare occasion, older patients, including adults with severe liver disease, have also had a gray syndrome type reaction.
Symptoms of possible fatal, irreversible bone marrow depression Pale skin; sore throat and fever; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness
Side/Adverse Effects
Note: Although aplastic anemia has occurred in human patients as a result of chloramphenicol administration, it has not been documented in animals. {R-12; 13} A dose-related reversible bone marrow sup-pression may occur, sometimes manifesting as pancytopenia or agranulocytosis.
The following side/adverse effects have been selected on the basis of their potential clinical significance (possible signs and, for humans, symp-toms in parentheses where appropriate) not necessarily inclusive: Those indicating need for medical attention All species
Anorexia; bone marrow suppression {R-13}; depression; diarrhea and vomiting {R-12}
Note: Intermediate metabolites are thought to be responsible for the reversible bone marrow suppression seen in domestic animals. The effect is dose-dependent, often occurring with long-term therapy.
Human side/adverse effects In addition to the above side/adverse effects reported in animals, the fol-lowing side/adverse effects have been reported in humans, and are included in the human monograph Chloramphenicol (Systemic) in USP DI Volume I; these side/adverse effects are intended for informational Because of the risk of idiosyncratic aplastic anemia that occurs in people after exposure to chloramphenicol, extreme care during administration to animals should be exercised. Animals do not appear prone to de-velop the idiosyncratic aplastic anemia that can occur in people weeks or months after cessation of drug therapy. {R-11} In humans
the re-ported incidence of idiosyncratic aplastic anemia following chloram-phenicol exposure ranges from 1/25,000 to 1/40,000. Aplastic anemia in humans may occur following oral, intramuscular, intravenous, oph-thalmic, and/or topical administration. Due to these risks, chloram-phenicol is banned in food-producing animals in the United States and people should avoid other types of exposure as well. When administering chloramphenicol to animals, people should avoid di-rect contact with the medication (for example, avoid opening the capsules).
Veterinary Dosing Information Most susceptible infectious disease organisms will respond to chloram-phenicol therapy in 3 to 5 days when the recommended dosage regi-men is followed. If no response to chloramphenicol therapy is obtained in 3 to 5 days, use should be discontinued and the diagnosis reviewed. Cats Chloramphenicol should not be used in the cat for more than 14 days {R-7} because it can cause dose-related blood dyscrasias.
Parenteral Dosage Forms
Note: Bracketed uses in the Dosage Forms section refer to categories of use and/or indications that either are not included in U.S. product labeling or are for products not commercially available in the U.S. The dosing and strengths of the dosage forms available are ex-pressed in terms of chloramphenicol base.
Cloramphenicol is an antibiotic used to control disease in shrimp, crawfish and bees.
FDA's going the extra mile once again to scrutinize and keep us safe from the slightest potential for "serious blood disorders".
"If there's the slightest chance of having a fatality, then automobiles must be banned and siezed," said Dr. Wee Care-Abotu. "If we've saved one life, then taking away automobiles is the right thing to do."
/sarcasm/
Will do, Mike (when I get home this evening). Have you alerted Mike G? - T
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