Toxic chemicals in food packaging migrate into humans, study finds

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09.20.24

I've noticed that a lot of people are drinking less. Some of it is because of age — but for many, it's also because of health. Now, I'm taking your questions about alcohol and the sober movement. Is there a safe amount of alcohol? What about red wine helping heart health? You can submit your questions here and I'll be answering them online and on TV.  But first, the top headlines of the week ...

— Sanjay

Experts are calling for age restrictions on the sale of nonalcoholic drinks. Here's why

They won't get you buzzed, but experts say low-alcohol and alcohol-free beers and mocktails shouldn't be sold to minors, and they're calling for laws that curb underage sales to kids and teens.

The market for nonalcoholic drinks has been growing as more people — notably younger adults — look to cut their alcohol use. This sober-curious movement has given rise to ready-to-go drinks in cans and bottles that often look just like their boozy counterparts. That may offer an entry point into drinking culture that some experts are worried could foster unhealthy habits.

In order to be considered nonalcoholic, the US Food and Drug Administration says, these drinks have to contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.

So, if nobody's getting tipsy, what's the harm?

"It's a way to blend in for a lot of folks who are using these in social settings," said Dr. Molly Bowdring, an instructor in the Stanford Prevention Research Center.

Bowdring says there's emerging evidence that nonalcoholic beverages may prime kids to switch to the real thing. Research out of Japan and Taiwan points to the drinks giving kids an entry point into drinking culture that may foster unhealthy habits later.

Toxic chemicals in food packaging migrate into humans, study finds

More than 3,600 chemicals that leach into food during the manufacturing, processing, packaging and storage of the world's food supply end up in the human body — and some are connected to serious health harms, a new study found.

Seventy-nine of the food-processing chemicals found in the body are known to cause cancer, genetic mutations, endocrine and reproductive issues, and other health concerns, according to the study.

Many more chemicals may be harmful in ways that science does not yet know, said senior study author Jane Muncke, managing director and chief scientific officer at the Food Packaging Forum, a nonprofit foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland, that focuses on science communication and research.

The American Chemistry Council, an industry association, told CNN that its members are dedicated to food safety.

"It is essential, however, when assessing potential risks to consider a broader context, including existing regulatory frameworks, scientific evidence, and the actual levels and degree of exposure that may exist," a council spokesperson said via email.

GLP-1 drugs could help prevent 34,000 heart attacks and strokes in the US each year, research suggests

Certain blockbuster weight-loss drugs have been found to protect the heart in significant ways, and new research suggests that the cardiovascular benefits could extend to an even broader set of patients than clinical trial data has shown — helping prevent tens of thousands of heart attacks and strokes each year in the United States.

New research from Dandelion Health, a platform that uses real-world data and clinical AI to advance personalized care, found that GLP-1 drugs could also serve as primary prevention, significantly reducing risk for people with mild or moderate cardiovascular disease who hadn't had a cardiac event.

Researchers found that GLP-1s reduced the risk of heart attack or stroke by 15% to 20%, in line with findings from the clinical trial — but for a broader population, with benefits that could extend to 44 million additional people. With these results, they also estimate that if everyone in this broader population of potentially eligible patients took GLP-1s, it could result in 34,000 fewer heart attacks and strokes each year.

Cognitive decline reduced by MIND diet, especially for women and Black people, study finds

Following the MIND diet for 10 years produced a small but significant decrease in the risk of developing thinking, concentration and memory problems, a new study found.

The diet was designed to combat cognitive decline, said lead study author Dr. Russell Sawyer, an assistant professor of clinical neurology and rehabilitation medicine at the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute.

"Among the MIND diet components are 10 brain healthy food groups — green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, seafood, poultry, olive oil and wine," Sawyer said in an email.

Five unhealthy food groups — red meats, butter and stick margarine, cheese, fried and fast foods, and pastries and sweets — are limited in the MIND diet, which helps reduce the intake of trans and saturated fats, Sawyer said.

In the new study, people who followed the MIND diet more closely were 4% less likely to develop memory and thinking problems than those who did not adhere to the diet. The finding remained even after mitigating factors such as exercise, education, smoking, body mass index, medical conditions, age, and anxiety or depression were factored out.

For women, the risk was even less: They were 6% less likely to develop cognitive impairment. Men, however, saw no such benefit.

Coffee could be more than a morning pick-me-up, according to new research.

But wait, there's more!

• Mysterious bird flu case in Missouri was similar to strain circulating in cattle, CDC says

• Is your kid a picky eater? It's probably not your fault, study shows

• GLP-1 pills are coming, and they could revolutionize weight-loss treatment
• Superbug crisis could get worse, killing nearly 40 million people by 2050, study estimates 

• Boar's Head to close Virginia plant linked to deadly listeria outbreak 

Chasing Life

From Dr. Sanjay Gupta — 

I have been reporting on overdose deaths for about 20 years, and have watched the terrifying upward trend as both a journalist and a physician. Back in 2001, fewer than 10,000 people in the US died from drug overdoses. In 2022, that number was up to 109,000 deaths — many involving illicit fentanyl.  

But I'm hopeful. New analyses and data show a change: For the first time in five years, drug overdose deaths appear to be decreasing.

According to early numbers from the CDC, about 107,500 people died from overdoses last year — the lowest number in three years.

And researchers at the University of North Carolina are seeing similar drops in emergency room visits for overdoses as well as fewer 911 calls and other emergency response services at the state level.

Experts say they aren't sure exactly what is driving these numbers, but there has been a push to expand access to naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses; increased flexibility in prescribing medications to treat opioid use disorder; and more and more awareness about test strips to check for the presence of fentanyl in drugs.

These are all efforts to help move us in the right direction, and there are good signs — but it isn't time to let up.

While the overall national trends may be moving in the right direction, there continue to be disparities, with overdose death rates at the highest levels for Native Americans and Black American men. Let's continue to do the work that's needed to bring these numbers down for all people.

A new study estimates more than 39 million people could die worldwide between now and 2050 due to antibiotic-resistant infections, or "superbugs." One possible treatment method: naturally occurring viruses called phages. But matching the right phage to an infection is not easy. It's a race against time.

CNN Health's The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows up in your

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