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<ul class="summary-list"><li>There's new evidence that chemicals can migrate to human bodies via material like plastic containers.</li><li>It's not clear what the health risks may be, but at least a few of the chemicals are known hazards.</li></ul>New research suggests you're being exposed to thousands of chemicals, including hazardous substances, that can leach into the human body through food- and beverage-related material like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-can-increase-diabetes-risk-new-research-2024-6">plastic bottles</a> and takeout containers.It's not a surprise that our environment is full of contaminants, like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-penises-testicles-male-fertility-plastic-health-environment-2024-7">microplastics</a>, that can accumulate in our bodiesBut researchers in a recent study were taken aback by just how many chemicals in our everyday items can migrate into humans, and said it's "concerning" that we don't fully understand the risks.The researchers, led by scientists from a Swiss nonprofit called the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, looked at data on more than 14,000 food contact chemicals — substances in containers or other materials that touch what we eat and drink.The study, published September 17 in the <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=98f40f9124eaa010f2a0a4c0fb4f3c1e59d87c00a6f65522c297e9b5c22824cf&amp;postID=66eae69769657a7deb42dbab&amp;postSlug=thousands-of-chemicals-entering-human-bodies-from-food-packaging-study-2024-9&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41370-024-00718-2">Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology</a>, explained that 25% of the chemicals they were studying — about 3,601 substances — showed up inside the human body, in samples including skin, hair, blood, breast milk, and fat tissue.That suggests manufacturing chemicals are migrating into our bodies from items we use to store, package, or cook our food. It's not just plastic either, since even paper or cardboard can contain substances like ink that can be problematic when it comes into contact with food.<h2 id="27fa7f62-8a96-4c1c-a5a6-1d66b9506469">Trying to understand the health risks</h2>Scientists are digging for clues to understand the impact of these chemicals on long-term health.Some of these chemicals are known to be dangerous, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-cancer-food-products-that-increase-your-cancer-risk-2018-3">carcinogens (cancer-causing) substances</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-avoid-toxic-chemical-phthalates-in-food-makeup-toiletries-2021-10">toxins</a> linked to hormone and reproductive problems.One such category is called PFAs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chart-how-long-hazardous-forever-chemicals-pfas-stay-in-blood-2023-3">forever chemicals</a>" because they linger and accumulate in our bodies and in the water and soil. PFAs exposure is linked to some cancers, liver damage, and more, as well as possible developmental defects in children.Other hazardous chemicals the study found in food and our bodies include <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/what-is-bpa">BPA</a> (a toxic ingredient in packaging linked to hormone problems) and heavy metals that can cause harm to our DNA.And there's a lot we don't know about many of the other chemicals found in human samples, including whether they might be harmful or what, if any, amount is safe.The actual number of chemicals we're exposed to through food and drinks could also be much higher than the 3,601 estimated in the study, according to the researchers.<h2 id="5746f6cb-2471-495d-9d89-a8d0cff3dc10">Putting limits on chemical exposure</h2>This same team of researchers previously published a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28893723/">study</a> that found government regulations aren't doing much to prevent chemical exposure.While there are some existing rules — such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epa-hazardous-forever-chemicals-drinking-water-limits-2024-4">limits on PFAs in drinking water</a> — legislation is slow to keep up with the latest science, and sometimes too vague to enforce. Plus, there's so much we don't know about potential risks of chemicals that haven't been studied as closely.The new study is one crucial step in understanding how chemicals in our environment (and in our food) could affect our health long-term, and how we might be able to reduce the risks in the future."This work highlights the fact that food contact materials are not fully safe, even though they may comply with regulations, because they transfer known hazardous chemicals into people," Jane Muncke, senior author of the study, environmental toxicology expert, and managing director at the Food Packaging Forum, said in a press release."We would like this new evidence base to be used for improving the safety of food contact materials — both in terms of regulations but also in the development of safer alternatives," Muncke said.

