Fungus contaminated methylprednisolone acetate injections from the New England Compounding Center (NECC) caused more than 300 cases of infections in 2012, including 24 deaths. Fungus causing the infection were Exserohilum rostratum. Aspergillus fumigatus and Cladosporium species. These fungi are common in the environment but were not a recognized cause of meningitis before this outbreak, says CDC and FDA researchers. [1]

Women who often drink soft drinks high in sugar almost every day are more likely to have a ischemic stroke than women who rarely drink sodas and other sweetened beverages. A study of Eshak et al. 2012 found that women who rarely had a soft drink 1.7% experienced an ischemic stroke, and 3% of women who had a soft drink a day had an ischemic stroke.  [1]

The Middle East and North Africa are consuming several million cubic metres of water every day. Jordan develops an almost one billion Euro water project in the South of the country. In 2013 about 160 million cubic metres of water are planned to be pumped from the subterranean aquifers to feed the city of Amman. [1]

Tobbia et al 2012 report the case of a 70-year-old woman which developed a life-threatening ventricular fibrillation following obesity treatment with phentermine. Recurrent ventricular fibrillation were caused by a coronary artery vasospasm. Discontinuing phentermine use the woman remained symptom free. [1]

Organic foods reduce organophosphorous pesticides exposure
Lu et al 2006 reported that organic diet provides a dramatic and immediate protective effect against exposures to organophosphorus pesticides through their diet. [1]

Bisphenol A (BPA) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposures were substantially reduced when  canned and packaged food diets were changed to "fresh foods" that were not canned or packaged in plastic, says a study of Rudel et al 2011. BPA and DEHP are used in plastics and resins for food packaging and are linked to endocrine disruption in animals and human studies. [1]

Organic products are now sold in conventional supermarkets with high marketing efforts.

Health and environmental advantages of organic food [1]
Organic food has fewer pesticides associated with human disease. Organic farming causes a reduced environmental impact compared to conventional farming. There are, however, no convincing facts which support higher nutritional and health benefits, or disease protection from organic diet compared to conventional diet.

The FDA is investigating reports of five deaths after drinking high-caffeine energy drinks made by the Monster Energy Company. The parents of a 14-year-old girl say her daughter collapsed after drinking her second 24-ounce Monster Energy drink in two days. She died six days later. Monster Energy Drink, comes in 24-ounce cans and contain 240 milligrams of caffeine, or seven times the amount of the caffeine in a 12-ounce cola. [1]

Green tea and its major constituent epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been studied in prevention and potential treatment for prostate cancer. The disease requires decades to develop and may therefore be influenced by measures which demand long exposure to the active agent. [1]

Ellinger et al 2012 report that exotic fruits like açai, camu-camu, and blackberries are marketed as "functional" food supporting a pro-/antioxidant balance. Ellinger and colleagues, in a randomized controlled crossover trial, found that the anthocyanin-rich fruit juice may stabilize the pro-/antioxidant balance without affecting markers of oxidative stress. [1]