For years, Zicam Cold Remedy, has been sold as a drug for colds but has never been tested by federal regulators because of its homeopathic nature. Zicam, manufactured by Matrixx, is a gel taken through intranasal administration and advertised as shortening the duration and severity of colds. Its main ingredient, zinc gluconate, has been associated with the loss of sense of smell.

from fda: The FDA has received more than 130 reports of loss of sense of smell associated with the use of three Zicam products. In these reports, many people who experienced a loss of smell said the condition occurred with the first dose; others reported a loss of the sense of smell after multiple uses of the products.

from reuters: Matrixx must seek FDA-approval if it wants to continue selling Zicam zinc products administered via the nose. William Hemelt [acting president, chief financial and chief operating officer] said the company was not likely to do so, saying the process would take years and be "highly expensive."

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From RT: Psychiatric Patients Sterilized and Mistreated
From RT: How to spot talent? China looks to genes.

The Guardian: British scientists ask WHO to condemn Homeopathy for diseases such as HIV
From the LA Times: Study finds antidepressant doesn't help autistic children
Forest Laboratories’ Celexa Doesn’t Help Children With Autism
McDonald's tests eggs from outside the battery cage
From MSNBC: Music as medicine: Docs use tunes as treatment

From Washington Post : "Strategy being devised to protect use of BPA
Manufacturers of cans for beverages and foods and some of their biggest customers, including Coca-Cola, are trying to devise a public relations and lobbying strategy to block government bans of a controversial chemical used in the linings of metal cans and lids."

"bisphenol A, is primarily used in plastics to make them stronger and is used in many products such as baby bottles, the lining in canned goods, epoxy strengtheners for construction, dentle tools, and many others.

According to wikipedia: Global production of bisphenol A in 2003 was estimated to be over 2 million metric tonnes. In the U.S., it is manufactured by Bayer MaterialScience, Dow Chemical Company, General Electric, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, and Sunoco Chemicals. In 2004, these companies produced just over 1 million t of bisphenol A, up from just 7,260 t in 1991. In 2003, annual U.S. consumption was 856,000 t, 72% of which was used to make polycarbonate plastic and 21% going into epoxy resins.

On thursday may 7th, according to the FDA website: "At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals today seized more than $1.5 million worth of food products, including herbs and botanicals, stored under filthy conditions at the American Mercantile Corporation of Memphis, Tenn." this seizure was ordered by the US District Courts in Memphis.
"'The food and supplements industry can expect a lot more of this', says Loren Israelsen, executive director of the supplements trade group United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA)" " A Follow-up joint inspection with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture found that the owner failed to clean the facility and did not correct previous violations, despite promising to do so. No warning letter was issued," FDA said in an e-mail statement to Functional Ingredients magazine."

From the NYT: in an article about autopsies done to the corpses of fallen soldier the times finds that not even the families of the dead have rights to their loved ones :The examiner’s office has not publicized the autopsy policy and has not often discussed it. Families are informed that autopsies are being performed and that they can request a copy of the report. Occasionally, families object, but the autopsy is done anyway. About 85 percent to 90 percent of families request the reports, and 10 percent also ask for photographs from the autopsy, said Paul Stone, a spokesman for the medical examiner system.