Food packaging chemicals are seeping into human bodies — here's what that means for your health

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Iran is believed to have weaponized pharmaceutical agents to kill or incapacitate.</li><li>These chemical weapons affect a victim's central nervous system.</li></ul>Iran has developed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nerve-agents-chemical-weapons-how-they-work-2018-3">chemical weapons</a> based on synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, warns a US expert, powerful agents that could incapacitate soldiers or civilians when added to grenades or artillery.Pharmaceutical-based agents, or PBA, are essentially weaponized medicines that incapacitate or kill their victims depending on the exposure. Iran may have given PBA to its proxies such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-naim-qassem-longtime-deputy-now-leading-hezbollah-2024-10">Hezbollah</a>, which could use them to kidnap Israeli troops and civilians."At a time of growing regional instability in the Middle East, largely the result of the militancy of Iranian proxies, the threats posed by Iran's weaponized PBA program can no longer be overlooked," wrote Matthew Levitt in an <a target="_blank" href="https://ctc.westpoint.edu/tehrans-tactical-knockout-weaponized-pharmaceutical-based-agents/">article</a> for the Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point.The U.S. Government Accountability Office defines PBAs as "chemicals based on pharmaceutical compounds, which may or may not have legitimate medical uses, and can cause severe illness or death when misused." They include opioids such as fentanyl and tranquilizers for animals.These drugs affect a victim's central nervous system. "Once inhaled, these agents cause victims to lose full consciousness and enable the forces deploying them to advance quickly and quietly and/or take captive the unconscious victims," Levitt wrote.Iran was a victim of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-uses-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine-cause-panic-war-report-2024-4">chemical warfare</a> during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, when Iraqi chemical attacks — including <a target="_blank" href="https://thebulletin.org/2024/07/iraq-once-devasted-iran-with-chemical-weapons-as-the-world-stood-by-governments-still-struggle-to-respond-to-chemical-warfare/">nerve gases</a> such as Sarin, and mustard gas — contributed to as many as 1 million Iranian casualties. But Iran employed its own mustard gas on a few occasions during the war. Israel believes Iran used PBAs against rebels in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drones-usher-in-a-brutal-new-phase-syrian-civil-war-2024-3">Syrian Civil War</a>, while there are reports that pro-Iranian militias in Iraq may have unleashed them against anti-government protestors."The problem is that Iran is right when they said they've been victims of chemical weapons in terrible ways during the Iran-Iraq war," Levitt, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute think tank, told Business Insider. "But the reality is they themselves have been using these as well."The US and its allies have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.elysee.fr/admin/upload/default/0001/05/2ffa826926cd72354b90a05f7de765bfcc9908b6.pdf">warned</a> for years that Iran is developing pharmaceutical-based weapons in breach of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the manufacture and use of "toxic chemicals," defined as "chemical action on life processes [that] can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals." Treaty signatories — including Iran — are obligated to destroy existing stockpiles.Still, evidence suggests Iran is pursuing PBAs. "In 2014, Iran's Chemistry Department of IHU [Imam Hossein University] sought kilogram quantities of medetomidine — a [veterinary] sedative it has researched as an aerosolized incapacitant — from Chinese exporters, according to a 2023 US State Department's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/2023-condition-10c-annual-report-on-compliance-with-the-chemical-weapons-convention-cwc/">report</a>. "The Chemistry Department has little history of veterinary or even medical research, and the quantities sought (over 10,000 effective doses) were inconsistent with the reported end use of research."In September 2023, Iranian anti-government hackers "posted confidential documents detailing an Iranian military university's development of grenades meant to disseminate medetomidine," the State Department said.Of particular concern were references in Iranian literature to the 2002 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.history.com/news/opioid-chemical-weapons-moscow-theater-hostage-crisis">Dubrovka incident</a>, when Russian security forces pumped pharmaceutical-based gas — probably fentanyl or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-07/hq092216_attach.pdf">carfentanyl</a>, another synthetic opioid vastly more potent — into a crowded Moscow theater to subdue Chechen rebels who had taken almost a thousand hostages. Commandos then stormed the building and killed the incapacitated rebels — but the gas also killed more than 130 hostages.Yet restricting PBAs is difficult because they overlap with products used for legitimate law enforcement and medical purposes. For example, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vox.com/2020/6/3/21277995/police-tear-gas-protests-history-effects-violence">tear gas</a> has been used by law enforcement as a riot control agent since the First World War, while US troops used it in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thenmusa.org/articles/tunnel-rats-of-the-vietnam-war/">Vietnam War</a> to smoke out enemy tunnels. Tear gas is still legal when employed for riot control, but not as a battlefield weapon.Stopping nations from manufacturing PBAs is " very, very difficult, which is why you've seen such a focus on diplomatic efforts, sanctions and some law enforcement actions," said Levitt.Iranian PBAs are a particular problem if Tehran has supplied them to proxies such as Hezbollah. "Deploying weapons produced with dual-use items, and then providing said weapons to proxies, provides Iran with multiple layers of cover and reasonable deniability for having done so at all," the CTC article noted.Israel feared that Hezbollah would use PBA weapons as part of an alleged plan to seize the Galilee region of northern Israel and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gaza-israels-special-forces-rescue-woman-on-a-motorbike-hostage-and-3-others-2024-6">kidnap Israeli citizens</a>. "Maybe you just use them to incapacitate the border guards and reach the now unprotected civilians," Levitt said. "Or, you actually target and incapacitate the soldiers so you can kidnap or capture them."Israel's recent military <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-launches-ground-offensive-into-lebanon-destroy-hezbollah-targets-2024-9">offensives in Lebanon</a> have badly hurt Hezbollah, including its huge arsenal of missiles. But PBAs can be added to hand grenades and mortar shells, of which Hezbollah still has ample stocks. And there remains a possibility that US forces could clash with Iran and its allies and encounter pharmaceutical-based agents. (The US, in contrast, completed the destruction of its chemical weapons in 2023.)However, Levitt emphasizes that PBAs are not in the same league as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rangers-are-training-to-neutralize-enemy-nuclear-sites-2024-11">weapons of mass destruction</a> such as nerve gas, which is potent enough to kill widely across exposure areas. "This is not a strategic threat. It is a tactical weapon."Nonetheless, chemical weapons do have a frightening aura, even if fentanyl gas is nowhere near as deadly as nerve gas. "I think that many, many people would see it that way because you're talking about chemical weapons," Levitt said.Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1">Twitter</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mipeck/">LinkedIn</a>.

