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The World Health Organisation (<keyword id="19895006" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="WHO" source="keywords">WHO</keyword>) has announced that <keyword id="22989608" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="M-Pox" source="keywords">M-Pox</keyword> will continue to be classified as a <keyword id="21952478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-health-emergency" source="keywords">public health emergency</keyword> of international concern (PHEIC), citing a resurgence in cases and the virus's ongoing geographic spread. The high-alert status initially declared in August, was reaffirmed following a meeting of the WHO Emergency Committee, The Express Tribune reported on Friday. The decision comes as M-Pox cases surge, particularly with the spread of the <keyword id="22875864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="clade-Ib-variant" source="keywords">clade Ib variant</keyword> beyond its origin in the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring African nations, Europe, and Asia. "Rising case numbers, the continuing geographic spread, and the need for a cohesive response have made it essential to maintain this emergency status," the WHO said in its statement. Confirmed cases of clade Ib have been detected in the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and India, highlighting the global scale of the outbreak, reported The Express Tribune. M-Pox, a viral disease transmitted through close contact, presents flu-like symptoms and lesions. Although typically mild, it can be fatal, particularly in regions with inadequate healthcare. Over 46,000 suspected cases have been reported this year in Africa, with Congo accounting for the majority of the more than 1,000 suspected deaths. The new PHEIC declaration underscores the global threat posed by clade Ib and follows earlier alerts related to a separate strain during the 2022-2023 outbreak. In response to growing concerns, the WHO has expanded vaccine authorisations. Bavarian Nordic's <keyword id="24137585" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="M-Pox-vaccine" source="keywords">M-Pox vaccine</keyword> was approved earlier this year, with Japan's KM Biologics' vaccine added to the list of emergency-use vaccines in September. WHO officials have faced criticism for delays in <keyword id="21847727" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccine-distribution" source="keywords">vaccine distribution</keyword> but stressed that vaccination remains a cornerstone of global response efforts, The Express Tribune reported. "The emergency status underscores the urgency to mount a unified global response," a WHO spokesperson stated. The organisation urged countries and health partners to collaborate on widespread vaccination campaigns and enhance public awareness to curb the virus's spread effectively.

M-Pox remains public health emergency: WHO

Did you know that your high-speed <keyword id="6357247" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet" source="Orion">internet</keyword> might be making you a bit, well… sluggish? According to new research, faster internet connections could actually be helping to drive up <keyword id="6364492" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Obesity" source="Orion">obesity</keyword> rates in Australia. The study examined years of data from the Household, Income, and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, tracking the expansion of high-speed internet across the country from 2006 to 2019. The result? The faster the internet, the more likely people are to gain weight. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">Fast internet changing daily habits</h3>According to Dr. Klaus Ackermann from Monash Business School, the connection between fast internet and weight gain has to do with “sedentary behavior.” He explains, “Access to high-speed internet connection decreases the likelihood of individuals meeting the minimum physical activity recommendation proposed by the WHO. That is, individuals become more inactive and exhibit more sedentary behaviour.” Basically, with high-speed internet, we’re more likely to spend hours watching streaming shows or playing online games. And, as Dr. Ackermann says, “Sedentary behavior is induced by the need to stay connected online for longer hours, which leads to lower metabolic rates and contributes to obesity.” And that’s not all — the more we’re sitting around, the more we’re likely to snack. “This problem is elevated by the need to frequently consume snacks during computer usage, which increases the daily intake of calories that contribute to obesity,” Ackermann points out. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">A growing (and costly) problem</h3>Beyond individual health, Australia’s obesity crisis is also creating a big economic issue. Obesity cost the country $11.8 billion in 2018, and that number is projected to reach an astonishing $87.7 billion by 2032. According to the study, a mere 1% increase in National Broadband Network adoption is linked with a jump in <keyword id="20107050" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Body-Mass-Index" source="keywords">Body Mass Index</keyword> (BMI) of 1.57 kg/m² and a 6.6% increase in the prevalence of obesity. In simple terms, fast internet is allowing people to live slower lives—lives that involve a lot more sitting and a lot less moving. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:14.0pt;margin-bottom:4.0pt;">Breaking the cycle</h3>So, what’s the solution? Dr. Ackermann suggests that we might need <keyword id="21876118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-health-campaigns" source="keywords">public health campaigns</keyword> to remind people of the risks that come with endless screen time. “One avenue of suggestion could be creating awareness of the potential increase in <keyword id="23729054" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sedentary-behavior" source="keywords">sedentary behavior</keyword> with internet access; this could motivate people to take breaks between screen time to reduce sedentary behavior and engage in physical activity to promote a healthier lifestyle,” he says. He adds that encouraging people to take breaks and do more physical activities might be key. “Such public health campaigns could encourage the need to physically engage in errands, if possible, as opposed to strictly accessing goods and services online,” Ackermann advises. High-speed internet may be part of modern life, but maybe it’s worth taking a step back now and then to get off the couch. As Dr. Ackermann puts it, “Public health campaigns that encourage short but vigorous physical activity… could be useful for individuals with busy lifestyles who may only have limited time.” The findings of this research have been published in Economics &amp; Human Biology.

