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Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Tobacco Companies Sue FDA Over Label Rules
Large tobacco companies have launched legal action against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over labels on tobacco products.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday claims the FDA is violating the Tobacco Control Act by forcing them to submit labels for approval, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The tobacco companies argue that that FDA's authority is limited to labels that make a "modified risk" claim and that they should be free to change the color and look of their packaging as they wish.
"We disagree that FDA's new requirements that manufacturers must obtain agency authorization before changing certain product labels when the actual physical tobacco product remains exactly the same," said Brian May, an Altria Group Inc. spokesman, WSJ reported.
"We're asking the court to resolve these issues so that we and other manufacturers know how to proceed," he added.
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Shrinking Space on Airplanes Raises Safety Concerns
The safety of cramming as many seats as possible on airliners is being examined by a consumer advisory group created by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
One of the concerns is that having rows of seats so tight together makes it harder for passengers to evacuate after a crash, the Associated Press reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration conducts tests to determine how fast passengers can get out of a plane and how fast they can put on a life preserver.
However, those tests are conducted using planes with 31 inches between each row of seats, Cynthia Corbertt, a human factors researcher with the FAA, testified at an advisory group meeting Tuesday.
But many passenger jets have less space between seats. For example, United Airlines has 30 inches of space on some aircraft, while Spirit Airlines has 28 inches, the AP reported.
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Rita Wilson Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Surgery
Actress Rita Wilson revealed to People magazine that she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and had both breasts removed, followed by reconstructive surgery.