After 65 people became hospitalized after eating refrigerated cookie dough, the NESTLE company has issued a voluntary recall. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7 (a bacterium that causes food borne illness). 

Jon L. Gelman LLC is investigating cases involving individuals who have suffered the loss of taste and smell (anosmia) after using Zicam®. Zicam® is an over-the-counter nasal spray used to relieve the symptoms associated with the common cold and flu and is manufactured by Matrixx Initiatives. Matrixx manufactures a range of products under the Zicam® name, but the name Zicam® is generally used to refer to its over-the-counter nasal zinc solution spray.  

Since 1998, NIOSH and Brush Wellman Inc., the largest US producer of beryllium and beryllium products, have collaborated on research focused on beryllium and its associated health effects. This research program comprises medical surveillance of current Brush Wellman workers, and studies of airborne and dermal beryllium exposure. 

  The spread of influenza A has now reached pandemic proportions. The focus has now been directed to creating a vaccine to halt the rapid community spread. The next challenge to workers’ compensation systems may be claims resulting from adverse reactions to employer sponsored vaccination programs.

The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc. announced that it has executed an agreement resolving substantially all common law asbestos-related direct actions pending against its Travelers Property Casualty Corp. subsidiaries ("Travelers"). These actions allege, among other things, a general, non-statutory duty to disclose to the public the hazards of asbestos. The settlement, if it receives court approval, would also bar similar future direct actions against Travelers.