NCHR tells #FDA that ZYN nicotine pouch isn’t proven lower risk of cancer and heart disease because it has never been studied long-term in U.S. users. #ZYN is marketing its sales to non-smoking kids and can cause a lifetime of nicotine #addiction. www.center4research.org/oral-comment...

Young adults are trading their vapes for cigarettes. While overall youth nicotine use has dropped to its lowest level in a decade (a huge public health win!), cigarettes are regaining ground again in young adults.

Dr. Oz calls alcohol a "social lubricant" in the new U.S. Dietary Guidelines. He's right, but his advice ignores the science that the alcohol industry doesn't like...

Are your sheets and clothes polluting your food? A new study shows that synthetic microfibers from laundry can get into the soil and stunt the growth of tomatoes.

Should you eat more steak and fewer veggies, nuts & berries? Following the advice of the new U.S. food pyramid can increase your chances of cancer, diabetes, and stroke. So, I wouldn't if I were you. #RedMeat #FoodPyramid #Diet www.thewellnews.com/opinions/eat...

The Trump administration awarded a $9 million grant to house a few migrant teenagers in a juvenile detention facility in Pennsylvania known for child abuse. #Immigration #ChildSafety #Pennsylvania www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...

RFK Jr. has repeatedly called for a ban on drug ads on TV. However, the FDA’s recent blitz of over 100 enforcement letters mostly targeted cheaper compounded weight-loss drugs, not Big Pharma ads. Is this a crackdown or a gift to the industry?

PART 3! LAST PART! NCHR President & Founder, Dr. Diana Zuckerman, continues her conversation on the Beyond The Spotlight Podcast with host Kelli Wright. She was asked what advice she would give to young women who are trying to decide on a career in advocacy.

The goal of MAHA is to improve health, so why do the authors of the new dietary guidelines have financial ties to the food industry? #DietaryGuidelines #Nutrition #MAHA www.newsweek.com/experts-behi...

The FDA and medical device industry are rushing to cut a new "user fee" funding deal behind closed doors. NCHR’s Diana Zuckerman warns that while "Industry is happy" with the speed and access to the FDA, patient safety is taking a back seat.

A study of over 10,000 children identifies age 12 as a critical ‘tipping point’ for safe cell phone use. It looked at the effects cell phones have on child development, comparing children who got their first phone at age 12 vs age 13.

MAHA celebrates a win over “Big Chem”, and WE AGREE! Congress recently protected state health warnings on pesticides, but a pending SCOTUS case could grant chemical manufacturers immunity from “failure-to-warn” lawsuits. #MAHA #Pesticides #SCOTUS thehill.com/policy/energ...

2025 was a big year for learning about microplastics: We now know microplastics are accumulating in our brains, hearts, testicles, and livers. New studies suggest these particles may increase the chances of developing Alzheimer's and heart disease. www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

Today's Washington Post article quotes proponents and skeptics, including NCHR's Diana Zuckerman, regarding longevity products being sold and promoted. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/01/12/longevity-maha-antiaging-health-rfk/

2025 was a huge year for health news. We worked hard to let everyone know what to believe and what was misleading or just plain wrong. www.center4research.org/about-us/ann...

What happens when you stop taking Wegovy or other GLP-1 weight-loss drugs? A new review finds that patients who stop taking weight loss drugs are projected to regain their lost weight within 18 months.

A study found that people who danced frequently had a 76% lower risk of dementia than those who rarely did. It makes sense because physical exercise and social activities are both proven to help prevent dementia. www.youtube.com/shorts/T07WN...

As 2026 begins, the White House is cutting FEMA disaster response staff. This targets the first responders who support survivors after hurricanes and fires. #FEMA #PublicHealth #DisasterRelief edition.cnn.com/2026/01/01/p...

There's a new food pyramid to guide your eating habits, and it is upside down and makes no sense! Red meat, which increases cancer and heart disease, is at the top, next to fruits and vegetables, which reduce cancer and heart disease!

The U.S. is now recommending 4 fewer vaccines for children. The Trump administration bypassed the usual public meeting discussing evidence, and instead announced it will no longer recommend Hepatitis A, B, flu, and RSV shots.

U.S. Teen substance use remains relatively low for the fifth straight year. This decline began during the COVID-19 pandemic and seems to have shifted more permanently. #PublicHealth #TeenHealth #DrugUse www.healthday.com/health-news/...

A miracle surgery saves toddler with broken neck, severed spinal cord. Doctors said 2-year-old Oliver had days to live, but thanks to a daring surgery by UChicago Medicine and his parents not giving up, Oliver is now smiling and recovering.

We don't take money from the companies making products we evaluate. That means we work for YOU, not PHARMA or companies that pollute your community. Help keep our voice independent and strong as we work for a better 2026: www.center4research.org/get-involved... #PatientSafety #PublicHealth

Thinking about trying Dry January? About 1 in 5 will. New research shows taking a break from alcohol can improve your sleep, mood, weight, concentration, blood pressure, blood sugar, and liver function. #Wellness #NewYear #dryjanuary

The U.S. is facing its worst measles resurgence in over 3 decades, with nearly 2,000 reported cases in 2025. The actual number may be higher. Some kids are hospitalized.

