FDA Links Anti-Wrinkle Drug, Botox, to Deaths

FDA Links Anti-Wrinkle Drugs to Deaths

The popular anti-wrinkle drug Botox and a competitor have been linked to dangerous botulism symptoms in some users, cases so bad that a few children given the drugs for muscle spasms have died, the government warned Friday. The Food and Drug Administration's warning includes both Botox, a wrinkle-specific version called Botox Cosmetic, and its competitor, Myobloc, drugs that all use botulinum toxin to block nerve impulses, causing them to relax. In rare cases, the toxin can spread beyond the injection site to other parts of the body, paralyzing or weakening the muscles used for breathing and swallowing, a potentially fatal side effect, the FDA said.
Read article at physorg.com

Botulism warning about some vacuum-packed meat sold in Scotland and Cumbria

Botulism warning over vacuum-packed meat - Telegraph

Extract:

"Consumers have been warned not to eat batches of vacuum-packed meat sold in Scotland and Cumbria over concerns it could be infected with one of the most lethal forms of food poisoning.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued the alert over 2.6kg of smoked wild venison and smoked beef amid fears it is tainted with the deadly botulism bacteria.

The warning applies to 100g packs of meat produced by Islay Fine Food Company, Isle of Islay, which was sold at several specialist retail and catering outlets.

The beef batch has a use-by date of May 9 2007. The venison batch has a use-by date of June 9, 2007."