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Elizabeth, NJ, United States (AHN) – “Nazareth Classic” and “Nazareth Light” cheese has been recalled by Atalanta Corporation, an Elizabeth, New Jersey based food distributor, because the product has 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.

Less than 70 cases of the recalled “Nazareth Classic and Nazareth Light Cheeses” were distributed mostly in North East retail stores. Recall notices were sent to all retail outlets that received the potentially affected product.

The product comes in bulk (2 loafs 6-7 lbs per case). The product is usually sold at retail in random weight cuts. Labels read Nazareth Classic and Nazareth Light “imported by Atalanta Corp”. The affected lots are 5030008, 5030009, 11350044, 11350045, 11350046, 10840120 and are marked with expiration dates of 3/13/2011 through 7/29/2011.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the Belgium manufacturer revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the bulk.

All remaining inventory of the affected product has been quarantined and will be destroyed under FDA supervision. Consumers who have purchased wedge cuts of “Nazareth Classic and Nazareth Light” cheese affected by this recall are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 908-351-8000 (EST 9:00 – 5:00 PM).

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Washington, DC, United States (KaiserHealth) – In past years, a student’s graduation could mean leaving behind not only the classroom but also health insurance coverage, since family plans often stopped covering dependent children once they left school.

The health-care overhaul has changed that: Adult children can now remain on their parents’ plan until age 26, with few exceptions. (More on that later.) But even if coverage under a family plan isn’t an option, the new law has helped ensure that some of the other choices available to young adults offer better protection than they have in the past.

For many graduates, staying on their parents’ plan is likely to be the best option. “Most employer plans have good benefit packages,” says Sara Collins, a vice president at the Commonwealth Fund, a private organization that studies health-care issues. Keeping an adult child on the family policy probably won’t significantly affect the premium, his or her existing conditions continue to be covered and the new graduate can keep using the same doctors.

Rochelle O’Sullivan is relieved that she can stay on her mother’s plan after she graduates from Boston University this spring. The 22-year-old is on crutches after breaking her hip when she slipped at the airport on her way home to San Francisco for spring break in March. Having health insurance while she mends is critical. But once she kicks her job search into high gear, O’Sullivan doesn’t want health insurance concerns to get in the way.

“I’m worried about getting a job, getting experience,” says the mass communications major. “And if that means taking a job without insurance, I’d do that.”

The law applies to adult children whether or not they live at home or are financially independent. Even married children can stay on their parents’ health policy until age 26.

The biggest wrinkle for young adults: If they take a job whose benefits include health insurance, they can’t choose to stay on their parents’ plan.

If that job offers good coverage, that’s not a problem. But new grads often take entry-level or part-time jobs, which can come with limited-benefit plans that offer low coverage limits providing little protection if they actually get sick. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, however, even inadequate, so-called “mini-med” policies count as insurance, and if young adults are offered such coverage, they can’t be covered under their parents’ plans. Once the health-care law is fully implemented in 2014, mini-med plans will be phased out.

The Bryant family has been negotiating this tricky period. Kelli and Kirk Bryant’s oldest son, Dylan, 21, graduated last September and was working part time at a retailer while looking for a full-time job. The retailer offers a limited-benefit policy with $50,000 in coverage annually, not nearly as good as the comprehensive plan the family has through Kirk’s job at a hospital in Lincoln, Neb.

The retailer said Dylan wasn’t eligible for its insurance, but Kelli was worried that that was a mistake and that he might be on thin ice if questions arose.

That’s no longer a concern. Recently Dylan took a new part-time job as a security specialist at a mental health facility. The new job doesn’t offer health insurance, leaving no doubt that Dylan is free to be covered under the family plan. Ironically, being offered a job without health insurance is, in this instance, a good thing, says Kelli, who says she has contacted one of her U.S. senators about tightening up the definition of on-the-job insurance for young adults.

Of course, many adult children don’t have access to a family health plan. Their parents may not have coverage on the job. Or if the parents are on Medicare or are part of a retiree-only health plan through a previous employer, the new provisions extending coverage up to age 26 don’t apply. But there are other options for young adults.

If they’re healthy, an individual insurance policy may be a reasonable choice. Although coverage is often not as comprehensive as it is with a group plan, individual policies can no longer impose lifetime coverage limits or, in most cases, annual limits, and they must provide a range of preventive services for free. Premiums for young, healthy people may be very affordable, say experts.

