Among the pandemic, natural disasters, and historic inflation, we have yet another problem looming in the background: PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals."
 |  | By Daphne Lee, News Editor | | | Among the pandemic, natural disasters, and historic inflation, we have yet another problem looming in the background: PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals." | | | Today's Top Story | | Fast Food Chains to Ban PFAS in Packaging |  | PFAS refers to a class of over 4,700 chemicals that are present in many everyday products, including water-resistant clothing, nonstick pans, and cosmetics. These manmade chemicals are so widespread that they've been found in soil, water, and even in our bodies. They will linger for thousands of years and cleanup efforts could take decades.
A recent Consumer Reports study found that major fast food brands like Burger King and Chick-fil-A, as well as grocery chains like Trader Joe's and Cava, have packaging that contain PFAS.
Companies often rely on PFAS to create grease- and heat-resistant materials that can hold food without being soiled. Some of the highest levels of PFAS were found in food containers like paper bags and sandwich wrappers. | | Know More | | Consistent exposure to PFAS has been linked to a number of health risks, including damage to kidney function, hormone disruption, as well as kidney and testicular cancer. | | Feel Better | | After the study was published, Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes, announced that it will phase out PFAS from its packaging worldwide by the end of 2025. Chick-fil-A also committed to eliminate all PFAS by the end of this summer. | | |  | | What Can You Use COVID.gov For? | | Last week, the White House launched COVID.gov as a one-stop website for information and resources regarding COVID transmission, vaccines, tests, treatments, and more. Not much is new except that you can find all the links, like vaccines.gov, in one page. If you're looking for antivirals like Pfizer's Paxlovid, the COVID.gov database still doesn't reflect inventory accurately. But it's still worth keeping an eye on the website for any updates. | | | | Artificially Sweetened Drinks Might Be Good for Some People | | There have been long debates about whether artificial sweeteners can be a net positive for people at risk of diabetes. Some sugar alternatives have been linked to obesity, heart disease, and stroke. But a new study showed that moderate consumption of low and no-calorie sweetened beverages might help with weight loss and reduce health risks like heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Again, the key is moderation. | | | | | |  | | Even if the sun is hiding, protecting your skin with sunscreen is still important, according to Verywell's Medical Expert Board member Casey Gallagher, MD. |  | | The most important thing you can do to prevent skin cancer is to use sunscreen SPF 30 on your exposed skin every day. Like brushing your teeth, it should be a part of your morning routine, and it takes less than one minute. Added bonus: it will help keep your skin looking younger! | |  |  | Casey Gallagher, MD
Clinical Professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Colorado Denver
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