Medical experts warn 'Big Food' is fighting back against Ozempic with addictive items for sale
"Ozempic is breaking the food addiction cycle – but Big Food isn't going down without a fight," Dr. Mark Hyman, an internationally recognized advocate for functional medicine, said in a recent Instagram post.
"For decades, ultraprocessed foods have been engineered to hijack the brain's reward system – perfecting the 'bliss point' of sugar, salt and fat to keep people hooked," the physician also said.
As Americans work to take hold of their health and wellness – and as the government cracks down on artificial food additives – the snack food industry appears to be evolving to outsmart both drugs and lifestyle changes, according to some observers.
"Big Food isn't happy," Hyman continued, expressing his point of view. "Our food system is broken. It's built to create addictions, push ultraprocessed junk and profit off public health crises."
Weight-loss and life coach Charles D'Angelo, based in St. Louis, Missouri, agreed with that assessment.
"The food industry is one of many things evolving to outsmart our judgment sometimes," D'Angelo told Fox News Digital.
"They are even outsmarting these medications and different health trends by engineering foods that bypass your hunger and can ultimately lead you to be more reactive than you otherwise would be."
Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, for comment.
Hyper-palatable foods (HPF) are designed with combinations of palatability-inducing ingredients, fat, sugar and carbohydrates that together enhance a food's deliciousness and produce an artificially rewarding eating experience, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The Consumer Brands Association, based in Arlington, Virginia, represents the interests of the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry.
"The makers of America's trusted household brands deliver safe products to consumers and innovate to provide them with healthier options," Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy for the Consumer Brands Association, told Fox News Digital.
"No industry is closer to the consumer than this one," she added.
"For decades, food and beverage companies have taken their cues from consumers on what products they want in the marketplace to meet their dietary and health goals – whether it's options low in sugar, sodium and saturated fats, no artificial colors or low-carb, high-protein and high-fiber options."
D'Angelo said that even without added ingredients, however, marketing campaigns often mislead consumers into purchasing and eating or drinking foods they think are healthful when they're not, D'Angelo said.
"That's not nutrition. It's marketing."
"They're not just selling junk food anymore," D'Angelo said.
"How many things do you see when you go down the grocery store aisle that say high-protein or low-carb, but they're still ultraprocessed? And it's engineered to hook you. That's not nutrition. It's marketing."
Gallo said her organization is aligned with the goal of radical transparency and aiding consumers in making informed choices.
"The industry has been actively engaged in initiatives to improve nutritional information accessibility for over a decade," Gallo said.
One initiative is Facts Up Front, a voluntary program that presents key nutritional information on the front of packaging, facilitating quick assessment by consumers.
Additionally, the industry has introduced SmartLabel, allowing consumers to access detailed nutritional information via QR codes.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
Gallo said the Consumer Brands Association "stands ready" to work with the federal government "to continue to ensure the analysis of safe ingredients and increase consumer transparency."
She added, "It's also why we are working with Congress to ensure the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] is properly resourced to carry out this important work and moving to mandatory notifications for new ingredients."
"We need clarity, awareness and a complete shift in mindset to take back ownership of our choices."
Still, D'Angelo said, misleading labels can give people a false sense of confidence in their personal choices.
"I see how people are being conditioned subtly and repeatedly to trust marketing over their own inner signals, their own inner judgment," he said.
"That's why we need more than just willpower or medications. We need clarity, awareness and a complete shift in mindset to take back ownership of our choices."
