Health Highlights: June 4, 2019

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

California Ends Warning Over Coffee and Cancer

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has ruled that coffee does not pose a significant cancer risk, customers don’t have to be warned that their favorite drink is dangerous.

The decision overturns a judge’s order that companies like Starbucks have to add a cancer warning to its coffee, the Associated Press, reports.

“Coffee is a complex mixture of hundreds of chemicals that includes both carcinogens and anti-carcinogens,” Sam Delson, a spokesman for the agency told the AP. “The overall effect of coffee consumption is not associated with any significant cancer risk.”

A California law mandates that consumers be warned of chemicals that can cause cancer, one such chemical is acrylamide, which is found in coffee.

A Los Angeles judge ruled that because coffee contains the chemical it must be listed as a possible carcinogen.

“This is a great day for science and coffee lovers,” William Murray, president and chief executive of the National Coffee Association USA, told the AP. “With this news, coffee drinkers around the world can wake up and enjoy the smell and taste of their coffee without hesitation.”

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FDA Finds Toxic Nonstick Compounds in Grocery Store Foods

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found high levels of toxic nonstick, stain-resistant compounds in some meats, seafood and even chocolate cake, the Associated Press reported.

High levels of these manmade compounds — called per- and polyfluoroalykyl substances, or PFAS — were found in almost half of the meat and fish the agency tested. The levels were two to three times higher than recommended.

In the chocolate cake, levels were more than 250 times higher than the federal guidelines for some PFAS in drinking water, the report found.

Still, FDA spokeswoman Tara Rabin told the AP that the contamination was “not likely to be a human health concern.”

Nearly 5,000 types of PFAS, created in 1938 by chemicals giant DuPont exist. They were first used in nonstick cookware. Today they are found in many products including food packaging, carpets, couches and dental floss, and are used to shed grease, water and stains. PFAS are also in firefighting foam.

A federal review last year found that these compounds are more dangerous than thought, and may be linked some cancers, liver problems and low birth weight.

PFAS are called “forever chemicals.” It takes thousands of years for them to breakdown, and many of them buildup and stay in your body.

“What this calls for is additional research to determine how widespread this contamination is and how high the levels are,” Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, told the AP.

“We have to look at total human exposure — not just what’s in the water or what’s in the food … or not just dust. We need to look at the sum totals of what the exposures are,” she said.

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Label Error Forces Recall of Cough Syrup

The major drug company Novis PR LLC has voluntarily recalled 16-ounce bottles of its liquid cough syrup Pecgen DMX, due to typos on the label, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The label incorrectly says children “6 to under 1” should take one teaspoon every four hours but no more than four teaspoons in 24 hours.

However, the correct dosage is one teaspoon every four hours for children ages 6 to under 12, not to exceed four teaspoons in 24 hours or as directed by a doctor.

Also, the label doesn’t tell parents to check with their doctor before giving the cough syrup to children under 2.

The FDA want parents to know that no evidence exists that cough and cold medicines are safe or effective for young children.

There is evidence, however, that children have been harmed by overdoses of such remedies. In fact, overdoses can cause seizures, coma and death, the FDA says.

Furthermore, the active ingredient in the cough syrup, dextromethorphan, can interact with Tylenol or other cough and cold medicines and become even more toxic than the cough syrup taken alone, the agency notes.

So far, no harmful effects related to the mislabeling haver been reported, the manufacturer says.

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12 Million Patient Files May Have Been Stolen From Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics says millions of patient files may have been stolen in a data breach.

The giant clinical laboratory company said an unauthorized person gained access via the American Collection Agency, a billing company used by Optum360, which is contracted by Quest, CNN Business reports.

The breached data may include Social Security numbers and medical information, but not test results, the company said.

Since Quest was notified of the theft on May 14 it has stopped using the American Collection Agency and has engaged investigators to get to the bottom of the hacking problem.

“We are committed to keeping our patients, health care providers, and all relevant parties informed as we learn more,” Quest said in a press release.

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