The faster your internet, the more likely you are to be obese, a study has found

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Diabetes startup Omada Health has confidentially filed its S-1 for an IPO, BI has learned.</li><li>It's among a crop of hot startups patiently waiting for the markets to reopen for healthcare IPOs.</li></ul>Rumors about diabetes startup Omada Health's public market debut have been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-startups-ipo-public-markets-reopens-2024-1">swirling</a> for years. Now, its IPO may finally be within reach.Omada Health confidentially filed its S-1 this summer to go public, according to one person with knowledge of the transaction.It's been a long time coming for Omada, which was founded in 2011 to treat diabetes and other chronic conditions with a combination of virtual coaching and remote monitoring.Omada last raised a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/omada-health-pitch-deck-raise-192-million-2022-7">$192 million Series E</a> in 2022, which boosted its valuation <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/health-tech/omada-health-hits-unicorn-status-192m-fidelity-led-series-e">over $1 billion</a>. It's raised about $450 million to date, according to PitchBook.An Omada Health spokesperson said the company "can't comment on rumors or speculation at this time."Omada CEO Sean Duffy has never spoken publicly about the startup's IPO plans. But Omada could be one of the select healthcare startups to test the IPO waters when the markets warm up, hopefully in 2025.Hinge Health has hired banks including Morgan Stanley as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hinge-health-s-1-morgan-stanley-ipo-2024-9">the physical therapy startup prepares to confidentially file its S-1</a>, BI previously reported. Hinge is aiming for an IPO in early 2025, markets willing.BI previously reported that Omada Health and Hinge Health were among <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-startups-ipo-public-markets-reopens-2024-1">the top contenders to test the healthcare IPO waters</a>, alongside startups like Lyra Health and Datavant.It's been a rough couple of years for healthcare IPOs. After 20 healthcare startups went public in 2021, only one healthcare company went public the following year — Akili Interactive, which <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/virtual-therapeutics-announces-results-tender-111900807.html">sold for $34 million</a> this July. No healthcare startups went public in 2023.2024's IPO market has remained rocky. Three digital health companies have gone public this year: revenue cycle management company Waystar, remote pregnancy monitoring company Nuvo, and precision medicine company Tempus AI. Both Waystar's and Tempus's stock have surged about 30% since their public market debuts, as of October 1. Nuvo, which went public in a SPAC deal in May, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-22/newly-public-pregnancy-care-firm-nuvo-files-for-bankruptcy">filed for bankruptcy in August</a>.Cameron Lester, global co-head of technology, media, and telecom investment banking at Jefferies, told Business Insider in August that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/servicetitan-waiting-until-after-the-election-to-go-public-2024-8">many companies are now waiting until 2025</a>, after the US presidential election has concluded, to consider an IPO. He said the firm expects "a strong 2025 with lots of companies getting ready to go public."Ben Narasin, founder and general partner at Tenacity Venture Capital and an early investor in Omada Health, told BI he believes the first quarter of 2024 "will unleash the IPO beast back into the wild, and we will see a long-awaited return to liquidity, starting with the best and most compelling companies that currently clog a congested pipe of massive scale."Omada has made plenty of progress in the IPO drought, including by notching a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://resourcecenter.omadahealth.com/blog/omada-health-joins-amazons-health-condition-programs-as-launch-partner">partnership with Amazon</a> in January. It's also sought deals to help employers <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/omada-strategy-weight-loss-drugs-semaglutide-ozempic-2023-5">manage patients on weight-loss drugs like Ozempic</a>."Probably every year for the last five years, I get asked about Omada's IPO," Duffy told BI in January. "We want to make sure that Omada continues to grow, and that we're the sort of business that can thrive independently."

