Mar 27 Health and Human Services to lay off 10,000 workers, close agencies in major restructuring By Amanda Seitz, Associated Press Public health experts warn a major overhaul and layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services could have untold consequences for millions of people across the country. Continue reading
Feb 27 Watch 6:45 Health officials concerned as FDA cancels meeting to update flu vaccines By Geoff Bennett, Karina Cuevas The FDA canceled a critical meeting of flu vaccine experts where officials decide which strains to target in the next vaccine. It comes amid one of the worst flu seasons in 15 years, according to the CDC. Geoff Bennett discussed… Continue watching
Jan 31 FDA approves painkiller designed to eliminate the risk of addiction associated with opioids By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press The Food and Drug Administration approved the pill from Vertex Pharmaceuticals for acute pain that often occurs after surgery or injuries. It's the first new pharmaceutical approach to treating pain in 20 years. Continue reading
Jan 25 The FDA banned Red 3 food coloring. A scientist explains the dye's history and health risks By Lorne J. Hofseth, The Conversation Over 35 years after the first study linking the artificial food dye Red 3 to thyroid cancer in rats was published, the U.S. is beginning to phase it out of foods and drugs. Continue reading
Jan 15 FDA bans red dye No. 3 from foods, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk By JoNel Aleccia, Associated Press U.S. regulators are banning the dye called Red 3 from the food supply. The move comes nearly 35 years after the dye was barred from cosmetics such as lipsticks because of potential cancer risk. Continue reading
Jan 15 FDA releases plan to make cigarettes less addictive, but its fate rests with Trump By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Federal officials on Wednesday released a far-reaching proposal to make cigarettes less addictive by capping their nicotine content, a goal long sought by antismoking advocates that is unlikely to go into effect anytime soon. Continue reading
Dec 24 Watch 5:59 New FDA rules aim to redefine what's considered 'healthy' By William Brangham, Jackson Hudgins The Food and Drug Administration has issued new rules for food labels for the first time in three decades, an update the agency says will help empower consumers to make healthier choices in the grocery store. Lindsey Smith Taillie, a… Continue watching
Dec 23 FDA says decongestant in many cold medicines doesn't work. What does help? By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press The Food and Drug Administration recently announced plans to phase out phenylephrine, the key ingredient some cold and allergy pills. Continue reading
Aug 28 Congresswomen ask FDA why it has delayed proposed ban on hair-straightening chemicals By Kenya Hunter, Associated Press Two House members who first pushed the FDA to investigate the health risks of hair straighteners are asking the agency why it has twice delayed its target date to propose a ban on products containing formaldehyde. Continue reading
Aug 18 Watch 6:23 One medical device is raising questions about FDA's approval process By Ali Rogin, Andrew Corkery, Andrew Chambers Americans rely on the Food and Drug Administration to make sure that medical devices are safe. Reporting by KFF Health News has raised questions about how the FDA has dealt with some products, including a device that treats a heart… Continue watching