Rep. Anna Paulina Luna wants to ban high-fructose corn syrup
High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is in hundreds of food products people eat every day. It’s in soda, ketchup, Pop-Tarts, Hershey’s syrup and more. Now, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., wants it gone.
Luna introduced two bills she said will increase food health and safety. One would ban high-fructose corn syrup in foods produced in the United States.
“A lot of our food that’s, you know, being trusted by many parents, especially are supposed to help children, and it’s actually hurting them,” Luna told Straight Arrow News. “And so what we’re finding is the food quality, and some of the additives in our food products, are actually making us sick.”
According to the FDA, high-fructose corn syrup is derived from corn starch which is broken down into individual glucose molecules, making corn syrup. Enzymes are then added to convert some of the glucose into fructose. Most high-fructose syrup contains between 42% to 55% fructose.
“We are not aware of any evidence…that there is a difference in safety between foods containing HFCS 42 or HFCS 55 and foods containing similar amounts of other nutritive sweeteners with approximately equal glucose and fructose content, such as sucrose, honey or other traditional sweeteners,” the FDA’s website said.
That explanation does not satisfy Luna, who called the FDA complicit in poisoning families.
“And so people that are, for example, relying on government assistance are actually being fed the cheapest stuff that long term increases disease and causes them to be sicker,” Luna said. “We have a lot of our government subsidies that are subsidizing essentially government issued poison.”
Luna’s other bill would ban three of the nine FDA-approved color additives: Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. These additives are found in cereals, crackers, dairy products, Jell-O, sauces and more.
Luna said artificial and harmful ingredients are leading to fertility issues, autism and higher rates of cancer.
“I think right now that it’s become very evident that a lot of our food that’s, you know, being trusted by many parents, especially are supposed to help children, and it’s actually hurting them,” Luna said.
This bill is in the beginning of the legislative process and would still need to work it’s way through committees to get a vote.
The Supreme Court issued its first major ruling on abortion in two years. And former President Donald Trump returns to Capitol Hill, holding separate meetings with Senate and House Republicans. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, June 14, 2024.
Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pill
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of the abortion pill Mifepristone on Thursday, June 13. That means the commonly used drug will remain widely available.
Last year alone, Mifepristone was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S.
The nine justices ruled abortion opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the FDA’s approval of the medication because they are not directly impacted by Mifepristone being on the market for others.
The Supreme Court is also considering another abortion case centering on whether a federal law on emergency treatment at hospitals overrides state abortion bans in rare emergency cases when a pregnant woman’s health is at risk.
Senate Republicans block Democrats’ bill to protect IVF access nationwide
Senate Republicans blocked legislation Thursday that would codify in vitro fertilization nationwide after Democrats forced a vote on the matter. The bill failed to advance in a vote of 48 to 47. It needed 60 votes to move forward.
Just two Republicans voted in favor of the bill: Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
Others in the GOP said the Democrats’ legislation was unnecessary as there are no restrictions to IVF in any state. Democrats were pushing to guarantee IVF protections in case states were to ever try and prohibit it in the future.
Thursday’s vote came after a landmark ruling by Alabama’s Supreme Court earlier this year, saying frozen embryos are children and those who destroy them can be held liable for wrongful death. The ruling put a stop to treatments for a week while the state quickly worked to clarify its reproductive laws protecting IVF patients and doctors.
Republicans have signed on to a scaled-back version that would cut off Medicaid funding for states if they banned IVF, which Democrats say does not go far enough to protect access.
Trump makes first visit to Capitol Hill since Jan. 6 riot
Former President Donald Trump was back on Capitol Hill Thursday — for the first time since the Jan. 6, 2021 riot — as Republicans welcomed the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee. It also marked the former president’s first visit to Washington since he was convicted of 34 felony counts by a New York jury at the end of May.
Trump spent about an hour each with House and Senate Republicans delivering remarks, fielding questions and discussing issues like Russia, immigration, tax cuts and other priorities for a potential second term.
“We have to get elected,” Trump said during a press conference. “We have to take this, this beautiful place, and we have to make it really something very special again. Right now — it’s not special right now. It’s being scorned and being used as an example of when they look at the crime on the streets, when they look at all of the problems that we have, they’re using us as a bad example of democracy.”
Hamas official says it is not known how many hostages are still alive
As negotiators continue to try to finalize a deal between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire and hostage release, a senior leader for Hamas says they don’t know how many of the hostages are still alive. There are said to be 120 hostages who have not returned home since the initial attack on Oct. 7, 2023, by the terrorist group.
