A slice of tasty, stretchy, creamy cheese may soon be easier to come by for those on a dairy-free diet. Researchers in Canada are working to create plant-based cheeses with all the taste and texture of traditional, dairy cheese but with healthier and more sustainable ingredients, according to a new research review published Jan. 14…  read on >  read on >

A rather historic U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposal aims to make cigarettes and other tobacco products far less addictive by reducing their nicotine content. The move could help millions of Americans quit smoking while preventing many more from becoming addicted. The proposed rule, published Wednesday in a 334-page report, would cap nicotine levels…  read on >  read on >

Steak, hamburgers, beef ribs and hot dogs are bad for the aging brain. Folks who eat lots of red and processed meat are more likely to develop dementia, researchers reported. Eating more than one serving of red meat a day — 3 ounces, about the size of a bar of soap — is associated with…  read on >  read on >

Grabbing a quick snack might soon come with a little extra clarity. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new rule requiring bold, easy-to-read nutrition labels on the front of food and beverage packages. These labels, which would highlight content of sugar, salt, and saturated fat, aim to make it easier for…  read on >  read on >

The way obesity is diagnosed needs to become more sophisticated, an international commission has concluded. Using body-mass index (BMI) to tell who is overweight or obese is not reliable, and can result in misdiagnosis, the Commission on Clinical Obesity says in a new paper published today in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. “People with excess…  read on >  read on >

Eating disorders appear to be linked to differences in brain structure among teenagers. Young adults who develop eating disorders appear to have delayed brain maturation as teenagers, MRI scans show in a new study published Jan. 10 in the journal Nature Mental Health. In particular, reduced maturation of the cerebellum — a brain region that…  read on >  read on >

A California man’s tragic story highlights the growing risks associated with bird flu infections in domestic animals. Joseph Journell of San Bernadino lost two of his beloved cats, a 14-year-old tabby, Alexander, and Tuxsie, a 4-year-old tuxedo cat, after they drank raw milk from a lot recalled for H5N1 bird flu contamination, a news release…  read on >  read on >

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials have uncovered dozens of violations at a McDonald’s supplier tied to last year’s deadly E.coli outbreak, which sickened over 100 people and led to a massive recall of onions used in the fast-food giant’s signature Quarter Pounder burgers. The violations were listed in an FDA inspection report of…  read on >  read on >