Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Food Industry Tries To Avert Federal Guidance On Ultra-Processed Products
Stat: Food Makers To Regulators: Ultra-Processed Foods Aren't A Problem
The food industry is anxious that regulators are focusing too much on the health impacts of so-called ultra-processed foods, the popular, ill-defined food group that includes everything from hot dogs and chicken nuggets to cookies and potato chips. Frozen food makers and the meat industry on Tuesday, speaking to a panel of nutrition experts tasked by the federal government with advising on the next round of the national dietary guidelines, raised concerns with its focus on that fare. So too did a coalition that includes the bakery, candy, corn syrup, and sugar lobbies, and the Consumer Brands Association, which includes General Mills, Kellogg’s, and Hostess. (Florko, 9/12)
In other health and wellness news —
CNN: Bad Habits Of Night Owls May Lead To Type 2 Diabetes, Study Says
If you’re groggy in the morning but perky in the evening, you may be a night owl — a sleep pattern or chronotype that makes you more inclined to want to stay up late and sleep in. If so, you could be at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes as well as a number of unhealthy lifestyle habits, a new study found. (LaMotte, 9/11)
USA Today: Man Dies After Eating Oysters Infected By Vibrio Vulnificus Bacteria
The consumption of raw oysters at a Texas restaurant led to the untimely death of a relatively healthy man in his 30s. The man, contracted a bacterial infection known as Vibrio vulnificus that thrives in warm coastal waters. Bacterial infections like this one are on the rise as water temperature continues to increase in response to climate change. Vibrio vulnificus bacteria can be found in raw or undercooked seafood, but also naturally occurs in saltwater and brackish water. (Encinas, 9/12)
Billings Gazette: Time Spent In Sedentary Behavior Tied To Incident Dementia In Seniors
For older adults, there is a significant association between more time spent in sedentary behavior and a higher incidence of all-cause dementia, according to a study published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. ... "More time spent in sedentary behaviors was significantly associated with higher incidence of all-cause dementia," the authors write. "Future research is needed to determine whether the association between sedentary behavior and risk of dementia is causal." (Gotkine, 9/12)
AP: A French Agency Says The IPhone 12 Phone Emits Too Much Radiation And Tells Apple To Withdraw It
French government watchdog agency ordered Apple to withdraw the iPhone 12 from the market, saying it emits levels of electromagnetic radiation that are too high. The National Frequency Agency, which oversees radio-electric frequencies as well as public exposure electromagnetic radiation, called on Apple in a statement Tuesday to “implement all available means to rapidly fix this malfunction.” (9/12)