Iran has developed fentanyl-based chemical weapons

A recent study has revealed that more than 3,600 chemicals used in <keyword id="21367852" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-packaging" source="keywords">food packaging</keyword> and preparation have been detected in human bodies, raising concerns about their potential impact on health. These chemicals, some of which are hazardous, are finding their way into the food we consume, sparking calls for more research and stricter regulations. <h2>Chemicals we don’t know enough about</h2>Of the thousands of chemicals identified, around 100 are classified as being of “high concern” for <keyword id="20060201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="human-health" source="keywords">human health</keyword>. According to Birgit Geueke, the lead author of the study from the <keyword id="23220554" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Food-Packaging-Forum-Foundation" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Food Packaging Forum Foundation" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Food Packaging Forum Foundation">Food Packaging Forum Foundation</keyword>, some of these chemicals are well-known, while the health effects of others remain largely unexplored. Chemicals such as <keyword id="20307473" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PFAS" source="keywords">PFAS</keyword> (often referred to as "forever chemicals") and bisphenol A (<keyword id="20186545" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BPA" source="keywords">BPA</keyword>) are familiar names in the scientific community. Both have been extensively studied and are linked to a range of health problems. PFAS, for example, have been detected in multiple parts of the human body and are associated with various diseases, including cancer, liver damage, and thyroid dysfunction. Bisphenol A, commonly found in plastics, is a hormone-disrupting chemical that has been banned from baby bottles in many countries due to its harmful effects on reproductive health. However, many of the other chemicals detected—like oligomers, byproducts of plastic production—are still a mystery in terms of their health implications. "There is almost no evidence on the health effects of these chemicals," Geueke said, highlighting the need for further research. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111250040" title="Karnataka Health Department bans use of artificial food colouring in kebabs; imposes hefty fine of 10 lakhs!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>How do these chemicals enter our bodies? </h2>Food contact chemicals (FCCs) are substances that can "migrate" from packaging materials—such as plastic, paper, glass, or metal—into the food we eat. These chemicals can also enter the food chain from other parts of the food-making process, such as conveyor belts and kitchen utensils. The study originally catalogued about 14,000 FCCs, but researchers were astonished to find 3,601 of them present in human biomonitoring databases, which track chemicals found in human tissues and fluids. This unexpected result underscores how pervasive these substances are. <h2>High concern: PFAS, BPA and Phthalates </h2>Among the most troubling chemicals are the PFAS, which have gained notoriety as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. These chemicals have been linked to a host of health issues, including immune system suppression, developmental problems, and various cancers. Bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known endocrine disruptor used in the production of plastics, is another substance of concern. BPA can interfere with the body’s hormone systems, particularly oestrogen, and has been associated with fertility problems, breast cancer, and developmental disorders in children. Phthalates, another group of hormone-disrupting chemicals, are used to make plastics more flexible. They have been linked to infertility and developmental issues, making their presence in food packaging particularly concerning. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112623051" title="474 Indian spice samples fail FSSAI&amp;#39;s safety tests as countries suspend sale of Indian spice brands" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>What can we do? </h2>While this study doesn’t determine how much of these chemicals we’re exposed to or their specific sources, it does highlight the need for more comprehensive research and better data on their potential <keyword id="19977451" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-risks" source="keywords">health risks</keyword>. Duane Mellor, a specialist in evidence-based medicine at Aston University in the UK, praised the study for being thorough but cautioned against panic. Instead, he encouraged consumers to advocate for stronger regulations on <keyword id="21364182" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="chemicals-in-food" source="keywords">chemicals in food</keyword> packaging. "Rather than being unduly alarmed, people should demand better data and minimise unnecessary exposure," Mellor said. To reduce exposure to these potentially harmful chemicals, Geueke recommended simple measures like reducing the time food spends in contact with packaging and avoiding heating food in the containers it comes in. Many of these chemicals migrate more easily into food when heated, making microwaving plastic containers or takeout packaging a common source of contamination. <h2>The regulatory response </h2>Some chemicals are already facing bans. The European Union is in the final stages of banning the use of PFAS in food packaging, and a similar ban on bisphenol A is expected to come into effect by the end of this year. As more research emerges, governments around the world may follow the EU's lead in implementing stricter controls on these hazardous chemicals, protecting consumers from hidden dangers in their everyday meals. For now, the best way to protect yourself is to stay informed, reduce unnecessary exposure, and support efforts for stricter regulations on food packaging materials. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="109322441" title="2 foods Michael Pollan always buys organic to reduce his exposure to harmful chemicals" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

New research reveals more than 3,600 food packaging chemicals in human bodies. Is it time we stopped eating food out of takeout containers?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is President-elect Trump's pick to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services.</li><li>RFK has been vocal in his opposition to fluoride in tap water, and vaccine mandates.</li></ul>"Make America Healthy Again" is the new healthcare slogan from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Trump's new pick for Health and Human Services secretary.Trump has said in the past that he'll let Kennedy "go wild" on health. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-department-health-human-services-2024-11">As head of HHS</a>, Kennedy will be responsible for overseeing many federal health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Kennedy is a former environmental justice lawyer, who pivoted in recent years to running an anti-vaccine charity. He ran for president himself as an independent candidate in the 2024 race, before dropping out to join Trump's inner circle.Here's what we know so far about Kennedy's public health philosophy, and what kinds of reforms he might fight for in 2025 and beyond.<h2 id="79c799a9-93e2-4522-9d2c-5e71f4588e27">Kennedy's MAHA ideas include shifts in some basic public health protocols</h2><div type="image" title="tap water" height="4000" width="6000" msid="115314143" hostid="261" sizebytes="655952"></div>He has said he would:<ul><li>Lobby against <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fluoride-in-water-why-it-is-controversial-risks-benefits-2024-11">fluoride</a> in the water system</li></ul>Though the federal government isn't in charge of this issue, Kennedy has made it clear he's not in favor of fluoridated water, and would encourage water districts to get rid of it.