About 24,000 Amby Baby motion bed hammocks are being recalled after two infants were suffocated. Safety regulators said the side-to-side shifting or tilting of the hammock can cause the infant to roll and become entrapped or wedged against the hammock’s fabric or mattress pad.

Amby Baby said it is aware of two infant suffocation deaths in the Amby Baby hammock. In June 2009, a 4-month-old girl in Lawrenceville, Ga died in a baby hammock and in August 2009, a 5-month-old boy from Gresham, Ore.

Additionally, there has also been three other incidents reported. One of these incidents resulted in an injury from metal fragments falling into the infant’s eye. The other two incidents did not result in injury.

The Amby Baby Motion Bed consists of a steel frame and a fabric hammock which are connected by a large spring and metal crossbar. There is only one model of the hammock available which can be identified by a label sewn onto the hammock stating: “Amby – Babies Love It, Naturally.”

In the U.S., Consumers are being asked to stop using the Amby Baby motion beds/hammocks and contact Amby Baby USA for a free repair kit. In Canada, Health Canada is asking Parents and caregivers to disassembled and dispose of the bed in such a way that it cannot be used again. Consumers are also being encouraged to notify Health Canada should they find this product for sale.

For additional information, contact Amby Baby USA toll-free at (866) 544-9721 between 9 a.m. and 5p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.ambybaby.com.

SOURCE via CONSUMERAFFAIRS

In order to conform with the latest recommendations from the U.S. Institute of Medicine, Health Canada is revising its weight gain guidelines for pregnant women.

Among the guidelines being adopted by Health Canada is having a suggested rate of weight gain for pregnant women, as well as recommendations for total weight gain.

Health Canada also has instituted a specific recommendation for a lower amount of weight gain for obese women.

Gestational weight gain recommendations are based on a women’s body mass index (BMI) prior to pregnancy.

Under the new guidelines,

• Women with a body mass index less than 18.5 prior to pregnancy – considered underweight – have a recommended range of total weight gain between 28 and 40 pounds (12.5 and 18 kilograms)
• Women in the normal weight category with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 have a recommended range of total weight gain from 25 to 35 pounds (11.5 to 16 kg)
• For overweight women with a pre-pregnancy BMI between 25 and 29.9, a total weight gain between 15 and 25 pounds (seven to 11.5 kg) is recommended
• Obese women with a pre-pregnancy BMI of greater than 30 are advised to gain no more than 11 to 20 pounds (five to nine kg) during pregnancy

The decision to adopt the U.S. Institute of Medicine’s recommendations was made by Health Canada in consultation with an external expert advisory group

An interactive web-based tool that will assist women in tracking their weight gain during pregnancy is also being developed.

The final materials for health professionals and pregnant women will be available next spring.

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Health Canada has recalled approximately 26,290 Melissa and Doug toys because testing has revealed that the surface paint on the toys contains barium in excess of the allowable limit.

Some forms of barium are safely used in medical and commercial applications, while other forms of barium can be toxic, causing adverse health effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps as well as more severe symptoms. Children’s toys coated with paint containing barium in excess of the allowable limit are strictly prohibited in Canada.

This recall involves all batches of the following three products by Melissa & Doug.

• Slice and Bake Cookie Set: The set includes a tube of 12 sliceable wooden cookies with 12 decorative toppings, a kitchen mitt, a wooden cookie sheet, knife and spatula. The recalled sets can be identified by UPC 000772040747. Health Canada tested batch number ZP1208.
• Shape Sorting Cube: This toy is a wooden cube with a lid and 12 colourful cut-out shapes that fit into 12 holes, based on the shape. The cut-out shapes are red, yellow, green, and blue. The recalled toys can be identified by UPC 000772005753. Health Canada tested batch number XY0309.
• Pound-a-Peg: This toy includes 8 colourful wooden pegs, a wooden hammer, and a wooden bench. The pegs are red, green, yellow, and blue, and can be pounded into the wooden bench using the hammer. The recalled toys can be identified by UPC 000772004961. Health Canada tested batch number ZP0609.

Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or illnesses related to the use of this product.

The recalled products were sold from November 2008 to November 2009.

Consumers may return the item to the store where it was purchased for a full refund, or contact Melissa & Doug at at 1-203-762-4500 to exchange the product.

