Thom King’s Post

An interesting article on the costs of living gluten free has been published by one of our own - UQ's SPH Associate Lecturer Sarah Birtwistle. You can find the article here: https://lnkd.in/gSvRV4hN #publichealth #glutenfree #costofliving #article

Implementing front-of-package warning labels on ultra-processed foods in the United States can empower consumers to make healthier choices. Evidence from Chile shows that clear nutritional information significantly reduces purchases of unhealthy food. Recent FDA initiatives and legislative proposals signal a promising shift toward more informative food labeling in the U.S. Together, we can improve public health outcomes and reduce the prevalence of diet-related diseases caused by ultra-processed foods. Read the full The New York Times op-ed by Kat Morgan and Mark Bittman to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eyAMS9tS

Wayde's Amazing Facts:  🍞🚫🍹 11 foods banned worldwide but still found in the U.S. 😱 📌Dough conditioners like potassium bromate & azodicarbonamide are banned in several countries due to cancer risks and respiratory issues. 📌Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) - found in some sodas, is a potential flame retardant and is linked to memory loss and heart problems. 📌Propylparaben - used in baked goods, can disrupt hormones and has links to cancer. 📌BHA & BHT - synthetic antioxidants banned elsewhere for being possible carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. 📌Synthetic Food Dyes - linked to hyperactivity and tumors, banned in Europe and Australia. 📌GMOs - banned or restricted in many countries over health concerns. 📌Roxarsone - an arsenic-based drug used in chicken, linked to cancer and other health issues. 📌Ractopamine - muscle enhancer in meat, banned in 122 countries due to reproductive and cardiovascular risks. 📌Pesticides - many used in the U.S. are banned elsewhere for health hazards. 📌Olestra - a fat substitute causing digestive issues, banned in Canada and the UK. 📌Synthetic Hormones - like rBGH in dairy, linked to cancer and infections, banned in many countries. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/gZQYHV-p Questions? Email [email protected] or text +1 760-815-1035 Stay informed and choose wisely! 🌎💡🍴 #FoodSafety #Health #BannedFoods #StayInformed #CleanEating

Is ultra-processed food a future mass tort? UPFs are industrially formulated products made out of substances extracted from foods, like sugars, salts, hydrogenated fats, bulking agents and starches (think sugary breakfast cereals, microwave dinners, soft drinks and packaged snacks). Today, UPFs make up 73% of the US food supply. But research is increasingly linking UPFs to a whole host of health issues: from cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes to colorectal cancer and depression. Today, more than 1 million people die from diet-related diseases in the US every year. The attached article largely discusses labeling efforts. I’m more concerned about the potential litigation. #emergingissues #insurance #underwriting #insuranceindustry #reinsurance

Detection of PFAS in food: A Belgian Dietary Exposure Study In this study, a sensitive method was developed to measure 25 perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food in order to assess the dietary exposure of the Belgian population. A total of 268 foods were tested and 43% were found to contain at least one PFAS, with PFOS being the most frequently detected. While concentrations varied, only one crab sample exceeded the EU limit for PFOA. The results provide an up-to-date insight into the dietary exposure of the Belgian population to PFAS. https://lnkd.in/d6sQtcCG #pfas #bioremediation #cleanwaters #health

Food for Thought ❤️🔥 In America, the cost of diabetes alone amounts to $80 billion annually, and this figure continues to rise, driven by the growing rates of obesity. Ultra-processed foods play a significant role in this crisis, making the situation an expensive proposition for the country. Regulation of food and additives largely falls under the purview of the FDA. When new foods or additives are introduced, companies must petition the FDA, which uses the Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS) designation. This system, created in 1958, allows substances like vinegar and baking soda—commonly tested ingredients—to bypass extensive FDA review. However, since 1997, companies can self-declare substances as GRAS without notifying the FDA, creating a loophole. This provisional green light has led to the introduction of thousands of substances into the food supply, often without sufficient oversight. A striking example is the case of trans fats, which were initially allowed and later recognised as unsafe and removed from the market. A nonprofit study found that between 2000 and 2021, nearly 800 food chemicals entered the U.S. market, with 99% avoiding FDA scrutiny through GRAS self-declarations. This does not even account for unreported declarations. By contrast, the European Union maintains stricter controls, approving just over 400 additives, with no equivalent to GRAS. Technology and better regulations are needed to address these gaps and ensure safer food standards. Our app, NutraVerse, empowers consumers by providing insights into food ingredients and processing levels, using tools like NutriScore to evaluate products based on their ingredients. Let's work towards more transparency and healthier choices for all! #ingredients #foodtransparancy #healthyireland #Healthyfood #healthierfoodchoices.

Unveiling the Paradox: How Our Diet Influences Toxic PFAS Exposure In recent research, it's been discovered that diets rich in processed meats, butter, and certain other foods may elevate toxic PFAS levels in our blood over time. PFAS, known as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment, are linked to serious health issues including cancer and liver problems. Surprisingly, the study found that some unhealthy foods might actually lower PFAS levels, while certain healthy options could increase them. This highlights the complex relationship between our diet and PFAS exposure, underscoring the need for more rigorous testing of our food supply. The findings call for enhanced public health monitoring, particularly of foods considered healthy, to prevent unintended chemical exposures. It's a wake-up call for more targeted monitoring and testing to ensure the safety of our food and health. #PublicHealth #PFAS #PFASFree #FoodSafety https://lnkd.in/eF2Prcbd

"Health experts worry that some additives may be causing cancer or other chronic diseases. Americans get most of their daily calories from so-called ultra-processed foods that are packed with them. Nearly 9,000 foods sold in America contain Red 3 dye, which is banned in the EU in food and in cosmetics in America over concerns that it is carcinogenic. Potassium bromate, which plumps up bread, is also banned in the EU for the same reason but can be found in nearly 600 foods in America. Studies in France, using food labels and information on what people eat, have found links between other common additives and cancer—the sort of data that help EU regulators decide what to ban when they reassess the safety of previously approved additives." The FDA does not know what chemicals are added to foods https://lnkd.in/eBZdGCw8 from The Economist

Is it safe to consume foods contaminated with POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) ? WHO, in collaboration with FAO, has considered dioxins and dioxin-like compounds on several occasions. Most recently in June 2001, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) examined new evidence on the toxicity of these chemicals and established a Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI) of 70 picograms of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. When evaluating standard diets in different parts of the world the results indicated that the estimated intakes of these chemicals approach or exceed this PTMI. Based on the mean contamination levels reported in above study, eating one or two portions per week of farmed salmon would result in a monthly intake below this level. However, an overall dietary risk assessment would require inclusion of other dietary sources of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. #worldhealthorganization #health #lifestyle