For one of the oldest drugs going, marijuana sure has room for innovation. While pot enthusiasts in states without legal weed have been turning to synthetic bud of late, researchers in England are hard at work on a weed-based mouth-spray that they hope will help cancer patients. And the FDA is taking it seriously. Like those chloraseptic sprays, but someone put their weed in there. more ›

Today in scaremongering: the FDA has recently launched a new tattoo study, focused on a chemical in black ink called benzo(a)pyrene, which may give you cancer. Their studies on lab animals have shown that it could lead to skin cancer and malignant melanomas. These concerns have been around for a few months, however, and as of now "doesn't seem to concern tattoo artists or their clients." (For the record, two out of two Gothamist staffers with black ink aren't that concerned, though one declared: "I have enough possible made up ailments to worry about!"). But maybe this Daily News story will? more ›

If you recently picked up some cilantro before hopping on the PATH you may want to double check the label. California-based Pacific Cilantro is recalling 6,141 cartons of its cilantro (or "coriander" if you're a Herb) after the FDA found salmonella in a sample. NBC reports that no illnesses have been recorded, and that the cilantro is being pulled from six other states besides New Jersey. more ›

Today, the Food and Drug Administration decided to make Plan B, the morning-after contraceptive, available to everyone and lift the requirement that those under 17 years of age need a prescription. However, Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius rejected the decision, which means access is still restricted. Sebelius's statement says, "The science has confirmed the drug to be safe and effective with appropriate use. However, the switch from prescription to over the counter for this product requires that we have enough evidence to show that those who use this medicine can understand the label and use the product appropriately. I do not believe that [Plan B maker] Teva’s application met that standard. The label comprehension and actual use studies did not contain data for all ages for which this product would be available for use." more ›

The Federal Drug Administration has until tomorrow to decide whether to allow Plan B, a morning-after pill, to be sold on shelves and without a prescription. more ›

Craisins, which for years have battled an inferiority complex against raisins, suffered another blow to their reputation this weekend, when manufacturer Ocean Spray announced a recall of thousands of bags due to "the possible presence of very small hair-like metal fragments." The fragments, like the dried cranberries themselves, will do nothing to enhance your salad-eating experience. more ›

Smokers will not be forced to confront graphic images on cigarette packs depicting the potentially insalubrious side-effects of their addiction, a federal judge ruled today. You'll recall that the FDA, carrying out legislation enacted by Congress, was poised to require cigarette packages to be sold with a variety of graphic anti-smoking warnings. But five major tobacco companies filed a lawsuit, and today U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that it's likely they'll win—so he's ordered the FDA hold off on requiring the warnings until that legal battle is settled. more ›

NO SALAD IS SAFE, SHEEPLE! Earlier this month, romaine lettuce from California was recalled due to listeria concerns, and today, the salad sabotage continues, with the news that bagged salad mix might be tainted with salmonella. more ›

Here's a handy excuse to avoid eating your vegetables: romaine lettuce is being recalled from 21 states over concerns that the greens are tainted with listeria, which you may recall as the same deadly bacteria found in cantaloupes last week. more ›

Careful with the cantaloupes! Though no cases have been reported in New York, yet, the CDC says that as many as 16 people have died from listeria-related illnesses traced to cantaloupes grown in Colorado, making it the deadliest food-related outbreak in more than a decade. more ›

First, he came for our prescription drugs, but we said nothing. Then, he went for our Prospect Park West bike lanes, but we were still pretty zonked out from the prescription drugs. Now, Chuck Schumer wants to regulate how much arsenic is in our apple juice. This is where we draw the line: it's not a tall glass of apple juice unless we're convulsing with joy! more ›

If there's one thing New Yorkers love, it's brunch. And if there's one ingredient integral to brunch, it's smoked salmon. On a bagel with schmear, on an English muffin with poached eggs, or straight-up on an appetizing platter, the pink stuff is integral to any Sunday morning. But beware! More than 8,000 individually wrapped packages of smoked salmon across the country are being recalled due to listeria concerns. more ›

We knew those delightfully litigious purveyors of smooth, bold flavors wouldn't let us down. Five major tobacco companies have filed a lawsuit against the FDA claiming that the historic 2009 legislation that allows the agency to regulate tobacco violates the First Amendment by requiring those cheesy, not-so-graphic warning labels on cigarette packs. Attorney for the plaintiffs, the esteemed Floyd Abrams, tells CNN, "We think it violates the First Amendment for the government to require people who purchase a lawful product to essentially urge prospective purchases not to buy it." more ›