Uninsured young people with preexisting medical conditions can consider special state-based insurance plans created under the health-care law. But they can be pricey, and you have to have been uninsured for six months to qualify.

Although the family policy is likely to be the best option, high school graduates going on to college should consider their college’s health plans, say experts. Some are good plans, and recent proposed regulations would require many of them to be classified as individual health insurance plans, with similar protections and standards. That should result in many of the worst student plans shutting down, says Stephen Beckley, a health-care management consultant for colleges and universities in Fort Collins, Colo. “We expect many plans to drop off between 2012 and 2014,” he says.

Still wondering what to do? Young Invincibles, a health-care advocacy group for young adults, has developed a toolkit to help grads assess the options.

“When you graduate, you get an exit interview to discuss your student loans,” says Aaron Smith, the organization’s co-founder and executive director. “There’s nothing like that for health insurance.”

– Provided by Kaiser Health News.

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Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Disney Princess Plastic Racing Trikes

Units: About 9,000 in the U.S. and 700 in Canada

Manufacturer: Kiddieland Toys Limited, of Scituate, Mass.

Hazard: The plastic castle display and the princess figures protruding from the top of the handle bar pose a laceration hazard if a child falls on it.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC and Kiddieland have received three reports of children suffering facial lacerations.

Description: This recall involves the Disney Princess Plastic Racing Trikes. The trikes are pink and fuchsia with a purple seat and wheels. On top of the handlebar, there is a rotating castle display surrounded by three princess figures. “Disney Princess” is printed on the label in front of the trike just below the handlebar.

Sold at: Target, JCPenney, Meijer and H.E.B. stores nationwide and on the Web at www.target.com from January 2009 through April 2011 for about $50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the trikes away from children and contact Kiddieland for a free replacement handlebar with an enclosed rotating display.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Kiddieland at (800) 430-5307 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.kiddieland.com.hk

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Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Williams-Sonoma Recalls Hot Chocolate Pots Due To Burn and Laceration Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Hot chocolate pots

Units: About 28,000 units in the United States and 700 in Canada

Importer: ICI USA, LLC, of Seattle, Wash.

Distributor: Williams-Sonoma Inc., of San Francisco, Calif.

Hazard: The handle of the hot chocolate pot can break off during use, posing burn and laceration hazards.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 28 reports of handles breaking off of the pots, including eight reports of injuries involving minor burns or cuts.

Description: This recall involves the Whirly Whip hot chocolate pots sold individually as item number 2981454 or 4986535, and as part of the Whirly Whip hot chocolate pot gift set item number 3021714. The item number can be found on the product’s box, below the bar code. The pot is made of white porcelain and has a red handle. The lid has a red knob and a frother attached to the underside of the lid knob.

Sold at: Williams-Sonoma stores nationwide, online at www.williams-sonoma.com and through Williams-Sonoma catalogs from October 2010 through January 2011 for between $30 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled hot chocolate pots and either return the product to any Williams-Sonoma store or contact Williams-Sonoma for instructions on how to return the product for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Williams-Sonoma toll-free at (855) 643-4206 between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m. PT seven days a week or visit the firm’s website at www.williams-sonoma.com

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Willmar, MN, United States (AHN) – Jennie-O Turkey Store, a Willmar, Minn. establishment, is recalling approximately 54,960 pounds of frozen, raw turkey burger products that may be contaminated with Salmonella, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

As FSIS continues its investigation of illnesses related to this recall, additional raw turkey products may be recalled. As a result, FSIS is alerting consumers to take extra care when preparing all raw turkey products.

To prevent salmonellosis and other foodborne illnesses, wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry, and cook poultry—including ground turkey burgers—to 165° F, as determined with a food thermometer.

The products subject to recall include:

4-pound boxes of Jennie-O Turkey Store® “All Natural Turkey Burgers with seasonings Lean White Meat”. Each box contains 12 1/3-pound individually wrapped burgers.

A use by date of “DEC 23 2011″ and an identifying lot code of “32710″ through “32780″ are inkjetted on the side panel of each box, just above the opening tear strip.

Establishment number “P-7760″ is located within the USDA mark of inspection on the front of each box. The products were packaged on Nov. 23, 2010 and were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services notified FSIS of a patient diagnosed with salmonellosis caused by Salmonella serotype Hadar. The investigation expanded to include 12 people in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin who also have been diagnosed with Salmonella Hadar infection, with illnesses occurring between December 2010 and March 2011. Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners, FSIS determined that three of the patients in Colorado, Ohio, and Wisconsin specifically reported eating this product prior to illness onset and hospitalization; the last of these illnesses was reported on March 14, 2011.

