Weight loss drugs continue to garner attention and shelf space as another company rolls out a product for those on GLP-1 drugs. More states want to ban foods from SNAP benefits but Florida has a twist…they want to ban desserts. The increasing cost of food continues to grab headlines as Hershey’s will be raising the price of chocolate candy by double digits. Health is in the news: a comment period calling for the definition of ultra-processed foods is open through September 23 and read about the administration’s Make Technology Healthy Again effort to track health data.
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From grocery aisles to government agencies, food is at the center of debate this month. Florida is looking to ban desserts from SNAP benefits, joining other states that already restrict soda and candy purchases. Rising cocoa costs are giving consumers sticker shock as Hershey announces double-digit price hikes. Meanwhile, products aimed at people using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are flooding the market, from high-protein snacks to smaller portion packaging. The FDA and USDA are also asking for public input on what exactly counts as “ultra-processed,” a definition that could reshape nutrition labels. And beyond the kitchen, a new federal plan to track health data is raising concerns about how much personal information should be in the government’s hands.
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Some datapoints you’ll want to know: how many U.S. adults are on weight loss drugs, our confidence in food safety falls, the growing number of states banning foods from SNAP benefits and a complication: states use different definitions for banned foods (note that most states ban sugary drinks and candy, Florida wants to ban desserts too).
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- ~2% (6 million) of U.S. adults are on weight loss drugs, 137 million (more than 1/2) are eligible for them
- Confidence in U.S. food safety falls to a 13-year low
- 6 more states ban soda & candy from SNAP (WV, FL, LA, CO, OK, TX)
- How much time did Americans spend shopping and cooking in 2024?
- Fibermaxxing, a TikTok trend
The cost of cocoa has gone up so candy will become much more expensive. Target used to price-match Amazon and Walmart prices but this will end. A new yogurt drink targets GLP-1 users.
Want to provide comments to the FDA, USDA about how to define ultra-processed foods? You have until Sept. 23. Make Health Technology Great Again is the administration’s new approach to track health data – there are privacy concerns. The FDA adds a kidney injury warning to GLP-1 drugs due to some users experiencing dehydration from G.I. distress (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea).