Exclusive: Diabetes startup Omada Health has confidentially filed its S-1 to go public

In a significant move to safeguard <keyword id="19913584" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-health" source="keywords">public health</keyword>, the Indian government has banned 156 widely sold fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs, many of which are used to treat common ailments such as fever, colds, allergies and pain. The banned FDCs include several popular antibacterial and pain-relief medications, which the government has declared "likely to involve risk to human beings." The ban was officially announced through a gazette notification issued by the <keyword id="19897332" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Health-Ministry" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Union Health Ministry" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Union Health Ministry">Union Health Ministry</keyword> on August 12. <keyword id="22891947" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FDC-drugs" source="keywords">FDC drugs</keyword>, often referred to as "cocktail" drugs, contain a combination of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients in a fixed ratio. While such combinations are intended to offer multi-faceted treatment, concerns have been raised about their safety and efficacy. Among the drugs on the banned list is the well-known combination of Aceclofenac 50 mg and <keyword id="20687368" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="paracetamol" source="keywords">Paracetamol</keyword> 125 mg, a popular pain reliever produced by several major pharmaceutical companies. Other banned FDCs include Mefenamic Acid Paracetamol Injection, Cetirizine HCl Paracetamol Phenylephrine HCl, Levocetirizine Phenylephrine HCl Paracetamol, Paracetamol Chlorpheniramine Maleate Phenyl Proanolamine, and Camylofin Dihydrochloride 25 mg Paracetamol 300 mg. A particularly notable ban is on the combination of Paracetamol, Tramadol, Taurine, and Caffeine. Tramadol, an opioid-based painkiller, has drawn attention for its potential for abuse and addiction, adding to the concerns surrounding its inclusion in over-the-counter FDCs. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112557689" title="The drugmaker that hopes to legalize MDMA is cutting 75% of its staff after the FDA rejected the drug" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>According to the government's notification, the Central government has determined that the use of these FDCs "is likely to involve risk to human beings," and that "safer alternatives to the said drugs are available." The decision follows an in-depth examination by an Expert Committee, which found many of these FDCs to be "irrational." The apex panel Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) also reviewed the combinations and concluded that there was "no therapeutic justification" for the ingredients in these FDCs. In light of the potential risks, the government deemed it necessary to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of these drugs under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The notification emphasised that "in the larger public interest, it is necessary to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of this FDC" as regulation or restriction would not be sufficient to protect patients. This is not the first time the Indian government has intervened to address the sale of FDCs. In 2016, the Centre had announced a ban on 344 FDCs after an expert panel — established at the direction of the Supreme Court — found that many of these combinations were being sold without sufficient scientific evidence supporting their efficacy. Although that decision was contested in court by <keyword id="22603498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drug-manufacturers" source="keywords">drug manufacturers</keyword>, it set a precedent for regulatory scrutiny of FDCs in India. In June 2023, 14 FDCs from the original list of 344 were also banned. Many of the drugs included in the recent list of 156 were part of this original 344-drug combination ban, reinforcing the government's continued efforts to remove unsafe and unjustified medications from the market. Several of the banned products had already been discontinued by manufacturers, but the new regulations ensure that these combinations will no longer be available for sale in India, further emphasising the government's commitment to public safety and rational drug use. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112374485" title="Govt waives clinical trial requirement for several drugs approved in select countries" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

