Now I am just a nurse who reports things as I hear ‘em or see ‘em, usually injecting a large dose of sarcasm along the way, but let me tell you what has become a theme this holiday season.  BEARS.  Not the cute furry, cuddly ones.  Nor da large, mutant one’s huddled on the sidelines in freezing temperatures with hopes of getting in da game and grasping da “pigskin.”  But the sugar-filled-no-nutrition-value-tooth-sticking-jaw-exasperating bites of joy!  The German gastronomic delight…the Gummy Bear!  I love these bears, as do my children, so don’t be sending me hate mail or lawsuits, but here are some shocking and I mean SHOCKING facts for you parents….Nurse Mommy

Problem #1:

FDA Recall Immediate recall:

Winn-Dixie Issues Voluntary Recall on Bulk Gummy Bears

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 14, 2011 – Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: WINN), is voluntarily recalling Sunrise Assorted Flavor Gummy Bears sold in the self-serve bulk area of select store produce departments between November 14 and December 13 due to a remote possibility of metal contamination. (“Say WAH?,” Nurse Mommy)

The gummy bears included in this recall have been sold in five Winn-Dixie stores in Florida and Louisiana:

• St. Johns Commons – 2220 County Road 210 W, Jacksonville, FL 32259
• Concord Shopping Mall – 11241 S.W. 40th Street, Miami, FL 33165
• Pepper Tree Plaza – 5600 West Sample Road, Margate, FL 33073
• Main Street Square – 7800 S. hwy 17-92, Fern Park, FL 32730
• 70431 Hwy 21, Covington, LA 70433

The recall is being initiated out of an abundance of caution for consumer safety, though the company has received no reports of illness associated with product consumption.

“We encourage guests with any concerns to return the product for a full refund, no questions asked,” said Mary Kellmanson, Winn-Dixie’s group vice president of marketing.

Consumers with questions about the recalled product may contact the Winn-Dixie Guest Service Center toll free at 1.866.WINN-DIXIE (866.946.6349).

Problem #2:

Vodka Soaked Gummy Bears

WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) October 11, 2011 — Vodka-soaked gummy bears. That’s the newest way teenagers are getting drunk, and police warn it’s nearly undetectable.

It’s dangerous because the booze-soaked candy is pretty much odorless and the person eating them has no idea how much alcohol they’re putting into their system.

In less than a month, a “how-to” YouTube video has more than 17,000 views. The candy-soaked session goes over in detail how to make vodka-soaked gummy bears. Police warn the squishy multi-colored candy could have you seeing all sorts of colors if you pop and chew without a care in the world.

Police in Hollister have posted a warning on their Facebook page telling parents — especially this close to Halloween — to be on the alert for the booze-soaked bears.

“Teens are looking for any way to sneak in alcohol, so that would be awesome for them if they can figure out a way to do it without getting caught,” one young woman said when asked about it by CBS13′s Tony Lopez. She added she hadn’t heard of the practice herself.

But parents aren’t amused.

“They were eating the gummy bears and not realizing how much they were consuming and the kids were being intoxicated at school,” said one woman who saw the police Facebook warning.

And that’s the big danger, health experts say, not realizing how much alcohol you’re taking in.

Sacramento police told CBS13 they have not seen a spike in reported cases of alcohol-soaked candy.

(Nurse Mommy Note: Especially with young drinkers, it doesn’t take much for them to get into severe trouble with intoxication.  Their blood alcohol levels can get at a dangerous or lethal level, especially if they are not aware of how much alcohol they are ingesting.)