Latest news with #FoodandDrugAdministration
Washington Post
4 hours ago
- Health
- Washington Post
West Virginia's near-total abortion pill ban upheld by federal court
A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday allowed West Virginia to restrict access to mifepristone, the pill used to end pregnancies that has emerged as a focal point of legal battles over abortion. The decision marks the first time a federal appeals court has allowed a state to strictly limit the drug, teeing up a key test of states' powers to ban medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The Hill
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Hill
Appeals court upholds West Virginia's medication abortion ban
A divided federal appeals court panel on Tuesday upheld West Virginia's ban on medication abortion, ruling that the law does not conflict with the Food and Drug Administration's ability to regulate the drug. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed mifepristone manufacturer GenBioPro's effort to strike down West Virginia's near-total abortion ban in a 2-1 decision. The court ruled FDA's approval of mifepristone did not preempt West Virginia's law. GenBioPro produces a majority of the mifepristone sold in the United States, and has held FDA approval for generic mifepristone since 2019. GenBioPro argued that FDA's authority to impose regulations on the prescription and distribution of mifepristone superseded state efforts to restrict access to medications. A lower court ruled against the company, which then appealed the decision. Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote that a 2007 federal law 'leaves the states free to adopt or diverge from West Virginia's path' and it 'falls well short of expressing a clear intention to displace the states' historic and sovereign right to protect the health and safety of their citizens.' The ruling is the first time a federal appeals court has said states can restrict use of mifepristone. Twenty-eight states restrict access to medication abortions, according to the reproductive health nonprofit Guttmacher Institute. The Supreme Court upheld access to mifepristone last year, when it unanimously dismissed a lawsuit seeking to roll back changes FDA made in 2016 and 2021 to expand access. 'We respect the fact that appellant and some amici have argued that access to mifepristone is important to the health of women in the course of their reproductive choices,' Wilkinson wrote. 'Our objection is not to the substance of this point, but to the venue in which it is advanced.' Wilkinson was appointed by President Reagan. He was joined by U.S. District Judge Rossie Alston, an appointee of President Trump. 'The court is allowing the state to continue putting those seeking medication abortion care in harm's way,' GenBioPro CEO Evan Masingill said in a statement. 'The panel's ruling allows states to restrict access to medications that FDA has deemed safe and effective, threatening a dangerous ripple effect on the availability of essential medications in this country. As we have always made clear, GenBioPro will not stop fighting to ensure all people can access safe, evidence-based healthcare.' West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) said in a statement he was 'proud to see a victory in this case.' 'West Virginia can continue to enforce our pro-life laws and lead the nation in our efforts to protect life. We will always be a pro-life state!' he said. In a dissent, Circuit Judge DeAndrea Gist Benjamin said the state's law 'erects barriers to life-saving healthcare for countless West Virginians in ways not envisioned by Congress.' Benjamin, who was appointed by former President Biden, added that 'the twin sensitivities of abortion access and states' rights cannot influence our willingness to recognize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) clear authority in this area.' 'By criminalizing medical providers and prohibiting medication abortions, then, West Virginia has exceeded the ability to regulate abortion as established in Dobbs and has trespassed on the FDA's authority to regulate the safe use of and unburdened access to mifepristone,' Benjamin wrote.