VIA ZRECS_SAFETY

Health Canada issued a recall of two types of Natursutten baby teethers yesterday after tests showed the liquid inside might be contaminated by bacteria.

The Natursutten Liquid-filled Teethers were distributed by EcoBaby Aps of Denmark and were made in Germany. About 2,500 were sold at independent children’s stores across Canada and by online retailers between October 2008 and October 2009.

The teethers are made from EVAtane, filled with water, and labelled as phthalate-free, silicone-free and BPA-free. One recalled model looks like a fish, while another looks like an apple.

The bacterium, Bacillus sphaericus/fusiformis, is a type that generally does not cause illness, but it could cause infection in children with weakened immune systems if the teether is punctured and the liquid ingested. It could also cause infection if it comes into contact with open wounds.

Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or illnesses but said consumers should take them away from children and return them to the store where purchased for a full credit.

For more information, consumers may contact Monarch Distributing at info@monarchdistributing.ca.

SOURCE

Health Canada scientists have found bisphenol A leaching into the liquid of plastic baby bottles marketed to parents as being free of the toxic chemical.

The study says “traces” of the toxin were found in “BPA-free” bottles while internal correspondence between a department official and the lead scientist went further, characterizing the amounts in two brands as “high readings.”

Manufacturers of non-polycarbonate plastic baby bottles, however, were quick to challenge the “shocking” results, saying there must be a problem with the way the agency conducted the research.

Government scientists conducted the tests on non-polycarbonate bottles last year after Health Canada announced an imminent ban on polycarbonate plastic baby bottles.

By then, the market had already been flooded with “BPA-free” alternatives made of substitute plastics without any bisphenol A, which were pitched as an option for parents concerned about the health risks associated with the newly labelled toxin.

Bisphenol A, a hormone disrupter that can cause reproductive damage and may lead to prostate and breast cancer in adulthood, is used as a building block in polycarbonate plastic, but not in the substitutes, such as polypropylene.

The test results surprised Health Canada scientists involved, according to records released to Canwest News Service under the Access to Information Act.

“This bottle is labelled polypropylene which should contain no BPA,” the lead scientist wrote to a colleague, recommending another analysis be done to “verify the claim” and “check more samples.”

The brand mentioned in the correspondence is blacked out on the grounds that the information could result in financial loss or prejudice the competitive advantage of a company.

In separate correspondence, a Health Canada official wrote to the scientist — under the subject heading “Migration of Bisphenol A from ‘BPA Free’ Baby Bottles and Liners” — to thank him for other results.

“We would definitely like to do a material characterization for the two brands with high readings and would also like to test the other brands too at the same time.”

Health Canada tested about nine different brands of baby bottles using non-polycarbonate plastic for possible leaching of BPA, chosen because they’re made with a type of plastic that does not use the chemical as a building block.

Researchers suggest the “traces of BPA found to migrate from these bottles could be artifacts of the manufacturing process.”

And since these “BPA-free” bottles leached less than polycarbonate plastic bottles under conditions designed to simulate repeated normal use, the government researchers concluded these bottles made of polysulfone, polystyrene or polypropylene (non-PC) are a “reasonable alternative” to the banned polycarbonate (PC) bottles.

“The average BPA concentration in non-PC baby bottles after 10 days at high temperature (60 C) was similar to the levels found in PC bottles after 24 hours at 40 C. This is a good indication that non-PC baby bottles may be considered as appropriate alternatives to PC bottles, in order to minimize exposure BPA from PC-plastic baby bottles.”

University of Missouri’s Frederick vom Saal, a leading researcher into bisphenol A and other endocrine disrupters, said Health Canada’s test results are a “wake-up” call for bottle manufacturers and consumers.

“This really is a truly ubiquitous chemical. It’s very sticky. It’s on dust, it’s on everything. It is possible at very, very small amounts that you could maybe detect it in something, but most of these assays are not sensitive enough to pick up a hitchhiker,” he said.

“You’re picking it up because it’s actually a component of the plastic that it’s in, and that’s a little unnerving to find that people are reporting this coming out of other plastic products like polypropylene.”

And even if trace amounts can be explained away as a result of environmental contamination, companies need to revisit their manufacturing processes, said vom Saal.

BPA Free Bottle manufacturers came out swinging saying there’s no way their bottles leach any amount of bisphenol A, even in trace amounts.