As a result of the epidemiologic investigation, FSIS determined that there is a link between the Jennie-O ground turkey products and this illness outbreak. FSIS is continuing to work with CDC, affected state public health partners, and the company on the investigation. FSIS will continue to provide information as it becomes available, including information about any related recall activity. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Jennie-O Turkey Store has created an online resource for consumers with questions about this recall. It can be found on their website at www.jennieo.com/recall. Media with questions regarding the recall should contact Julie Craven, Vice President of Corporate Communications, at media@j-ots.com or (507) 437-5345.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within six to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

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A program created by the health overhaul helps companies pay for workers who retire early and aren’t yet eligible for Medicare

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Washington, D.C., United States (KaiserHealth) – It seems like a simple idea: create new marketplaces, called “exchanges,” where consumers can comparison shop for health insurance, sort of like shopping online for a hotel room or airline ticket.

But, like almost everything else connected with the health overhaul law, state-based insurance “exchanges” are embroiled in politics. Some Republican governors are threatening to refuse to set up exchanges unless they get more flexibility over Medicaid, the state-federal health program for the poor. Others say they don’t want to implement any part of the federal health care law.

Last week, Louisiana officials decided against setting up an exchange. And in Montana, GOP lawmakers killed a GOP-sponsored Senate bill to set up an exchange. Still, some Republican officials are embracing them. And consumer advocates, disease groups and industry lobbyists are jockeying for influence over how the exchanges will be regulated.

If done well, proponents say, exchanges could make it easier to buy health insurance and possibly lead to lower prices because of increased competition. But, if designed poorly, experts warn, healthy people could avoid the exchanges, leaving them to sicker people with rising premiums.

Here are some common questions:

Q. What is an exchange, as envisioned by the health law?

A. It’s a marketplace where individuals and small employers will be able to shop for insurance coverage. They must be set up by Jan. 1, 2014. The exchanges will also direct people to Medicaid if they’re eligible.

Q. Will all states have exchanges?

A. States have the option of setting up their own exchanges, forming coalitions with other states to create regional exchanges – or opting out altogether. In that case, the federal government will run the exchanges for their residents.

Q. Will anyone be allowed to buy from the exchanges?

A. No. Initially, exchanges will be open to individuals buying their own coverage and employees of firms with 100 or fewer workers (50 or fewer in some states). Most Americans will continue to get insurance through their jobs, not via the exchanges. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 8 million people will use the exchanges in 2014 and 24 million in 2018. Most will be people who are eligible for subsidies, which will average an estimated $5,700 a person. Undocumented immigrants will be barred from the exchanges.

Q. What about federal workers?

A. Members of Congress and their staffs will be required to buy through exchanges if they want coverage from the federal government. Other federal employees won’t be required to use an exchange.

Q. Will exchanges be like travel websites or some existing health insurance sites?

A. In some ways. People will be able to compare policies sold by different companies. But information on the plan benefits will be standardized to make it easier to compare cost and quality. Plans will be divided into four different types, based on the level of benefits: bronze, silver, gold and platinum.

Q. What will the coverage sold on the exchanges look like?

A. Plans will have to offer a set of “essential benefits.” Those details, still being developed by the Obama administration, will include hospital, emergency, maternity, pediatric, drug, lab services and other care. Annual deductibles, or the amount consumers must fork over before insurance payments kick in, will be capped at the amounts allowed for health savings accounts — currently, nearly $6,000 for individual policies and $12,000 for family plans.

Q. How much will the policies cost?

A. The premiums will vary by type of plan and location. Insurers won’t be able to charge more based on gender or health status. They will be able to charge older people up to three times more than younger ones.

Q. Will the states negotiate premiums with the insurers?

A. The law doesn’t require states to set or negotiate premiums. However, states may have some influence over prices. For example, states can decide whether to open exchanges to all insurers, or to limit the number. State insurance commissioners will be able to recommend whether specific insurers should be allowed to sell in the exchange, partly based on their patterns of rate increases.

