Trump’s MAHA Commission: What to Expect
President Trump’s return to the White House has sparked a lot of controversy as he takes extensive executive action and appoints contentious figures to his cabinet. At the top of the list of most controversial is arguably the newly confirmed Secretary of Human Health and Services, Robert Kennedy Jr., because of his skepticism towards vaccines and pharmaceutical drugs like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), used to treat various mental disorders. Despite criticisms, Kennedy gained a large following during his 2024 presidential campaign, where he founded the Make America Healthy Again movement and advocated for public health policies that make American food healthier and end the chronic disease epidemic in this country. Aligned with these initiatives, President Trump has taken extensive action in the first sixty days of his second term to reform public health policy. Among these changes is the newly created Make America Healthy Again Commission, which is chaired by Secretary Kennedy and consists of other cabinet and high-ranking executive officials. The Commission is initially tasked with addressing the childhood chronic disease crisis, specifically targeting nutrition, prescription drug misuse, and government transparency related to ethics and public trust.
Subsidized Addiction: America’s Sweet Problem
Today, Americans are becoming more aware and concerned about the additives in their food that have carcinogenic and other adverse health effects. This increased scrutiny in American nutrition, particularly for children, has been spearheaded by the “Make America Healthy Again” Movement, which seeks higher standards in regulations of what is allowed in food and more transparency for food products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is shifting in the same direction of promulgating stricter food standards, as it recently finalized rules banning the artificial food additive Red No. 3 and updating the standards manufacturers must meet to advertise as “healthy.” However, while agencies and activists work to keep chemical and artificial additives out of American foods, a glaring issue remains. Americans have a sugar addiction problem, and the government is their enablers.
Glass Skin Meets Red Tape: How Korean Beauty Navigates FDA Rules
Among the trends of self-care lies skincare. As self-care has increased in popularity over the last few years, skincare has become increasingly trendy. In 2022, there was a boost in skincare sales with products such as anti-aging products and moisturizers. In the skincare industry, there are known and established brands, but what has recently emerged through popularity on social media and TikTok is Korean beauty (“K-beauty”) products. K-beauty products help consumers achieve “glass skin,” which is clear, poreless, and shiny skin that looks like glass by using specific K-beauty products. In the states, sunscreen is a staple K-beauty product that has emerged.
From Lab to Table: The Future of Regulating Lab-Grown Meat
Human organs grown in labs, lab-grown diamonds, lab-grown plants, and now lab-grown meat. Companies like Upside Foods and GOOD Meat are growing meat from animal cells. Companies have developed a cell line to produce high-quality meat, grow and feed the cells with a “blend of nutrients,” and in two to three weeks, meat is ready to be cultivated and molded into the shape of meat, like a chicken filet. Now, lab-grown meat is commercialized and has been approved by the Agriculture Department for production and sale. Although it could be a few years until lab-produced meat is in grocery stores, regulations need to be approved and put into place just like slaughterhouse meat.
Have a Safe Trip: How Psychedelic Therapy in Oregon and Colorado Could Guide National Legalization
As the mental health crisis continues to challenge the United States, the need for innovative treatments is becoming increasingly evident. Psychedelic therapy, using substances like psilocybin and MDMA, is gaining attention as a promising approach to treating conditions such as post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Oregon and Colorado have pioneered the movement toward legalizing psychedelics for therapeutic use, and their progressive policies have the potential to provide a roadmap for the rest of the country. The question arises: should the entire U.S. follow in their footsteps? Oregon and Colorado’s frameworks could serve as a model for other states seeking to legalize psychedelics in therapeutic settings.
Navigating the Genetic Frontier: 23andMe and the Challenges of Data Security
A recent situation involving millions of 23andMe users has raised significant concerns about data privacy and regulatory oversight. After sending a small tube of saliva to uncover ancestral roots, many individuals discovered that their genetic data had been compromised. 23andMe has transformed genetic testing by offering accessible health and ancestry information to consumers from the comfort of their homes. Since its inception, the company has faced regulatory challenges and became the first direct-to-consumer genetic genealogy test to receive FDA approval. While the company has largely avoided legal trouble over the years, recent data breaches have sparked legal action and underscored gaps in consumer protection.
Caffeine Can Cause a Scene: Why the FDA Should Require Disclosure of Caffeine Content
On May 7, 2024, Panera Bread removed its popular line of ‘charged’ lemonade beverages from its menu following multiple lawsuits alleging that the caffeine content of the drink led to death or serious health problems of customers. One such death occurred in September 2022 when a 21-year-old woman unknowingly consumed 390 milligrams of caffeine in one charged lemonade drink which aggravated her heart condition and led to cardiac arrest. These lawsuits highlight the dangerous reality of caffeine consumption which likely could have been avoided if Panera Bread had clearly displayed the caffeine content of its drinks. However, Panera Bread was under no regulatory obligation to display the caffeine content due to a major gap in the current beverage labeling regulation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which does not require any disclosure of caffeine quantity. This regulatory gap poses a growing risk to consumers as new energy drink brands continue to enter the market and push competition by increasing the amount of caffeine packed into each product. In order to fulfill its obligation to public safety, the FDA must introduce regulations to standardize the disclosure of caffeine content to allow consumers to make informed decisions about the products they are choosing.
What a Lack of Regulatory Structures Means for Food in Prisons
There is practically no regulation of prison food, making access to fresh produce and adequate nutrition a central crisis in prisons. While the dreadful nature of prison food is no secret, the structures that enable such undesirable conditions tend to be overlooked in mainstream discourse. Prison reforms have a long history of substantial difficulty in garnering popular support. Though food is one of the most protected prisoner rights to date, there is growing concern from prisoners’ rights organizations and experts on what lack of food regulations in prisons means for the ever-growing incarcerated population.
FDA Approves Flavored Vape Products for the First Time Ever
The popularity of vaping in the United States peaked in 2018 when the company Juul Labs attracted young customers with its variety of flavors and an easily concealable nicotine delivery device. At that time, the FDA had not approved Juul products for use in the United States but had not banned the products either. Instead, the FDA issued a few limitations regarding the sale of Juul products –in 2018, the FDA limited what flavor Juul pods could be sold, and in 2019 required that customers in all states be at least 21 years of age. This marks the beginning of the FDA’s struggle to regulate the availability of flavored nicotine products, which continues today.
EPA Finalizes Rule Requiring Reporting of “Forever Chemicals”
On September 28, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its rule for manufactures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which requires that these manufacturers provide information about what chemicals and the amount that they produce. Effective November 13, 2023, persons that manufacture, have manufactured, or have imported PFAS in any year since January 1, 2011, will now be required to report a wide range of information of PFAS including chemical identity and structure, uses, production volumes, exposures, by-products and health and environmental effects. EPA is taking this action not only to fulfill its obligations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a)(7), but also to address this legacy pollution that has been, and continues to be, endangering people across the nation.