“We have not only three major global testing labs that test our products, but we also do biologic testing on our bottles, and the biologic type of testing is even more sensitive than anything that Health Canada could ever pull off, and it would pick up anything that even behaved like BPA,” said Kevin Brodwick, founder and president of thinkbaby, whose products are made with medical-grade plastic specifically formulated to be free of bisphenol A, PVC, nitrosamines, phthalates, lead, melamine and biologically toxic chemicals.

Test results, conducted at least every quarter, consistently show “zero, complete non-detect for BPA,” said Brodwick.

“It sounds more like Health Canada has an issue of their equipment not being clean.”

BornFree Canada president Tony Ferraro echoed this sentiment, saying several independent tests have all found “no detection” of the chemical in his company’s bottles.

“It is extremely difficult to comprehend otherwise” because bisphenol A is not contained or added to the resin or additives during the manufacturing practice,” said Ferraro. “I can conclude with 100 per cent accuracy and confidence that any possibility of trace amounts of bisphenol A in BornFree products is unlikely and impossible.”

I personally feel that the brand’s that had ‘high readings’ should be disclosed if more tests find the same results. In many cases, BPA Free bottles are more expensive than their polycarbonate counterparts. Consumers shouldn’t be duped into raising company’s profits if they’re not getting a safer product for their babies.

The sad part is that parents trust what is being marketed to them, especially when harmful chemicals are involved because we have no way of proving if a product is organic, BPA free or non toxic.

SOURCE

Health Canada is advising expectant mothers and breastfeeding women not to take the vitamin-mineral supplements Maxum Matragen or Maxum Multi-Vite by Seroyal International Inc. Maxum Multi-Vite has been approved as a vitamin-mineral supplement for only the general public but lacks the required cautionary statement on the label regarding pregnant and/or breast feeding women. The product Maxum Matragen is being promoted by the company as a prenatal supplement; however, neither product has been authorized for sale by Health Canada for use by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Both products contain ingredients such as Ginkgo biloba, Green Tea Extracts and Vanadium, whose safe use during pregnancy or in breastfeeding women has not been well established. Products containing these ingredients require a cautionary label warning consumers to consult with a health care practitioner prior to use if they are pregnant or breastfeeding, neither Maxum Matragen nor Maxum Multi-Vite carries such a warning on their labels.

In addition, the daily doses as labelled for Maxum Matragen and Maxum Multi Vite do not provide the minimum recommended daily dose of 400 mcg of folic acid and the recommended 16-20 mg of iron for expectant, pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Health Canada has not received any adverse reaction reports associated with Maxum Matragen and/or Maxum Multi-Vite. Pregnant or breastfeeding women who may be taking Maxum Matragen or Maxum Multi-Vite are advised to consult their health care professional prior to continuing use of these products.

The company Seroyal International Inc. has voluntarily recalled these products from the market.

Please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website for more information on healthy living during pregnancy.

Consumers requiring more information about this advisory can contact Health Canada’s public enquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Dorel Juvenile Group today announced a voluntary recall of about 76,000 Eddie Bauer Soothe & Sway Play Yards.

The play yard’s rocking bassinet attachment can tilt when secured by straps (non-rocking mode) which can cause it to stay tilted without returning to a level sleeping surface while in the rocking mode. The tilted sleeping surface can cause an infant to roll to the corner or side of bassinet and become wedged in the corner or pressed against the side or bottom of the bassinet. This presents a risk of suffocation or positional asphyxiation.

The firm and CPSC have received 10 reports of infants rolling to one side, including 6 that had their faces pressed against the side or the bottom of the bassinet. One child reportedly was turning purple and was out of breath when discovered. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Eddie Bauer Soothe & Sway portable play yards. The convertible play yard has a bassinet and changing station feature. A mobile with three teddy bears was also sold with the play yard. Models included in the recall are 05046 (all units) and 05044 units manufactured before December 1, 2008. Different models were sold in Canada. Model numbers and manufacture dates are printed on a sticker on one of the support legs underneath the play yard. Manufacture dates are printed in the YY/MM/DD format.

Consumers should immediately stop using the bassinet attachment of the play yard and contact Dorel Juvenile Group toll-free at (888) 233-4903 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.djgusa.com for a $40 voucher toward the purchase of a new Dorel product. Consumers can continue using the play yard.

