Canadian defendants accused of fraudulently selling business directory listings have been banned from the business directory industry to settle charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission. The primary defendants are paying $165,000 in consumer redress. The FTC alleged the defendants called small U.S. businesses saying they wanted to “renew” the company’s directory listings when, in fact, no prior relationship existed. One individual defendant is subject to a default judgment of almost $9 million. Today the FTC also is announcing a new consumer education brochure, entitled: Business Directory Scams Try to ‘Give You the Business’.
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Commission Challenges Claims About Product’s Ability to Enable Users to Quit Smoking Quickly, Permanently, and Without Side Effects

The marketers of “Smoke Away” have settled Federal Trade Commission charges that they deceptively marketed the dietary supplement kits by claiming they would allow smokers to quit smoking quickly, easily, permanently, and without cravings or other side effects. The FTC alleged the defendants did not have a reasonable basis for the claims they made about Smoke Away or for their claims that it is more effective than FDA-approved smoking-cessation products. The FTC also charged that two doctors who endorsed Smoke Away in advertisements did not properly use their expertise, and that one, a chiropractor, did not actually have the expertise she was represented as having.
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FDA Offers Valuable Food Safety Information for Hurricane Katrina Aftermath

As Hurricane Katrina hits Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants area residents to be prepared for the aftermath. FDA is providing important tips to help people affected by this storm to protect their health and food supply.
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FDA Takes Action on Plan B
Statement by FDA Commissioner Lester M. Crawford

Thank you for coming today.

We are announcing the action we took today of sending a letter to Barr Labs concerning their application to allow Plan B to be sold over-the-counter.

I want to start by making sure everyone is clear on what this drug is. Also, it’s important that we define what the FDA has been asked by Barr Labs to address with respect to this drug.
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FDA Announces Nationwide Recall of Medline Brand of Alcohol-Free Mouthwash and Hygiene Kits Containing Mouthwash Because of Possible Health Risk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is notifying the public of a nationwide voluntary recall of alcohol-free mouthwash and hygiene kits containing mouthwash distributed by Medline Industries, Inc., Mundelein, Ill. because of the potential contamination with Burkholderia cepacia. Consumers and health care providers who have Medline brand alcohol free mouthwash should stop using the product immediately and check to see if it is being recalled.
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Custom-Rx Compounding Pharmacy Issues Nationwide Recall of Trypan Blue 0.06% Ophthalmic Solution

Contact:
Verne Betlach
612-866-2211

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Richfield, MN — August 26, 2005 — Custom RX Compounding Pharmacy of Richfield, Minnesota, is initiating a nationwide recall of Trypan Blue 0.06% Ophthalmic Solution because it may be contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria that, if applied to the eyes, might lead to serious injury, including possible blindness. Use of Trypan Blue which is being recalled should stop immediately.
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FDA Clears Genetic Test That Advances Personalized Medicine
Test Helps Determine Safety of Drug Therapy

Today, FDA cleared for marketing a new blood test that will help doctors make personalized drug treatment decisions for some patients. The Invader UGT1A1 Molecular Assay detects variations in a gene that affects how certain drugs are broken down and cleared by the body. Doctors can use this information to help determine the right drug dosage for individual patients, and minimize harmful drug reactions.
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For Release: August 18, 2005

Statement of Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras on the 100 Millionth Number on the National Do Not Call Registry

I am pleased to report that, as of this week, the National Do Not Call Registry has topped 100 million phone numbers. This is a significant milestone for the Registry, which opened for business just over two years ago.
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Urges Safety Checks for Bike Helmets, Playgrounds and Athletic Fields

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With this year’s back to school season in full swing, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents, teachers and school administrators to help prevent unnecessary injuries this fall by conducting a series of safety checks to identify hidden hazards in and around schools.
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FTC: Post Office Employment Offers Bogus

Commission Alleges False and Deceptive Marketing Practices

The Federal Trade Commission has charged an employment-opportunity scammer and his three companies with marketing a fraudulent U.S. Postal Service employment program. The program offered consumers help in getting jobs with the Postal Service and guaranteed them job placement if they were able to get a certain score on the Service’s entrance exam. In reality, jobs, or even the opportunity to apply for jobs, were not available through the defendants. For many consumers, the advertised postal jobs were not available in their area at all.
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