Fish Allergy Alert: Recalled Vitamins

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US Nutrition is recalling its vitamins aimed at women aged 50 and over because the company did not declare that the product contains fish gelatine (fish bones) that may be dangerous for people with fish allergies. The listed ingredients on the packaging did not list the presence of fish.

Fish allergies are often severe and usually lifelong. They are more commonly experienced by adults. All types of food allergies have been increasing in recent years. In the UK, the number of children hospitalized due to food allergy has risen by 700 percent since 1990. While medical professionals aren’t sure why this the case, they have suggested the following causes:

• Not being exposed to germs. These days people are very clean and don’t have the same opportunities for exposure to bacteria that we used to have. This means the immune system can’t develop properly so some may become hyper-reactive to food.
• The decrease of consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables and an over-reliance on ready-made freezer dinners could mean that some people don’t get all the antioxidants they need and this could prevent healthy immune system development.
• Lack of vitamin D. Lots of people spend many hours indoors at school or work and there are fewer outdoor jobs. The tendency to use sunscreen can also block out vitamin D and it has been theorized that lack of vitamin D could increase food allergies.

Scientists are still exploring all of these theories.

The recalled vitamins are called by different names: Daily Multiple for Women 50+, One Daily for Women 50 Plus, One Daily Women’s 50 + and Women’s 50 Plus Daily Formula. They are sold under different brand names:

CVS Daily Multiple for Women 50+, 50 tablets
Giant Eagle One Daily Women’s 50+, 50 tablets
CVS Daily Multiple for Women 50+, 100 tablets
Kaiser Permanente Women’s 50+ Daily Formula, 120 tablets
Equate One Daily for Women 50 Plus, 50 tablets
Equate One Daily for Women 50 Plus, 50 tablets

A full list of lot numbers and expiration dates are available on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm258317.htm
Any customers who have bought these vitamins should return them to the place of purchase or call 888-534-6370 for more details.

Sources:
FDA Press Release, 7th June 2011 - http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm258317.htm
NHS Choices, Food Allergy: Causes - http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/food-allergy/Pages/Causes.aspx
http://foodallergies.about.com/b/2011/03/08/lack-of-vitamin-d-linked-to-food-allergies-in-kids.htm

Reviewed June 9, 2011
Edited by Alison Stanton

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