FDA to Re-evaluate "Yoga Mat" Bread Ingredient Amid Health Concerns

"Yoga Mat" Ingredient Review

• 💡 The FDA is planning to review its approval of a bread ingredient, known as ADA, which is nicknamed the "yoga mat" chemical.
• ⚠️ This ingredient has been banned in Europe due to concerns that it can break down into SEM, a chemical that might cause cancer.
• 🎯 In the US, the FDA previously deemed the amount of SEM in the food supply too small to pose a cancer risk, but advocacy groups have raised concerns.
• 🔬 The FDA's review will also include two other chemicals, BHA and BHT, which have also been subjects of concern from advocacy groups.

Measles Outbreak Update

• 📈 The US is nearing the total number of measles cases reported in 2019, which was the worst year for measles in US history since the 1990s.
• 📉 Despite the high numbers, there are signs that the current measles outbreak is slowing down, with decreases in the pace of new cases.
• ⚠️ Public health officials remain concerned that cases could continue to appear and some outbreaks might worsen, especially considering potential impacts from recent travel.

Drug Price Negotiations

• 💰 Former President Trump proposed tying US drug prices to those paid in other developed countries, where prices are significantly lower.
• 🚫 During the Biden administration, a similar proposal was dropped from the Inflation Reduction Act due to concerns from moderate Democrats.
• 🗣️ The Inflation Reduction Act ultimately allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices using a different formula, rather than directly tying them to international prices.