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Common Food Preservatives Linked to Cancer and Type 2 Diabetes
Common preservatives used to keep food safe and extend shelf life may be linked to a higher risk of several cancers and type 2 diabetes, according to two new studies from France.
“These are very important findings for preservatives that are not only widely used in the French and European markets, but also in the United States,” said senior author Mathilde Touvier, principal investigator of the NutriNet-Santé study used to conduct the research.
The NutriNet-Santé study, which began in 2009, compares over 170,000 participants’ web-based reports on diet and lifestyle with their medical data stored in the French national health care system.
Kraft Heinz and Mondelez Shares Drop as Trump Officials Blast Ultraprocessed Foods and Unveil New Food Pyramid
RFK Jr. says past administrations lied to “protect corporate profit-taking”
Shares in giant food companies such as Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo lost ground Wednesday as top officials in the Trump administration criticized ultraprocessed foods and sugary drinks while releasing new dietary guidelines.
“The hard truth is that our government has been lying to us to protect corporate profit-taking, telling us that these food-like substances were beneficial to public health,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, during a briefing for reporters.
New Indiana House Bill Would Prevent Schools From Offering ‘Ultraprocessed’ Foods, Beverages
On the same day as the unveiling of new federal dietary guidance, the Indiana House Committee on Education hosted a hearing on a bill that centers on preventing schools from offering ultraprocessed foods and beverages. House Bill 1137, authored by Indiana State Rep. Julie McGuire, a Republican from Indianapolis, had its first reading on Monday. After it was referred to the Indiana House Committee on Education, the committee discussed the bill on Wednesday.
Under the bill, public schools, along with charter schools that participate in a federally funded or assisted meal program, would be required starting in the 2027-28 school year to:
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- Not serve, sell or allow a third-party vendor to serve or sell an ultraprocessed food or beverage on school property on a school day
- Shall post on the school’s website the school’s breakfast and lunch menu, as applicable, with the list of ingredients for each item on the menu.
However, ultraprocessed food or beverages can be sold on school property as part of a fundraising event, the bill states, provided it occurs at least 30 minutes after the end of each school day. The bill also does not prohibit parents from providing an ultraprocessed food or beverage to the student during the school day. “What we serve kids at school isn’t just about lunch,” McGuire said. “It’s about their health, their ability to learn, and the long-term future of our children.”
West Virginia Artificial Dye Ban Temporarily Blocked by Court
The West Virginia ruling could throw cold water on a growing “Make America Healthy Again” movement among states that’s led to the introduction of dozens of laws restricting artificial dyes or other ingredients. Last March, West Virginia became the first in the U.S. to ban the sale of foods with artificial dyes, kicking off a wave of similar laws across the country. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also asked the food industry to remove artificial colors from the food supply by the end of this year, though the request is voluntary.
As more states look to pass their own restrictions, the food industry is beginning to push back and advocate for a single national standard. Color manufacturers sued West Virginia in October to strike down the state’s law, with industry trade groups taking similar action against Texas last month.
In its ruling, the West Virginia judge said the state changed decades-old food safety laws to list artificial dyes as “poisonous and injurious” to consumers, but failed to explain what makes the substances harmful. As a result, it opens the door for the state to arbitrarily ban additional artificial dyes or other ingredients it deems as a health risk.
