FDA head talks rebuilding the food pyramid and cracking down on ultra-processed foods

Regulatory Transparency & Flexibility - The FDA emphasizes regulatory flexibility, tailoring processes to specific conditions, especially rare and incurable ones, considering limited alternatives [1][2] - Drug developers and pharmaceutical companies deserve predictability, as highlighted by the framework for COVID vaccine regulation published in the New England Journal of Medicine [4][5] - The FDA aims for transparency by releasing decision letters to the public and drug developers, modernizing the agency, and addressing misinformation, including rewriting dietary guidelines with USDA [12][13] Vaccine & Booster Recommendations - While the CDC sets the vaccine schedule, the FDA has approved vaccines for high-risk populations; booster shots for low-risk individuals require more research [5][6] - There are scientific unknowns and polarizing views regarding the necessity and frequency of COVID boosters, especially for healthy young individuals, alongside concerns about vaccine injuries [8][9] Public Trust & Misinformation - Public trust in health institutions has significantly declined, with trust in doctors and hospitals dropping from 71% to 40% in the last four years, necessitating rebuilding efforts [10][11] - The FDA is addressing misinformation by rewriting the food pyramid with USDA, ending the "war on natural saturated fat," and clarifying the difference between whole grains and ultra-processed foods [13] Food & Dietary Guidelines - The FDA is taking action to remove petroleum-based food dyes, inspired by previous discussions on removing "poisons and chemicals" from the food supply [17][18] - The FDA acknowledges the addictive nature of processed foods, designed by food scientists, contributing to chronic diseases and insulin resistance in children [20][21] - The SNAP program now has waivers for states to restrict taxpayer dollars from being used for junk food and sugary drinks [22] Women's Health - Women's health issues have been historically overlooked, prompting the FDA to host a roundtable on hormone replacement therapy for perimenopausal women [25][26] - The NIH is refocusing its funding to study root causes of chronic diseases, including school lunch programs, sleep medicine, and environmental exposures [29] Opioid Crisis & Supplements - The FDA, along with the DEA, is taking action to schedule 7-hydroxy mitragynine (7-OHM), a synthetic opioid found in vape stores, which is 13 times more potent than morphine [35][36] - The FDA is concerned about the unregulated nature of supplements and the need for regulation to ensure Americans are taking trustworthy and healthy products [33]