156 ‘combination medicines’ containing Cetirizine, Paracetamol and other common drugs banned by Centre

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Illinois Department of Public Health has warned of a last-minute recall of eclipse glasses.</li><li>The glasses potentially do not meet ISO safety standards for gazing directly at the sun.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/is-the-solar-eclipse-dangerous-2024-4">Eclipse spectators</a>, take heed: The Illinois Department of Public Health issued a recall alert Monday for a pair of eclipse glasses that were sold on Amazon and several Southern Illinois retailers.On Amazon, <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-63400-20&amp;h=67c431d9ff4bf697c70cf1e4406d48ca55829ec1e99f6215bd636901b70a55fa&amp;postID=66143513becb1828f9aae792&amp;postSlug=eclipse-glasses-amazon-recall-2024-4&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBiniki-Solar-Eclipse-Glasses-Approved%2Fdp%2FB0CTQ4P4MX%3Fth%3D1">the glasses</a> are listed as "Biniki Solar Eclipse Glasses AAS Approved 2024 — CE &amp; ISO Certified Safe Shades for Direct Sun Viewing (6 Packs)," according to <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/IDPH/status/1777368536744178050">the department's notice.</a>They're also listed as a #1 bestseller on Amazon and were still available Monday afternoon as the eclipse began.But the glasses potentially do not <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/iso-certified-solar-eclipse-glasses-for-safe-and-fun-2024-total-solar-eclipse-experience-1033197995">meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standard</a> — a designation by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for glasses that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.iso.org/standard/59289.html">make them safe</a> to directly gaze at the sun with, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/illinois-amazon-eclipse-glasses-recall/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&amp;linkId=389806893">according to CBS News</a>.In addition to Amazon, the glasses were sold at a handful of local retailers — several of which have posted notices on social media, per CBS.An Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider that the brand referenced by the department was recently added to the American Astronomical Society's (AAS) approved <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link c-link--underline" href="https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters">list</a> of glasses, which is why it is available for purchase. "We continuously monitor our store for non-compliant products, and when we discover a product was undetected by our proactive checks, we address the issue immediately and refine our controls," the spokesperson said in a statement. "If customers have concerns about an item they've purchased, we encourage them to contact our Customer Service directly so we can address any questions they may have. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused our customers."Customers were initially notified and provided a refund for the glasses "out of an abundance of caution" before the glasses were added to the AAS list, the spokesperson said.Customers are notified by Amazon if a product they've purchased has been recalled."When we learn of a recall, we stop all impacted product offerings and hold any related stock in our Fulfillment Centers," the company <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-63400-20&amp;h=95084259062141a70ff6a2e4457a72974606e58c0b22fd9962e5ee8eb19842fe&amp;postID=66143513becb1828f9aae792&amp;postSlug=eclipse-glasses-amazon-recall-2024-4&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fhelp%2Fcustomer%2Fdisplay.html%3FnodeId%3DGLD7VXFKV4AWU78X">says on its site</a>. "We also contact customers that bought such products and sellers that may have offered such products, to tell them about the recall."

These eclipse glasses were recalled at the last minute, Illinois Department of Public Health warns

