Posted September 30, 2019
People generally think that over-the-counter drugs are safer than physician-prescribed ones. Unfortunately that does not hold true for drugs like ibuprofen, consumed at a rate of billions of doses, annually, and responsible for thousands of cardiovascular disease-related deaths each year. Read more.
Archives for September 2019
Opioid Drug Crisis: Could the Whole US Congress be Impeached?
Posted September 30, 2019
First, a little background. Then I’ll get to the Congress. And Obama. Severe addiction, mental dislocation, death. Millions of people are facing the devastating effects of the pharma drugs called opioids, on the streets of America—illegally trafficked. Read more.
False Profits
Posted September 30, 2019
Fracking, vaping, and glyphosate were originally touted as safer solutions for health and environment. They weren’t, and there’s a history to this. There’s a fairly ancient gallon container of Roundup in my garage. I bought it back in the days when Roundup, and its key component glyphosate, was widely considered a safer alternative to other herbicides. Its maker, Bayer, still markets it that way. Read more.
Oppose GMO Mosquito Trials in Florida and Texas
Posted September 30, 2019
Oxitec is proposing to release its genetically modified (GM) OX5034 Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the US states of Florida and Texas. The EPA has opened a public comment period. Oxitec’s application says, “Female offspring of the OX5034 mosquitoes in the environment are expected to die before they mature into adults and therefore exposure to biting female mosquitoes is not anticipated.” Read more.
Mom’s Across America — Setting a Gold Standard
Posted September 30, 2019
Moms Across America’s new food and supplement certification will help consumers choose products from companies that are committed to the goals of the natural health movement. Action Alert! Our friends at Moms Across America have launched an exciting project called the Gold Standard. This standard will allow consumers to support companies that have core beliefs focused on health, integrity, transparency, and sustainability. Help us support this noble effort. Read more.
Vitamin E Linked to Mysterious Vaping Sickness?
Posted September 30, 2019
Not so fast. Action Alert! Recently, reports of illnesses and death linked to vaping have been all over the news. Although the exact cause of the lung illness is not known, the FDA is investigating the presence of vitamin E in many vaping products as a possible culprit. This may cause consumers to be concerned, more generally, about the safety of vitamin E, so it is important to do what many media outlets are not and get the facts straight: the “vitamin E” being referred to in the FDA’s investigation is not natural vitamin E, but a synthetic compound possessing none of the antioxidant properties of real vitamin E. It is crucial that regulators, the media, and the public, not mix this up. Read more.
FDA Can’t be Trusted on CBD
Posted September 30, 2019
A Senate committee has approved language on CBD that will not protect consumer access to CBD supplements. Action Alert! Two weeks ago, we reported on efforts to preserve consumer access to therapeutic levels of CBD oil in supplements. The US Senate Appropriations Committee has approved report language for FY 2020 that falls far short of protecting consumers, and we must act again to save affordable CBD. Read more.
Infant and Child Morality in the U.S. –Nothing to Brag About
Posted September 30, 2019
The United States spends over $230 billion annually on children’s personal health care, representing about 8.4% of total U.S. health care spending. Spending jumped by 56% between 1996 and 2013—with some of the increase likely covering vaccine program costs that began “dramatically” escalating in the 1990s—but these substantial outlays are not translating into a rosy health picture for American children. Read more.
Suicide: Second Leading Cause of Death in 15 – 29 Year-Olds
Posted September 30, 2019
Suicide was the second leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds in 2016, according to sobering data from the World Health Organization.1 Only road injuries claimed more lives in this age group. Further, nearly 800,000 people take their own life worldwide every year, with 79% of suicides taking place in low- and middle-income countries, WHO reported. Read more.
Beekeeper Groups Sue EPA over Pesticide Decision
Posted September 30, 2019
Washington (CNN) In the latest confrontation between the bee industry and the Trump administration, a group of concerned beekeepers have sued the Environmental Protection Agency over its July decision to expand the use of a pesticide that’s known to harm bees and other pollinators. Read more.