Licorice recalled due to lead content
American Licorice Co. is voluntarily recalling Red Vines Black Licorice, Snaps and mixed bags containing black licorice because they may contain elevated levels of lead, the state Department of Health announced Wednesday afternoon.
Exposure to high levels of lead or chronic exposure to lead could potentially cause health problems to consumers, particularly infants, young children and pregnant women, the department said.
Consumers who have bought the products are urged to return them to the place of purchase. No illnesses related to the product have been reported, according to the Health Department.
Local distributors of the product are working with retail clients to remove the remaining stock from store shelves in Hawaii. The Health Department's Food and Drug Branch was notifying retailers of the recall Wednesday as well as conducting inspections to ensure the products are removed from store shelves.
For more information, call (808) 586-4725.
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Japan teaching program talk topic
An informational meeting about the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday in the University of Hawaii Maui College's Laulima Building, Room 107.
The program is an opportunity for college graduates from participating countries to work in Japan as assistant language teachers or coordinators for international relations. One of the key goals of the program is the promotion of international and intercultural communication through direct people-to-people connections.
Eligibility requirements include being a U.S. citizen, having earned a bachelor's degree by July 1, having interest in Japanese language and culture, being mentally and physically healthy, and not having lived in Japan for six years or more within the past 10 years.
For more information, go online to www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jet.
The program office at the Japanese consulate in Honolulu can be reached at (808) 543-3126 or via email at jethi@hawaiiantel.net.
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Anti-cane burning group seeks action
A group calling itself "No More Cane Burning" is urging Maui residents today to call the state Department of Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Maui politicians to demand an end to sugar cane burning.
Members of the group maintain that cane burning is a health hazard for island residents, and they want the Valley Isle's major grower, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co., to convert to nonburning harvesting techniques, according to an announcement from the group.
HC&S has responded previously that nonburning harvesting is not economically feasible.
The group asks members of the public to call the Health Department's Maui office at 984-8234 with the time, date and location of cane smoke incidents that have affected them.
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Search-and-rescue exercise set today
Maui County firefighters and ocean safety officers will participate in a search-and-rescue exercise with the U.S. Coast Guard from 9 a.m. to noon today in the ocean fronting the old Suda store on South Kihei Road.
Emergency service vehicles and equipment will be in the area for the exercise, which will simulate a response to a missing paddle boarder.
