MRI scans are strong diagnostics with high-definition images of what lies inside a body. Strong magnetic fields require precaution, as brought out by an instance where a young woman suffered very serious injuries due to an oversight in a metallic core within a silicone sex toy that she happened to have before the MRI scan. This makes a stark reminder about the potentially deadly consequences of missing metal objects when such procedures are being performed. In April 2023, a 23-year-old woman went into an MRI with a silicone plug containing a metal core that was not known.

She thought that the item is made entirely out of silicone according to the advertising. However, the strong magnetic field of the MRI machine interacted with the hidden metal, dragging the object through her body and causing excruciating pain. According to reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the scene was harrowing, with the woman screaming in agony and requiring immediate hospitalization. Despite pre-scan screenings, which are routine prior to a scan, the patient did not inform the facility that the object existed because he presumed it was purely non-metallic. This caused serious injuries that led to the patient's law suit against the manufacturer for deceitful misrepresentations of material content.

MRI machines employ magnets between 0.5 to 3 Tesla (T). This is thousands of times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field. The tremendous force causes ferromagnetic materials, like iron and nickel, to be magnetized quickly and become strongly attracted toward the magnet. Objects as small as hairpins or paper clips will accelerate at 40 miles per hour inside the magnetic field.

The force can lead to catastrophic injuries in items lodged within the body, such as metallic implants or foreign objects. Metallic cores within devices, like pacemakers or intrauterine devices, must be disclosed to radiologists to prevent such complications.

How Metal Objects Interact with MRI Fields?

On these claims, Dr. Adam Taylor, a specialist in human anatomy, weighed his words in a international health website and added that the distance away and mass of this object would increase its velocity towards that of sound, "The acceleration would be phenomenal, but with a metallic core, it can't go anywhere near supersonic speeds. As for the size, the magnetic acceleration to the internal soft tissues would ensure that there could be severe intracranial trauma."

The injuries inflicted in this case likely involved damage to major blood vessels, nerves, or organs, highlighting the devastating impact of even minor oversight during an MRI scan.

This is not an isolated case. There are documented cases of metallic objects causing serious damage during MRI scans with a 65-year-old man with schizophrenia swallowed metal objects, including sockets and a hinge pin. The powerful magnetic field during an MRI scan caused the objects to rupture his stomach, resulting in serious injuries.

A toddler who ingested 11 small magnets perforated his bowel while undergoing a scan, making his case unique. In another deadly but extremely rare incident, there have been people who hide a firearm on themselves during MRI procedures. Magnetic attraction can trigger a discharge in a weapon and has led to some fatal injuries.

These cases emphasize the very strong need for adequate screening and patient education prior to an MRI.

Preventing MRI-Related Incidents

Medical professionals have been trained to avoid risks. This is by properly screening a patient for metallic objects. In general, most pre-scan protocols include:

• Patients are interrogated about implants, recent surgery or exposures at work related to metals.
• Radiologists sometimes use handheld metal detectors to search for hidden items.
• People who work with metal, like welders or machinists, will need additional testing to detect microscopic metal fragments within soft tissues or eyes.

The case emphasizes the importance of product labeling by manufacturers, especially those products that are likely to unintentionally cause harm to health. The patient's assumption that her device was 100% silicone points to a larger problem in consumer markets with misinformation.

It also reminds the patients to report any possible dangers to the medical professionals, no matter how the objects look non-metallic. In sensitive cases, patients can request private discussions with healthcare providers to ensure safety without discomfort.

In the end, it is a joint effort from manufacturers, healthcare professionals, and patients that can prevent such tragedies. Manufacturers must ensure truthful marketing, while healthcare providers should educate patients about the dangers of metal objects in MRI settings. For patients, understanding the risks and actively participating in pre-scan disclosures can be lifesaving.

This young woman's experience is a sobering example of the unforeseen dangers posed by MRI machines when precautions are overlooked. It serves as a wake-up call to address gaps in patient awareness, medical protocols, and product transparency. By learning from this incident, the medical community and the public can work together to ensure MRI scans remain a safe and effective diagnostic tool.

Indian food regulatory body FSSAI has barred the sale of select products produced by one of the biggest FMCG companies in India.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India prohibited Dabur India from selling its popular household products like honey, cow ghee, and edible oils with '100 percent' claims.