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Refinery29
a minute ago
- Refinery29
Those Red Light Tanning Beds? Yeah, They're A Scam
Welcome to Sun Blocked, Refinery29's global call to action to wake up to the serious dangers of tanning. No lectures or shaming, we promise. Instead, our goal is to arm you with the facts you need to protect your skin to the best of your ability, because there's no such thing as safe sun. 'They are much safer as the red light has the opposite effect of [UV], it protects your skin.' I wince as I read this. I'm exchanging emails with 19-year-old Crisiant, who uses a red light tanning bed roughly every six weeks. Last year, she discovered that a tanning salon in her area had two of these beds, and she assumed they would be better for her skin. These machines‚ also known as collagen-boosting tanning beds, combine ultraviolet (UV) light — which tans the skin — with tubes that emit red light. Even if you've never stepped inside one, you've probably seen red light before. From LED face masks to full-body treatments that immerse the skin in red light, these devices have become skincare staples, promising to boost collagen, reduce acne, and heal skin. ' Collagen [tanning beds] make no logical sense at all. [Beds] that deliver UV radiation are harmful and cause skin cancers, full stop. Cloaking them as something good for your skin health is totally disingenuous. Dr. Clare Kiely, consultant dermatologist ' Later, on the phone, it sounds like Crisiant is well aware of the dangers of regular tanning beds. She first tried one aged 18, but learning more about the risks put her off: 'If you [use] one now and then, I didn't think it'd be too bad, but I didn't want to do it consistently because I knew how dangerous they were,' she tells me. To Crisiant, red light tanning beds felt different — a little safer: 'It still gives you a tan while doing your skin good,' she says. 'I went on it once and noticed [a difference] within the same day. I had a really bad breakout on my face, and it sort of soothed and cleared my skin. It was really strange as [tanning beds] have never done that for me before.' It also made her feel more confident. It's not hard to see why Crisiant thinks these machines are a safer, even beneficial alternative to regular tanning beds — and she's not the only one. But it highlights worrying misconceptions around red light tanning beds and their damage. Head to TikTok or Instagram, and you'll find countless videos posted by people who are convinced these beds can be used safely and that the risk of burning is lower. But that's not true. Combining red light with UV in a tanning bed counteracts any of the potential benefits. Consultant dermatologist Dr. Clare Kiely, cofounder of The Skin Diary, puts it plainly: 'Collagen [tanning beds] make no logical sense at all.' It is important to point out the differences between a red light-only bed and a tanning bed that emits both UV and red light. 'Red light therapy without UV is a very different proposition,' confirms consultant dermatologist Dr. Derrick Phillips. 'It is generally considered safe and may help with things like inflammation, wound healing and improving overall skin tone. However, the results do tend to be subtle, and I always remind patients that it's not a quick fix.' Dr. Beibei Du-Harpur, scientific engagement lead at The Skin Diary, agrees: 'More clinical evidence is needed to confirm the effectiveness [of red light] as a treatment for the skin, but there have been promising small studies from a skin aging perspective.' The bottom line? On its own, red light is low-risk. But its popularity in skincare has made some see red light tanning beds as a good thing. ' Not only does UV increase your risk of skin cancer, it breaks down collagen — the very thing red light is supposed to help boost — and speeds up the skin's aging process. In other words, any benefits of red light are immediately cancelled out by the UV. ' Are red light tanning beds 'safer' to use than regular tanning beds? The World Health Organisation has classed UV-emitting tanning devices as carcinogenic to humans since 2009. It doesn't matter if UV comes from a tanning bed that also emits red light; it still causes damage to our DNA. Not only does UV increase your risk of skin cancer, it breaks down collagen — the very thing red light is supposed to help boost — and speeds up the skin's aging process. In other words, any benefits of red light are immediately cancelled out by the UV. Dr. Kiely says that those who market machines combining UV with collagen-boosting red lights can't have a good understanding of how light affects our skin. Why? It just doesn't make sense: '[Tanning beds] that deliver UV radiation are harmful and cause skin cancers, full stop,' she says. 'Cloaking them as something good for your skin health is totally disingenuous.' Dr. Phillips agrees and sees no evidence that combining red light with UV neutralizes the harm. 'If anything, it gives a misleading impression of safety,' he says. 'These are still [tanning beds] emitting UV radiation, and they carry all the same risks as traditional tanning beds. From a dermatological perspective, they're just as concerning.' Why do people still use tanning beds despite the dangers? It's difficult to say how many of these red light and UV machines exist, but IBISWorld, a global industry research platform, reports that there were more than 28,000 tanning salons in the United States in 2024. A quick Google reveals that plenty offer combined UV-red light beds. The reasons why people use beds like these are complex. Bronzed skin remains a beauty ideal, and among younger people, tanning beds are still seen as trendy. Crisiant hints that this is partly why she first tried one: 'You see all the girls getting these [tanning beds] and a nice tan from it,' she says. 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But if we're serious about tackling rising skin cancer rates, intervention is needed. At the very least, more regulation around any kind of tanning bed use, or better yet, a total ban.
