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Christmas food allergy warning issued amid rise in people buying food from online shops
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has issued a warning ahead of the festive season as people increasingly look to buy food directly from online shops and social media, which may not list critical allergen information.
The CIEH is urging people with food allergies, as well as all consumers buying for themselves, friends or family this Christmas, to be vigilant when buying food this way.
The CIEH is encouraging people living with allergies and anyone buying food online this Christmas to take certain precautions to make sure the business they are buying from is trustworthy and transparent.
WHO issues global guideline on the use of GLP-1 medicines in treating obesity
To address the growing global health challenge of obesity, which affects more than 1 billion people, WHO has released its first guideline on the use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for treating obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease.
In September 2025, WHO added GLP-1 therapies to its Essential Medicines List for managing type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups. With the new guideline, WHO has now issued conditional recommendations for using these therapies to support people living with obesity in overcoming this serious health challenge, as part of a comprehensive approach that includes healthy diets, regular physical activity and support from health professionals.
New programme offers dietitians the opportunity to build digital and data skills free of cost
Funded by NHS England Digital Academy and the CSP Charitable Trust, the CSP, in collaboration with a university and AHP professional bodies, has launched the Digital and Data Foundations education programme.
The programme has been fully funded so is free to access for the whole dietetic workforce, including students and dietetic support workers, those working outside the NHS and in other parts of the UK.
Through interactive content, case studies and reflective activities, the programme provides a solid foundation of digital and data skills. Structured in modules and with bite-sized content, learners can access it in their own time.
New study shows some plant-based diets may raise heart disease risk
The team (scientists from INRAE, Inserm, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, and Cnam) evaluated data from 63,835 adults enrolled in the French NutriNet-Santé cohort.
Participants were followed for an average of 9.1 years, with some tracked for as long as 15 years. Information on what they ate and drank (collected over at least three days) was gathered through online questionnaires. This detailed approach allowed researchers to classify diets based on the share of plant-based and animal-based foods, while also considering both nutritional quality and processing level.
San Francisco sues food companies over ultra-processed products
The city of San Francisco has sued ten leading food makers over their ultra-processed products, accusing them of knowingly selling foods that have been linked to a rise in serious diseases.
City officials claim the selling tactics of these companies resemble those of the tobacco industry. They argue that local governments then have to shoulder the public health care costs.
San Francisco's lawsuit is the first filed by a government entity over the intentional marketing of ultra-processed foods by food companies.
Celebrity-backed 'Bang in some beans' campaign aims to double the amount of beans Brits consume
#BangInSomeBeans is a three-year campaign run by Veg Power, The Food Foundation, Beans is How and The University of Kent. Over the next three years, collectively they will be working with businesses, NGO’s, organisations, youth groups, chefs, influencers, content creators and running a schools campaign to help encourage the UK to incorporate more beans, lentils and pulses into their diets. Through social media, #BangInSomeBeans aims to inspire chefs, home cooks, recipe writers and menu creators to add beans to their dishes.
New oral drug that boosts metabolic activity in muscle rather than altering appetite like GLP-1s
The treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity, which is taken as a tablet, works in a completely different way from GLP-1-based medications.
Instead of acting on hunger pathways, the new compound boosts metabolic activity directly within skeletal muscle. The active substance is based on a laboratory-developed molecule, a form of β2 agonist.
A phase I clinical trial involving 48 healthy volunteers and 25 individuals with type 2 diabetes indicates that the treatment is well-tolerated in humans.
Scientists find hidden brain nutrient drop associated with anxiety
Researchers at the University of California found that people with anxiety disorders consistently show lower choline levels in key brain regions that regulate thinking and emotions. Researchers reported the results in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, part of the Nature Publishing Group.
This biochemical difference could help explain why the brain reacts more intensely to stress in anxiety conditions. Scientists believe nutrition could play a role in restoring balance, though more research is needed.