Japan Today
a day ago
- Health
- Japan Today
U.S. ice cream makers to scoop out synthetic dyes under RFK Jr. push
(L/R) Food and Drug Administration Commissioner (FDA) Martin Makary and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., eat ice cream at the end of a news conference at the USDA headquarters building in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2025 By Issam AHMED Major U.S. ice cream makers on Monday announced plans to phase out their use of artificial dyes following pressure from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr to eliminate unnecessary additives from the American diet. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), which includes over 40 top ice cream brands, said its members would stop using petroleum-derived synthetic colorings by the end of 2027. These chemicals have been linked in studies to conditions including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal issues, and genomic disruption, yet serve no nutritional or functional purpose beyond cosmetic coloring, health advocates have long argued. "I'm particularly happy to be here today because this is relevant to my favorite food, which is ice cream," Kennedy said at a press event, lauding the dairy industry for its actions. "This is a great day for dairy and it's a great day for Make America Healthy Again," added the IDFA's President and CEO Michael Dykes, referencing Kennedy's MAHA slogan that is a play on President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" or MAGA. Andy Jacobs, CEO of Turkey Hill, said many commercial ice cream manufacturers had already phased out artificial colors or were in the process of doing so. "By taking this step now, ice cream manufacturers are ensuring that ice cream remains a special part of our lives as consumer preferences change and the nation's regulatory priorities evolve," he said. Industry data shows Americans consume roughly 19 pounds (8.6 kg) of ice cream a year. The frozen treat contributes an estimated $12 billion to the economy and supports more than 27,000 dairy industry jobs. In April, Kennedy announced plans to revoke authorization for two synthetic dyes and to "work with industry" to eliminate six more -- an approach critics dismissed as too soft and overly reliant on voluntary action. By contrast, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in one of its final acts under President Joe Biden finalized a rule to actually ban Red Dye No. 3, one of the most widely used and controversial colorings. Yet there are signs that Kennedy's peer pressure strategy is yielding some results. Major food manufacturers including Nestle, Kraft Heinz, General Mills and PepsiCo have already signed on to ditch artificial dyes. Kennedy on Monday said between "35 and 40 percent" of the food industry has now pledged to make the shift, but it was notable the ice cream makers' pledge pushes past the health secretary's original target of end-2026, giving companies an extra year to adjust their supply chains. And key holdouts remain -- for example Mars, the maker of M&M's and Skittles, and its subsidiary Kellogg's, whose Froot Loops still use Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, and Yellow 6 in the U.S., even though the same cereal is artificial dye-free in places like Canada. At the same time, Trump's FDA has fast-tracking natural-dye based alternatives, adding gardenia (genipin) blue to the list on Monday, the fourth such approval in two months. © 2025 AFP
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Thailand to crack down on sale of cannabis-laced sweets
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Customers buy cannabis at a cannabis shop on Sukhumvit Road, one of the most popular tourist spots in Bangkok. BANGKOK - The Thai government will intensify its crackdown on jelly candies and other sweets that contain cannabis extracts exceeding legal limits, a spokeswoman said on July 14. Deputy government spokeswoman Sasikarn Watthanachan said authorities are concerned that children and young people may be affected by foods, drinks, and sweets containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) above the legal threshold. Nationwide inspections ordered To address the issue, the government has instructed the Ministry of Public Health to coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provincial public health offices nationwide. Their mission is to increase inspections of products containing cannabis extracts. The Public Health Ministry has also sought assistance from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board to inspect cannabis shops across the country to ensure compliance with the law. Penalties for non-compliance Ms Sasikarn said shop owners who mix cannabis into food without permission or who sell food or sweets without proper labelling to warn of THC content could face legal action. Offenders risk a maximum fine of 30,000 baht (S$1,186), a prison sentence of up to three years, or both. Those found selling products with THC levels exceeding the legal limit could face a fine of up to 20,000 baht, a jail term of up to two years, or both. THE NATION/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Health
- Borneo Post
Thailand cracks down on illegal cannabis products
File photo for illustration purposes BANGKOK (July 14): The Thai government is intensifying measures to control the illegal sale of cannabis-infused processed products to protect public health, particularly that of children and young people. Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikan Watthanachan said the Thai government has tasked the Public Health Ministry, through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provincial public health offices, to implement strict inspections and enforcement operations to clamp down on these illegal products. 'Public health officials have been authorised to arrest and fine business operators involved in including cannabis into food, snacks, or beverages that contain cannabis extracts exceeding legal limits. 'Where violations are found, cases must be referred to the police for legal proceedings,' she said in a statement published on the Royal Thai Government's website on Monday. Sasikan said the Ministry has already issued suspension orders for the licences of operators who breached the law, while offences such as adding cannabis to food without permission or failing to provide proper labelling carry penalties of up to 30,000 baht (US$920) in fines, up to three years' imprisonment, or both. The Thai government also reiterated its warning to the public, especially parents and teenagers, about the dangers of consuming 'cannabis gummies', which contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC, a psychoactive substance with addictive properties, can be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and enter the brain, causing relaxation, euphoria, stress relief, and elevated mood. Consumption in large quantities – especially by children or first-time users – can cause a rapid heartbeat, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, muscle weakness, hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, paranoia, rapid breathing, and high blood pressure. On July 6, local Thai media reported that a two-year-old girl was hospitalised after she accidentally consumed 10 cannabis-infused gummy bears. – Bernama cannabis health illegal products Thailand