Q. What if I can’t afford the premiums?

A. People who earn less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level, $14,484 this year, will qualify for Medicaid in all states, under the law. Above that, sliding scale subsidies for private insurance on the exchanges will be available for residents who earn up to 400 percent of the poverty level, about $43,560 this year. Most people will be required to have coverage of some sort beginning in 2014.

Q. Will all insurers have to offer policies through the exchange?

A. No. Insurers won’t be required to sell through the exchanges.

Q. Will all state exchanges be the same?

A. No. States can design their exchanges differently, an issue that’s sparking debate in statehouses nationwide. Some states may choose to set additional standards for insurers beyond the federal law. Another important issue: The makeup and power of the governing boards overseeing the exchanges. Some states, such as Maryland, are considering barring insurance industry and sales agents from their governing boards. Others, like North Carolina, have pending legislation that includes representatives from those groups on their governing boards.

jappleby@kff.org

– Provided by Kaiser Health News.

This story was produced in collaboration with The Washington Post

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Vernon, VT, United States (AHN) – The Garden State’s only nuclear power plant was forced to shut down Sunday night because of a radioactive leak.

A 24-inch pipe in Vermont Yankee’s feedwater system is leaking radioactive water at about 60 drops per minute. A spokesman for the reactor, which is owned by Entergy Corp., is quoted in local reports as saying the leak is within a building and does not pose a public health risk.

None of the approximately 650 men and women who work at the plant have been exposed to the radioactive water.

Entergy announced last week said it is considering selling the 605-megawatt plant, which is scheduled to close in 2012. The company had sought a 20-year renewal of the reactor’s license but state lawmakers early this year voted against keeping the aging plant operational.

The state legislature made its decision as the state officials were investigating groundwater contaminated with tritium, a mildly radioactive type of hydrogen. The leak, which was was plugged after three months, had followed allegations that Entergy employees had given state officials misleading information about underground piping.

The state health department continues to monitor tritium levels in groundwater around the reactor. It said last month that tritium concentrations in groundwaer wells were “generally decreasing” but that levels in wells near the Connecticut River “continue their trend of slowly increasing”

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Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The Food and Drug Administration has cited the manufacturers of Canada Dry Sparkling Green Tea Ginger Ale and Lipton Green Tea for making unauthorized therapeutic claims about their products.

The agency wants Unilver to correnct claims its makes on its website and packaging for Lipton Green Tea 100% Natural Naturally Decaffeinated.

The company’s website for Lipton Teas ” establish that the product is a drug because it is intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease,” according to regulators. Sales and marketing of drugs requires a different approval from the FDA.

Unilever’s Lipton website says, “[F]our recent studies in people at risk for coronary disease have shown a significant cholesterol lowering effect from tea or tea flavonoids … One of these studies, on post-menopausal women, found that total cholesterol was lowered by 8% after drinking 8 cups of green tea daily for 12 weeks.”

Regulators also asked the company to correct its product’s label, which says, “packed with protective FLAVONOID ANTIOXIDANTS.” The use of the term “antioxidant” involves different requirements, and the label makes unauthorized nutrient content claims.

The FDA also wrote to Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, the maker of Canada Dry Sparkling Green Tea Ginger Ale.

The agency cited the company for telling consumers their product is “ENHANCED WITH 200 mg OF ANTIOXIDANTS FROM GREEN TEA & VITAMIN C.**” The claim on the packaging has a double asterisk that refers to a statement also on the label, “**Each 8 oz serving contains 200 mg of antioxidants from Green Tea Flavonoids and Vitamin C.”

The companies are not the only ones to receive citations from the FDA. Fleminger Inc. and Redco Foods have also received warning letters about their green tea products. Such letters require a response within 15 days.

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and Unilever have said they would work with the agency to correct the claims.

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Based off of my experiance in a personal recession… going from 116,000 in debt to paying off 70,000+ and making 250,000 in 2 and a half years….

With economic times not where we want them to be today, the bottom line is how do you survive? Do you suddenly have to tighten your budget and deal with increased stress? Is it possible that you could get laid off tomorrow, if so then what? Can you truly plan a family vacation for the summer not knowing what will happen next? People always ask are we really in a recession? It is my profound belief that if you are not better off right now then you where last year, that you are in an economic recession.

So the question remains, if things are slowing down in the economy what should you do next? In my experience I’ve learned there are only 3 viable ways to truly ensure that you can beat out the economy. First, have 100′s of thousands of dollars stashed away to basically buy your time through the slow periods. read more…