If you use test strips to measure your blood glucose level, be aware that the FDA has issued a warning on some counterfeit One Touch strips sold for use with some models of glucose monitors from LifeScan.

LifeScan alerted the FDA of the counterfeit strips. Using these strips could cause patients to take too much or too little insulin based on the inaccurate readings.

The counterfeit strips are identified as:

* One Touch Basic®/Profile® (lot #272894A, 2619932 or 2606340) test strips; and,
* One Touch Ultra® (lot #2691191) test strips.

Consumers with questions can call the company at 1-800-621-4855. For more information visit LifeScan dot com.

Fifty cases of E. coli, leading to multiple hospitalizations and one death, have caused the FDA to issue a warning to consumers about bagged fresh spinach. The outbreak of E. coli in multiple states seems to be linked to the consumption of produce with bagged spinach being tagged as the possible cause.

“Given the severity of this illness and the seriousness of the outbreak, FDA believes that a warning to consumers is needed. We are working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local agencies to determine the cause and scope of the problem,” said Dr. Robert Brackett, Director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).

E. coli causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. The very young and the elderly are at particular risk for developing the most serious complication of E. coli – HUS or Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. It can lead to kidney failure and death.

At this time, the investigation is ongoing and states that have reported illnesses to date include: Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin.

Meanwhile the FDA advises consumers not to eat bagged spinach at this time. Contact your health care provider if you believe you have had symptoms of illness following the consumption of bagged spinach.

The FDA has issued a warning to consumers not to buy prescription drugs online from certain Canadian websites that have orders filled by Mediplan Prescription Plus Pharmacy or Mediplan Global Health in Manitoba, Canada. This follows reports of counterfeit drug products being sold by these companies to US consumers.

Testing is ongoing but inital lab results have found counterfeits of the following drugs from these websites:

Lipitor
Diovan
Actonel
Nexium
Hyzaar
Ezetrol (Zetia)
Crestor
Celebrex
Arimidex
Propecia

The FDA warns that if consumers have purchased these prescription drugs online through these websites, they should not take them as they may be unsafe. The following websites are involved:

* www.RxNorth.com;
* www.Canadiandrugstore.com;
* www.Rxbyfax.com;
* www.Northcountryrx.com;
* www.Canada-pharmacy.com;
* www.My-canada-pharmacy.com;
* www.NLRX.com;
* www.Canampharmacy.com;
* www.Canada-Meds-For-Less.net; and
* www.Canadian-safe.com

The FDA cautions consumers purchasing medical supplies online. Although a website may look legitimate, the products it supplies may come from unreliable sources.

The FDA has just published a second issue of its newsletter, Maturity Health Matters. A wide variety of subjects are covered including: the dangers of filling prescriptions abroad, the iBOT 4000 climbing wheelchair, nutrition tips, dealing with shingles and how to be an active member of your healthcare team.

The newsletter can be found by clicking this link:

Maturity Health Matters Issue 2