Israel believes more than 70 of the 120 hostages are still alive.
In an interview that aired Thursday, June 13, with CNN in Beirut, Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan was asked about the fate of the hostages.
“I don’t have any idea about that,” Hamdan said. “No one has any idea about this.”
Hamdan said the latest cease-fire proposal, announced by President Joe Biden last week and backed by the United Nations Security Council, was a “positive step” but did not meet Hamas’ demands to end the war.
“We need a clear position from Israel to accept a cease-fire, a complete withdrawal from Gaza, and let the Palestinians determine their future by themselves,” Hamdan said.
The latest cease-fire plan called for the release of the hostages and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops in three phases.
Previously, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called some of Hamas’ proposed changes to the ceasefire plan “unacceptable.”
Day 2 of G7 summit to focus on immigration
Friday is the second day of the G7 summit in Italy and world leaders are turning their attention to immigration. President Biden and the other G7 leaders will be joined by leaders from other nations including Brazil, India and Turkey.
The gathering will also focus on global conflicts and the spread of artificial intelligence with Pope Francis set to deliver a speech on AI to the group. Ongoing issues like climate change and China also will be discussed.
On the first day of the summit Thursday, attendees promised tens of billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine as its war with Russia continues. President Biden also signed a 10-year security agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Reports: Big 12 exploring selling name rights to title sponsor
We are all familiar with college football bowl games having sponsors — like the Allstate Sugar Bowl or the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. Now, reports indicate a naming rights partnership might be on the way not for another game, but a conference.
According to multiple outlets, the Big 12 conference is exploring selling its naming rights to a title sponsor. This would be the first deal of its kind, reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Reports say the conference would drop “Big” from its name and keep the “12”, and with the Allstate insurance company being the current frontrunner as a potential sponsor, the conference could end up being called “the Allstate 12” conference.
Talks are ongoing, as this upcoming season, the Big 12 will see more teams joining the conference — creating a 16-member league.
The oysters and clams in question were harvested in Netarts Bay and Tillamook Bay, Oregon, on or after May 28. In Washington, it includes all shellfish species in the area of Willapa Bay harvested between May 26 and May 30. The harvesting areas have now been closed.
The closures are a blow to the harvesting industry, which generates around $270 million a year in the regions, employing around 3,200 people.
The shellfish were distributed to Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington. The FDA has advised restaurant owners and consumers to avoid consumption or selling the shellfish, and to throw them out.
The FDA reported that the shellfish were contaminated with toxins produced by the algae they feed on in the water.
Oregon wildlife officials said that a “very large” algal bloom caused “unprecedented levels of PSP toxins” along the coast. The officials added that some blooms can become toxic from poor water circulation, high water temperatures, floods, droughts and hurricanes.
Oregon experts said that it may take months or even a year for toxin levels to go down in the shellfish, depending on the type of species.
Health experts say that if a person eats contaminated seafood, PSP symptoms can begin within as little as 30 minutes. The symptoms of PSP range from tingling of the mouth, tongue and lips, vomiting and even respiratory paralysis.
Treatment for severe cases may involve ventilators to help with breathing. In deadly cases, the cause of death is usually asphyxiation. However, health officials say that patients who survive 24 hours with or without breathing support usually make a fully recover with no long-term problems.
Jury deliberations to resume in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial
Jury deliberations are set to resume in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial. And Apple finally takes a big step into the world of artificial intelligence with “Apple Intelligence.” These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
Day 2 of jury deliberations in Hunter Biden’s federal gun trial
Jury deliberations will resume Tuesday, June 11, in the federal gun trial of Hunter Biden. Deliberations started on Monday, June 10, after both the prosecution and defense rested their cases. Jurors only deliberated for less than an hour before being sent home for the day.
The jurors will decide whether Hunter Biden is guilty of three felony charges linked to purchasing a gun in 2018, when he was reportedly addicted to drugs.
In closing arguments, the prosecution urged jurors to “use common sense” to find the president’s son guilty, adding “no one is above the law.” The defense, however, said the prosecution failed to prove Hunter Biden was using illegal drugs when he bought the gun — claiming there were “gaping holes” in the case.
Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Blinken in Israel; U.N. Security Council endorses cease-fire plan
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues to urge top Israeli officials to accept and implement a plan for post-war Gaza, meeting with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid in Tel Aviv Tuesday, June 11. This come as he also pushes for more international pressure on Hamas to agree to a cease-fire proposal just endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.
