Are Food Dyes Getting Banned in the U.S. and Why?
The FDA announced plans to phase out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026, following a press conference with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. The agency will work with industry partners to replace artificial dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1 with natural alternatives and expedite approval for new natural color additives.
The FDA…
Air Pollution Still Affects Nearly Half of Americans — And It's Taking a Toll on Health
Despite decades of progress under the Clean Air Act, nearly half of Americans—156 million people—still live with unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the American Lung Association's 2024 State of the Air report. While cleaner air has prevented millions of asthma attacks and extended life expectancy, rising threats like climate change-driven wildfires are eroding these gains.
Pollut…
Advance Your Impact at the 2025 National Summit for Health Communication
The 9th Annual National Summit for Health Communication, hosted by the Society for Health Communication, will take place on June 24, 2025, in McLean, VA and online. The summit offers a rich opportunity for public health communicators to gain practical tools and fresh insights. This one-day event will spotlight expert-led sessions on critical topics like generative AI, evaluation strategies, and…
Boosting PR Impact: How Data-Driven Strategies Strengthen Public Health Communication
To maximize the impact of public relations (PR) efforts, it’s crucial to track return on investment (ROI) through metrics like active media coverage, potential reach, website referral traffic, sentiment, backlinks, and social media engagement. Understanding and applying these analytics helps shape more effective, measurable campaigns.
Public health communicators can boost ROI by leaning into…
White House Trumpets Covid Lab Leak Theory on Web Page That Was Devoted to Health Information
A recent redesign of Covid.gov has raised alarms in the public health community. The site, once a reliable source for COVID-19 guidance and resources, now redirects to a White House page centered on the lab-leak theory of the virus’s origin—featuring partisan messaging and criticism of public health leaders. While some federal agencies have supported the lab-leak possibility, many scientists ma…
FDA Making Plans to End its Routine Food Safety Inspections
The FDA is reportedly exploring plans to shift most routine food safety inspections to state and local agencies—a move that could free up federal resources but raises concerns about oversight and consistency. While the FDA says inspections will continue during a reorganization period, internal sources and layoffs suggest significant changes are underway.
States already handle about one-third…
Don't Panic! Crisis Communication Panel to Strengthen Public Health Response
Join ASTHO on May 8 for Don't Panic! A Panel on How to Be an Effective Crisis Communicator, a timely webinar focused on equipping public health professionals with cutting-edge tools and strategies for risk communication. Panelists will explore how to identify emerging threats, apply current research, and use leading tools to enhance crisis response across jurisdictions.
A highlight of the ses…
Elevate Mental Health Awareness This May: SAMHSA's 2025 Toolkit for Public Health Communicators
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and SAMHSA’s 2025 toolkit provides essential resources to help public health professionals raise awareness. The toolkit includes customizable social media content, key weekly themes, graphics, and messaging that promote mental health acceptance and support. It also offers best practices for initiating respectful conversations about mental health and the imp…
Vaccine Advisory Panel Recommends Expanded RSV Use, And Two New Vaccines
A recent meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the use of RSV vaccines for adults aged 50-59, especially those at high risk of severe illness. If accepted by the CDC, this move would make the vaccines, including those from GSK and Pfizer, more accessible, with insurance coverage for eligible individuals.
Additionally, ACIP recommended a new m…