<ul><li>Get rid of vaccine mandates</li></ul>Kennedy, previously at the helm of one of the biggest <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-views-vaccines-autism-testing-debunked-2023-7">anti-vaccine charities</a>, has been careful in recent interviews to say that he wouldn't ban vaccines."I'm not going to take away anybody's vaccines," 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. "If vaccines are working for somebody, I'm not going to take that away. People ought to have choice."Like with fluoride, Kennedy can't actually control which routine vaccines kids get for school, that task is largely up to each individual state to decide. But he could change which vaccines federal employees are required to take, or have an influence on US <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/who-and-when/military-members/index.html">military</a> vaccine protocols.His stance has public health officials spooked, because part of what makes vaccination work so well is the fact that nearly everyone in our society does it."We have a very short memory of what it is like to hold a child who has been paralyzed with polio, or to comfort a mom who lost their kid from measles," CDC Director Mandy Cohen <a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/cdc-fda-officials-warn-kids-could-die-from-rfk-jr-s-anti-vaccine-stance/">said</a> on Wednesday at a conference in Washington DC. "I don't want to have to see us go backward in order to remind ourselves that vaccines work."<ul><li>Encourage people to use more "functional medicine" and make "alternative" healthcare mainstream</li></ul>Kennedy has said he'd push for more coverage of functional medicine, and devote 50% of the National Institutes of Health budget to "preventive, alternative and holistic approaches to health." Typically, visits to functional medicine doctors, and the kinds of tests and treatments they provide for health concerns like allergies, gut issues, or disease prevention, are not necessarily covered by traditional health insurance.He also floated the idea of giving every American a Health Savings Account for medical spending, which is basically a debit card-like alternative to a traditional private healthcare plan. With a HSA, you put money you earn into a tax-free account to use for healthcare expenses like doctor's visits and prescriptions, instead of paying monthly premiums to insurance.In a Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-can-make-america-healthy-again-rfk-jr-reforms-chronic-disease-crisis-a9b4b8c0">opinion piece</a> he published in September, Kennedy also said in wants to "reform the Prescription Drug User Fee Act," a move he hopes would boost competition in the drug market.<h2 id="a747df1e-458d-41c6-be6f-aed4a6408629">A big chunk of the other ideas Kennedy has for improving human health have to do with our nutrition and fitness</h2><div type="image" title="fruit loops" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115314148" hostid="261" sizebytes="1059522"></div>These are aimed at improving rates of chronic health issues like obesity and type 2 diabetes."I don't think you have to be too smart to say we have a chronic disease crisis going on in this country that starts in childhood with terrible diets," FDA Commissioner Robert Califf <a target="_blank" href="https://www.statnews.com/2024/11/12/fda-commissioner-califf-trump-election-rfk-jr-public-health-food-nutrition/">recently told</a> STAT. "There is work that needs to be done."Some of Kennedy's biggest ideas on this front include:<ul><li>Getting rid of artificial food coloring and banning some additives and chemicals</li></ul>The European Union has banned specific dyes like red #40, which studies have linked to hyperactivity and neurobehavioral issues like ADHD in some kids. California is currently trying to copy the strategy, with limited success.On the campaign trail with Trump, Kennedy has made Fruit Loops the poster child for this issue, pointing out how the US version contains more artificial colors and additives than versions sold elsewhere.<ul><li>Ending FDA scrutiny of things like raw milk and supplements</li></ul>Kennedy has claimed that the FDA is battling a "war on public health" and is suppressing the use of anything "that advances human health and can't be patented by Pharma."<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1849925311586238737">On X</a>, he recently listed out the items he feels the agency is overregulating: "psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, raw milk, hyperbaric therapies, chelating compounds, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamins, clean foods, sunshine, exercise, nutraceuticals."The FDA does not tell consumers that they can't drink raw milk, take supplements, or enjoy sunshine and exercise. Rather, the agency often issues warnings about the health hazards of certain items. Raw milk increases your risk of developing E. coli, and in rare cases can be fatal.The FDA is also responsible for ensuring drugs are safe and effective before they are put on the market. It doesn't approve dietary supplements, but the agency warns consumers when it finds contamination in our supplements and food supply.<ul><li>Changing the rules for food stamps</li></ul>Kennedy doesn't want people to use SNAP benefits to buy ultra-processed foods. He has also said he wants to ban ultra-processed foods in school lunches.<ul><li>Getting rid of conflicts of interest and ties to food and drug companies at various federal agencies</li></ul>Kennedy said he'd work to ensure members of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee have no connections to food or drug companies. He also wants to reform farm subsides, cutting back on corn and soy.<ul><li>Requiring medical students at federally-funded institutions to take nutrition classes</li></ul>Doctors only tend to receive about <a target="_blank" href="https://theconversation.com/diet-related-diseases-are-the-no-1-cause-of-death-in-the-us-yet-many-doctors-receive-little-to-no-nutrition-education-in-med-school-236217">three hours</a> of nutrition education during medical school.<ul><li>Coming up with some new "presidential fitness standards"</li></ul>"My uncle John F. Kennedy was right in 1960 <a target="_blank" href="https://archive.org/stream/the-soft-american-kennedy/The%20Soft%20American%20-%20Kennedy_djvu.txt">when he wrote</a>, 'The physical vigor of our citizens is one of America's most precious resources.'" Kennedy recently wrote in an op-ed.<h2 id="314334a6-b0ff-45de-83d9-23c9a86f7b1d">He also has a couple of ideas for Big Pharma reform</h2>Kennedy's said he wants to:<ul><li>Negotiate drug prices</li></ul>This is something a lot of countries do, but the US does not. Lots of politicians (like Bernie Sanders) have said this is something they want to do. In practice, it's been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-statement-on-medicare-negotiating-drug-prices/">pretty hard</a>.<ul><li>Crack down on pharmaceutical ads</li></ul>Again, the US is one of the few places in the world where drugmakers can sell commercials that run in primetime TV and market drugs directly to consumers.<h2 id="d5d943f7-f1ea-4ec2-9259-d9fd87aa5c73">It's pretty unclear how realistic this all is</h2>A lot of what Kennedy wants to do for public health is in conflict with Project 2025, which would basically deregulate the entire food industry.The Project 2025 plan, drafted by a consortium of conservative DC think tanks, would lift federal restrictions on sugar, get rid of dietary guidelines altogether, eliminate mandatory food labeling, and defund school lunches for kids.

