Health Highlights: April 23, 2015

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Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Judge Approves NFL Concussion Settlement

A landmark settlement between the National Football League and 5,000 football players who accused the league of hiding the dangers of concussions was approved by a federal district court judge Wednesday.

The settlement marks the end of a long legal battle that began after reports surfaced of former professional football players suffering severe neurological problems after retiring from the NFL.

Under the terms of the settlement, the NFL will provide payments of up to $5 million to players who have one of a handful of severe neurological disorders, will monitor all players to determine when or if they should receive a payment and will spend $10 million on concussion education, The New York Times reported.

In approving the settlement, Judge Anita Brody called the terms “fair, reasonable and adequate,” the Times reported.

However, no player will receive any payment until all appeals work their way through the courts, according to the newspaper. That process could take years, leaving some players who want and need the payments frustrated as others continue to fight for a better deal, the Times said.

The league had insisted that all retired players be covered by the settlement, but roughly 200 players decided to walk away from the settlement, to preserve their right to continue pushing for bigger payments in court.

Scott Rosner, a lawyer who teaches sports business at the University of Pennsylvania, told the Times it would be tough for any player to fight for further damages because Judge Brody asked both parties, on two occasions, to revise the settlement. She also addressed criticisms of the deal in court papers, Rosner added.

NFL General Counsel Jeff Pash said in a statement that the agreement would help players in need and avoid a prolonged trial, the Times reported.

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Trader Joe’s Sausage Recalled

More than 59,000 pounds of Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage sold at Trader Joe’s has been recalled because it may contain plastic.

The recalled 8-ounce packages of sausage were made by Massachusetts-based Kayem Foods and sold at Trader Joe’s stores across the United States, the Associated Press reported.

Customers can return the recalled packages — which have expiration dates of April 22, 25 and 29 — to any Trader Joe’s and get a full refund.

The Department of Agriculture says no one has eaten the recalled meat so far, and that there is only a slight chance of harm if someone does, the AP reported.

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Woman’s Death After Taking Diet Pills Under Investigation

A British woman’s death after taking diet pills she bought online is being investigated by police.

Officials said Eloise Parry, 21, died on April 12 shortly after she took the pills, ABC News reported.

“We are undoubtedly concerned over the origin and sale of these pills and are working with partner agencies to establish where they were bought from and how they were advertised,” Chief Inspector Jennifer Mattinson, West Mercia Police Department, said in a statement.

“We urge the public to be incredibly careful when purchasing medicine or supplements over the Internet,” she added.

Police said the pills taken by Parry are being tested for a toxic substance called dinitrophenol (DNP), which officials said has been used as a black market diet drug for decades, ABC News reported.

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