FSSAI's Crackdown On Dabur India Products

On Monday, FSSAI shared a social media post, announcing that it has banned the sale of a few products produced by Dabur India over misleading claims.

In a Tweet, it said that the FMCG giant has been asked to stop selling products like honey, apple cider vinegar, virgin coconut oil, sesame oil, cow ghee, coconut water, coconut milk, and other products due to various non-compliances.

The following violations were listed by the food regulatory body:

Misleading '100%' Claims

FSSAI said that some Dabur products were being sold on the company's website with misleading '100% percent' claims like '100% Natural', '100% Pure', '100% Purity Guaranteed', '100% Organic, and '100% Tender Coconut Water'.

FSSAI said that Dabur Homemade Coconut Milk was being sold with the claim '100% Purity', which is in violation with its rules.

According to FSS (Advertising & Claims) Regulations, 2018, the use of claims with '100%' is prohibited as it's an ambiguous term which cannot be verified. It further said that such claims can mislead the consumers.

Also read: FSSAI Bans Some Liquor Produced by India's Largest Alcohol Company Over Artificial Flavouring

Misuse Of Jaivik Bharat Logo

Furthermore, its products like Dabur Himalayan Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and Dabur Organic Honey were found showcasing Jaivik Bharat Logo without an organic endorsement by FSSAI.

The Jaivik Bharat logo is specifically issued to authentic organic food products in order to distinguish them from non-organic items. It is meant to show compliance with Indian organic standards.

The regulatory body said that by doing so, the company violated FSS (Organic Foods) Regulations, 2017.

Also read: No Junk Food Near Schools! Maharashtra FDA Bans Sale Of Foods & Drinks High In Fat, Salt & Sugar

Failure To Respond To Earlier Notice

This is not the first time FSSAI has brought these violations to the company's attention. In its notice, it said that Dabur paid no heed to an earlier notice which directed them to discontinue products with '100% claims'.

It said that the company failed to take "satisfactory corrective action".

Besides prohibiting the sale of these products, FSSAI has asked Dabur to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 15 days.

Also read: 60% Urban Indians Not Confident About Ghee Purity Despite FSSAI Crackdown

Part Of A Broader Strategy

FSSAI's action is part of its broader strategy to stop the sale of products with misleading claims and brand names.

Recently, show-cause notices were sent to brands like Lotte India, Kubera Foods, and Ferns N Petals Pvt Ltd over allegedly misleading claims such as "100% Natural," "100% Vegetarian," and chocolate labelling issues.

It also flagged Heritage Fresh Paneer for using the term "Fresh Paneer" to market its products.

In June, brands like Nestlé, KFC, Open Secret, Emami Healthy & Tasty, Storia Juice, Two Brothers Organic Farms, Healthy Master, Neuherbs, The Health Factory, Troovy, Healthy Choice, Organic Wisdom, Shine Organic, World of Organic, and Lota Water were sent notices for misleading brand names and health claims like "organic," "healthy," "zero maida," and similar marketing claims that may violate labelling regulations.

The currently used breast cancer screening referral criteria at the NHS are missing up to 95% of women under 50 who are at higher risk of developing breast cancer in the next decade, according to a new study.

Published in the British Journal of Cancer, the study found that a more comprehensive, personalized risk assessment could identify 8 times as many women at risk as the current NICE guidelines.

Current Screening Criteria

Also read: New York Reports 3 Suspected Rabbit Fever Cases: What Is Tularemia?

In England, women at higher risk of breast cancer are typically identified after being referred by their GP based on family history, following criteria set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), under the NHS.

The researchers from the University of Cambridge and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, analyzed data from 1,258 women under the age of 50.

They found that the criteria would refer only 1.4% of women for specialist assessment and identify just 4.4% of women who went on to develop breast cancer within the next 10 years.

Why Personalized Assessment Is Better?

The researchers then evaluated BOADICEA, a multifactorial risk model that combines:

• Family history
• Lifestyle factors
• Reproductive history
• Genetic information

Using this model, 26.5% of women were classified as having above-average risk and referred for further assessment. This approach identified 34.8% of women who developed breast cancer within the following 10 years—around eight times more than the current NICE criteria.

One major reason for the gap is that 73% of women under 50 who developed breast cancer had no family history of the disease, making them unlikely to qualify for referral under existing guidelines.

"We need to get better at identifying women at highest risk of breast cancer so that we can intervene early, when there are more options for treating, or even preventing, their disease," said Dr Juliet Usher-Smith from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge.

