James Sikes had a terrifying ride in his 2008 Toyota Prius yesterday at speeds reaching 94 mph, reports ABC news. The California Highway Patrol fortunately rescued the 61-year-old driver after his car accelerated suddenly. According to Sikes, he sensed his Prius was accelerating on its own as he travelled on a California interstate. He attempted to control his auto but when it exceeded 90 mph, he called 911 on his cell phone.

After a 20 mile ride of a lifetime, a California Highway Patrol car arrived next to the Prius and instructed Sikes,over his public address system, to apply his brakes and emergency brake, said ABC News. Finally, the car slowed to 55 mph and Sikes was eventually able to turn it off using the ignition button. The hero patrolman told ABC News he “could smell his brakes” when he pulled along side the Prius.

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National Pretzel Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is recalling all of its Honey Mustard Onion flavored pretzels made since December, 2009 because a seasoning ingredient could be contaminated with Salmonella, said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The honey mustard onion seasoning contains Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) that was previously recalled by Basic Foods Flavors, Inc., of Las Vegas, Nevada, for potential Salmonella contamination. This is one of many recent product recalls involving the company’s HVP.

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Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano, Washington, is recalling another cheese for potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  This time it is Old Apple Tree Tomme cheese said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Old Apple Tree Tomme cheese was sold at the Ballard and Seattle’s U-District farmer’s markets in Seattle and the firm’s farm store in Montesano, Washington during the weekend of February 27 and 28, 2010. The affected cheese was custom order with the name on the label but not a lot code.

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Another blind recall has been announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This one involves about 163,000 Roman Shades from Ethan Allen Global Inc., of Danbury, Connecticut.

Although no incidents or injuries have been reported, the recall was implemented because strangulation can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the shade, or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck. Also, strangulation can occur when a child’s neck become entangled in the freestanding loop.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is actively investigating positive findings of Salmonella Tennessee in hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) manufactured by Basic Food Flavors Inc. in Las Vegas, Nev. HVP is a flavor enhancer used in a wide variety of processed food products such as soups, sauces, chilis, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips and dressings. It is often blended with other spices to make seasonings that are used in or on foods. To date, no associated consumer illnesses have been reported. Only HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors is involved in this recall.

In coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, other federal agencies, and state health departments, FDA is closely monitoring and assessing the potential risks of illness from affected products. The FDA conducted an investigation at the facility after a customer of Basic Food Flavors reported finding Salmonella Tennessee in one production lot of HVP.

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The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has written letters telling 17 food manufacturers to stop misleading label claims. Some of the foods noted in the letters were Gerber baby food, Juicy Juice, Dreyer’s ice cream, POM pomegranate juice and Gorton’s fish fillets.

The letters targeted 22 food items for violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The action resulted from a statement by Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Margaret Hamburg M.D., in October, 2009, asking companies to review labeling to ensure that they were truthful, not misleading and in compliance with FDA regulations. Mentioned in the warning letters were unauthorized health and nutrient content claims, and unauthorized use of terms such as “healthy,” and others that have strict, regulatory definitions.

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The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of approximately 1,200 Children’s Bangles imported from India by Chandigarh Fashion Inc., of Flushing, New York, because the surface coating on the bracelets contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

No incidents or injuries have been reported, but the effects of lead exposure and poisoning are not often immediately observable.

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Since nine people living in Chinese drywall tainted homes have died from various maladies, some lawmakers want an explanation.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune wrote the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said among the Chinese drywall complaints it has received, deaths were reported, although presently, there is no substantiated scientific evidence linking the deaths to the drywall.

Most deaths were among  young and elderly persons with established medical problems. A 9-year-old boy from St. Rose, Louisiana, died from an asthma attack in 2008. In 2006, his home had been renovated with Chinese drywall and his symptoms reportedly worsened after the project was completed.

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Some disgruntled Toyota owners, who have already had floor mats replaced or accelerator pedals modified, are now voicing that their vehicles are suddenly accelerating, according to The Los Angeles Times. These fresh complaints point to Toyota’s lack of regard addressing the primary problems with sudden acceleration.

Since last fall, Toyota has recalled over 8 million vehicles worldwide for situations involving unintended acceleration. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received more than 2,000 accusations of sudden, unintended acceleration with Toyota and Lexus vehicles, resulting in more than 50 deaths and hundreds of accidents since 2000. Toyota has blamed the problems on faulty floor mats and defective accelerator pedals, but many contend a defective electronic throttle control system is the culprit.

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