Buyers, no longer beware! The FDA is prepared to issue a standard label for gluten-free foods, meaning those suffering from celiac disease can finally breathe easy at the grocery store. more ›

All the rules have changed in this post-Four Loko world—now we're left sitting up late at night, wondering which of our favorite mostly-legal bodega products will be the next to fold under the mighty hand of the FDA. And it seems we've found a new beautiful corpse: the makers of melatonin-laced brownies "Lazy Larry", or as they're better known "Lazy Cakes," has been warned that the government considers them unsafe, and could seize them from store shelves at any minute! more ›

In a town where you can pretty much buy whatever the hell you want, is it shocking that one can still pick up the zesty alco-caffeinated version of our fallen friend Four Loko? The Local East Village reports that you can still find the banned version in neighborhood bodegas. Also still available in the East Village: heroin. But only one of those substances turns your poop blue! more ›

The rest of America will soon be remade in Michael Bloomberg's image, when the FDA implements rules modeled after NYC's controversial law requiring chain restaurants to prominently display their calorie info. Earlier this month the FDA proposed regulations that would require calorie labeling on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants, retail food establishments, and even vending machines across America. The agency is also seeking public comment on whether other types of food establishments should be included. New York City, über alles! more ›

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act that President Obama signed into law this year didn't just bring us a fancy new FDA recall page. It also is sending the 125-year-old A.L. Bazzini Co., which makes the “official peanut of Yankee Stadium,” out of New York and into the loving embrace of Pennsylvania. more ›

If over the last few years you've been frustrated when trying to find information on the FDA's website about whatever is being recalled this week we've got good news. Because of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act signed by President Obama in January, the agency has been compelled to create a new, searchable, tabular website to track all of the recalls under its purview. Which means if you want to obsess about what foods, drugs, and medical devices you don't want to be using, this site is for you. more ›

Yesterday, the FDA announced two proposed regulations that would require chain restaurants around the country to post calorie counts on their menus—like New York has been doing for years. But don't worry, there are still a few safe places where no one will know how fat you are. The FDA writes, "Movie theaters, airplanes, bowling alleys, and other establishments whose primary purpose is not to sell food would not be subject to this proposed regulation." more ›

First they recall our Skippy peanut butter and now they take away our hazelnuts? After seven cases of E. coli were reported in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin a California-based company (DeFranco & Sons) has voluntarily recalled a number of its in-shell hazelnut and mixed-nut products. So far no deaths have been connected to the contaminated nuts, but three people have been hospitalized according to the CDC. more ›

Nooooooo! Unilever America has announced a recall of Skippy® Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy® Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread, because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The product was distributed in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, among other states. What a way to kick off National Peanut Month. more ›

The FDA, which is in charge of such things, has been trying to create a standard definition for a voluntary "gluten-free" label for years now. But with no real movement on that front at least one member of the City Council is trying to take matters into his own hands...by asking the FDA to make "gluten-free" labeling on foods mandatory. more ›

It was good mildly uncomfortable while it lasted, but synthetic marijuana knock-off "K2" is facing permanent banishment. Using its "emergency powers" yesterday, the FDA banned the sale of five chemicals which are used to make K2, Spice, and other such herbal products. First bath salts, then Jane Russell, and now K2? What will 2011 take away from us next? more ›

What's Christmas without eggnog, and what's eggnog without nutmeg? It's like A Charlie Brown Christmas without the crappy tree, Die Hard without the Rickman. But it looks like we're just going to have to cancel Christmas this year, because the FDA has announced that Salmonella has been found in two nutmeg products that both been on the shelves at Whole Foods. more ›

Giving fuel to Chuck Schumer's flame, a 17-year-old from Marion, NY crashed his car after drinking two cans of Four Loko. Timothy Taylor, who is not yet a licensed driver, had been "driving around the yard" of a residence in Arcadia around 7 a.m. on November 19th, lost control of the vehicle and crashed through a fence. He told officers he drank two cans of the controversial beverage a few hours before, and he now faces DWI charges. The man who sold him the Four Loko was charged with first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child. Thank goodness these products are being pulled from the shelves—now no teenager will ever drink and drive again. more ›

With all the hoopla over caffeinated-alcohol-drink-of-the-moment Four Loko, we forgot all about other caffeinated favorites like JOOSE, Moonshot, and Core High Gravity HG. But JOOSE, which just released a Strawberry Kiwi flavor, wants you to know they're taking the now official FDA warning letters seriously. They say in a statement, "We respect the decision of the FDA, will be reviewing the details of the new guidelines, and will be aligning new FDA rules with the demands of our loyal consumer base. And, as we always have, will market JOOSE products in a legal and responsible manner." more ›