Quoted from http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2009/06/19/20090619biz-zicam0619.html
FDA warning stuns Scottsdale company Matrixx
Report said Zicam swabs, gels can cause loss of smell
by Ken Alltucker - Jun. 19, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
The Scottsdale company that makes and sells Zicam said the Food and Drug Administration's safety warning about the popular nasal gels and swabs came as a complete surprise as the firm mounts an aggressive defense of its products' safety.
Matrixx Initiatives Inc. executives said they want to meet with the FDA to dispute the federal agency's warning issued this week that the Zicam gel and swabs can permanently damage the sense of smell.
"We are hopeful that if we can tell our story to the FDA, we can get them to change their mind," William Hemelt, acting president and chief operating officer of Matrixx, said during a Thursday morning conference call with analysts. "We are certainly hoping for that outcome, but we are moving ahead as if that may not happen."