National Center for Health Research

12/20/2025

ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula was recalled due to bacteria causing botulism. The formula is blamed for at least 51 babies with botulism across 19 states.

Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Albertsons kept selling the recalled formula weeks after the recall began in early November. The FDA sent warning letters to stop selling the recalled formula and specifically criticized Target for having the recalled formula on shelves with "Sale" signs more than two weeks after the recall began.

Infant botulism can be fatal. If your child has consumed this formula and shows symptoms like poor feeding or a weak cry, seek immediate medical care.

The FDA also said Kroger and Albertsons had failed to comply with a recall of baby formula linked to an ongoing infant botulism outbreak.

12/19/2025

The 2025 Trouble in Toyland report we covered is earning widespread attention for exposing the hidden risks of AI toys.

PIRG researchers tested a teddy bear called Kumma that uses AI to talk to children. The results were frightening. The bear told a child where to locate knives in a house and how to light matches.

They also reported that "Kumma would take a single s*xual topic we introduced into the conversation and run with it, simultaneously escalating in graphic detail…explaining different s*x positions.”

As a result of the report, Kumma was removed from the market, which is important to families. "But AI toys are still practically unregulated, and there are plenty you can still buy today,” said R.J. Cross, co-author of the report. “Removing one problematic product from the market is a good step but far from a systemic fix,” she added.

At the same time, the report pointed out they also found lead in many imported toys this year.

Sales of an artificial intelligence-enabled plush toy have been suspended after it was found that it engaged in conversation around s*xually explicit topics and offered potentially dangerous advice.

12/19/2025

Suddenly hearing about cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease? Reports show a big surge in cases this year, especially in preschools. But why is it spreading now?

Despite the similar name, this is not the same Foot and Mouth Disease that affects farm animals. It is a human virus that hits kids hard.

Reports show a big surge in outbreaks this year. Experts say it tends to thrive in warmer climates, so it is decreasing in colder parts of the country compared to a month or two ago, but it hasn't disappeared. There is also a larger group of children catching it now, as fewer kids caught it and more children are without immunity.

Doctors often call the illness "mild" because it usually heals on its own without treatment, but parents know the sores can still be very painful. And it spreads easily. Handwashing is your best defense.

Symptoms include fever, mouth sores, and rash on the hands and feet. Children are encouraged to stay home when sick to help prevent the spread of hand, foot and mouth...

12/18/2025

Measles outbreaks are accelerating across the US.

In 2025 alone, more than 1,900 children and adults have gotten the disease. Most are children.

South Carolina is currently battling an accelerating outbreak. As vaccination rates dip below the 95% level required for herd immunity, the virus becomes more dangerous. At least two children have died from measles during these outbreaks.

Experts warn that declining vaccination rates are driving this and pushing the country toward a dangerous tipping point.

More than 1,900 people, mostly children, have been sickened by measles in the U.S. in 2025. The outbreaks are moving the country toward losing its measles-free status by early next year

12/16/2025

The popularity of stone countertops is driving a rise in a deadly lung disease.

Massachusetts health officials just issued a safety alert after confirming the state's first case of silicosis.

This follows a disturbing trend across the country since the first U.S. case was identified in 2014.

Silicosis is caused by inhaling silica dust created when cutting or grinding stone. “Engineered stone” has significantly more silica than natural stone, which puts workers at higher risk.

The disease is incurable and progressive, but it is also preventable. Employers must ensure workers use safe cutting techniques and proper ventilation to stay safe. Consumers can also help by choosing materials with less silica.

Silicosis is an incurable and potentially fatal lung disease associated with working in the stone countertop industry.

12/16/2025

Heart disease is the #1 killer of men and women in the U.S., and blood pressure medication can save lives, but many patients forget to take them every day. Can cash rewards help people take their blood pressure medication every day? Or any other medication?

A new study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific meeting suggests yes, sorta.

Researchers found that patients who could win cash rewards for taking their pills did so much more consistently (71%) compared to those who didn't have paid incentives (34%).

