RFK Jr., Alcohol & Cancer, and the FDA’s Labeling Fail
Public Health Without Politics offers health tips, policy insights, and strategies to combat America's chronic disease crisis.
In this issue:
RFK Jr. takes the spotlight
Will alcohol give me cancer?
FDA’s new food labels won’t help obesity
Trending in health this week
Spotlight on Health Policy: RFK Jr.’s Nomination and the Alcohol Cancer Debate
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Faces Questions from Senators During Confirmation Hearing
On January 29, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate for his confirmation hearing to be health secretary.
How will this impact me? President Trump nominated Kennedy to serve as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS plays a significant role in shaping policies that impact American healthcare, well-being, and public health.
My thoughts: While I agree with Kennedy on some issues, including his valid criticisms of regulatory agencies like FDA, some of his stances on public health issues give me pause. On the prediction market platform Polymarket, RFK Jr.'s confirmation chances stand at 78%, making him the second least likely of Trump’s nominees to be confirmed, just ahead of Tulsi Gabbard. I guess we’ll see if he gets it…
Cancer Warnings on Alcohol?
Earlier this month, the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that alcoholic beverages should come with cancer warnings, igniting a fierce debate over the safety of alcohol.
How will this impact me? It may lead to consider not so much whether to drink but how much.
My thoughts:
1. Consider the source. Allysia Finley has a great piece on this in The Wall Street Journal: “No, Moderate Drinking Won’t Give You Cancer.” Vivek Murthy has demonstrated that he is far too much influenced by politics than truth in science.
2. In Google Scholar there are 4.9 million articles on cancer and alcohol. It is easy to cherry pick articles to give you the results you want and that includes epidemiological studies that point at correlation, not causation.
3. For exposure data, consider that more than 60% of people who report on food consumed in the last 24 hours don't report eating enough to stay alive (!). Most are either unaware or don't want people to know how much they eat. If food reporting is this unreliable, alcohol reporting is likely even less accurate. As a result, studies showing no harmful effects—or even benefits—from alcohol may actually be reflecting drinkers who consume more than they report, with supposed ‘moderate’ drinkers potentially averaging 3–4 drinks per day for men.
4. Alcohol gives pleasure by activating the opioid receptors in the brain. It may be the least harmful way to get that kind of pleasure considering drugs that would be substitutes.
Media Spotlight
In an op-ed for The Hill today, I highlight the FDA's recent updates to food labeling and note that these changes will not help address the obesity epidemic.
Trending in Health this Week
Is your diet making you sick? RFK Jr. says ultraprocessed foods are fueling chronic disease—see what the science says.
New FDA approval: Ozempic is now approved to slow kidney disease.
How many steps should you take per day? The answer isn’t 10,000.
Speaking of walking… is backward walking a fitness game-changer or just hype? The science is shaky.
Can an app replace a personal trainer? A Wall Street Journal reporter put them to the test.
7 big questions about cancer, answered.
Trying to eat healthier? “Shop the perimeter of the store” may be outdated.
The 5 best full-body exercises, according to trainers (elderly should look elsewhere). Burpees didn’t make the list. Phew.
A new alcohol alternative? Cannabis-infused spirits are hitting the market.
Inspirational Quote
"Discipline equals freedom."—Jocko Willink.
Have a great week,
—Richard