Los Angeles Times
30 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
How you can pack a lunch that a child will actually eat
For Rebecca Zeitlin, packing her 5-year-old son's school lunch is always full of surprises. Offer him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at home and he won't touch it. But pack it in his lunch with fruits, vegetables and a small treat and he'll dive in. He will 'chow down' on applesauce at preschool parties. But if she served him applesauce at home, 'he'd look at me like I was crazy,' Zeitlin said. Like many parents, Zeitlin has been thinking about school lunch ahead of her son's first day of kindergarten. Lunchtime will be different than it was at his small private preschool, where teachers could more closely monitor whether he was eating. She's already been eyeing school lunch conversations in mom groups on Facebook, and she's has new lunch boxes ready to pack. She plans to start off with some of her usual go-tos. Perhaps she'll pack him chicken nuggets or pasta alongside strawberries, oranges or watermelon. 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Parents should practice opening containers with their child and make sure the lunch box isn't too heavy. 'We tend to focus on what's in it and what's being consumed, and not the actual container,' Russell said. 'And does the child like it? Are they enjoying opening it? Carrying it? All that really makes a difference.' That's where, for many parents, bento box-style lunch boxes come in. The compartmentalized containers have been popularized on social media. For Zeitlin, the PlanetBox lunch box has been a great go-to. 'It's just kind of convenient,' Zeitlin said. 'Everything's in one place.' Russell, who has a 4-year-old, said that when a child likes their lunch box or container it can encourage them to eat. That's why options with beloved characters can be a good choice. 'It's not just about the food, it's about the favorite cup, the plate,' Russell said. 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If parents want to do something special, Russell recommends quickly using a cookie cutter on a sandwich or adding a sticker alongside the snacks. Zeitlin can't wait until her 5-year-old son learns to read. Then, she'll start leaving notes in his lunch box expressing encouragement and telling jokes. She's held on to a book of dad jokes for 20 years just for the occasion. Sequeira reports for The Times' early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to
The Hill
30 minutes ago
- The Hill
Copycat Ozempic, Mounjaro proliferate even in postshortage era
Copycat versions of popular drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro have continued to proliferate in a postshortage era, with some experts saying 'regulatory neglect' is allowing for potentially dangerous, unapproved drugs to reach consumers. When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds a drug to its official shortage list, compounding pharmacies can sell their own versions of that drug so patients can continue to access medications. This was the case when weight loss drugs like tirzepatide and semaglutide went into shortage due to high demand. Online companies like Hims & Hers and Ro entered the GLP-1 market with compounded versions of Wegovy and Zepbound. These medications contain the same active pharmaceutical ingredient as the branded version but are formulated slightly differently, such as altering a medication for a patient who can't swallow pills. Due to the often highly individualized nature of compounded drugs, they are not FDA-approved. But although the FDA has since removed these drugs from its shortage list, stakeholders say compounded drugs continue to be sold, and lawmakers in Congress have begun raising concerns with federal regulators. There are two types of compounding pharmacies, 503A and 503B. 503A compounding pharmacies fulfill personalized, patient-specific prescriptions. 503B compounding pharmacies can do the same while also fulfilling bulk orders for clients like hospitals. Prior to the end of the shortage, telehealth companies primarily relied on 503B compounders, but according to those in the drug space, online sellers are turning to 503A compounders to keep the lucrative business going. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of semaglutide, partnered with Hims & Hers to sell a low-cost version of its branded product Wegovy after the shortage officially ended. But that partnership was dissolved after Novo Nordisk accused Hims & Hers of illegally continuing to sell compounded versions of its drug 'under the false guise of personalization.' Experts in the field say the maneuver falls into a regulatory 'gray area.' 