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The FDA Got Its Familiar Name in 1930

The FDA Got Its Familiar Name in 1930

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stands as a pivotal federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, tasked ...

Walmart Recalls Frozen Pasta Nationwide Due to Potential Listeria Contamination

Walmart Recalls Frozen Pasta Nationwide Due to Potential Listeria Contamination

Walmart has initiated a nationwide recall of its Bettergoods frozen Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall, announced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in mid-September, affects 22-ounce packages with UPC 194346442706 and specific lot codes L6079C and L6080C, with expiration dates of 9/19/2027 and 9/20/2027. Routine testing identified the bacteria in the products, prompting manufacturer Gias Foods to halt production while investigating the source of contamination. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall as of the announcement date. Consumers who have purchased the recalled pasta are advised not to consume it and can return it to any Walmart store for a full refund. Listeria can cause serious and potentially fatal illness, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, and pregnant individuals, though anyone can be affected.

Black Women Face Significantly Higher Breast Cancer Mortality Rates in the U.S.

Black Women Face Significantly Higher Breast Cancer Mortality Rates in the U.S.

Black women in the United States experience a breast cancer mortality rate approximately 40% higher than that of White women, despite similar incidence rates. This disparity is attributed to a complex interplay of factors, including later-stage diagnoses, potential differences in tumor biology, and systemic issues related to healthcare access and quality. Many Black women are diagnosed at later stages, which are associated with poorer prognoses and more challenging treatment outcomes. Research also suggests a higher prevalence of aggressive breast cancer subtypes, such as triple-negative breast cancer, among Black women, which are harder to treat and have higher recurrence rates. Barriers to quality healthcare, such as lack of insurance, transportation issues, and distrust of the medical system, contribute to delayed screenings and diagnoses. Socioeconomic factors like lower income and education levels can also impact health literacy and access to regular screenings and follow-up care. Environmental factor...

Scientists Call for Maryland Department of the Environment to Address W.R. Grace Plastic Pilot Project Impacts

Scientists Call for Maryland Department of the Environment to Address W.R. Grace Plastic Pilot Project Impacts

A group of scientists is urging the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to address alleged negative environmental impacts stemming from W.R. Grace's plastic pilot plan in Howard County, Maryland. These scientists, including professors from prominent universities and a former National Institutes of Health official, are scheduled to hold a press conference at Carroll Park in Baltimore City to highlight their concerns. They previously sent a letter to the MDE outlining requirements for consideration before granting a new permit to W.R. Grace, whose recycling plant is seeking a permit extension. The requirements include limiting plant noise, accounting for additional harmful chemicals, and implementing safeguards against potential incidents. This action follows over a year of complaints from Howard County residents regarding harmful chemical releases from the plant, claims that W.R. Grace and the MDE have consistently denied, with the MDE stating no adverse impact to public health or the environment i...

Common kitchen spice recalled over lead risk

Common kitchen spice recalled over lead risk

The recalled spice was sold at grocery stores and supermarkets across six major states.

Westchester County Journal News

Amish ask Supreme Court to allow school vaccine religious exemptions

Amish ask Supreme Court to allow school vaccine religious exemptions

For the second time this month, a New York parent has sought U.S. Supreme Court intervention over the state's school vaccination rules.

FDA and USDA Investigate Joint E. coli Outbreak with Unknown Food Source

FDA and USDA Investigate Joint E. coli Outbreak with Unknown Food Source

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are jointly investigating an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also involved. The specific food source causing the illnesses remains unknown to the public. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has added this investigation to its outbreak table, referencing the FDA's investigation. Traceback efforts have been initiated by the FDA. While the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths has not yet been reported, E. coli O157:H7 is a Shiga toxin-producing bacteria that can lead to severe illness, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. The FDA oversees approximately 80% of the U.S. food supply, including fresh and frozen vegetables, while the USDA regulates meat, poultry, and processed egg products. The agencies often collaborate on investigations involving multi-ingredient foods or imports where their...

Food Safety Becomes Key Midterm Election Issue Amid Cyclospora Outbreak and Trump Administration Policies

Food Safety Becomes Key Midterm Election Issue Amid Cyclospora Outbreak and Trump Administration Policies

Food safety has emerged as a significant 'kitchen-table' political issue in the run-up to the midterm elections, following a summer marked by a massive cyclospora outbreak and numerous food recalls. The outbreak, linked to lettuce, sickened nearly 20,000 people from May to August 2026, a substantial increase from the previous year. Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Representative Gabe Amo (D-R.I.), and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.), are criticizing the Trump administration, alleging that budget cuts to federal food safety agencies and specific policy decisions have compromised the safety of the U.S. food supply. The administration, however, asserts it has mounted a robust response to outbreaks and that recalls are at a decade-low, a claim disputed by some food safety experts who point to misleading data that includes non-food recalls. Concerns are also rising over the administration's initiatives to ease regulations on small livestock operations, import more beef from countries ...

From Cosmetics to Cell Phones: What the FDA Regulates

From Cosmetics to Cell Phones: What the FDA Regulates

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services with a remarkably broad man...

Experimental Drug Retatrutide Shows Significant Weight Loss and Blood Sugar Improvement in Type 2 Diabetes Trial

Experimental Drug Retatrutide Shows Significant Weight Loss and Blood Sugar Improvement in Type 2 Diabetes Trial

A new experimental drug, retatrutide, has demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing weight and improving blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. The drug, a triple-agonist medication, acts on three different hormone receptors: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon (GCG). This mechanism distinguishes it from existing GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), which act on one or two receptors, respectively. The latest clinical trial, published in The Lancet, involved nearly 1,200 participants who were randomly assigned to receive weekly doses of retatrutide (4 mg, 9 mg, or 12 mg) or a placebo. After 80 weeks, participants on retatrutide experienced substantial weight loss, with those on the 12 mg dose losing an average of 18.8 percent of their starting weight. Almost half of the participants on the highest dose lost 20 percent of their starting weight, and about 30 percent lost at least 25 pe...

Nashville Tennessean

These ladybug look-alikes will soon swarm Tennessee homes

These ladybug look-alikes will soon swarm Tennessee homes

Asian lady beetles often invade homes each fall. Here's how to identify these ladybug look-alikes and keep them out of your house.

E. coli outbreak linked to raw cheese. See recalled products

E. coli outbreak linked to raw cheese. See recalled products

Public health officials are investigating an outbreak of E. coli linked to raw milk cheese. See which products are affected.