Howard G. Smith, MD, AM
PENTA Medical Network
617-488-9699
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HealthNews RoundUp - 3rd Week of August 2022
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REPORTS
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Understanding Our Current Polio Threat
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/fIsKAx83LyU
Polio is one disease that was eradicated in the United States by an effective vaccination program that continues to this very day. Yet the poliovirus is back in the New York county of Rockland and is circulating in the water there as well as in population-dense New York City. Let’s look at how we eradicated polio, why this current threat occurred, and what you need to do to protect yourself from a devastating paralytic disease.
The poliovirus in New York’s water and by inference in the gastrointestinal tracts of thousands of New Yorkers is not the wild type that terrorized America up until the mid-20th century. It is not the wild type that each year paralyzed the extremities and often the respiratory muscles of more than 35,000 Americans and killed thousands, many of whom were children. It is not the wild type that put Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our 32nd president, in a wheelchair. And it is not the wild poliovirus that spurred University of Pittsburgh virologist Dr. Jonas Salk to develop the killed-virus vaccine that he and his medical colleagues across our country tested on some 650,000 children in 1954 and that was found to be 80 to 90% effective. Here is Dr. Salk vaccinating one of my classmates as he did for many of us who participated in the trials at Colfax School in Pittsburgh.
By the way, the Salk vaccine development and the clinical trials that proved it was safe and effective were both paid for by the people of the United States. They were paid for with 84 million dollars raised by the FDR-founded National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis better known as the March of Dimes and the Mothers’ March on Polio. The polio vaccine was an early example of successful crowd-sourcing. The American people of all ages gave what they could…dollar, dimes, and even pennies. When Salk refused to patent his vaccine, he added that it belonged to the people and was paid for by the people. How times have changed!
From this triumph of the 20th century, let’s return to the polio challenge of today. The virus that is now circulating is a vaccine-derived poliovirus or cVDPV for short. It arose when the inactivated virus used in the Sabin oral polio vaccine that succeeded the injectable Salk killed virus vaccine regained its toxicity in some persons and then spread. Because of this zombie virus phenomenon, the Sabin vaccine is no longer used in the US, and our children in this country are vaccinated with an inactivated poliovirus vaccine that is the descendant of the Salk Vaccine.
The Sabin vaccine continues to be used in other countries. The Sabin vaccine-derived poliovirus that popped up in New York is genetically similar to one found in Israel where the man infected with it likely picked it up. This same type of virus has also been detected in the UK. Poliovirus spreads like wildfire and, as a so-called enterovirus, lives in the gastrointestinal tracts of the infected. It stays there and can’t infect the nervous system of those properly vaccinated against it, and that’s where out current problem arises.
The polio vaccination rates in most communities are higher than 90%, but that rate is lower than 80% in some areas including 61% in Rockland County, NY where many parents have an anti-vaccine philosophy. Without a vaccine-induced immunity, the poliovirus the in the gastrointestinal tract can reach the spinal cord with the paralysis of 1 in every 200 so infected and death in some.
Now that this reactivated poliovirus is circulating in the Northeast, what should you do? If you were never vaccinated or unsure, you should receive the 3 shot initial series of Salk inactivated vaccine currently produced by Sanofi-Pasteur. If your vaccination series was incomplete, you should receive an additional booster shot or shots, and this is particularly important for those with weakened immune systems or complicating medical problems such as cancer and heart disease. If you’re planning to travel to a country where polio has reappeared or is endemic, you should be boosted,
Don’t play around with this virus: it can be devastating and deadly.
https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/100223?trw=no
#polio #poliovirus #salk #sabin #cVDPV #vaccination #antivax
polio, poliovirus, salk, sabin, cVDPV, vaccination, antivax
Three Alternative CoVid Treatments Don’t Work
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/9yjeL3pYS-4
Metformin, ivermectin, and fluvoxamine, 3 drugs in current use for other conditions, offer no help when taken for CoVid infections in non-hospitalized patients. This the conclusion of a definitive doubled-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled collaborative study headed by researchers at the University of Minnesota.
