Sarah Todd
@sarah-todd.bsky.social
Commercial determinants of health reporter @STAT, previously @qz
she/her
DM me on Signal: @sarahlizchar.47
newsletter: http://fororagainst.substack.com
she/her
DM me on Signal: @sarahlizchar.47
newsletter: http://fororagainst.substack.com
Men seeking testosterone therapy to treat symptoms like fatigue and low libido find that doctors don't take their problems seriously. That's sent them to flocking to online men's health clinics with minimal oversight, reports @missanabeem.bsky.social:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/o...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/o...
Why men are flocking to dubious online clinics for testosterone therapy
The proliferation of online testosterone sites is a sign of the health care system’s lack of regard for male sexual hormones and their role in health
www.statnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Men seeking testosterone therapy to treat symptoms like fatigue and low libido find that doctors don't take their problems seriously. That's sent them to flocking to online men's health clinics with minimal oversight, reports @missanabeem.bsky.social:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/o...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/o...
Reposted by Sarah Todd
Smoking marijuana can lead to markedly lower short-term alcohol use, according to a first-of-its-kind study. www.statnews.com/2025/11/19/c...
‘California sober’? Cannabis may help limit alcohol consumption, study shows
The first randomized controlled trial of the "California sober" approach suggests marijuana may indeed lessen alcohol consumption.
www.statnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Smoking marijuana can lead to markedly lower short-term alcohol use, according to a first-of-its-kind study. www.statnews.com/2025/11/19/c...
Talking about MAHA's push for saturated fat in dietary guidelines on Here & Now!
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
RFK Jr. wants Americans to eat more saturated fats. Why nutrition experts are concerned
Nutrition experts are warning that consuming more saturated fat could lead to higher rates of cardiovascular disease.
www.wbur.org
November 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Talking about MAHA's push for saturated fat in dietary guidelines on Here & Now!
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
A new profile of RFK Jr offers fresh insights into how he works, the bond he shares with Trump, & how he's moved HHS “from evidence-based decision-making to decision-based evidence-making." Story by @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social, @caseyross.bsky.social, & me:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...
How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science
RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.
www.statnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A new profile of RFK Jr offers fresh insights into how he works, the bond he shares with Trump, & how he's moved HHS “from evidence-based decision-making to decision-based evidence-making." Story by @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social, @caseyross.bsky.social, & me:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...
Reposted by Sarah Todd
ICYMI: @sarah-todd.bsky.social has an excellent analysis of ByHeart's "bizarre" response to an infant botulism outbreak associated with its infant formula www.statnews.com/2025/11/14/b...
ByHeart’s ‘bizarre’ response to infant botulism outbreak worries food safety experts
ByHeart’s ‘bizarre’ response to infant botulism outbreak worries food safety experts.
www.statnews.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:52 PM
ICYMI: @sarah-todd.bsky.social has an excellent analysis of ByHeart's "bizarre" response to an infant botulism outbreak associated with its infant formula www.statnews.com/2025/11/14/b...
Reposted by Sarah Todd
Read the full story here, as Melina Mara and I go around Panama talking to frog and mosquito researchers as well as everyday Panamanians who have had malaria 4/5
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
First, the frogs died. Then people got sick.
An emerging area of research is uncovering hidden links between nature and human health.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Read the full story here, as Melina Mara and I go around Panama talking to frog and mosquito researchers as well as everyday Panamanians who have had malaria 4/5
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Reposted by Sarah Todd
Creatine-filled swag bags and an embrace from Vance: MAHA marks its ascendance in Trump’s Washington www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/m... via @statnews.com @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @danielpayne.bsky.social
Creatine-filled swag bags and an embrace from Vance: MAHA marks its ascendance in Trump’s Washington
Creatine-filled swag bags and an embrace from Vance: MAHA marks its ascendance in Trump’s Washington.
www.statnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Creatine-filled swag bags and an embrace from Vance: MAHA marks its ascendance in Trump’s Washington www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/m... via @statnews.com @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @danielpayne.bsky.social
On the ByHeart formula recall: “I have never seen a company so aggressively fight to deny the evidence against them," @cspinet.org's Sarah Sorscher said. Why food safety experts are alarmed by the company's response to the infant botulism outbreak:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/14/b...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/14/b...
ByHeart’s ‘bizarre’ response to infant botulism outbreak worries food safety experts
ByHeart’s ‘bizarre’ response to infant botulism outbreak worries food safety experts.
www.statnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
On the ByHeart formula recall: “I have never seen a company so aggressively fight to deny the evidence against them," @cspinet.org's Sarah Sorscher said. Why food safety experts are alarmed by the company's response to the infant botulism outbreak:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/14/b...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/14/b...