On Monday, June 10, 14 of the U.N.’s 15 security council members voted in favor of endorsing the cease-fire plan to end the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that was announced by President Joe Biden in May. Only Russia abstained from voting.
The U.S. said Israel has already accepted the cease-fire proposal.
The resolution calls on Hamas to agree to the three-phase plan, which would see an initial six-week cease-fire and the exchange of some Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
The second phase would include a permanent cease-fire and the release of the remaining hostages. The third phase would involve a reconstruction effort for the devastated Gaza strip.
Hamas was quick to welcome the resolution, saying in a statement it’s ready to cooperate with mediators and enter “indirect negotiations” over the implementation of the principles of the agreement.
Port of Baltimore shipping channel fully reopens after bridge collapse
After being closed for more than two months, the Port of Baltimore’s shipping channel is fully operational again. In late March, a massive 213-million pound cargo ship crashed into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six construction workers and causing the structure to collapse — cutting off access to the crucial shipping artery.
To fully reopen the 700-foot-wide channel, crews had to remove roughly 50,000 tons of wreckage from the Patapsco River, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The work to rebuild the nearly 50-year-old bridge continues. Shortly after the collapse, President Biden pledged the federal government would help pay for it.
Note: The above has been corrected to say 213-million pounds. An earlier version omitted million.
FDA panel backs Eli Lilly drug that slows Alzheimer’s progression
A panel of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisers is unanimously backing an Alzheimer’s drug from Eli Lilly that’s been shown to slow the disease’s progression. The drug works by helping the body remove amyloid plaque buildups in the brain, which are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
These plaques are harmful deposits that can form in the brain as people age. Removing the plaque seems to slow down the brain changes that seem to happen with Alzheimer’s.
The FDA will make a final decision on approval later this year.
If approved, Eli Lilly’s drug would become the second Alzheimer’s medication of its kind currently on the U.S. market, expanding treatment options for the more than 6 million Americans who have the disease.
Alzheimer’s is the fifth leading cause of death for adults over 65 years old.
Apple unveils its AI strategy, partnership with OpenAI
Apple held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, June 10, where it announced new upgrades to its devices and operating systems. But what’s getting the most attention is Apple Intelligence, the tech company’s new strategy for incorporating AI into its business model.
“Recent developments in generative intelligence and large language models offer powerful capabilities that provide the opportunity to take the experience of using Apple products to new heights,” CEO Tim Cook said. “So, as we look to build in these incredible new capabilities, we want to ensure that the outcome reflects the principles at the core of our products.”
Among its capabilities, Apple Intelligence will see an update to the voice assistant Siri. Apple said Siri will now better understand your questions and, like with other chatbots, people will also be able to type to Siri.
Apple also announced a partnership with OpenAI Monday, saying if Siri doesn’t know the answer to something, it will ask if it can take your question to ChatGPT.
New writing tools will see Apple Intelligence proofread, rewrite and summarize text across various apps, as well as suggest the right tone for the message.
Apple said people will also be able to create your own custom emojis just by describing what you are looking for. They’re calling these “genmojis.”
Apple Intelligence is set to launch in the fall.
Starbucks launches its own production studio
When you think of Hollywood production studios, you might think of Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures or Disney. But a new name is now joining the list: Starbucks.
The coffee chain announced the creation of Starbucks Studios, which it said will “produce original entertainment and tell stories that deepen connections and spark conversations.”
Starbucks is partnering with Oscar-winning producer Michael Sugar and his media company Sugar23.
Starbucks is the latest company to open its own production studio, following brands like Nike and Mailchimp.
Another sugar substitute linked to health concerns
According to a new study, sugar-free food and drinks may not have the health benefits people are expecting. The sugar substitute xylitol has now been linked to negative health impacts.
A new Cleveland Clinic study found higher amounts of xylitol intake are linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular-related death. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in some plants and produced by the human body.
Much like sugar, xylitol is naturally occurring, however, added xylitol could be what poses the risk. It’s most commonly found in toothpaste and sugar-free gum but is also used in many candies and baked goods — especially in things labeled “keto-friendly.”
Researchers studied 3,000 people and found those with the highest xylitol levels had approximately double the risk for heart attack, stroke or death over three years. However, the study was only observational, so researchers said it does not prove xylitol was for sure behind the increased risk.
Researchers also said while added xylitol in food poses a risk, people don’t need to worry about it in oral care products like toothpaste and mouthwash, as they’re not ingested in large amounts.
