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Good morning. While looking for some positives yesterday, I realized I can now confidently spell “diarrhea”! Here’s the latest on cyclosporiasis, measles, and more.
Mostly wins for peptides at the FDA advisory meeting
Following two days of discussions last week, an FDA advisory panel has suggested easing access to six of the seven peptides they reviewed. Despite limited evidence on safety and effectiveness, the panelists narrowly voted to permit compounding pharmacies to produce these peptides. Although each peptide is intended for specific uses, these recommendations, if enacted, would broaden their availability for various conditions.
The FDA is not obligated to adopt the panel’s suggestions. In fact, agency staff have expressed opposition to making any of the peptides more accessible. Although typically, the final decision rests with these employees, there is a possibility that Trump administration officials might overrule them. For more details on the outcomes and subsequent steps, see the report by STAT’s Lizzy Lawrence.
Updates on measles, cyclosporiasis
In the U.S., 2025 was marked as the worst year for measles in decades. By July, more cases had been reported than in any year since 1992, culminating in 2,289 confirmed cases by year-end. Now, just over halfway through 2026, another record has been set.
As of Thursday, the CDC recorded 2,318 measles cases, according to a Friday update. This number is likely an undercount, with significant outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona, and smaller clusters in other states. The AP provides further information.
Simultaneously, the agency is examining the country’s largest outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite causing diarrhea. The list of affected states now includes Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania, in addition to the initial five: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. In a new First Opinion essay, a former FDA food safety official emphasizes the significance of microbial food safety, especially when promoting the Trump administration’s “Eat Real Food” agenda. Read more.
A trend that isn’t fading: ultra-processed baby foods
Discussing real food, researchers have found that over 80% of toddler foods available in Austin, Texas grocery stores are ultra-processed. This finding was shared at the Nutrition 2026 conference over the weekend. The study examined 2,783 products marketed to children aged 6-36 months, including fruit pouches, granola bars, and various “puff” foods. Nearly 50% of these products did not meet at least one of the World Health Organization’s standards for children’s foods, with ultra-processed foods most frequently failing on sugar content.
Ultra-processed foods for infants and toddlers have long dominated the market, as previously reported by STAT’s Sarah Todd. For more on the call from nutrition experts for policies to reformulate products, improve nutrition labeling, and ensure honest marketing, read Sarah’s report. — Lauren Chan
How RFK Jr.’s nutrition push will play out in med schools
About a third of MD programs and nearly 40% of DO programs have committed to emphasizing nutrition as part of a new HHS initiative. This initiative aims to improve doctors’ understanding of food’s impact on health. The agency proposed 71 diverse topics for medical schools to consider. However, experts caution that some popular ideas, like individual biomonitoring with wearables, lack solid evidence. STAT’s Lauren Chan discusses how medical schools are adopting the administration’s nutrition agenda while avoiding content they deem questionable or irrelevant.
“If it all becomes a ‘green juices and turmeric and low-carb diet wellness pipeline’ sort of thing, it’s just taking us away from recognizing real nutrition issues,” said nutrition professor Kevin Klatt. Read more about how schools are preparing for the upcoming year.
Wildfires are dangerous — and a headache
The spread of fine particulate matter from wildfires correlates with increased emergency department visits for migraines and other headache symptoms, according to a study published Friday in JAMA Network Open. Researchers examined the link between daily concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) during wildfire season and emergency department visits in Alberta and Ontario, Canada, finding a 6% increase in visits associated with wildfire PM 2.5.
Interestingly, the relationship wasn’t as pronounced in areas with less material and social deprivation, although it remained statistically significant. The study struck a chord with many STAT staffers in the northeastern U.S., following exposure to Canadian wildfire smoke earlier this month. Headaches were rampant! (And if you haven’t seen the apocalyptic photo of wildfires in France at the top of this New York Times story, I suggest taking a look.)
What we’re reading
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How an Illinois prison drove desperate men to set themselves on fire, The Marshall Project
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Trump administration admits canceling grants to states that did not vote for him, New York Times
- Opinion: How midwives like me can help fight medical misinformation, STAT
- Why lettuce is always making people sick, Wired
- Opinion: E-bikes, e-scooters are a burgeoning pediatric public health emergency, STAT
