Consumer Life

Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

Kids' stomach remedies contaminated with microbes: Health Canada

Thursday, January 3, 2008 | 10:29 AM ET

The Canadian Press
Health Canada is advising consumers not to use two foreign natural health products to treat digestive upset in infants and children because of potentially dangerous contamination.

Baby's Bliss Gripe Water (apple flavour), code 26952V, was found to contain cryptosporidium, a parasite that infects the gastrointestinal tract and can cause severe side-effects, especially in infants.

Cryptosporidium can lead to watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and, in some cases, even death.

The natural health product, given to infants to ease stomach discomfort and gas often associated with colic, hiccups and teething, is sold in a four-ounce (118-millilitre) plastic bottle inside a cardboard carton. The label reads: Baby's Bliss Pediatrician Recommended Gripe Water Apple Flavor.

Baby's Bliss is distributed by MOM Enterprises, Inc. of California.

Health Canada is also advising consumers not to purchase or consume Zhong Ti Xiao Er Jian Pi San, batch number JPS0704, which has been recalled due to bacterial contamination.

The powdered product is promoted for use in children to treat stomach upset and digestive problems. It is made by MOH Pharmaceutical Technologies in Malaysia and distributed in a 20-gram pack in Singapore by Chung Kuo Refined Chinese Medicine Dealers Ltd.

The contaminated product could cause bacterial infection, with symptoms depending on the type of microbe present, Health Canada said in an advisory Wednesday.

Baby's Bliss Gripe Water and Zhong Ti Xiao Er Jian Pi San are not authorized for sale in Canada and neither product has been found in the Canadian marketplace. However, the products could have been purchased by Canadians travelling abroad and brought into Canada or purchased over the internet, Health Canada said.

Canadians who have these products are advised not to use them, and should consult a health-care professional if they have concerns about their use.

Health advisory: Zhong Ti Xiao Er Jian Pi San

Health advisory: Baby's Bliss

« Previous Topic | Main | Next Topic »

Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

World »

Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal video
The Vatican has confirmed that the Pope's butler was arrested earlier in the week in connection with an embarrassing document leaks scandal.
Syrian children massacred by the dozens, UN says video
More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming at least 32 children and 60 adults were killed in an artillery attack.
Egypt's polarizing presidential candidates reach out
A spokesman for the third-place finisher in Egypt's presidential race has called for a partial vote recount, citing violations.
more »

Canada »

Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
The victim of a Friday lightning strike during a storm in east Ottawa has died, CBC News has learned.
Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico
Two Winnipeg children reported missing and possibly in Mexico have been found alive, according to unofficial reports from an agency that works to find missing people.
Montreal student group says Bill 78 must be priority video
Quebec's coalition of student associations says Bill 78 must be a priority if a new round of negotiations start up with the government in the ongoing tuition conflict.
more »

Politics »

N.L. premier 'at odds' with Peter MacKay audio
Kathy Dunderdale, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, tells CBC Radio's Evan Solomon she's growing increasingly 'at odds' with Conservative MP Peter MacKay.
Quebec students ready for tuition hike, says one leader audio
The president of Quebec's College Student Federation (FECQ), Leo Bureau-Blouin, tells CBC Radio's The House that students "are ready for a compromise on the amount of a tuition hike," as the Quebec government and the province's student associations prepare to resume talks.
Dunderdale calls lack of EI consultation 'disturbing' video
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale says the federal government's planned overhaul of the employment insurance regime shows it is out of touch with unemployed Canadians.
more »

Health »

Chronic fatigue may be reversed with exercise
Taking it easy is not the best treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, rather exercise and behaviour therapy are, a large study finds.
AT&T buys T-Mobile USA for $39B US
AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom AG in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $39 billion US, becoming the largest cellphone company in the U.S.
Milky Way home to 50 billion planets: NASA
Scientists have compiled the first cosmic census of planets in our galaxy: at least 50 billion planets are estimated to call the Milky Way home.
more »

Arts & Entertainment»

video Gay characters' screen presence evolves video
New films and TV shows are addressing a new frontier in pop culture: gay characters whose narratives aren't limited to 'coming-out stories,' Deana Sumanac reports.
new Sweden defeats Russian grannies in Eurovision song contest video
Sweden's Loreen clinches the top spot at this year's Eurovision Song Contest with her dance hit Euphoria, pushing aside competition from a sextet of Russian grannies and a Serbian balladeer.
audio Seniors float above Montreal's Quartier Latin
In Montreal this weekend, an unusual performance series will have seniors indulging in their favourite hobbies, but perched on chairs suspended five metres above the ground.
more »

Technology & Science »

Astronauts enter world's 1st private supply ship video
Astronauts have entered the Dragon, the world's first commercial supply ship, which is docked at the International Space Station.
South Africa, Australia to share world's largest telescope
South Africa and Australia will jointly host the Square Kilometre Array, which promises to be the world's largest telescope, the international consortium in charge of the project said Friday.
Bonavista, N.L., 'coyote' was really wolf, tests confirm
Wolves have not been seen in Newfoundland since around 1930 and were believed to have been hunted to extinction on the island, but genetic tests have confirmed that an 82-pound animal shot on the Bonavista Peninsula in March was, in fact, a wolf.
more »

Money »

analysis What a Greek euro exit could mean for Canada
A tumultuous Greek exit from the eurozone would have a harder impact on Canada's economy than the credit crisis recession of 2008 and 2009, a report from a major Canadian bank warns.
Bankia asks Spain for €19B video
The board of directors of Spain's troubled bank, Bankia, has asked the Spanish government for €19 billion ($24.5 billion Cdn) in financial support.
EI reforms aim to boost employment, Flaherty says
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty defended his government's proposals to change employment insurance, saying the aim is to remove "disincentives to employment."
more »

Consumer Life »

Honda recalls Fit subcompacts
Honda Canada says it will recall 14,640 of its 2009 and 2010 Fit subcompact cars to replace lost motion springs.
U.S. travel fee proposal criticized by Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he doesn't think much of a new border tax that's being proposed by the United States, calling it a cash grab designed to help a budget crisis.
Bell class action suit approved by Que. court
A Quebec Superior Court judge has authorized a class action lawsuit to go ahead against Bell Mobility.
more »

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

5 stories, including Josh Hamilton kayoes Blue Jays
A day after getting hammered by the Rangers, the Blue Jays stretched their opponents to 13 innings before Josh Hamilton crushed a Jason Frasor offering for an 8-7 win. That, plus more, in your top five stories from Saturday.
Stardom greeting Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal video
After the sport of cycling worked hard to clean itself up, Canada's Ryder Hesjdal has emerged as one of its top riders, writes CBCSports.ca's Malcolm Kelly.
Stanley Cup final: The most intriguing people
Here are a dozen intriguing individuals to get to know as the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils prepare to meet in the championship series opener in Newark on Wednesday.
more »

Diversions »

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
more »