Content about Occupational safety and health

NEW YORK — The National Advertising Division last week recommended that Interhealth Nutraceuticals discontinue certain claims for the company’s Zychrome dietary supplements, products that are promoted for the management of insulin levels.

Print and internet claims made by Interhealth for its Zychrome chromium compound, also known as chromium dinicocysteinate, were challenged by Nutrition 21, the manufacturer of a competing product, Chromax, a chromium picolinate product. Interhealth had been making comparison claims against the supplement ingredient in Chromax. 

 SAN FRANCISCO — As part of McKesson’s 14th annual Community Days, the company’s all-employee volunteer week, an estimated 16,000 McKesson employees from more than 150 sites across the country will come together to create 25,000 Comfort Kits for the McKesson Foundation’s new charity initiative, Giving Comfort, the wholesaler announced Monday. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. and WATERTOWN, Mass. — Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, and Tufts Health Plan have announced the opening of a workplace health center called the BeWell Center, which offers wellness and preventive care, symptom care and laboratory services to Tufts Health Plan employees and contractors.

NEW YORK — With the cost of employee healthcare benefits on the rise, public employers are under increased pressure to contain costs while also providing benefits that help them maintain a healthy work force and attract the best employees. One solution to consider: on-site health clinics, according to a recently released study.

HOUSTON — Sharps Compliance on Monday announced that Walgreens will be the exclusive retailer for the company's Complete Needle Collection & Disposal System.

"When it comes to patient care and safety, this innovative disposal alternative can help provide a convenient option for patients," stated Suzanne Hansen, Walgreens group VP pharmacy operations. "Customers often ask about what to do with these types of needles, and now our pharmacists have another option to discuss with patients."

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. — Abbott has made a pact with a biopharmaceutical company to develop new cancer treatments by making small-molecule inhibitors.

Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will provide EpiTherapeutics with an up-front payment and will receive funding of research activities conducted at EpiTherapeutics. The biopharmaceutical company also is eligible, under certain conditions, to receive milestone payments as well as potential royalties on future revenues.

WASHINGTON Vitamins and calcium supplements appear to reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to findings presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 101st Annual Meeting 2010, the association announced Sunday.

"It is not an immediate effect. You don't take a vitamin today and your breast cancer risk is reduced tomorrow," stated Jaime Matta, professor in the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico. "However, we did see a long-term effect in terms of breast cancer reduction."