The <keyword id="22667872" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mpox-outbreak" source="keywords">mpox outbreak</keyword> in <keyword id="19924003" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="africa" source="keywords">Africa</keyword> is yet another example of how <keyword id="20040661" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="infectious-diseases" source="keywords">infectious diseases</keyword>, perceived to be "someone else's problem", and affecting mainly poor, developing countries, may suddenly pose unexpected global threats. Other examples of <keyword id="22817243" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="neglected-diseases" source="keywords">neglected diseases</keyword> include the West Nile, Zika and Chikungunya viruses. Mpox was discovered in 1958 (in captive monkeys, hence the original misnomer "monkeypox") and the first human case was identified in 1970. Then, for decades it was largely neglected by the scientific and public health communities, regarded as an uncommon infection in remote rural areas in tropical Africa, without relevance for the rest of the world. When a massive mpox outbreak hit developed countries in 2022, increased research funding led to a surge in scientific studies. On just one medical search engine, there's been more research produced since April 2022 than in the preceding 60 years. The 2022-23 global mpox outbreak happened despite repeated calls from African researchers for increased global investment in diagnostic, therapeutic and infection prevention tools for mpox. The WHO has now declared the current upsurge of mpox in central Africa a <keyword id="21952478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-health-emergency" source="keywords">public health emergency</keyword> of international concern. This is the highest alert level for events that constitute a public health risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response. Mpox's recent history is yet another reminder that an infectious disease in one corner of the world should not be regarded as someone else's problem, as it can suddenly start to spread fast and far. It also highlights global inequities in resource allocation and access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatments. These were made available in many industrialised countries and helped curb the global outbreak, but are still largely lacking in most of Africa. <h2>The 2022 outbreak: a total surprise</h2>The disease has been renamed "mpox" but the name of the virus, for now, remains "monkeypox" (MPXV). It is closely related to the smallpox virus. MPXV was considered a <keyword id="21311828" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zoonotic-disease" source="keywords">zoonotic disease</keyword> endemic in parts of central and west Africa. It was acquired mainly through close contact with wild mammals, especially handling bush meat, but there was no sustained human-to-human transmission. Only very occasionally were cases seen outside the endemic areas, due to infected travellers or import of infected small mammals. This changed abruptly in 2022: a massive, rapidly evolving global outbreak caused over 99,000 laboratory-confirmed cases in 116 countries. At its peak in August 2022, over 6,000 cases were reported each week. This outbreak came as a total surprise: most cases were reported from non-endemic countries, mostly in men who have sex with men, who had become infected during recent sexual encounters. Even though most cases were clinically not particularly severe and the death toll stands at just over 200, the global outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the <keyword id="19896311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-health-organization" source="keywords">World Health Organization</keyword> on 23 July, 2022. Fortunately, case numbers soon plummeted due to a combination of behavioural changes and vaccination in at-risk groups. Modern vaccines and antiviral drugs with activity against mpox were made available in many affected high-income countries. These had been developed and stockpiled in the US and Europe, mostly in preparation for a potential bioweapon attack using a poxvirus. The global outbreak in 2022 was caused by clade II of MPXV, which is endemic in west Africa and not as virulent as clade I MPXV, which so far has only been seen in the Congo Basin. That first mpox public health emergency of international concern was declared over in May 2023. Clade II MPXV infections are still occurring globally, but the worst seems over - for now. Complacency would be misguided, as illustrated by the current mpox outbreak that is gathering steam. <h2>Upsurge in Africa</h2>The African region is experiencing an upsurge in mpox cases, which started in 2023. As the continent which includes the areas where mpox has been endemic for a long time, Africa now presents a complex mosaic. The current clade I MPXV (formerly called Congo Basin strain) is more virulent than the clade II (west African) strain, resulting in a higher case fatality rate. The ongoing outbreak has its epicentre in South Kivu province, eastern DRC, and has the potential to fuel a large pandemic. It has a distinct epidemiological pattern with sustained chains of human-to-human transmission, often via the sexual route. It may have increased transmissibility (we don't know yet). The virus which causes it is the newly defined clade Ib lineage. It displays mutations that are the hallmark of human-to-human spread that is estimated to have been happening since September 2023. Case numbers are rising rapidly, even though many suspected cases are likely not tested and thus not counted as confirmed. Complicating matters, a commonly used test was found to miss infections with this lineage of the virus. It affects mostly adults. The case fatality rate is higher than it was in the 2022 global outbreak. Already, this outbreak has resulted in mpox cases occurring in several neighbouring countries, including some (like Kenya), with no previous record of mpox. The challenge is enormous. The eastern DRC is an area beset by multiple problems. This includes natural disasters, violence and infectious diseases including measles, cholera and poliomyelitis for the DRC. In recent years the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever took place in the wider area and, despite the availability of vaccines and treatments, posed considerable challenges. <h2>What needs to happen</h2>Equitable access to diagnostic tests, vaccines and antiviral treatments requires political commitment and financial investments. Scientific investigations are needed to learn more about exposure settings, transmission routes and clinical presentations. It's important to find the best ways to make these interventions. There is no doubt that a disease in one corner of the world can suddenly become a global heath threat. It's time the global health system woke up to this reality.

