Live bird flu virus has not been found in any of the first batch of retail milk samples tested, federal health officials said Friday. Amid an ongoing outbreak of bird flu in U.S. dairy cows, the early findings should reassure the public that the milk sold in stores remains safe, officials added. In the online… read on > read on >
All Food:
Biden Administration Delays Menthol Cigarette Ban
A long-awaited ban on menthol cigarettes has been delayed indefinitely, the Biden administration said Friday. “This rule has garnered historic attention, and the public comment period has yielded an immense amount of feedback, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movement,” U.S. Health and Human Service Secretary Xavier Becerra said in… read on > read on >
USDA Gets Tougher on Salmonella in Raw Breaded Chicken Products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is clamping down on salmonella bacteria found in breaded, stuffed raw chicken products, with the agency issuing a final rule on the issue Friday. The agency’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has declared salmonella an “adulterant” if the amount of it in a product exceeds a very low level.… read on > read on >
Fragments of Bird Flu Virus Found in 1 in 5 Milk Samples
Bits of bird flu virus have been discovered in roughly 20% of retail milk samples tested in a national survey, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday. The finding suggests that bird flu has spread far more widely among dairy cows than officials first thought. Samples from parts of the country that have infected… read on > read on >
Medicare Warnings Stop Nursing Homes From Overusing Antipsychotic Meds
Warning letters sent by Medicare officials can prompt a decline in antipsychotic prescriptions for seniors with dementia, a new study finds. Letters sent to heavy prescribers of quetiapine (Seroquel), the most popular antipsychotic in the United States, led to a significant decline in drugs handed out to seniors, researchers reported April 25 in the journal… read on > read on >
New School Lunch Rules Target Added Sugars, Salt
School lunches will soon contain less added sugars and salt under new nutrition standards announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday. “We all share the goal of helping children reach their full potential,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a news release announcing the changes. “Like teachers, classrooms, books and computers, nutritious school… read on > read on >
Emulsifier Chemicals Are Everywhere in Foods. Could They Raise Diabetes Risk?
Emulsifiers — substances that are essential ingredients in processed foods — appear to increase people’s risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study finds. In fact, the more emulsifiers that people eat as part of their food, the higher their risk of type 2 diabetes, researchers reported April 23 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology… read on > read on >
Could Heartburn Meds Raise Your Migraine Risk?
People taking heartburn meds have a higher risk of migraines and other types of severe headaches, a new study warns. All classes of acid-reducing drugs — proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, and even antacids — appear to promote an increased risk of migraine and headache, results show. “Given the wide usage of acid-reducing drugs and… read on > read on >
Watchdog Group Says U.S. Food Recalls Rose Again Last Year
U.S. recalls of foods for salmonella, foreign objects or undeclared allergens are rampant nowadays and the highest they’ve been since 2020, a watchdog group warns. “Everyone needs to do better: food producers, regulators and lawmakers,” said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog at U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). “We shouldn’t have to worry that everything from… read on > read on >
Genes Could Mix With Pesticide Exposure to Raise Parkinson’s Risk
It’s long been known that exposure to agricultural pesticides can greatly raise a person’s odds for Parkinson’s disease. New genetics research now reveals those who might be most vulnerable. A team at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), pored over genetic data from 800 Parkinson’s patients living and working in that state’s agricultural heartland,… read on > read on >