Cheat sheet: How RFK Jr., Trump's pick for HHS secretary, promises to 'Make America Healthy Again'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Michael Pollan has been investigating how US farmers grow plants and raise livestock for 17 years.</li><li>As a result of what he's seen, he has changed his diet in a few key ways.</li></ul>When <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-pollan-diet-to-avoid-ultra-processed-foods-2024-4">Michael Pollan</a> is shopping for his family, he tries to buy organic food.But he knows that's not always realistic — and that the word "organic" is not a synonym for healthy or pure. It is mired in <a target="_blank" href="https://barnraisingmedia.com/real-organic-label-project-reclaiming-certification-usda/">agro-politics</a>.Though organically grown foods tend to be slightly more nutritious and better for the health of the planet, they aren't always. Organic farming techniques generally also lead to lower <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308521X23001373/">yields</a>, meaning farms produce less food, and it's more expensive to buy.Still, there are a couple of items Pollan will avoid if organic options aren't available. That's largely because the non-organic versions are often so laden with toxic chemicals, he told Business Insider, ahead of the release of his new documentary, "Food, Inc. 2," which came out April 12."I just think it's a good idea to keep synthetic pesticides out of your diet to the extent you can," Pollan said. "There are practices in American agriculture that if people really knew about them, they would be outraged."<h2>Strawberries</h2><div type="image" title="strawberry picking" height="1397" width="2100" msid="109322021" hostid="261" sizebytes="382664"></div>After roughly 17 years of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-pollan-eats-high-protein-snack-to-curb-his-cravings-for-ultra-processed-foods-2024-4">studying the food industry</a>, Pollan can't stomach non-organic strawberries anymore. They "are usually grown with some pretty nasty chemicals, soil fumigants and things like that," he said.Strawberries, with their delicate, permeable, soft skins have been a staple on the Environmental Working Group's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pesticides-on-fruits-vegetables-2018-4">controversial</a> "Dirty Dozen" <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-fruits-vegetables-with-most-pesticide-contamination-2024-3">list</a> for years because the non-organic versions tend to have some of the highest surface pesticide levels of any fresh fruit or vegetable on the market.As a result, demand for more organic strawberries has surged in recent years; organic strawberry acreage in California <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/107358/eib-257_summary.pdf?v=5144.7">tripled</a> between 2008 and 2019. (But nutrition experts stress there are still plenty of health benefits to eating regular strawberries, and giving a conventional berry a quick rinse in the sink can help reduce your pesticide exposure).Organic strawberries aren't grown that differently from conventionals — except when it comes to the fertilizers and weed killers farmers use. Typically, organic strawberries in the US are <a target="_blank" href="https://coststudyfiles.ucdavis.edu/uploads/pub/2022/08/17/2022organicstrawberrycc-final_draft-august_2022.pdf">cultivated</a> without soil fumigants or herbicides."In general, organic soils, they don't get their fertility from chemicals, they get their fertility from compost and manure and things like that," Pollan said. "Not in every case, but in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019963/">many cases</a>, they have <a target="_blank" href="https://businessinsider.com/broccoli-benefits-anti-cancer-supplement-2024-4">more nutrients</a>."<h2>Bread</h2><div type="image" title="wheat in field" height="1402" width="2100" msid="109322023" hostid="261" sizebytes="52290"></div>Pollan said he also buys organic flour and bread.Conventional wheat hasn't gotten the same bad reputation that strawberries have. It's not listed on the Dirty Dozen list, in part because it's not really considered fresh produce, and we don't tend to eat it raw.But studies suggest that conventional grains tend to harbor higher levels of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7238532/">cadmium</a>, a toxic metal found in soil, than organic versions. Pollan worries, in particular, about the level of glyphosate that's in conventional wheat at harvest."Wheat farmers have taken to spraying glyphosate on their crops to kill it — it's a weed killer and plant killer," he said. "We're carrying body <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6322310/">levels of glyphosate</a> that are much higher than they used to be."Scientists are still <a target="_blank" href="https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/glyphosate-use-as-a-pre-harvest-treatment-not-a-risk-to-food-safety.html">arguing</a> about whether this trend is worrisome, and some big grainmakers in the US are already <a target="_blank" href="https://non-gmoreport.com/articles/days-are-numbered-for-pre-harvest-use-of-glyphosate/">phasing out</a> their use of pre-harvest glyphosate, but Pollan is not waiting around."They're taking this toxic pesticide, which has been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/glyphosate-cancer-dangers-roundup-epa-2019-5">linked to lymphoma</a> and is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rfi.fr/en/business-and-tech/20230920-glyphosate-where-is-it-banned-or-restricted">banned</a> in many countries, and they're spraying it on our food right before harvest, very close to the time we're going to eat it, he said. "It's a very good argument for buying organic wheat and organic bread."

