HEALTH

ATLANTA — Norovirus has emerged as the leading cause of gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach and intestines — in children younger than 5 years, according to a new study.

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — New Chapter on Wednesday voluntarily recalled a limited number of packages of its 90-count Probiotic Elderberry dietary supplement because it may contain an undeclared allergen - soy. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product, the company stated.  

The one lot of affected New Chapter Probiotic Elderberry was distributed nationwide. It reached consumers through retail stores, mail order and direct delivery.

NEW YORK — A group of doctors and public health professors are hoping the Food and Drug Administration will place stronger regulations on energy drinks to protect children and adolescents from what they call the harmful effects of high caffeine consumption.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Government Accountability Office on Monday advised the Food and Drug Administration to establish a time frame on New Dietary Ingredient guidance, as well as guidance clarifying whether a liquid product may be labeled and marketed as a dietary supplement or as a conventional food with added ingredients. Those two guidelines will help the agency use adverse event reports in overseeing dietary supplement products, the GAO stated.

Last week, I wrote about medication therapy management and a new bill in the House of Representatives to expand the pool of patients who qualify for MTM programs through Medicare. This week, I’m writing about — wait for it — medication therapy management.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo on Monday announced that it has begun shipments of guaifenesin 600-mg extended-release tablets. It's the first product that is generically equivalent to Reckitt Benckiser's Mucinex 600-mg extended-release tablets. 

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Robinson Pharma last week introduced its Unique IS-2 Probiotic Softgel in collaboration with B&D Nutritional Ingredients and Unique Biotech USA. The new product is a shelf-stable, guaranteed-yield probiotic softgel that delivers the Unique IS-2 Bacillus coagulans strain, a trademarked bacterium which has demonstrated high resistance to extreme temperature and humidity.