A total of 1431 patients participated. Their median age was 46 years, 56% were female, 6% were pregnant, and 52% had been vaccinated. The data analysis showed that these 3 drugs, metformin, ivermectin, and fluvoxamine failed to prevent CoVid-driven lung infections with low blood oxygenation, ER visits, hospitalizations, or death.
If you do contract CoVid and are at risk for serious disease, know that there are effective agents to stop the virus from landing you in the hospital or in a coffin. Taken as soon as possible after a CoVid diagnosis, Paxlovid taken orally and remdesivir administered intravenously are viral polymerase inhibitors that block CoVid replication in those with early infections. For those with more severe and persistent infections, intravenously administered monoclonal antibodies that block viral entry into human cells as a group have less effectiveness against the current Omicron sub-variant BA.5. One monoclonal antibody, bebtelovimab, and the monoclonal antibody cocktail of 2 monoclonal antibodies, Evusheld, do work against BA.5 and can be used for outpatient and hospitalized CoVid patients.
#covid #paxlovid #monoclonalantibodies #bebtelovimab #evusheld #ivermectin #metformin #fluvoxamine
covid, paxlovid, monoclonalantibodies, bebtelovimab, evusheld, ivermectin, metformin #fluvoxamine
Monkeypox Vaccine Controversy Likely A NothingBurger
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/QqX4vyzngIk
The shortage of the available Danish monkeypox vaccine Jynneos has driven the CDC to recommend vaccination with one-fifth the originally recommended dose injected between the layers of the skin rather than beneath the skin. Some scientists are pushing back on the plan claiming that the so-called intradermal vaccination route is not as effective.
The literature pushes back on this notion. As early as 1980, a Swedish study on the typhoid vaccine showed that the intradermal route generated comparable protective antibody titers when compared with the subcutaneous route. The added benefits of intradermal vaccinations: 7.5 fold lower incidence of local skin and general febrile reactions as well as a 3.7 fold lower incidence of severe local skin reactions.
More recently, in 2004, Dr. Anthony Fauci himself co-authored a New England Journal article about stretching available doses of flu vaccine using a smaller dose of vaccine administered intradermally rather than intramuscularly. He points out that intradermal vaccination may actually induce a stronger immune response than intramuscular vaccination when used for not only flu vaccinations but also for those against hepatitis B, rabies, and other infectious disease,
If you need a monkeypox vaccination, get the intradermal jab. If you can’t get the vaccine, protect yourself with hygenic sexual practices, avoiding contact with those demonstrating skin rashes, and us hand and surface cleansing using disinfectants and go ol’ 70% isopropyl alcohol.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe048314
#monkeypox #vaccination #intradermal #subcutaneous
monkeypox, vaccination, intradermal, subcutaneous
Blood Tests Predict Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/lnfpbeZ7pqU
Victims of Traumatic Brain Injuries, TBI for short, have a 23 to 63 fold higher risk of death during the ensuing 6 months when they have high levels of two protein biomarkers circulating in their bloodstreams on the day of injury. This conclusion stems from a collaborative study from the University of Michigan, UC-San Francisco, and the University of Pennsylvania.
The researchers studied 1700 patients with TBI and measured their circulating levels of two proteins, GFAP and UCH-L1 as they were admitted to the hospital. The levels of these proteins were compared with the occurrence of patient mortality within 6 months post-injury. Those with the highest vs. the lowest GFAP values had a 23 times higher risk of death while those with the highest vs. the lowest UCH-L1 values had a 63 times higher risk of death.