The same team of researchers found a similar association in 2023 to the popular sugar substitute erythritol, another zero-calorie sugar substitute used to sweeten low-calorie, low-carb and “keto” products. The use of sugar substitutes has increased significantly over the past decade as concerns about rising obesity rates mount.
Cleveland Clinic experts said knowing if food contains xylitol isn’t as easy as just reading the nutrition label. That’s because food manufacturers aren’t always required to list sugar alcohols on their packaging.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines regarding sugar alcohols state they only need to be included in the nutrition label if “a claim [is] made about sugar alcohols or sugar when sugar alcohols are present.” That means if a package says something is sugar free, it has to include sugar alcohol content on the label.
FDA panel won’t recommend MDMA for PTSD treatment
A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel of experts said on Tuesday, June 4, it won’t recommend the use of MDMA — more commonly known as ecstasy or molly — to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. The panel said available evidence fails to show that the drug is effective or that its benefits outweigh its risks.
After public comment and discussion, the panel voted 9-2 that MDMA in combination with talk therapy is not effective for treating PTSD. It also voted 10-1 that the benefits of MDMA treatment do not outweigh its risks.
This was the first time FDA advisers have considered a psychedelic drug for medical use. MDMA is known as an empathogen, a class of psychoactive drugs that produce experiences of emotional communion, relatedness and emotional openness. It’s currently classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
The panel’s vote marks a major setback for proponents of the treatment, but the FDA has final say on whether a treatment is formally approved. The agency usually follows recommendations from its independent advisory committees.
According to estimates from the National Center for PTSD, nearly 5% of adults in the U.S. experience PTSD every year. That amounts to about 13 million people.
The National Center for PTSD also said current treatment options, like antidepressants and some specialized forms of cognitive behavioral therapy, are limited in their scope and effectiveness, and there are few alternatives available to help those don’t respond well to them.
At the June 4 meeting, treatment sponsor Lykos Therapeutics showed positive data from two late-stage clinical trials that used MDMA in combination with therapy to treat PTSD. However, FDA advisers said several shortcomings — notably regarding bias in efficacy data and missing information about safety — raised critical doubts.
Lykos said about 200 people participated in its trials. The treatment program involved three eight-hour sessions where participants took MDMA in the presence of two therapists. The MDMA sessions were spaced about a month apart and interspersed with additional therapy sessions.
In an FDA briefing, the agency said the study’s participants appeared to “experience rapid, clinically meaningful, durable improvement in their PTSD symptoms.” However, it also said, “several factors make these data challenging to interpret and complicate the benefit-risk assessment for this application.”
MDMA is also known to commonly be abused, and the FDA said the research did not assess that as a potential adverse event. Reports from illicit MDMA use suggest that it may pose risks to both heart and liver health. While results from the study did find MDMA use increased patients’ blood pressure and pulse, liver health was only assessed in a small number of patients.
Some panel members also brought up allegations that have surfaced over possible misconduct and bias in the trials. FDA scientists acknowledged the agency was investigating some of the claims but did not give any more details.
FDA clears Neuralink chip for 2nd human trial, company says wire issue fixed
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave Neuralink the green light to implant its brain chip in a second human patient. The decision came just one week after the Elon Musk-backed startup admitted many of the device’s wires disconnected from its first patient’s brain.
Neuralink made several changes to the device and how it is implanted to fix that issue before resubmitting its work to the FDA, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The device allows an individual to control digital devices using brain signals. Neuralink designed the chip specifically to help quadriplegic people. More than 180,000 Americans are quadriplegic, which means their paralysis prevents them from using all four limbs. The chip promises to improve their quality of life.
The adjustments to the first chip include embedding the ultra-thin connector wires deeper into the brain’s motor cortex to enhance stability and function.
The changes address issues experienced by Nolan Arbaugh, the first chip recipient. The wires in his chip became detached and temporarily resulted in a loss of functionality. Neuralink reported it stabilized the remaining threads and updated the software to improve the chip’s capabilities.
Arbaugh can now control a laptop and is able to use it to play games and browse the internet. He participates in research sessions for upwards of eight hours per day, and frequently uses it for personal activities on the weekends. Data showed Arbaugh used the device for nearly 70 hours in a week, thanks to updates in the technology.
“The games I can play now are leaps and bounds better than previous ones,” Arbaugh said. “I’m beating my friends in games that as a quadriplegic I should not be beating them in.”
Neuralink said ongoing adjustments and user feedback are critical. The company hopes to implant the updated chip in 10 additional patients in 2024.
