Health Highlights: June 19, 2008

The agency said it had no reports of pet illness or evidence that any of the products were unsafe. "However, the seized products were in permeable packages and held under conditions that could affect the food's integrity and quality," according to an FDA statement.

The agency said it inspected the facility twice in April and May, finding "widespread and active rodent and bird infestation."

It advised consumers who had any products from PETCO in affected states to thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap, and to thoroughly wash surfaces that may have come in contact with the packages.

If pets become sick after eating affected products, consumers should call their veterinarian and report such instances to the agency's state consumer complaint coordinator. A list of phone numbers is available at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html.

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Drug Linked to Suicide Being Tested on Veterans With PTSD

Veterans groups and some members of Congress say they're outraged over revelations that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are being recruited by the U.S. government for tests involving the anti-smoking drug Chantix, which has been linked to increased risk of suicide.

They're calling for an immediate halt to the tests and an investigation,ABC Newsreported.

"Nearly 40 suicides and more than 400 incidents of suicidal behavior have been linked to Chantix, yet the [Veteran's Administration] has chosen to continue the study and administer Chantix to veterans with PTSD," said Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA). "The VA must immediately suspend this study until a comprehensive review of the safety of the protocol is conducted."

"Our nation's veterans are not guinea pigs," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "It is unacceptable for even one veteran to have been misled about the possible side effects of Chantix."

The VA says theABC News/Washington Postreport about the study is "inaccurate and misleading."

"In our PTSD and smoking cessation study, our research is to learn if it is easier to stop smoking when smoking cessation treatment is combined with PTSD therapy, or whether the two therapies are more effective if they are provided separately," said a statement posted on the VA Web site,ABC Newsreported.