Tough new safety rules for cribs

Starting Tuesday, it will be illegal in the U.S. to sell or even donate a crib that fails to meet the toughest crib safety rules in the world.

Move to digitize medicine brings risk of errors

The medical error that killed Genesis Burkett began with the kind of mistake people often make when filling out electronic forms: A pharmacy technician unwittingly typed the wrong information into a...

Benefits of concussion products, tests unproven

To help protect their brains, athletes are now given preseason computer tests that assess memory, concentration and reaction time. Some players don helmets with "concussion reduction technology" or...

'bring your own container'">Health officials frown on
'bring your own container'

Just as Chicago consumers get the hang of reusable grocery bags, a new movement has sprouted to make local grocery shopping even greener: reusable containers.

What to do about sprouts?

Now that organic beans sprouts grown in Germany have been pinpointed as the likely source of the European E. coli outbreak, consumers must confront growing doubts about the vegetable.

Government testing finds pesticides on cilantro

Just in time for cookout season, some unsettling news arrives for guacamole and salsa lovers: Federal testing turned up a wide array of unapproved pesticides on the herb cilantro — to an...

not labeled on store shelves">Genetically modified foods
not labeled on store shelves

When a team of activists wearing white hazmat suits showed up at a Chicago grocery store to protest the sale of genetically modified foods, they picked an unlikely target: Whole Foods Market.

Trampoline park sparks debate over safety

When Jennifer Quinn springs into the air at Xtreme Trampolines, the 35-year-old feels like a kid again.

not equally charitable">Clothing drop-off boxes
not equally charitable

The process of donating used clothing used to be pretty straightforward, with most of it going to big charities like the Salvation Army, Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul.

Stop touting 'thermography'">FDA to Dr. Mercola:
Stop touting 'thermography'

On Dr. Joseph Mercola's popular website, women are warned against getting mammograms to screen for breast cancer.

Noise at hospitals can be harmful to patients' health

At 3:15 p.m. on a weekday, the busy eighth floor of Chicago's St. Joseph Hospital is buzzing with noise. Alarms beep incessantly. The elevator dings each time the doors open. During the shift change,...

FTC goes after 'news sites' that hawk acai berry diets

The Federal Trade Commission has filed suit against 10 companies the agency says are using fake news websites to market acai berry weight-loss products.

Feds release data on adverse events in hospitals

The government has published data about things that can go wrong in hospitals — falls, objects left behind during surgeries, serious bed sores and more.

Medicare fraud schemes target vulnerable seniors

Day after day, the delivery trucks arrived at the building on Chicago's North Side, bringing walkers, hospital beds and wheelchairs to residents.

An about-face on children's car seats

The nation's largest organization of pediatricians is telling members and parents that children riding in cars should remain in rear-facing child safety seats until they are at least 2.

Homeopathy prospers even as controversy rages

Homeopathic remedies are popular among holistic-minded consumers but scorned by scientists and most Western-trained doctors.

Company's supplements lack science, safety proof

BioRay's claims offer a cautionary tale for consumers whose hope and money fuel the $25 billion supplement industry.

The danger that lurks underwater

Equipment meant to prevent powerful drains from causing people to drown in pools and hot tubs is being used across the country despite undergoing flawed safety evaluations.

Do anti-aging skin creams work?

Skin creams do moisturize, but as for other claims, few studies have been published in medical journals to show the products work as advertised or are safe to use.

Value of bed rest for pregnant women questioned

Experts say there's little evidence that immobility leads to better outcomes for women at risk of preterm labor. It also can be a physical, emotional and financial nightmare.

Zero grams trans fats? Not exactly

Labels on Girl Scout Cookies and other sweets can claim the products contain 0g trans fats even if a serving has up to 0.5 grams. Activists want clearer rules.

Many calls to poison center involve kids

Accidental poisonings are largely preventable, but many parents make common mistakes such as leaving medications and cleaners where kids can reach them.

New doubts cast on safety of driveway sealant

Federal research finds a common product is the source of dangerous levels of chemicals tracked into homes.

Update: State urges halt to sale of crib pads

Attorney general's office's request on crib bumpers comes in wake of Tribune report about suffocation risk to infants.

Update: Madigan sends warning on bumpers

The Illinois attorney general's office is warning parents not to use crib bumper pads in nurseries because they pose suffocation and strangulation hazards for babies.