Reposted by Sarah Todd
RFK Jr. has said he does not want to take vaccines away from Americans. But at a closed-door meeting of vaccine scientists in September, a top official at the FDA suggested doing just that. Here's how Vinay Prasad and Tracy Beth Høeg are reshaping vaccine regulation:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/f...
How two top FDA officials are quietly upending vaccine regulations
Vinay Prasad and Tracy Beth Høeg mix skepticism with new ways to define risk in pursuing sweeping changes to vaccine policy at the FDA.
www.statnews.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
RFK Jr. has said he does not want to take vaccines away from Americans. But at a closed-door meeting of vaccine scientists in September, a top official at the FDA suggested doing just that. Here's how Vinay Prasad and Tracy Beth Høeg are reshaping vaccine regulation:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/f...
Former FDA food safety head Susan Mayne on about the ByHeart infant formula recall in the wake of an infant botulism outbreak. Babies had consumed ByHeart formula in 42% of 84 cases.
drsusanmayne.substack.com/p/byheart-bo...
drsusanmayne.substack.com/p/byheart-bo...
ByHeart, Botulism, and Powdered Infant Formula Safety
In the face of numerous questions about the ByHeart infant formula botulism outbreak, I wanted to share my perspective based on my prior experiences involving infant formula outbreaks and safety.
drsusanmayne.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Former FDA food safety head Susan Mayne on about the ByHeart infant formula recall in the wake of an infant botulism outbreak. Babies had consumed ByHeart formula in 42% of 84 cases.
drsusanmayne.substack.com/p/byheart-bo...
drsusanmayne.substack.com/p/byheart-bo...
The bill to end the government shutdown includes a provision to limit hemp products to 0.4 mg per container of total THC, added after lobbying by alcohol trade groups:
readsludge.com/2025/11/11/a...
readsludge.com/2025/11/11/a...
Alcohol Industry Groups Push to Ban THC Drinks in Government Funding Bill
A ban on hemp-derived products with THC was added to the bill reopening the government, pitting Sen. Mitch McConnell against fellow Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a hemp industry supporter.
readsludge.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:44 PM
The bill to end the government shutdown includes a provision to limit hemp products to 0.4 mg per container of total THC, added after lobbying by alcohol trade groups:
readsludge.com/2025/11/11/a...
readsludge.com/2025/11/11/a...
The UK is phasing out animal testing in research: “Nobody in our country of animal lovers wants to see suffering"
www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/u...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/u...
U.K. releases plan to phase out animal testing in research
The U.K. has released its plan to phase out animal testing in research, as a number of countries move toward reducing the use of animals.
www.statnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The UK is phasing out animal testing in research: “Nobody in our country of animal lovers wants to see suffering"
www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/u...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/u...
Lindsey Stanberry, founder of Money Diaries and now The Purse, on the politics of sharing our personal finances, why people get so judgmental about others' spending habits, and going from big media companies to indie newsletter life:
thewritethrough.substack.com/p/i-dont-get...
thewritethrough.substack.com/p/i-dont-get...
"I don’t get Sunday scaries anymore": Lindsey Stanberry on life after Money Diaries and going indie
"It’s political for women to talk about their finances."
thewritethrough.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Lindsey Stanberry, founder of Money Diaries and now The Purse, on the politics of sharing our personal finances, why people get so judgmental about others' spending habits, and going from big media companies to indie newsletter life:
thewritethrough.substack.com/p/i-dont-get...
thewritethrough.substack.com/p/i-dont-get...
Early success can be a curse, as this Sharon Begley obit shows. The man who co-discovered the DNA double helix structure at 25 bought into his own genius to the extent that he clung to racist beliefs despite the cost to his career. Best thing you'll read today:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Early success can be a curse, as this Sharon Begley obit shows. The man who co-discovered the DNA double helix structure at 25 bought into his own genius to the extent that he clung to racist beliefs despite the cost to his career. Best thing you'll read today:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
Most of the seafood and half the fresh fruit Americans eat are produced abroad. But FDA inspections are at record lows in the wake of federal staffing cuts, increasing the risks of outbreaks:
www.propublica.org/article/fore...
www.propublica.org/article/fore...
Foreign Food Safety Inspections Hit Historic Low After Trump Cuts
The dramatic shift in oversight comes at a time when the U.S. has never been more reliant on foreign food, which accounts for the vast majority of the nation’s seafood and more than half its fresh fru...
www.propublica.org
November 6, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Most of the seafood and half the fresh fruit Americans eat are produced abroad. But FDA inspections are at record lows in the wake of federal staffing cuts, increasing the risks of outbreaks:
www.propublica.org/article/fore...
www.propublica.org/article/fore...