Read More: UK Woman Becomes World-First To Receive Experimental Cell Therapy For Ovarian Cancer

Proactive Screening Matters

A second study by the same research team found strong public support for proactive breast cancer risk assessments for women aged 30 to 49, instead of relying on women to seek GP referrals because of family history.

They found that women preferred:

• Proactive invitations for risk assessment
• Comprehensive risk models such as BOADICEA
• Genetic testing where appropriate
• Assessing all women rather than only those with a family history

Dr Sowmiya Moorthie, Senior Strategic Evidence Manager at Cancer Research UK, said broader risk assessment could help more women receive personalized care. However, she noted that further research is needed to understand the impact on NHS staffing, equipment, and patient experience, while ensuring any new approach remains accessible and equitable.

She also emphasized that maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake, and seeking medical advice for any unusual breast changes remain important ways to reduce risk and improve outcomes through early diagnosis.

Global Breast Cancer Burden

Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with steady increases in incidence over the last few decades. It accounts for around one in four cases of cancer and 15 per cent of cancer deaths in women, and is one of the leading causes of death in women under 50.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with around 59,400 new cases diagnosed annually and roughly 11,200 deaths each year. About one in seven women in the UK develops the disease in their lifetime, though survival rates are high, with nearly 90% surviving for five years or more.

Health officials in New York have reported at least three suspected cases of tularemia, a rare bacterial illness also known as rabbit fever.

The disease can spread through the bite of infected ticks or deer flies, or through contact with infected animals, particularly rabbits and rodents.

The Suffolk County Department of Health said laboratory testing is required to confirm the suspected cases, a process that may take several weeks.

"Confirmation of a tularemia diagnosis requires a combination of laboratory testing and fulfillment of specific clinical or epidemiologic criteria," the department told ABC 7, New York.

"The laboratory testing to confirm a tularemia diagnosis may take several weeks."

Tularemia Cases in the US

Tularemia is most commonly reported between May and September, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Fewer than 200 cases are reported annually in the US, based on CDC data from 2019 to 2023. Although still rare, reported cases have been increasing.

In Suffolk County, Long Island:

• 4 cases were reported in 2024
• 3 cases in 2023
• 1 case in 2022

What Is Tularemia?

Tularemia is a rare but potentially serious bacterial infection caused by Francisella tularensis, according to the CDC.

The disease can affect the skin, lymph nodes, eyes, throat, lungs, and other organs depending on how the bacteria enter the body.

Rabbit Fever: How Do Humans Get Infected?

People can become infected through:

• Bites from infected ticks and deer flies
• Direct contact with infected rabbits, hares, rodents, or other animals
• Handling infected animal carcasses
• Inhaling contaminated dust, such as while mowing over dead infected animals
• Eating contaminated food
• Getting contaminated water or animal fluids into the eyes.

According to the CDC, the case fatality rate is typically below 2%, though it can be higher depending on the bacterial strain and type of illness.

Types of Tularemia

There are six main forms of tularemia:

• Ulceroglandular tularemia: The most common type; causes a skin ulcer and swollen lymph nodes after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal.
• Glandular tularemia: Causes swollen lymph nodes without a skin ulcer.
• Oculoglandular tularemia: Occurs when contaminated material enters the eyes.
• Oropharyngeal tularemia: Results from eating contaminated food or water, causing sore throat and digestive symptoms.
• Pneumonic tularemia: Affects the lungs and can resemble pneumonia.
• Typhoidal tularemia: A severe form that causes high fever and widespread illness.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the type of infection but commonly include:

• High fever
• Skin ulcer or open sore
• Swollen, painful lymph nodes
• Watery or irritated eyes
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Because tularemia is rare, it can be difficult to diagnose, and its symptoms often resemble more common illnesses.

Treatment

Tularemia is highly treatable with antibiotics when diagnosed promptly.

The CDC noted that a vaccine previously used to protect laboratory workers is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration and is not generally available.

How to Prevent Tularemia

The CDC recommends the following precautions:

• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), PMD, or 2-undecanone.
• Wear long sleeves, long pants, and long socks in areas where ticks and deer flies are common.
• Remove attached ticks promptly.
• Avoid mowing over sick or dead animals.
• Wear gloves when hunting, trapping, or skinning wild animals.
• Cook game meat thoroughly before eating.