Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
TSA Updates Medical Marijuana Policy; Experts Suggest Travelers Be Careful
Fox News: TSA Updates Medical Marijuana Guidelines, But Experts Urge Caution
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently updated its medical marijuana guidelines, adding specific instructions to its "What Can I Bring?" directory for both carry-on and checked bags. Patients who use cannabis to manage chronic pain, anxiety, nausea or other qualifying conditions may travel with their medication for use at their destination. (Quill, 6/7)
On MAHA, nutrition, and autism —
Politico: RFK Jr.’s Movement Was Supposed To Save The GOP’s Majorities. It’s Not Even In The Game
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement isn’t doing much to help Republicans maintain control of Congress. MAHA Action and MAHA Institute, the movement’s political organizations spreading Kennedy’s message on healthy food and vaccine safety, have largely stayed out of the races that will determine the makeup of Congress. Tony Lyons, the publisher of Kennedy’s books who’s taken a lead role in running the groups, has struggled to turn Kennedy’s appeal into the juggernaut Republicans had hoped would enable them to hold onto their House and Senate majorities. (Chu, 6/6)
The Hill: Steak N' Shake Touts Endorsement Win In Iowa Governor Primary: 'We Like Getting It Right'
Fast food chain Steak ‘n Shake is touting its political prowess after the Republican candidate it endorsed for Iowa governor defeated a challenger backed by President Trump. ... Steak ‘n Shake threw its support behind businessman Zach Lahn in the gubernatorial race in late May, calling him the “only MAHA-supporting candidate” in the field, a reference to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. (Brams, 6/5)
CNN: Ultraprocessed Food Scientists Say Americans Are ‘Fed Up’ With Industry And Government Inaction
The ultraprocessed food industry is yet again under attack, and it’s not just MAHA moms or scientists who study food calling for change. Some 77% of frustrated Republicans, Democrats and Independents are now calling for mandated “large warning labels” on all packages of ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs, according to a new poll. (LaMotte, 6/5)
CIDRAP: WHO Attributes 866 Million Yearly Illnesses, 1.5 Million Deaths Around The World To Contaminated Food
Today, as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigates two new outbreaks of foodborne illness, the World Health Organization (WHO) released global data estimating the annual number of illnesses and deaths tied to unsafe food at 866 million and 1.5 million, respectively. The WHO report, published in The Lancet Global Health, also found that, despite children younger than 5 years making up only 9% of the population, this age-group represents nearly one third of all cases of foodborne illness—especially deadly diarrheal diseases. (Van Beusekom, 6/4)
KFF Health News: MAHA’s Treatments For Autism: Camel’s Milk, Stem Cell Injections — And Spelling Therapy
Elizabeth Bonker is a silent woman with a loud mission. She wants government agencies to cover the costs of training people with autism in a form of communication called assisted spelling. One problem: Leading professional organizations don’t believe it works. "All nonspeakers above the age of 5 should be given the opportunity,” typed Bonker, who is 28 and cannot talk. Her mother, Virginia Breen, held a wireless keyboard for her. They sat on a hotel patio before an April 27 meeting with a senior aide to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Allen, 6/8)
More health and wellness news —
The New York Times: Police Remove Diabetes Experts From Conference For Distributing Critique Of Trump Administration
Several diabetes experts were escorted out of an influential medical conference by the police on Friday after they handed out copies of an editorial criticizing the Trump administration’s attacks on scientific research. The incident took place Friday morning at a meeting of the American Diabetes Association in New Orleans, shortly before Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, was scheduled to speak. An organizer announced just before Dr. Bhattacharya’s session that he would no longer be speaking; a senior adviser at the N.I.H. took his place. (Blum, 6/5)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Alternative Medicine Clinics Sell Hope For Defeating Disease, Aging – Often At High Cost
Ron Evangelista’s first appointment at Progressive Medical Center left him feeling hopeful. For years, Evangelista, 82, had been dragged down by osteoarthritis in his neck. The pain was so persistent that it had become challenging to do the simple things he loves, like walking the dogs or dancing with his wife, Kathy. She, too, had some chronic health issues. (Robbins and Teegardin, 6/8)
NPR: Can A Vibrating Belt Fend Off Bone Density Loss?
Andrea Bloom, 59, of Pleasanton, Calif., learned she had osteopenia, or low bone density, after a bone density scan. "When I saw my results, it was pretty shocking because I was one-tenth of a point away from an osteoporosis diagnosis," she says. More than 40 million adults in the United States aged 50 and older have osteopenia, which can progress to osteoporosis, leaving bones brittle and weak. (Aubrey, 6/6)
NBC News: Insulin Resistance May Be An Overlooked Clue To Heart Disease, Diabetes And Fatty Liver
A chronic condition that affects how our bodies regulate blood sugar may be an overlooked culprit behind heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver and possibly some cancers. (Syal, 6/7)