Neuralink is actively accepting applications and plans to expand trials to Canada and Great Britain. The company hopes to open applications for both of those counties in the coming days.
Neuralink knew of issues with breakthrough brain implant for years: Report
A report from Reuters on Wednesday, May 15, found that Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink, knew about the possibility of tiny wires coming loose from its experimental brain implant device years before the first human patient experienced the issue. The company became aware of the issues with the device, which gives paralyzed patients the ability to operate digital devices with the power of their minds, during testing on animals.
When reached for comment on the new report, the FDA said that it is continuing to monitor the safety of patients taking part in the Neuralink study.
According to Reuters sources, the company knew from the animal testing that the threads in the device could retract, removing sensitive electrodes that decode brain signals. The problem could result in fewer electrodes measuring brain signals, causing the device to experience performance issues.
However, Neuralink didn’t find the problem to be great enough to warrant a complete redesign. Instead the company said it found a work-around for the first human patient, Noland Arbaugh, who was paralyzed from the shoulders down after a diving accident in 2016. The company reported it changed algorithms to improve the issue.
The wires attached to the device are thinner than a human hair, which aids in seamless removal of the implant and more ease in updating the device. According to the company, if larger wires were used it would result in the threads being anchored to the brain, creating an even greater danger to the patient. Larger wires being removed could lead to damage to brain tissue.
Arbaugh’s brain implant has 64 threads, some of which retracted. However, Neuralink did not disclose how many wires did become loose.
Arbaugh’s issues with the threads reportedly came weeks after his surgical procedure in January. Neuralink told The Wall Street Journal the retracted wires resulted in a reduction in bits-per-second, a measure of speed and accuracy for the patient’s ability to move computer cursor with his mind.
Neuralink did not disclose if there were any physical side effects from Arbaugh. In March, the company released a video showing Arbaugh playing video games with the power of his mind. He can also reportedly browse the internet and use a computer mouse with the help of the implant.
Neuralink has yet to respond to the latest report on problems with the threads. However, the company has revealed it plans on implanting the experimental device into 10 more human patients this year.
USDA assures public retail meat is safe, still plans to test beef samples
In an effort to contain the recent outbreak of bird flu, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has implemented new regulations for lactating dairy cows. As of Monday, April 29, the cows must test negative for the virus before being transported across state lines.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported on Friday, April 26, that initial tests on milk, conducted using gold-standard PCR tests, revealed the pasteurization effectively kills the bird flu virus. Colorado has become the ninth state to confirm cases of infected dairy herds.
Additionally, the USDA announced plans to test retail beef samples using PCR tests and conduct a study on the virus’s behavior when exposed to different cooking temperatures. The agency has emphasized that cooking meat to the recommended internal temperature effectively eliminates bacteria and viruses.
The USDA is examining beef muscle samples from condemned cattle at the slaughter facilities to detect vital particles. Bird flu was detected in a lung tissue sample from an asymptomatic dairy cow, though it did not enter the food supply.
Colombia has restricted beef and beef products from states with confirmed cases of avian influenza in dairy cows.
Despite these measures, the USDA assures people that the meat supply remains safe. Ground beef samples from affected states are being collected for testing to determine the presence of viral particles. The USDA has not yet specified when the ground beef testing will take place.
FDA: Bird flu found in 1/5 commercial milk samples, suggests greater spread
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday, April 25, that one in five commercial milk samples tested in a nationwide survey contained particles of the H5N1 virus. The announcement suggests that the outbreak of bird flu might have deeply penetrated the dairy industry across the United States.
Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, said that the finding is significant, stating that the virus appears to have “saturated” dairy cattle through the country.
Samuel Alcaine, an associate professor of food science at Cornell University, echoed Osterholm’s sentiment, saying that the virus’s discovery in more commercial milk suggests higher numbers of cattle have H5N1.
Currently, eight U.S. states have confirmed bird flu cases in 33 herds. However, Alcaine said, “33 is a really small number. It makes it seem like there is definitely more spread out there.”
While the commercialized milk did test positive for remnants of the bird flu, the FDA maintains that the pasteurization process likely deactivates the virus. The agency said that further testing is necessary to confirm the assumption.
While the virus remains mainly confined to animals, health officials advise against drinking raw or unpasteurized milk, emphasizing the importance of pasteurization as a preventative measure. Only one person, a Texas farm worker, has tested positive for bird flu in the U.S. during this outbreak. The worker has since recovered.