Don't forget to read our article on the benefits of pets! www.center4research.org/benefits-pet...

Tennessee lawmakers bowed to NRA pressure to allow men who were found guilty of domestic violence to continue to have access to their guns. Now, counties are stepping up to do the right thing. www.propublica.org/article/tenn...

Our President & Founder, Dr. Diana Zuckerman, continues her conversation with Kelli Wright on the Beyond the Spotlight podcast. She shares the importance of maintaining professional relationships in policy work, even when you disagree. Watch part 2 now!

Growing up with a family dog helps boost a teen's mental health. A study found that teens with dogs seem better adjusted and less aggressive. Is it the unconditional, slobbering affection from a pet, or something else? #HealthNews #Dogs #Science #Teens #MentalHealth

A new MAHA report claims 90% of U.S. homes have measurable pesticides on their floors. Decades of evidence have shown that children are uniquely vulnerable to pesticides. Congress mandated safety protections nearly 30 years ago, but the EPA has failed to enforce them.

9 more drugmakers have cut deals with the Trump Administration to lower prices. What does it mean for you? The good news is that some prices will drop for HIV, diabetes, and heart disease meds, but generic competition would have lowered many of those prices next year anyway.

What happens to your brain when you rely on ChatGPT? Using AI to write an SAT-type essay reduced brain activity by more than 50%, according to a small MIT study. Using Google for assistance had less impact. Does this mean our brains are getting lazy or just more efficient?

The recent PIRG 2025 Trouble in Toyland report exposed an AI teddy bear that told kids where to find knives and how to light matches. Fortunately, the company stopped selling the toy after alarms were raised.

ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula was recalled due to bacteria causing botulism. The formula is blamed for at least 51 babies with botulism across 19 states. Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Albertsons kept selling the recalled formula weeks after the recall began. (1/2)

Hearing about rising cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease? You aren't alone. Reports show a big surge in cases this year. Why? Warmer climate is partly to blame, and the fact that fewer kids caught it last year, leaving more children without immunity. main.sbcounty.gov/2025/12/11/c...

Measles outbreaks are accelerating across the US. It isn't just Texas. More than 1,900 children and adults got measles this year--mostly children. South Carolina is facing a large outbreak. Almost all were not vaccinated.

Engineered stone countertops are popular, but they are causing a rise in a deadly lung disease among stone workers. Massachusetts health officials just confirmed the state's first case of silicosis in a stone worker. This adds to a growing number of cases nationwide.

Can a cash incentive get people to take their blood pressure meds? A new study found that cash incentives doubled consistent compliance. 71% of the rewards group took medication regularly, compared to 34% of those who weren't told they'd get a reward.

Get to know our President & Founder, Dr. Diana Zuckerman, as she sits down on the Beyond the Spotlight podcast with host Kelli Wright. Dr. Zuckerman reflects on her professional journey and her work to provide free lunches for millions of children. Part 1! Follow for more!

Get to know our President & Founder, Dr. Diana Zuckerman, as she sits down on the Beyond the Spotlight podcast with host Kelli Wright. Dr. Zuckerman reflects on her professional journey and her work to provide free lunches for millions of children. Part 1! Follow for more!

Nonprofit Community health centers receive federal funding to offer a safety net for the poor. So why are some suing patients for as little as $59 in unpaid bills? www.propublica.org/article/fede...

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” will shift billions in costs for SNAP and Medicaid to states. A ProPublica investigation found that the 26 states that recently slashed their own state taxes means many will be unable to cover these new bills.

Montgomery County, MD is home to the NIH. Why is the county ignoring science showing artificial turf has dangerous PFAS chemicals and plastic? Our kids' lungs will fill with microplastics when they play. www.center4research.org/nchr-letter-...

A study of 28 million adults under 60 found that people who received a COVID mRNA vaccine were less likely to die of COVID or from any cause over the next four years. The findings come as the Trump administration is challenging mRNA vaccines.

How can we restore trust in healthcare? Newborns lack Vitamin K, so most are given shots as soon as they are born. But more American parents are refusing Vitamin K shots for their newborns. #NewbornHealth #VitaminK #PublicHealth #Parenting #HealthSafety thehill.com/policy/healt...

Rural America relies on foreign doctors, but a new $100,000 visa fee is shutting them out. In “health care deserts” like Shelby, NC, practices can't afford the fee to bring in specialists urgently needed by patients. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Influencers are selling "freebirth" guides (delivering a baby with no doctors or midwives) for hundreds of dollars. An investigation found that moms suffered preventable tragedies while these leaders made millions. www.medpagetoday.com/obgyn/pregna...

A new study suggests the shingles vaccine may help prevent mild cognitive impairment and slow the progress of dementia. Researchers found that vaccinated adults were less likely to show signs of impaired thinking. www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/h...

STAT reports Dr. Rick Pazdur's surprise retirement as the FDA's head of drug evaluation adds to worries about the regulatory agency. NCHR's Dr. Diana Zuckerman calls it a "huge loss," noting his willingness to demand evidence and question rushed review plans.

Whooping cough cases in Texas hit their highest level since 2013, with more than 3,500 reported and roughly four times higher than last year. This disease causes violent coughing fits and is dangerous for infants. About 1/3 of babies under 12 months who catch it require hospitalization.