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Fact: 80% of antibiotics in US are used by the food industry. We are probably all aware that the meats and poultry we eat can have had antibiotic treatment, but new evidence* uncovers produce and dairy contains bacteria that are resistant to common and some resistant to very ‘big gun’ antibiotics. Beyond scary, this study checked organic and conventional markets in CA for the presence of bacteria on their produce and dairy. Given the fact that there is no ‘kill’ step like boiling for ready to eat produce and diary. Produce was found in this study to have 10,000 times higher resistant bacteria than diary. While antibiotics are not used in the produce industry the resistant bacteria it is surmised came from the soil. Even yogurt samples had drug resistant bacteria present.

Yes everything we put in our mouths has some degree of contamination and mostly it does not amount to an illness. We now know more about the ‘bugs’ around us.

*Levels of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Ready-to-Eat Foods

States are passing laws to allow children at school to self apply sunscreen, you may wonder what? The FDA considers sunscreen a medication and not to be allowed to be ‘self medicated’ while attending school. If a child needs his/her inhaler they need to go to the school nurse to get it. New laws would permit children to use sunscreen without ‘special permission in the office’, from a parent or doctor, while at school. After all an application of sunscreen lasts only a few hours.

Labeling Update – FDA has banned the use of codeine and tramadol (Ultram®) for children under age 12, citing resulting breathing issues. These are narcotic-opioid type medications that are known to depress even totally suppress breathing.

Teen web addicts are increasing and with all the classic addiction signs: overindulgence, obsessive behavior, isolation, depression, and in suing insomnia. Yes if they are sneaking alcohol or abusing drugs the same symptomatology will be seen. The Internet is an easy venue to vices and after all there is no real foolproof way to control how it is used. So please a word of caution watch out for -be vigilant, there is a reason there are rehab camps in South Korea for children to detox from the Internet.

Energy drinks with herbal or chemical ingredients along with a high content of caffeine can have different effects on the electrical functioning of your heart than plain caffeinated beverages do. A study on energy drinks involving healthy military personnel measuring blood pressure and doing ECGs showed changes in heart function starting 2 hours after consumption.

The electrical time it takes to for the lower chambers of the heart to recharge after each beat in order to beat again is called the “QT interval”.  The study originally published in medical journal*, showed a delay of 10 milliseconds occurring in personnel who consumed energy drinks. (The FDA labels drugs causing a 6msec QT interval delay with a warning.) The effects were short term, but are they cumulative? 

Please do not assume herbal/natural preparations are automatically safe. Our bodies are unique; therefore what is good or safe for someone may not be for you.

*John P. Morrow, MD, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York City,