2 foods Michael Pollan always buys organic to reduce his exposure to harmful chemicals

As <keyword id="19900550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="keywords">air pollution</keyword> rises in the national capital, experts have advocated the use of <keyword id="23378997" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="activated-charcoal" source="keywords">activated charcoal</keyword> as a <keyword id="20677308" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="natural-remedy" source="keywords">natural remedy</keyword> for preventing clogging of skin pores and keep out toxins. The experts said activated charcoal masks are effective in reducing sebum (oily substance) from the face skin, thus helping treat acne as they have good absorbing properties. Dr R P Parasher, the national president of the Integrated Medical Association (Ayush), said that activated charcoal, dubbed as '<keyword id="23640477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="black-diamond" source="keywords">Black Diamond</keyword>', has good sebum absorbing properties. As pollution levels escalate, it causes concern for the skin as particulate matter ranging from PM2.5 to PM10 may lead to the blockage of the skin pores and lead to breakouts, Dr Parasher said. Further, chemicals like lead and nitrogen which increase in the atmosphere during the pollution surge, may damage the skin and may even enter the blood stream through the skin pores which may further damage organs in the body in the long term, he said. "Activated charcoal is not absorbed in the skin but absorbs the toxic elements as well as microbes present in the acne and in this way it saves the skin from getting damaged," he said. Activated charcoal can help balance and control <keyword id="22273531" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sebum-production" source="keywords">sebum production</keyword> which can otherwise lead to breakout and acne. A study "Review of Green Synthesis: Activated Charcoal to Reduce Sebum Levels in Oily Facial Skin" by researchers from Indonesia stated that the porous texture of activated charcoal positively captures and attracts negatively charged molecules. Since activated charcoal is not absorbed by the body, it carries its surface-bound toxins out of the body. Director of Ayouthveda, a skincare brand, Dr Sanchit Sharma, said that the process of creating activated charcoal involves carbonising harvested bamboo at very high temperatures, enhancing its surface area to weight ratio of about 1200:1. This method not only maximises its effectiveness in absorbing toxins but also makes it a powerful ally in the fight against acne, he said. As awareness grows, several varieties of charcoal products are gaining popularity in Asian and European markets, promising a natural solution to many skin issues exacerbated by pollution, Sharma said. Talking about his facewash product, he said, "Ayouthveda <keyword id="23640475" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="charcoal-face-wash" source="keywords">charcoal face wash</keyword> prepared from activated bamboo charcoal effectively cleanses the skin by removing dirt and impurities. "It protects the skin from pollution and absorbs excess oil, making it easy to remove makeup. It also eliminates sweat and toxins accumulated, for instance, during workouts or after a long day." Though charcoal face wash are generally safe, overuse can cause some skin dryness, Dr Parasher pointed out.

Experts advocate using activated charcoal for skin benefits amid rising pollution in Delhi!