This prospective data is invaluable for setting realistic family expectations for patient recovery after these devastating episodes of head trauma.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(22)00256-3/fulltext
#tbi #gfap #uchl1 #mortality
tbi, gfap, uchl1, mortality
Nicotine Gummies A Child Poisoning Risk
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/_es5STnRzrU
Fruit-flavored gummy candies containing nicotine, marketing to help smokers kick the habit, pose a danger to young children and teenagers. The FDA has sent a warning letter to VPR Brands, the marketer of these nicotine candies, giving the company 15 days to remove the product or prevent its distribution to younger Americans. These gummy cubes, never approved for sale by the FDA, can trigger nicotine poisoning and sometimes death if consumed by small children.
An FDA-funded California study found that these nicotine candies were the second most popular nicotine-containing product after e-cigarettes.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-08-fda-illegal-nicotine-gummies-letter.html
#nicotine #gummies #children #adolescents #poisoning
nicotine, gummies, children, adolescents, poisoning
Low Vitamin D Increases Susceptibility To CoVid
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/F2ENtjzemsg
CoVid-infected persons were 61% more likely to have low serum levels of Vitamin D than the uninfected, and this phenomenon was more prominent in women than in men. This diminished Vitamin D was more strongly associated with contracting CoVid than other medical issues or so-called comorbidities.
These conclusions are the result of a large collaborative meta-analysis by researchers in India and in the UK. Sixteen eligible studies yield 386,631 patients for analysis. The Vitamin D levels were more than 2-fold lower in CoVid-infected women compared with uninfected women while infected men had Vitamin D levels 74% lower. The presence or absence of comorbidities including excess weight, diabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, and mental illness were not as strongly associated with CoVid infection as were Vitamin D levels.
A potential vulnerability to a CoVid infection is yet another reason for you to ask your medical team to assess your serum Vitamin D level. Add this reason to the long list including bone weakness and dissolution, cardiovascular disease, asthma in children, cognitive problems, and cancer.
https://jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-21-640.pdf
#vitaminD #CoVid #osteoporosis #cardiovascular #dementia #cancer
vitaminD, CoVid, osteoporosis, cardiovascular, dementia, cancer
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SHORT SHORTS
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Short Shorts for 3rd Week of August, 2022
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/pHgQ9JsvwDo
Here are the latest cutting edge medical and healthcare discoveries this 3rd Week of August, 2022. Many of discoveries will become the therapies of tomorrow.
MIT bioengineers have developed self-powered wearable wireless sensors capable of transmitting data about pulse rate, sweat composition, and ultraviolet radiation exposure. What’s unique about these wearables is that they perform this monitoring without embedded Bluetooth chips or batteries. The ultrathin sensing film is composed of gallium nitride with 2-way piezoelectric properties allowing it to both sense underlying skin changes and complete wireless transmission of the collected data when paired with a conducting layer of gold.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn7325
The placenta is known as the “engine of pregnancy” since it provides oxygen and vital nutrients to the developing fetus. University of Pennsylvania researchers now report a unique method for monitoring placental function and blood flow utilizing a unique combination of ultrasound and optical spectroscopy. Light and sound waves are simultaneously directed through the pregnant woman’s abdomen, and the reflected light is amplified and background noise removed to permit quantification of placental oxygen levels. This precise placental monitoring permits better management of hight risk pregnancies.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-022-00913-2
A newly synthesized peptide called A1R-CT is capable of suppressing seizures when introduced into the body in a nasal spray. Neurologic researchers at the University of Alabama-Birmingham have shown that this protein facilitates activation of the A1 receptor on neurons that squelches excess electrical activity and seizures. These epileptic seizures that commonly accompany strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s are poorly controlled by conventional agents in some 40% of patients. The A1R-CT nasal spray may help solve this problem.
https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/155002
And finally…..More news about uniquely therapeutic nasal sprays. Looking to create nasal lining immunity where the CoVid virus first enters the body, MIT researchers have successfully fused CoVid receptor binding domain spike antigens with an albumin-binding polymer lipid that opens a portal into nasal linings so that the CoVid proteins can effectively trigger a vigorous, local immune response against themselves. The hope is that effective nasal IgA antibody immunity will offer better protection against the latest group of Omicron subvariants including BA.5.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abn1413
There you have the cutting edge medical and healthcare discoveries this 3rd Week of August, 2022.