Mpox outbreak in Africa was neglected - it could now turn into the next global pandemic

If you’re a <keyword id="6354321" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bengaluru" source="Orion">Bengaluru</keyword> resident, we’re almost certain that you must be coming across vendors frying and selling hot chicken <keyword id="21046095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kebabs" source="keywords">kebabs</keyword> by the sides of the road on the regular. With their rather bright red colours, those things are unmissable, after all. But if you’ve been fighting temptation because of how unhealthy they could be, we have some good news for you. Making kebabs the teensiest bit healthier, the Karnataka government is putting a ban on artificial colours in your favourite kebabs, be they vegetarian, chicken, or fish. This move comes after a series of actions by the <keyword id="19987876" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka-Health-Department" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Karnataka Health Department" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Karnataka Health Department">Karnataka Health Department</keyword> to ensure <keyword id="20000858" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-safety" source="keywords">food safety</keyword> and protect <keyword id="19913584" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-health" source="keywords">public health</keyword>. Reports of poor kebab quality due to artificial colouring prompted the department to take action. In light of these concerns about kebab safety, the government tested 39 samples from across Karnataka and 8 variants of kebabs were found to have harmful artificial colours. The presence of sunset yellow and carmoisine colours, in particular, were deemed unsafe for consumption. This isn't the first time the Karnataka Health Department has cracked down on harmful food additives. Following Tamil Nadu and Goa, Karnataka joined the fight for safe treats earlier this year when it flagged the use of artificial colours in cotton candy and gobi manchurian. The survey, conducted between February 12 and an unspecified date, revealed the presence of concerning chemicals in 15 out of 25 cotton candy samples and 107 out of 171 gobi manchurian samples. They found Rhodamine-b, a suspected carcinogen which already has a nationwide ban. This ban extends to sunset yellow and carmoisine in cotton candy, and tartrazine (when not used within approved limits) in gobi manchurian. If any vendors are found flouting these bans, the Food Safety and Standards Act enforces strict penalties: licence cancellation, hefty fines (up to ₹10 lakh), and even jail terms (from 7 years to life imprisonment) for using banned substances. Looking ahead, the government plans to raise awareness among food vendors about safe colouring alternatives, empower consumers and conduct surprise checks to ensure compliance with the new regulations. The success of this initiative might lead to similar scrutiny of other popular street foods, like kebabs, which often use colouring agents. This could pave the way for a future where vibrant colours on our plates come courtesy of nature, not potentially harmful chemicals.

Karnataka Health Department bans use of artificial food colouring in kebabs; imposes hefty fine of 10 lakhs!