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hilary-swank-is-happy-to-be-older-mom-2024-9">Hilary Swank</a> has always followed her own rules, whether she's beating the odds to become an Oscar-winner or building a family and expanding her career in her 40s and 50s.She knew she wanted to be an actor from the age of eight, and was undeterred by her humble beginnings in a trailer park.After her sophomore year of high school, Swank and her mom moved from small-town Washington to LA so she could pursue her dream. They <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rich-and-famous-people-who-once-lived-in-car-2016-12">lived in her mom's car</a> for the first month, and then in a one bedroom apartment."A lot of people will say, 'Well, I have this idea, but it just seems so far-fetched.' And I just say, 'keep going towards it,'" Swank told Business Insider.At 25, she <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hilary-swank-hollywood-gender-pay-gap-salary-2016-10">won her first Oscar</a> for 1999's "Boys Don't Cry," beating out both Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. Five years later, she received her second Oscar for "Million Dollar Baby."<div type="image" title="Hilary Swank gives an acceptance speech at the Oscars in 2000." height="1024" width="615" msid="114325564" hostid="261" sizebytes="90320"></div>"I never had an alternate like, 'well, look, if this doesn't work out. I'll do this,'" Swank said.At 48, she embarked on what she considers her biggest role yet — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hilary-swank-pregnant-with-twins-at-48-2022-10">motherhood</a>. She's now 50 and her twins, Aya and Ohm, are 18 months old.Swank spoke to me on a video call from the Manhattan headquarters of HealthyBaby, where she has been the chief innovation officer since February.She first discovered the brand that makes sustainable diapers, baby wipes, and skincare products with minimal chemicals after learning that some mainstream products can contain traces of carcinogens. She resonated so strongly with the brand's mission that she asked to help expand their product line.Swank said she prioritizes jobs with the flexibility that allow her to take breaks when she needs, so she can spend as much time with her twins as possible. Outside of working hours, Swank's priority is her family and self-care."The time that I'm taken away from my babies, I want to make sure that it's utilized well and that there's actually a reason for being away from them," she said.In this installment of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bear-grylls-daily-routine-barefoot-walks-cold-plunges-plenty-meat-2024-9">Business Insider's "5 to 9" series</a>, where celebrities and high-flyers share how they spend the hours they're not working, Swank shared how she keeps fit, what she eats, and how she recharges.<h2 id="7e7a4e8e-d0f7-4dc7-8eaa-3d33a00af6dd">Meditating in the morning </h2><div type="image" title="A pregnant Hilary Swank and husband Philip Schneider posing at the Golden Globe Awards." height="4000" width="6000" msid="114325560" hostid="261" sizebytes="361952"></div>Talk me through your morning routine.When I wake up in the morning, if I have the energy, I meditate. Even if it's just for three minutes, I try to sit quietly and settle into my day.Then my husband and I get the bottles ready and wake the babies up. When I'm not on set, I can usually work from home, so the first few hours of the day is family time.We eat breakfast together, which I believe is really important, we play, we hang out, and then my husband and I put the twins down for a nap.What are your eating habits?My husband is definitely the main cook, I struggle to make toast!But I'm a big eater, I eat every hour and a half, and think of food as fuel. I definitely like to have protein with every meal — whether it's beans and rice or eggs or a small piece of fish — and I make sure that I'm eating the right fruits and vegetables.I was vegetarian for 23 years, but now I'm mainly plant-based except for eggs and fish.I don't like to restrict myself but I listen to my body. If, for example, I'm <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-eat-carbs-without-blood-sugar-spikes-2024-9">craving sugar</a>, I know that I'm either tired or I'm not getting enough vitamins. And once I get some rest and eat something nutritious then I feel better. But if I want sugar, I do eat it.<h2 id="cc2b5f82-95c6-4bb5-b944-93bc3d2b3e1e">Walking every day</h2><div type="image" title="Hilary Swank and Philip Schneider applaud at the French Open." height="682" width="1024" msid="114325563" hostid="261" sizebytes="43600"></div>As a mom to two babies, are you able to find the time to exercise?I love to exercise. It is air that I breathe, but I don't have as much time to exercise at the moment. Being a new mom of twins makes that a little more challenging.But I do make sure that we go for a walk everyday, and I love to play tennis whenever I can.How do you decompress when you're stressed?Ultimately working out for me is about stress relief. I really like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/invest-day-exercise-boost-longevity-aging-expert-physiologist-2024-8">resistance training</a> and I try to do it twice a week. It really helps me cope with stress and I find it also makes me sleep better.And now there's the added element of wanting to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/essential-healthy-habits-for-your-twenties-thirties-longevity-advice-2023-12">stay strong and healthy for my babies</a>. I want to be able to pick them up and throw them around. I want to play and be outside with them. And eventually I want to be playing tennis with them.Do you have a nighttime routine?If I can get home in time to bathe the babies and put them down, then I win. That's my ideal evening.I totally believe in the ritual of self-care. I always make time for skincare before I go to bed. I wash my face, moisturize, use eye cream, and neck cream.It's something that makes me sleep better. I could never go to sleep with a dirty face.This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

How Hilary Swank spends her 5 to 9 — from meditating to eating every hour and a half

