Food Preservatives May Increase the Risk of High Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease

According to Open Food Facts, more than 20 percent of processed foods and beverages contain at least one preservative. Researchers from Sorbonne Paris Nord University and Université Paris Cité analyzed data from a large-scale NutriNet-Santé cohort study. They found that participants with the highest intake of non-antioxidant preservatives had a 29 percent higher risk of developing hypertension. They also had a 16 percent more risk of cardiovascular disease.

I Bought Congress a T-Shirt to Stop Botulism in Infant Formula

In the last year, two powdered infant formulas gave babies botulism. ByHeart’s Whole Nutrition formula sickened 48 infants across 17 states. Nara Organics’ Whole Milk Organic formula, sickened 3 more babies in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Both were whole-milk powdered formulas traced back through the same upstream supply stream. The Senate passed the Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act, S. 272, by a vote of 22 to 0, and the full Senate passed it by unanimous consent.

500,000 Reasons to Drop a Criminal Investigation

The Justice Department dropped a criminal investigation into Abbott Laboratories over the contamination at its Sturgis, Michigan infant-formula plant. Infants who were fed powdered formula from Abbott’s plant got sick and at least two babies died and others were hospitalized. Abbott recalled the plant and shut it down, which caused a national formula shortage. Abbott gave $500,000 to President Trump's inaugural fund. Trump bought stock in Abbott last year.

Here’s What’s Included in—and Missing from—the Senate Farm Bill Draft – Food Tank

The Senate Agriculture Committee released its draft version of the next Farm Bill. The House passed its own version earlier this year. The current Congress is on track to determine the country’s broad-scale food policy for the next five-plus years. The draft Bill will reauthorize a number of popular initiatives, including the Rural Energy for America Program and more than 60 research programs. The Bill earned criticism from the National Family Farm Coalition for failing to tackle anti-competitive practices and cutting nearly US$2 billion from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Food & Water Watch Food Policy Director Rebecca Wolf believes the draft falls far short of what farmers and rural communities need.

Italian rice crops suffer in drought, worst European heatwave ever

Summer came too early to Europe's most important rice-growing region, and weeds are taking over Sharon Angoli's parched paddies in Italy's Pavia province. Several waterways in northern Italy are in a ‘critical situation’ because of drought, the Po River Authority (ADBPO) warned on Friday.

New Gold Exploration Revives Old Fears for Montana’s Blackfoot River

Montana's Department of Environmental Quality approved an exploration license for Australia-based Sentinel Metals to conduct additional drilling at its Columbia Gold Project near Lincoln in western Montana. Conservationists and local residents are concerned about the safety of the Blackfoot River and its water supply. In 1975, the tailings dam at the Mike Horse Mine failed, releasing vast quantities of sediment and heavy metals into tributaries feeding the upper Blackfoot river. Federal and local agencies spent more than $100 million restoring the river.

When the CDC Warns Americans About Hepatitis A in Canada, It’s Time to Talk About Vaccinating Food Workers

There is an outbreak of hepatitis A in Manitoba. There have been 826 cases, 183 hospitalizations, 8 ICU admissions, and 7 deaths since the fall of 2024. The outbreak was formally declared in April 2025. Hepatitis A is one of the only foodborne pathogens that we have a safe, cheap, and effective vaccine for two doses.

July Fourth fireworks may bring ‘hazardous’ air quality to Southern California. What you need to know

Hazardous levels of air pollution are expected across central and southern Los Angeles County, northern Orange County, and Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Unhealthy air quality is also expected in northern Los Angeles and southern Orange County. This year’s celebration comes on the heels of a late June warehouse fire that released extraordinary amounts of soot and smoke.

A New Mexico town is running dry. An immigration detention center is its biggest water customer.

Estancia, New Mexico, is running out of water because of drought. The detention center trucked in 116,700 gallons of water to the town last week. Mayor Runnel Riley has taken a leave of absence because of the crisis. The Board of Trustees passed a vote of no confidence in the mayor. The state has provided funding to drill a new well.

Newsom, Walz urge Congress to block anti-climate bill in their ‘woke’ crusade

10 Democratic governors, including Minnesota's Tim Walz, California's Gavin Newsom and Illinois's J.B. Pritzker are urging Congress to reject legislation that would shield oil and gas companies from climate-related lawsuits. Republicans argue the bill protects American energy from lawsuits that could bankrupt the industry and drive up the cost of electricity and gasoline. The Supreme Court will hear a case on ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy brought on by officials in Boulder, Colorado.

Food Preservatives May Increase the Risk of High Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease
Food Preservatives May Increase the Risk of High Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease

According to Open Food Facts, more than 20 percent of processed foods and beverages contain at least one preservative. Researchers from Sorbonne Paris Nord University and Université Paris Cité analyzed data from a large-scale NutriNet-Santé cohort study. They found that participants with the highest intake of non-antioxidant preservatives had a 29 percent higher risk of developing hypertension. They also had a 16 percent more risk of cardiovascular disease.

