FDA
Welcome to Threats, an intermittent assessment of everyday risks.Of the various instances of alarm over artificial sweeteners in the 126 years since saccharine was first mass produced, the most memorable was probably the one that triggered the diet cola panic of 1977. READ MORE >>
The Ryan Budget: New and Not Much Improved
Imagine a politician held a press conference in order to boast about a plan that would take health insurance away from tens of millions of people, while effectively eliminating the federal government except for entitlements and defense spending. You probably can’t, because no politician would ever do that. Except Paul Ryan just did. READ MORE >>
Gluten-Free Bread: Is It Really Worse?
On Wednesday, members of the gluten-free community gathered in Washington, D.C. for the first Gluten Free Food Labeling Summit. In recent years, gluten-free foods have become more common in the United States as more and more people are diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder where the body cannot absorb gluten, a "protein composite" present in wheat, rye, and other grains. READ MORE >>
Come Back, Zinc! Come Back!
Obama's Review of Regulations: Useful, But Not in the Way He Intends
[Guest post by Noam Scheiber:] READ MORE >>
Can Stem Cells Treat Paralysis? First Big Test Underway.
You may have read about the first FDA-approved test of embryonic stem cells in humans. What's actually happening? And what does it mean for the stem cell debate? READ MORE >>
Counterpoint: Bush, Reagan Didn't Make You Sick
Who is responsible for an outbreak of salmonella that's sickened 1,500 people and led to the recall of a half-billion eggs? Last week, I suggested that a significant portion of the blame belongs with the administration of George W. Bush--which was, in turn, channeling the anti-regulatory zeal of the Bush Administration. READ MORE >>
Hummus Goes Mainstream
A few years ago, I wrote an article on Ralph Nader, and I recall coming across this story from 1980 in the Christian Science Monitor, in which the reporter feels compelled to define "hummus": READ MORE >>
Another Word on the Cervix
Like Michelle, we’re happy to see The New York Times giving front-page space to the new recommendations for mammograms and pap smears. READ MORE >>
Sharpen Your Pencils for Education Innovation
Pop quiz: You read a draft notice for a federal grant program containing the terms, “internal validity,” “quasi-experimental,” “regression discontinuity,” and “interrupted time series.” The program in question is: a) A CDC program to fund pre-development of the porcupine flu vaccine b) An FDA program to spur commercialization of an at-home test for polonium in your food c) A NASA program to support design of a low-cost module that will allow humans to populate Venus READ MORE >>