#wearables #piezoelectric #placenta #ultrasound #spectroscopy #seizures #a1rct #CoVid #nasalvaccine
wearables, piezoelectric, placenta, ultrasound, spectroscopy, seizures, a1rct, CoVid, nasalvaccine
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HEALTH BUSINESS SHORTS
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Healthcare Business News. 3rd Week of August, 2022
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/KAnfe8VSL_4
Here is some notable healthcare-related business news for this 3rd Week of August, 2022.
Diseases of the cornea rob nearly 13 million people worldwide of their sight yet only 1 in 7 victims are able to obtain cornea transplants due to tissue shortages. To answer that shortfall, a Swedish bioengineering company LinkoCare has developed a technique to create replacement cornea tissue using purified skin collagen from pigs. The pig hydrogel protein is introduced into the diseased cornea restoring its shape and optical characteristics without invasive or expensive surgery.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-022-01408-w
JD Power, the customer satisfaction survey people, have ranked Medicare Advantage Plans. The best one turned out to be the Kaiser Foundation’s Health Plan offering. It was followed by Humana, Highmark, United HealthCare, BlueCross/BlueShield of Michigan, Aetna, Anthem now called Elevance, Cigna, and, bringing up the rear, Centene. Buyer beware!
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-medicare-advantage-study
Minnetronix Medical, a company that has developed many devices for marketing by others including Medtronic and Abbott, has now come out with its own product called MindsEye. This expandable portal is introduced into brain tissue and provides a tiny retractor system that permits surgical microscope views, the safe passage of imaging fibers, and the introduction of micro instruments.
And finally….NYU is partnering with Fermilab’s Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center to create cutting edge quantitative MR imaging utilizing high speed quantum computers. The additional computing power permits higher resolution imaging that more clearly differentiates tissue properties separating normal from cancerous. It also facilitates the use of artificial intelligence techniques to better automate the diagnostic process.
https://www.dotmed.com/news/story/58464
There you have the latest healthcare-related business news for this 3rd Week of August, 2022, 2022.
#cornea #medicareadvantage #jdpower #neurosurgery #brainportal #mr #cancer #quantumcomputing
cornea, medicareadvantage, jdpower, neurosurgery, brainportal, mr,
cancer, quantumcomputing
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CPSC Recalls
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MamaRoo Baby Swing and RockaRoo Baby Rockers Have Strangulating Straps
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/A_eWEeGOI7o
The CPSC and 4Moms are recalling MamaRoo Baby Swings, versions 1.0 through 4.0, and RockaRoo Baby Rockers. The restraint straps, if not in use, may dangle below the seat and possibly strangle any infant crawling around these swings and rockers. About 2 million MamaRoo swings and 220,000 RockaRoo rockers were sold in the US and about 60,000 MamaRoo swings and 10,000 RockaRoo rockers were sold in Canada at BuyBuy Baby and Target stores nationwide and online at 4moms.com and Amazon.com. Immediately discontinue use of these swings and rockers and secure them in an area away from children. Contact 4Moms by phone at 1-877-870-7390 or via email at safetyandrecall@4moms.com to obtain a free strap fastener that prevents the restraint straps from dangling under the swing or rocker.
#mamaroo #swing #rockaroo #rocker #restraints #strangulation #recall
mamaroo, swing, rockaroo, rocker, restraints, strangulation, recall
Onewheel GT Electric Skateboards Have Minds of Their Own
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/6foikVpgv1Q
The CPSC and Future Motion have recalled Onewheel GT Electric Skateboards. The board’s front footpad control may fail to disengage after the rider has dismounted while the board is in motion permitting the skateboard to continue operating creating an injury hazard to bystanders. About 20,500 of these skateboards have been sold in the US line at onewheel.com and at authorized independent dealers. Immediately stop using these Onwheel powered skateboards and contact Future Motion at 1-800-283-7943 or online at recall.onewheel.com to determine if your board is affected. If it is, you can arrange to receive a replacement footpad with prepaid shipping and installation instructions.