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Vaccine stocks have tumbled since Trump appointed vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to health secretary.</li><li>Vaccine-makers Moderna, Pfizer, and GSK saw sharp losses.</li></ul>It's been a tough day for health stocks since Donald Trump announced his appointment of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-department-health-human-services-2024-11">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a> — a staunch vaccine skeptic — as health secretary.The news, which came late in the day on Thursday, sent the shares of vaccine-makers sharply lower on Friday, with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/mrna-stock">Moderna</a> leading the losses, falling as much as 10%. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/pfe-stock">Pfizer</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/nvax-stock">Novavax</a> both dropped 6% at intraday lows, while <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/gsk-stock">GSK</a> lost 5%.But the selling wasn't contained to just vaccine names. It spread into US-exposed European healthcare stocks, such as Novo Nordisk and Roche, which were down 5% and 3% at intraday lows, respectively.The losses extend a days-long skid for the sector after the election results last week saw investors boost bets that Kennedy — a key Trump ally — would notch a cabinet role.Since Election Day, Moderna has fallen more than 30%, while Pfizer has slid 11%. Those losses have stood in contrast to the rally enjoyed by the rest of the market, which has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/trump-election-win-stock-market-today-record-high-sp500-dow-2024-11">rallied</a> on the hopes that Trump's lighter regulatory stance and corporate tax cuts could boost corporate earnings.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-views-vaccines-autism-testing-debunked-2023-7">Kennedy</a> has long railed against vaccines, once calling those that protect against Covid-19 a "crime against humanity." He has treaded more carefully in recent weeks, though, and has said he wouldn't outright ban vaccines."If vaccines are working for somebody, I'm not going to take that away. People ought to have choice," he told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-win-rfk-jr-says-wont-take-away-anybodys-vaccines-rcna178955">NBC</a> after Trump's election.Since Trump's election win, several analysts have downgraded their outlooks on vaccine stocks amid the rising uncertainty in the industry. Bank of America analysts lowered their price target on Moderna last week, from $110 to $90, partially citing uncertainty after Trump's election win, while Deutsche Bank analyst Emmanuel Papadakis cut his rating on GSK to a hold after Kennedy's appointment."We consider vaccines to be amongst the greatest scientific achievements to impact public health: unfortunately this view is not shared by the nominee," Papadakis wrote in a client note <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-15/health-stocks-slide-as-trump-picks-vaccine-skeptic-kennedy">seen by Bloomberg</a>.Formerly an environmental justice lawyer, Kennedy pivoted to running an anti-vaccine charity in recent years, and ran for president as an independent candidate in this election cycle. He dropped out to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rfk-jr-drops-out-presidential-race-2024-8">endorse Trump</a> in August, which some sources reported was a bid to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rfk-wanted-white-house-job-exchange-for-endorsing-trump-report-2024-7">secure a position</a> in the administration.In his role as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-rfk-jr-plans-to-make-america-healthy-again-2024-11">health secretary</a>, Kennedy will have a top role in health policy in the US, but likely won't be able to actually control which vaccines children are required to get for school. That will remain up to individual states, but he could change vaccine requirements for federal employees or the US military.That's if the Senate confirms his appointment, which some have said could be a close vote considering mixed reactions among policymakers so far.Kennedy has also promoted removing fluoride from water supplies and overhauling federal food regulations, and has supported products like raw milk, which the Food and Drug Administration warns against.He's also floated hopes to cut highly processed food from school lunches, which was a priority under the Obama administration.

Health stocks are tumbling after Trump's appointment of vaccine skeptic RFK Jr.