In that time there have been many warnings and even a recall on many different brands of cough syrup was issued by The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) in October.

At that time the Canadian Paediatric Society advised parents that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should NOT be given to children younger than three years old unless prescribed by their doctor.

Health Canada is now requiring manufacturers to relabel over-the-counter cough and cold medicines that have dosing information for children to indicate that these medicines should not be used in children under 6.

The relabelling of these medicines will be completed by fall 2009, in time for the next cough and cold season. During the current cough and cold season, medicines will remain on store shelves and in homes with the current labelling, which could include dosing information for children under 6, because many of these products also have dosing information for adults and older children on the same label. As a result, for this cough and cold season, parents or caregivers should consult a pharmacist or a health care practitioner when buying or using these products. These medicines can still be used in children 6 and older, and adults.

Until the relabelling of these products is completed, Health Canada advises parents and caregivers to follow these important guidelines:

• Do not use these over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children under 6 years of age.
• With children older than 6, always follow all the instructions carefully, which includes the dosing and length-of-use directions, and use the dosing device if one is included.
• Do not give children medications labelled only for adults.
• Do not give more than one kind of cough and cold medicine to a child. Cough and cold medications often contain multiple ingredients. Combining products with the same ingredient(s) could cause an overdose that may result in harm to a child.
• Talk to your health care practitioner (doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc.) if you have questions about the proper use of over-the counter cough and cold medicines.
• The common cold is a viral infection for which there is no cure. Cough and cold medicines offer only temporary relief of symptoms such as runny nose, cough, or nasal congestion Symptoms can also be managed using a variety of non-medicinal measures such as adequate rest, increased fluid intake and a comfortable environment with adequate humidity.
• For babies and young children, it is important to rule out serious illnesses that have cold-like signs and symptoms (for example, pneumonia, ear ache or other infections). This is especially important if symptoms do not improve, or if the child’s condition worsens.
• If you are concerned about the child’s health (such as if symptoms worsen, last for more than a week, or are accompanied by a fever higher than 38 C or the production of thick phlegm), consult a health care practitioner for a medical evaluation.

For more information about Health Canada’s decision and the use of cough and cold products in children, consult the Health Canada Web site or call toll free at 1-866-558-2946.

Now, Health Canada is reporting that the highest levels were found in an organic product sold by a Canadian company.

The “snapshot” of the Canadian market found that 60 of 80 samples from retail and grocery stores in the Ottawa area had melamine levels ranging from 0.00431 to .346 parts per million (ppm). Two batches of My Organic Baby soy-based powder formula had the highest melamine levels (.334 and .346 ppm). The baby food company is a subsidiary of Vancouver-based alternative beverages group Clearly Canadian.

Health Canada considers all the trace levels to be safe because they fall below Canada’s new allowable level for infant formula, which dropped this week from one ppm to 0.5 ppm based on a recommendation by the World Health Organization.

“To put these findings into perspective, based on the findings of the survey, the average infant would have to consume over 130 kilograms of formula per day to approach the new tolerable daily intake,” the department said in a statement.

Despite these assurances, some parents and public-health advocates say the synthetic chemical, widely present in the environment because of its use in the production of resins, cleaning products, fertilizers and pesticides, should not be found even in trace amounts in infant foods.

Health Canada conducted the tests to determine background levels in the wake of the melamine milk scandal in China, where infant formula was intentionally contaminated with melamine – with fatal consequences – in an attempt to artificially increase the protein content.

Their findings:

• Loblaws, Wal-Mart, Sobeys and Shoppers Drug Mart sold infant formula with traces of melamine as high as 0.094 to 0.183 ppm
• Abbott Laboratories, Nestle, Mead Johnson and H.J. Heinz – also sold products with traces of melamine, but at lower levels than these house brands
• 6 Heinz products contained traces of melamine
• 8/17 Nestle products contained traces of melamine
• 8/18 types of formula produced by Abbott and sold under the Similac and Isomil brands had traces
• 14/19 Mead Johnson products, sold under Enfamil, Enfapro and Enfagrow brands

*One batch of Costco’s Kirkland brand was tested, in which Health Canada found no detectable levels.*

Related Articles:

• U.S. Officials Find Trace Amounts Of Melamine In Baby Formula
• Florida Baby Hospitalized From Drinking Watered-Down Formula

SOURCE