'I hesitate to even call these people compounders. Because what they really are are illegal pharmaceutical companies,' said Peter Pitts, former FDA associate commissioner and president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest. 'You don't compound for tens of millions of people, and you don't personalize for tens of millions of people. That's just kind of a fake brand extension.' In July, a bipartisan coalition of House lawmakers sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary asking that he direct his agency to address the flow of illicit anti-obesity medications (AOM) into the country. While not specifically focused on compounded drugs, the letter did note the possibility for ambiguity between these medications and illicitly sourced drugs. 'We understand the distinction between legitimate compounded drugs prepared in state-licensed pharmacies and counterfeit or compounded drugs made from illicit ingredients obtained from illegitimate sources,' wrote the lawmakers. 'However, unapproved AOMs continue to be widely marketed online, in print, and on television.' Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission in July, calling for the agency's action on online advertising of compounded GLP-1s. She was reiterating warnings that a bipartisan group of state attorneys general had made. 'Amid the unprecedented demand for these miracle medicines, foreign criminals and con artists are defrauding and endangering Americans by selling and shipping counterfeit or deceptively-marketed GLP-1 drugs and active ingredients,' she wrote. A spokesperson for Ro said the company 'does not market or advertise compounded GLP-1s.' The Hill was able to find a half-dozen lower-profile companies still marketing compounded GLP-1s online. Hims & Hers, perhaps the most well-known of these online companies, disputed Pitt's characterization. 'Anyone claiming that we compound personalized medications for tens of millions of people is simply wrong and is mischaracterizing our business. We follow the carefully written compounding regulations and only offer access to compounded treatments when a licensed provider determines it is clinically necessary, in their independent judgment, for their individual patient,' the company said in a statement to The Hill. 'That's the future of healthcare: a system centered on the individual where providers have a way to treat the individual in front of them.' The Federal Trade Commission declined to comment as its investigations are nonpublic. The FDA did not respond to a request for comment. Pitts expressed incredulity that federal regulators hadn't stepped in already, saying, 'How long can the FDA permit kind of regulatory neglect, to allow this problem just to snowball until they get engaged?' Although the continued sale of compounded GLP-1s falls into a regulatory gray area, Pitts believes it goes against the 'spirit' of the regulations. He further cited the '5 percent rule' for compounding pharmacies, which dictates that the percentage of compounded drugs that a pharmacy distributes out of state not exceed 5 percent, saying online sellers have exceeded this rule by '10,000-fold.' According to recent polling, consumers are concerned about where compounded drugs originate from. A poll conducted by the firm Fabrizio Ward, run by President Trump's 2024 campaign pollster Tony Fabrizio, found that 64 percent of surveyed voters don't believe compounders should be able to continue to make drugs outside of the current legally permitted circumstances. Voters in the survey were split when asked how confident they were that online pharmacies sold safe, FDA-approved drugs, with 46 percent saying they were confident and 41 percent saying they were not. A majority of voters — 78 percent — said they had concerns about bulk, compounded versions of drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound coming into the U.S. from overseas sources. During the active shortage of GLP-1 products, questions were raised over where compounding pharmacies were sourcing the active pharmaceutical ingredients for their products. Telehealth companies have said their products come from FDA-regulated facilities. 'There's a difference between a product being made in an FDA-approved facility and a product being manufactured on an FDA-approved line for that product,' said Pitts. 'The FDA does not inspect production lines for illegal manufacturing, that just does not happen. So, it's an entirely fake proposition.'