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I'm a model in my 30s who often books jobs <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/real-ages-of-actors-in-teen-movies-2016-9">playing teenagers</a>.</li><li>I believe having a consistent <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/french-beauty-routine-makeup-skin-care-changes-american-in-france">skincare routine</a> is key to maintaining youthful, radiant skin.</li></ul>As a kid, I vividly remember my mother <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sunscreen-mistakes-less-effective-2018-6">applying sunscreen</a> to every inch of my body before letting me go outside to play. A few decades later, I'm glad she did. I'd even say I inherited my mom's fastidious approach to skincare.As a model in my 30s, my agent still regularly submits me for jobs playing teenagers. In fact, I've portrayed a college student more often than a young mom.Having a consistent skincare routine is key, and while there are some great products on the market, there are also things I do for free to help maintain youthful, radiant skin.Here are five skincare secrets I swear by.<h2 id="ed57002f-8a1b-4762-b5f3-fbf2e66e9fed">I always protect my skin from the sun</h2>Thanks to my mother's influence, sunscreen has become a daily habit for me. I like to use mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide since this type of product forms a barrier on the skin to block the sun. It doesn't absorb into my skin like a chemical sunscreen would, and I find it's less irritating and doesn't cause me to break out.Personally, I love <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=1542c0b4b32119d2b037d046fbbc288aa3ec08a32258723e5c16b09dfd52cd4e&amp;postID=66f704a30c43543ec79cd0a2&amp;postSlug=skincare-tips-for-youthful-skin-according-to-model-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dermstore.com%2Fdr-dennis-gross-all-physical-wrinkle-defense-broad-spectrum-sunscreen-spf30-1.7-fl.-oz%2F12954361.html">Dr. Dennis Gross' lightweight wrinkle-defense broad-spectrum sunscreen</a> for a light, sheer finish that doesn't clog my pores.When I know I'll be outside for more than a few hours, I also wear a wide-brimmed hat as often as possible. This protects my face and neck when it's not convenient to reapply sunscreen throughout the day.An added bonus is that sunscreen and hats are a lot less expensive than Botox.<h2 id="d00b121f-2a8f-46c5-bc8b-b3d439c90c83">I make sure to get plenty of sleep</h2><a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-does-sleep-impact-your-skin-2019-6">Getting a good night's sleep</a> is easier said than done — I've experienced plenty of jet-lagged sleepless nights. But I've found that my skin always looks better in the morning when I get enough sleep.In fact, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/beauty-sleep">research suggests</a> that poor sleep can have various effects on the skin, including fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles.I aim to get seven to eight hours per night and often joke that I'll turn into a pumpkin if I stay up past midnight.<h2 id="c0542c27-4b7a-470f-8429-74f70f0c8204">I always keep my skin hydrated — especially while traveling</h2><div type="image" title="Six containers of different Vie De Mer skincare products on a table." height="990" width="1319" msid="114095345" hostid="261" sizebytes="63052"></div>If I didn't travel so much, my bathroom counter would be overflowing with skincare products. But because I'm relegated to what will get through a TSA checkpoint, I'm super discerning of what I buy. Vie de Mer, Agent Nateur, and Botnia are some of the tried-and-true brands I swear by.Because flying can be dehydrating, I like to do a quick cleanse with a <a target="_blank" href="https://travelwipeys.com/shop-sanitizing-travel-wipes/luxury-face-wipes">facial wipe</a> and use <a target="_blank" href="https://factorfiveskin.com/products/soothing-facial-mask">FactorFive's soothing sheet mask</a> or <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=6eda6ab4cb8b828f66168af5adc744b30837a6db3b41ab9d671341269da3309f&amp;postID=66f704a30c43543ec79cd0a2&amp;postSlug=skincare-tips-for-youthful-skin-according-to-model-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dermstore.com%2Fdr-dennis-gross-skincare-vitamin-c-lactic-biocellulose-brightening-treatment-mask-4-applications-10ml%2F14220116.html">Dr. Dennis Gross' vitamin C brightening treatment mask</a> to keep my skin hydrated on long international flights.When I don't want to scare my in-flight neighbors with a full face mask, I reach for <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=e681bbbaa27865920a8582cfe0fa2f448cd27af311f7f542309d271c825c0bd3&amp;postID=66f704a30c43543ec79cd0a2&amp;postSlug=skincare-tips-for-youthful-skin-according-to-model-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FUnder-Eye-Patches-Gold-24-Pairs%2Fdp%2FB014E2D6BY">Grace &amp; Stella's under-eye masks</a>, which are an affordable way to keep my tired under-eye areas from becoming puffy.<h2 id="297aad66-c78d-463c-a4e4-1805b77553c0">Monthly facials are a must for keeping my skin looking young and hydrated</h2>I try to get a facial every four to six weeks to keep my skin looking great. In addition to keeping my skin hydrated and healthy, regular facials are thought to have a number of <a target="_blank" href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-a-facial">skin benefits</a>, including increased cell turnover and improved blood circulation.As an Asian American, my melanated skin often struggles with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9709857/">post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation</a> (dark spots that can appear after acne or trauma to the skin). This means if I have a blemish, it can take a frustratingly long time to heal. However, I've found that regular facials have helped speed up the healing process.Because I travel full-time, it's admittedly hard to maintain a consistent routine — and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/red-flags-bad-facial-signs-from-estheticians-2024-9">bad facial</a> with overzealous exfoliation or extractions can do more harm than good.However, I've found lots of great estheticians in the cities I frequent, including master esthetician Patty Huang in Seattle and the professionals at Shop Good in San Diego.<h2 id="542b23c4-4cd6-4f6e-bc00-aeb52d5b8511">I take collagen supplements to support my skin health</h2><div type="image" title="A blue metallic bag of marine collagen, a cup with coffee and a scoop of ice cream inside, and a box of breakfast pastries on a table." height="1034" width="1379" msid="114095346" hostid="261" sizebytes="159094"></div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/do-collagen-supplements-actually-work-2019-5">Collagen</a> is a type of protein that helps support skin, hair, and bone health.Our bodies produce collagen naturally, but as we age, less of the protein is made, which can lead to <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/considering-collagen-drinks-and-supplements-202304122911">decreased skin elasticity</a>.Although there hasn't been a ton of research on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/what-is-collagen">whether supplements can help boost collagen levels</a>, I like to eat traditional Chinese delicacies that are high in collagen.I also add <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=0cfe616675e3bd795bd9ab81b2321b0c9d14027dc528fc8d40563207a056201d&amp;postID=66f704a30c43543ec79cd0a2&amp;postSlug=skincare-tips-for-youthful-skin-according-to-model-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.revolve.com%2Fagent-nateur-holimane-hair-skin-nails-daily-supplement%2Fdp%2FAGER-WU15%2F">Agent Nateur's holi (mane)</a> supplement to my coffee, smoothies, and yogurt bowls.

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