#onewheel #electricskateboard #footpad #runaway #crash #injury #recall
onewheel, electricskateboard, footpad, runaway, crash, injury, recall
A Residential Elevator Poses A Crush Danger To Children
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/dw5SAPesAAI
The CPSC and Residential Elevators, Inc. have recalled the following models including Easy Rider, Horizon Lift, Luxury Lift, Luxury Lift Hydraulic, Luxury Lift Traction and RE residential elevators. These elevators may have a dangerous gap between the outer and inner doors or gates that can lead to injuries or death for a young child caught in the gap. About 31,000 of these residential elevators were sold directly to consumers and installed in the US between 1986 and July 2022. If you have one of these elevators installed in your building, keep unsupervised young children away from them. Contact Residential Elevators at 1-877-794-3032 or via email at doorgapsafety@residentialelevators.com to obtain space guards that eliminate hazardous gaps along with installation instructions and assistance.
#residential #elevator #gap #injury #death #recall
residential, elevator, gap, injury, death, recall
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FDA Recalls
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Capri Sun Juice Drinks Tainted With Cleaning Fluid
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/UtlMPrnC4Mk
The FDA and Kraft Heinz announce the recall of Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink Blend beverages. Foil packages of his juice are contaminated with dilute cleaning fluid, and about 5760 cases of product are impacted. The best when used by date on the contaminated packages is June 25, 2023. If you have any of these juice packages at home, return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. If you require more information, contact Kraft Heinz at 1-800-280-8252 for more recall information.
#caprisun #juice #cherry #poisoning #children #recall
caprisun, juice, cherry, poisoning, children, recall
Gluten-free Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites Have Cashews
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/r51lnVAIfi8
The FDA and the Gluten Free Bar company are recalling GFB 1.2 oz Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites. These bars contain undeclared cashew nuts. Those with cashew allergies could develop serious or life-threatening allergies after consuming these bars. The affected product is Lot code 041323-17. This product was sold by retailers nationwide as well as online by thegfb.com. If you bought these bars, return them to the place of purchase for a refund. You may direct questions about this recall to The Gluten Free Bar at 616-755-8432.
#gfb #coconutbites #cashews #allergy #recall
gfb, coconutbites, cashews, allergy, recall
Fifth Season Crunchy Sesame Salad Kits Contains Dairy
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/nFtlAxdqxn4
The FDA and Fifth Season are recalling Fifth Season Crunchy Sesame Salad Kits. These kits have a dressing packet that contains undisclosed milk and egg. Those with milk and/or egg allergies would develop serious or life-threatening allergic reactions should they ingest the salad dressing. These salad kits were sold in Ohio, Michigan, and New York between August 4th and 12th, 2022. If you bought one of these kits, return it to the place of purchase. For more information, contact Fifth Season by phone at 1-412-899-2268.
#fifthseason #saladkit #milk #egg #allergy #recall
fifthseason, saladkit, milk, egg, allergy, recall
Kings’ Hawaiian Buns and Bites Have Bacterial Contamination
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/SFpAi9U5d5U
The FDA and Kings’ Hawaiian have recalled Kings’ Hawaiian Pretzel Slider Buns, Pretzel Hamburger Buns, and Pretzel Bites. One of the ingredients used in these baked items is supplied by Lyons Magnus and may be contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii and Clostridium botulinum. No other King’s Hawaiian products are impacted. If you have these Pretzel Slider Buns, Pretzel Hamburger Buns, or Pretzel Bites dispose of them. Contact King’s Hawaiian at 1-877-695-4227 to request replacement product and for answers to general questions about this recall.
