Calcium supplement review - Health Canada

Health Canada is informing Canadians that it is conducting an ongoing review of the benefits and risks associated with taking calcium supplements.

The review was to response the recent study published in the British Medical Journal. The study identified a potential link between the use of calcium supplements (used without supplementary vitamin D) and an increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, in patients with, or at risk of, osteoporosis. Health Canada has reviewed this study, its strengths and limitations, and determined that it does not demonstrate a conclusive association between calcium supplementation and cardiovascular risks. However, Health Canada will continue to review new data and will take appropriate action as necessary.

Calcium supplementation alone should not exceed 1,500 mg/day for all age groups. As well, Health Canada recommends that everyone over the age of 50 should take a daily vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms (400 IU) in addition to following Canada's Food Guide.

Source: Health Canada (2010).Ongoing Review of Calcium Supplements.Retrieved from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2010/2010_163-eng.php

Hospital Performance - Ontario

It is important to check how good hospitals perform in your area. How? Click this link www.myhospitalcare.ca
Check several hospitals in your area and find the best one. You have choice which hospital you use based on the objective performance rating.

You can view the rating by location, hospital,type of care or indicators that include wait time, clinical outcome, patient safety, patient and family satisfaction.

US Products Recall - BRAND'S Essence of Chicken Drink

Approximately 2,858 pounds of chicken drink products that were ineligible for import to the U.S., the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The products subject to recall include:

• Packages containing six 2.3-fluid ounce-bottles of "BRAND'S Essence of Chicken Drink"
• Packages containing six 2.3-fluid ounce-bottles of "BRAND'S Essence of Chicken Drink, with Cordyceps Extract"
• Packages containing six 2.3-fluid ounce-bottles of "BRAND'S Essence of Chicken Drink, with 4 Herbs"
• Packages containing six 2.3-fluid ounce-bottles of "BRAND'S Essence of Chicken Drink, with Lingzhi"
• Packages containing six 2.3-fluid ounce-bottles of "BRAND'S Essence of Chicken Drink, with Ginseng

The recall was Class II which means there is a remote possibility of adverse health effects.

The reason was because it could not be determined that the poultry ingredients used in the chicken drink products were prepared under inspection as required by federal regulations or under a foreign inspection system determined to be equivalent by FSIS.

Another Class II recalls poultry products are

• 16-ounce cans of "CALFARM BRAND Granulated Chicken Bouillon"
• 16-ounce cans of "MAYLOR BRAND Granulated Chicken Bouillon."
• 2.2-pound cans of "MAYLOR BRAND Granulated Chicken Bouillon."
• 5-pound bags of "MAYLOR BRAND Granulated Chicken Bouillon."
• 2.2-pound bags of "MAYLOR BRAND Granulated Chicken Bouillon."

Your own personal health record

Managing your own complete, updated, and easily accessible health record means you can play a more active role in your health care. Think about how your health information is scattered across many different providers and facilities. By keeping your personal health record up-to-date and complete, the right information will be available when you need it.

Your health record includes:
List of medication: including the start dates of medications
Allergy alert if any
Medical History: including previous surgeries
Family medical history

It is very important for you and your love ones know your health information and your critical records so that medical staff can obtain the information quickly in emergencies.

Melamine Risk

Melamine is a synthetic chemical used in a variety of industrial applications including the production of resins and foams, cleaning products, fertilizers and pesticides. It is not naturally occurring and is not allowed in food. Canada does not allow melamine to be used as a food ingredient. Selected products that could contain melamine such as whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein have been sampled and are in the process of being tested.

On September 21st, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Regent Long Marketing and Distribution Ltd issued a consumer advisory advising people not to consume the Nissin Cha Cha Dessert(清美味寶-喳咋糖水). This product was made using Yili Pure Milk, in which melamine has been detected.

Health Canada has also notified all licence holders and licence applicants for natural health products (NHPs) containing significant amounts of milk proteins, such as NHPs that are nutritional supplements or protein bars, of the situation involving melamine contamination and asked for information as to the sources of the ingredients they use. As an additional precautionary measure, Health Canada will be testing selected samples of various NHPs containing significant amounts of milk proteins, to determine whether melamine contamination is present.

FDA has broadened its domestic and import sampling and testing of milk-derived ingredients and finished food products containing milk, such as candies, desserts, and beverages that could contain these ingredients from Chinese sources. Milk-derived ingredients include whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein.

Source: Health Canada (2008). Melamine - Certain products from China. Retrieved from

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/2008melamine.shtml

frozen fly in the frozen food product

Have you ever thought of having a frozen fly in the food product? I had this experience. If you find problem in food product, you can contact Canadian Food Inspection Agency, CFIA. Food safety is the CFIA's top priority. The website is http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/fssae.shtml

To assist the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Office of Food Safety
and Recall carry out an investigation into your incident, the following
information (if available) should be provided.

- brand name of product
- size, universal product code, best before date
- location and name of the store where the product was purchased
- date of purchase
- your home address (so that we know which CFIA regional office to
refer to your inquiry to)
- a daytime number where an inspector can reach you

You should keep the remaining product in case a sample is needed for an investigation.

more about Listeria - product recall: Est # 97B

Here is the mapleleaf website for product recall http://www.mapleleaf.com/list.html.

Remember to click "the complete list of all recalled products", which include Tim Horton, McDonald, Schneiders, Shopsys and also No Name.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency also provides info for consumers, http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/list97be.shtml

Please also check the Q&A link to understand more about food recall and the concern about using deli meats to prepare sandwiches.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/listqueste.shtml