Wired
corporate
I Bought Congress a T-Shirt to Stop Botulism in Infant Formula
I Bought Congress a T-Shirt to Stop Botulism in Infant Formula

In the last year, two powdered infant formulas gave babies botulism. ByHeart’s Whole Nutrition formula sickened 48 infants across 17 states. Nara Organics’ Whole Milk Organic formula, sickened 3 more babies in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Both were whole-milk powdered formulas traced back through the same upstream supply stream. The Senate passed the Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act, S. 272, by a vote of 22 to 0, and the full Senate passed it by unanimous consent.

Marler Blog
food_safety
500,000 Reasons to Drop a Criminal Investigation
500,000 Reasons to Drop a Criminal Investigation

The Justice Department dropped a criminal investigation into Abbott Laboratories over the contamination at its Sturgis, Michigan infant-formula plant. Infants who were fed powdered formula from Abbott’s plant got sick and at least two babies died and others were hospitalized. Abbott recalled the plant and shut it down, which caused a national formula shortage. Abbott gave $500,000 to President Trump's inaugural fund. Trump bought stock in Abbott last year.

Marler Blog
food_safety
Here’s What’s Included in—and Missing from—the Senate Farm Bill Draft – Food Tank
Here’s What’s Included in—and Missing from—the Senate Farm Bill Draft – Food Tank

The Senate Agriculture Committee released its draft version of the next Farm Bill. The House passed its own version earlier this year. The current Congress is on track to determine the country’s broad-scale food policy for the next five-plus years. The draft Bill will reauthorize a number of popular initiatives, including the Rural Energy for America Program and more than 60 research programs. The Bill earned criticism from the National Family Farm Coalition for failing to tackle anti-competitive practices and cutting nearly US$2 billion from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Food & Water Watch Food Policy Director Rebecca Wolf believes the draft falls far short of what farmers and rural communities need.

Food Tank
food_safety
Italian rice crops suffer in drought, worst European heatwave ever
Italian rice crops suffer in drought, worst European heatwave ever

Summer came too early to Europe's most important rice-growing region, and weeds are taking over Sharon Angoli's parched paddies in Italy's Pavia province. Several waterways in northern Italy are in a ‘critical situation’ because of drought, the Po River Authority (ADBPO) warned on Friday.

News - South China Morning Post
geopolitics
New Gold Exploration Revives Old Fears for Montana’s Blackfoot River
New Gold Exploration Revives Old Fears for Montana’s Blackfoot River

Montana's Department of Environmental Quality approved an exploration license for Australia-based Sentinel Metals to conduct additional drilling at its Columbia Gold Project near Lincoln in western Montana. Conservationists and local residents are concerned about the safety of the Blackfoot River and its water supply. In 1975, the tailings dam at the Mike Horse Mine failed, releasing vast quantities of sediment and heavy metals into tributaries feeding the upper Blackfoot river. Federal and local agencies spent more than $100 million restoring the river.

Inside Climate News
environment
When the CDC Warns Americans About Hepatitis A in Canada, It’s Time to Talk About Vaccinating Food Workers
When the CDC Warns Americans About Hepatitis A in Canada, It’s Time to Talk About Vaccinating Food Workers

There is an outbreak of hepatitis A in Manitoba. There have been 826 cases, 183 hospitalizations, 8 ICU admissions, and 7 deaths since the fall of 2024. The outbreak was formally declared in April 2025. Hepatitis A is one of the only foodborne pathogens that we have a safe, cheap, and effective vaccine for two doses.

Marler Blog
food_safety
July Fourth fireworks may bring ‘hazardous’ air quality to Southern California. What you need to know
July Fourth fireworks may bring ‘hazardous’ air quality to Southern California. What you need to know

Hazardous levels of air pollution are expected across central and southern Los Angeles County, northern Orange County, and Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Unhealthy air quality is also expected in northern Los Angeles and southern Orange County. This year’s celebration comes on the heels of a late June warehouse fire that released extraordinary amounts of soot and smoke.

L.A. Times
corporate
A New Mexico town is running dry. An immigration detention center is its biggest water customer.
A New Mexico town is running dry. An immigration detention center is its biggest water customer.

Estancia, New Mexico, is running out of water because of drought. The detention center trucked in 116,700 gallons of water to the town last week. Mayor Runnel Riley has taken a leave of absence because of the crisis. The Board of Trustees passed a vote of no confidence in the mayor. The state has provided funding to drill a new well.

Grist
environment
Newsom, Walz urge Congress to block anti-climate bill in their ‘woke’ crusade
Newsom, Walz urge Congress to block anti-climate bill in their ‘woke’ crusade

10 Democratic governors, including Minnesota's Tim Walz, California's Gavin Newsom and Illinois's J.B. Pritzker are urging Congress to reject legislation that would shield oil and gas companies from climate-related lawsuits. Republicans argue the bill protects American energy from lawsuits that could bankrupt the industry and drive up the cost of electricity and gasoline. The Supreme Court will hear a case on ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy brought on by officials in Boulder, Colorado.

FOX News
corporate
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