#kingshawaiian #pretzelbuns #pretzelbites #bacteria #infection #recall
kingshawaiian, pretzelbuns, pretzelbites, bacteria, infection, recall
EZ Noble Sushi Products Contain Multiple Allergens
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/SClSgfG4yU8
The FDA, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, and the EZ Noble Sushi company have recalled all EZ Noble Sushi Products. These products all lack allergen information on their labels, and the undeclared allergens include eggs, milk, and wheat. Persons with allergies to these items could develop serious or life-threatening reactions to any or all of these allergens including those with gluten hypersensitivities and celiac disease. The affected products and their allergens include: shrimp tempura and spice shrimp rolls have egg and wheat; spicy salmon roll, spicy tuna roll, and spicy shrimp roll have egg allergens; Philadelphia avocado or cucumber classic rolls have milk; pink lady and salmon avocado rolls have eggs; shrimp tempura, lobster rolls, and California crunch rolls have wheat. EZ Noble Sushi was sold in all seven Geissler’s Supermarket locations including: in Connecticut East Windsor, Windsor, Somers, Bloomfield, South Windsor, and Granby, and in Massachusetts Agawam,. Those who bought these EZ Noble sushi rolls should not consume them and return them to the point of purchase for a refund. If you need information, contact Geissler’s at Geissler.com/contact-us.
#eznoble #geisslers #sushi #milk #egg #wheat #allergies #recall
eznoble, geisslers, sushi, milk, egg, wheat, allergies, recall
Extension of the Lyons Magnus Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/e2rLG_AOaL4
The FDA and Lyons Magnus LLC have extended the recall of variously branded foods due to contamination with not only cronobacter sakazakii but also an additional bacterium clostridium botulinum. Cronobacter infections are rare and most dangerous for those with weakened immune defenses. Clostridium bacterial infection is a severe form of food poisoning with neurologic consequences including vision problems, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and ultimately respiratory paralysis and death. The brands involved include: Lyons Barista Style, Lyons Ready Care, Cafe Grumpy, Tone It Up, Uproot, Organic Valley, Sated, Aloha, Rejuvenate, Optimum Nutrition, Sweetie Pie Organics, Intelligensia,m Ensure Harvest, Pediasure Harvest, Glucerna Original, Kate Farms, Pirq, Oatly, Premier Protein, MRE, Stumptown, and Imperial. If you have any of these brands, contact the Lyons Recall Support Center at 1-800-627-0557 or visit its website at lyonsmagnus.com to find out whether your specific product is affected by this recall. If you have a recalled product, return it to the point of purchase for a refund.
#lyonsbarista #bacteria #cronobacter #clostridium #infection #recall
lyonsbarista, bacteria, cronobacter, clostridium, infection, recall
That’s It Dark Chocolate Truffles Contain Milk
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/B84XeFXnpsk
The FDA and That’s it Nutrition, LLC announce the recall of That’s It Dark Chocolate Truffles including the following flavors: Fig, Date, Banana, Raisin, and Fig with Sea Salt. These truffles contain small amounts of undeclared milk. Those with milk allergies may develop serious or life-threatening allergic reactions after ingesting these truffles. The affected products have expiration dates from March 23, 2023 to July 8, 2024. If you have these candies, do not consume them but return them to the place of purchase for a refund. For more information about this recall, phone That’s It at 1-888-862-5235.
#thatsit #truffles #milk #allergy #recall
thatsit, truffles, milk, allergy, recall
Farmer’s 2% Reduced Fat Chocolate Milk Has Egg
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/ixu1XFucavk
The FDA and the Royal Crest Dairy are recalling Farmer’s 2% Reduced Fat Chocolate Milk Pints with the code date of AUG-22. This product is contaminated with undeclared egg. The product was sold in multiple Colorado locations including: Penrose, Canon City, Florence, Pueblo, and Pueblo West. If you bought this chocolate milk, return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, reach the Royal Crest Dairy at 1-303-722-2272 ext. 333.
#farmers #chocolatemilk #egg #allergy #recall
farmers, chocolatemilk, egg, allergy, recall
© 2024 BY HOWARD G. SMITH, MD, AM