It's dinner time. You've worked hard to prepare a nutritious and tasty meal. But after taking your first bite you feel something is missing. Perhaps you should have added more <keyword id="19926225" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="salt" source="keywords">salt</keyword>? Pepper? Or maybe even something more exotic like monosodium glutamate, better known as <keyword id="20263639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="msg" source="keywords">MSG</keyword>? There are many food additives used in both home cooking and commercial products. These ingredients improve the flavour, smell, texture, appearance and longevity of foods. <keyword id="23109309" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="salt-and-msg" source="Orion">Salt and MSG</keyword> are two well-known food additives. Both contain <keyword id="20387265" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sodium" source="keywords">sodium</keyword>, but there are plenty of differences which you can use to your benefit. <h2>What is a salt?</h2> Salts are made of positively and negatively charged components called ions. Salts generally dissolve in water, and are brittle. The names of salts often feature a metal (positively charged) followed by a non-metal (negatively charged). The common kitchen ingredient we call "salt" is just one type of salt. To distinguish it from all other salts, we should more specifically refer to it as "table salt". Chemically, it's sodium chloride. <h2>Sodium chloride</h2> After the quick chemistry lesson above, we can see that table salt, sodium chloride, contains a positively charged sodium and a negatively charged chlorine. These charged components are arranged in crystals of salt in a regular repeating pattern. Each sodium ion is surrounded by six chloride ions and each chloride ion is surrounded by six sodium ions. This arrangement gives the crystal a "cubic" form. If you look closely at salt, you may see cube-shaped crystals. Sodium chloride is very abundant. It is found dissolved in Earth's oceans. Mineral deposits of salt, known as halite or rock salt, formed from the evaporation and crystallisation of ancient seas. Depending on the source, the salt may contain many other trace minerals that can even add colour to it, such as the pink-coloured <keyword id="19964652" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="himalayan" source="keywords">Himalayan</keyword> salt from Pakistan. Salt can also be fortified with sodium iodide as a public health measure. Describing the taste of salt is quite difficult without using the word "salty". It's a very common food additive, as it is so abundant and versatile. It is an essential ingredient for many traditional food preservation techniques for meats (pork and fish), vegetables (kimchi, sauerkraut and pickles), and dairy (cheese and butter). Salt is considered a universal flavouring agent. It can mask bitter flavours and bring out sweet, sour and umami (savoury) ones. Despite popular depictions of taste maps, there is no one place on the tongue where we taste salt. Other sodium salts can also give a "salty" taste, but the effect declines (and can even turn to bitter) with negatively charged components other than chloride. <h2>MSG or monosodium glutamate</h2> Monosodium glutamate is also a salt. The glutamate is the negatively charged form of glutamic acid, an amino acid that is found in nature as a building block of proteins. MSG, and more generally glutamates, are found in a wide range of foods including tomatoes, <keyword id="20804859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parmesan" source="keywords">Parmesan</keyword> cheese, soy sauce, dried seaweeds, <keyword id="21509378" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="worcestershire" source="keywords">Worcestershire</keyword> sauce and protein-rich foods. All of these foods impart umami flavours, which are described as savoury or <keyword id="19944455" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="meaty" source="keywords">meaty</keyword>. Commercial MSG is not extracted from the environment but produced by bacterial fermentation. Glucose is converted to glutamic acid, which is further processed by adding sodium hydroxide to form MSG (and water). MSG is sold as crystals, but they have a long, prismatic shape rather than the cubic form of sodium chloride. It's worth tasting a few crystals of MSG directly to experience the native taste of umami. Despite decades of bad press and concern, MSG is considered safe to consume in the concentrations typically found in or added to foods. Table salt and MSG both contain sodium, but at different percentages of the total weight: table salt has around 40 per cent sodium, versus just 14 per cent in MSG. You are also more likely to be routinely adding table salt to your food rather than MSG. Eating too much sodium is well known to be unhealthy. Potassium-enriched substitutes have been suggested for a range of health benefits. <h2>A flavour enhancer</h2> The flavour of MSG can be elevated further by combining it with other food additives, known as sodium ribonucleotides. Japanese and Korean cooks figured this secret out long before chemists, as boiling dried fish and seaweed produces foundation stocks (dashi) containing a mix of naturally sourced glutamates and ribonucleotides. Ribonucleotides are classified as "generally considered as safe" by food standards authorities. Humans consume many grams of the natural equivalent in their diets. What can be more problematic are the carbohydrates- and fat-rich foods that have their flavours enhanced, which can potentially lead us to eat excessive calories. The combination of MSG and ribonucleotides produces a more-ish sensation. Next time you see a bag of potato chips or instant noodles, have a quick look to see if it contains both MSG (E621) and a ribonucleotide source (E627-E635). I personally keep a jar of MSG in my kitchen. A little goes a long way to elevate a soup, stew or sauce that isn't quite tasting the way you want it to, but without adding too much extra sodium. (This article was originally published in The Conversation)

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