Warnings issued for Cookie Dough products

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Loblaw Companies Limited are warning people with allergies to milk proteins not to consume certain No Name Cookie Dough products.

The affected products contain milk which is not declared on the label.

All lot codes of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (UPC 0 60383 7338 3), Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (UPC 0 60383 67339 0) and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (UPC 0 60383 67340 6) are affected.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

FDA toughens warnings for four arthritis drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is ordering stronger warnings on four medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

The FDA says the drugs -- Humira, Cimzia, Enbrel and Remicade -- can expose some patients to serious, even fatal, fungal infections.

Cimzia is not approved in Canada. The other three drugs are now labelled for serious infections, said Health Canada's Alastair Sinclair, adding the agency "will review the issue more closely to determine whether further revision is needed."

The FDA has received 240 reports of one such type of infection, called histoplasmosis. In at least 21 of the cases, doctors didn't initially recognize the problem, and 12 of the patients died.

Lifesaving shock may lead to more trouble

A study found that heart failure patients were far more likely to die within four years after their inplanted defibrillator zapped the heart into beating normally.

Experts say patients should promptly tell their doctors if their defibrillator triggers.

And doctors should check to see if their patients' condition has worsened and whether tests or medication changes are needed.

-- Compiled by Florence Sicoli from Hamilton Spectator news services