However, both groups saw similar drops in blood pressure, so perhaps taking the pills every day wasn't as important as expected. And, once the cash rewards ended, medication-taking habits went back to normal, even when normal was forgetful.

A bigger question: Don't patients want to live longer? Why should they have to be paid to take a simple pill every day?

About 71% of patients in the rewards group opened their blood pressure medication on 80% of days, compared with about 34% in the control group.

12/15/2025

Community health centers receive federal funds to be a safety net for people who can't afford medical care. But a ProPublica investigation found that some centers are suing their poorest patients for unpaid bills.

In one case, a Kansas center sued a patient for $675, even though she qualified for discounted care. Another center in Virginia filed over 7,000 lawsuits, sometimes for bills as low as $59, which ballooned to unaffordable levels due to court fees.

Experts say these aggressive tactics contradict the mission of community health centers, which receive federal funding to serve everyone regardless of ability to pay. Thank you ProPublica for revealing this. Why aren't our U.S. government or state governments protecting these patients?

Federally funded community health centers receive grants in exchange for serving patients regardless of their ability to pay. But ProPublica found at least five across the country garnishing patients’ paychecks to collect unpaid bills.

12/15/2025

Get to know our President & Founder, Dr. Diana Zuckerman, as she sits down on the Beyond the Spotlight podcast with host Kelli Wright.

Dr. Zuckerman reflects on her professional journey and her work to provide free lunches for millions of children.

Part 1! Follow for more!

12/11/2025

Montgomery County MD is home to the NIH and top scientists. Why is the county considering replacing all grass playing fields with artificial turf?

Artificial turf contains PFAS and other dangerous chemicals. The plastic grass creates microplastics that kids breathe into their lungs.

We urge County leaders to listen to objective scientists. Artificial turf is dangerous for our children. Board of Education officials seem to listen to artificial turf salesmen instead.

Most artificial turf cannot be recycled and ends up in landfills. Why spend millions when natural grass is safer and costs less?

NCHR letter 12/ 2025 from Diana Zuckerman to Montgomery County Maryland Executive and Council explains artificial turf is dangerous for children and community

12/11/2025

A new investigation by ProPublica reveals a likely net crisis.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” shifts billions in costs for SNAP and Medicaid to states in 2026.

However, 26 states have recently cut their own state income taxes (mostly lowering taxes on the wealthiest), depleting revenue that could have made up for the lack of federal funding.

In 8 states, the tax rate is now the same for the wealthiest CEO and the janitors working in their office. To make up for those tax cuts for the wealthy, State officials and budget experts warn that many state programs are now “on the table”, from raising tuition at state universities to canceling unfinished state road projects to freezing state workers’ salaries.

This could also force some states to deeply cut or even eliminate food stamps and health coverage for millions of low-income families.

President Donald Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act will shift billions in costs for SNAP and Medicaid to states. But with 26 having cut or eliminated state income taxes just since 2021, they may not have the money to continue the programs.

12/11/2025

How can we restore trust in healthcare?

Babies are born with low Vitamin K, and need a shot of the vitamin to prevent severe, life-threatening bleeding.

The percentage of U.S. parents refusing Vitamin K shots for their newborns has almost doubled from 2017 to 2024.

Pediatricians warn that this reflects an erosion in public trust and are urging parents to rely on evidence-based information to keep their children safe.

More American newborns are not receiving vitamin K shots, according to a study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  The study found that from January 2017 to D…

12/10/2025

A massive new study of over 28 million adults under 60 found that people who received a COVID mRNA vaccine were less likely to die from COVID or any cause over the next four years.

Will these findings influence U.S. policy? The Trump administration is challenging mRNA vaccines, cutting research funding, replacing vaccine recommendations with the suggestion that everyone "ask your doctor" instead.

Did your doctor read this new JAMA study -- or any other credible study?

We think having an unbiased CDC and FDA to make recommendations is a better way to help patients stay healthy. When the CDC and FDA are politicized, their suggestions can't be trusted.

Advantage held even after removing coronavirus-related deaths from the mix