Anyone who's delivered a baby at a hospital has probably been hooked up to a fetal monitor. I had no idea the tech was so unreliable — and that it was leading to potentially unnecessary C-sections.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/h...
The ‘Worst Test in Medicine’ is Driving America’s High C-Section Rate
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Anyone who's delivered a baby at a hospital has probably been hooked up to a fetal monitor. I had no idea the tech was so unreliable — and that it was leading to potentially unnecessary C-sections.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/h...
Reposted by Sarah Todd
Sometimes doctors "fake" CPR. It's called a "slow code" in medical parlance. But "slow code" is really an umbrella term for all types of insincere attempts at CPR. Here's a clip from my new @statnews.com video on the topic
November 5, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Sometimes doctors "fake" CPR. It's called a "slow code" in medical parlance. But "slow code" is really an umbrella term for all types of insincere attempts at CPR. Here's a clip from my new @statnews.com video on the topic
You may have seen ads touting microdosing GLP-1s in the past few months. The weird thing is there's no good evidence that microdosing weight-loss drugs works! Read @katiepalmer.bsky.social on why telehealth companies are touting the programs anyway:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/m...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/m...
Microdosing aims to extend the lifespan of the GLP-1 compounding market
Despite no strong evidence of clinical benefit, microdosing GLP-1s will likely continue as a strategy for some to profit off of the popular drug class.
www.statnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
You may have seen ads touting microdosing GLP-1s in the past few months. The weird thing is there's no good evidence that microdosing weight-loss drugs works! Read @katiepalmer.bsky.social on why telehealth companies are touting the programs anyway:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/m...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/m...
Reposted by Sarah Todd
A great profile from @isabellacueto.bsky.social about LA-vegan-restaurateurs-turned-tallow-embracing-MAHA-evangelists in small-town Texas.
www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/m...
www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/m...
In Texas, ex-vegan restaurateurs put MAHA's vision for farming to the test
A former vegan chef is trying to execute MAHA's dream of a utopian future based on small-scale, family-owned farms.
www.statnews.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
A great profile from @isabellacueto.bsky.social about LA-vegan-restaurateurs-turned-tallow-embracing-MAHA-evangelists in small-town Texas.
www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/m...
www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/m...
Don't miss @isabellacueto.bsky.social on Texas as the epicenter of MAHA, including Austin, where "matcha-sipping yogis, spiritual slackliners, and buff entrepreneurs bonding in saunas all tend to share a certain streak — individualistic, and politically mutable."
www.statnews.com/2025/11/03/m...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/03/m...
In Texas, the nation's MAHA capital, many are frustrated with the status quo in health care
Texas is the MAHA capital of the country — offering a look at health policies that may soon roll across the country.
www.statnews.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Don't miss @isabellacueto.bsky.social on Texas as the epicenter of MAHA, including Austin, where "matcha-sipping yogis, spiritual slackliners, and buff entrepreneurs bonding in saunas all tend to share a certain streak — individualistic, and politically mutable."
www.statnews.com/2025/11/03/m...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/03/m...
Reposted by Sarah Todd
To summarize:
- The FDA's top drug regulator is out.
- He and the FDA's top biologics official are in open warfare.
- A lawsuit accuses him of extortion, and he accuses a former associate of the same.
Via @lizzylawrence.bsky.social @adamfeuerstein.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
- The FDA's top drug regulator is out.
- He and the FDA's top biologics official are in open warfare.
- A lawsuit accuses him of extortion, and he accuses a former associate of the same.
Via @lizzylawrence.bsky.social @adamfeuerstein.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
FDA’s top drug regulator resigns amid investigation
George Tidmarsh, the FDA's top drug regulator, has been placed on leave after being accused of abusing his regulatory authority, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:40 AM
To summarize:
- The FDA's top drug regulator is out.
- He and the FDA's top biologics official are in open warfare.
- A lawsuit accuses him of extortion, and he accuses a former associate of the same.
Via @lizzylawrence.bsky.social @adamfeuerstein.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
- The FDA's top drug regulator is out.
- He and the FDA's top biologics official are in open warfare.
- A lawsuit accuses him of extortion, and he accuses a former associate of the same.
Via @lizzylawrence.bsky.social @adamfeuerstein.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
Whole Foods, MAHA and the Battle Over Healthy Eating in America
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Sarah Todd
Absolutely chilling story by @aniloza.bsky.social on censorship in grant titles at NIH and how researchers are complying and sometimes fighting back. "They are trying to make people afraid to use the word equity," said one program officer. "It's highly effective." www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
Scientists had to change more than 700 grant titles to receive NIH funding. Health disparities researchers fear what’s next
The titles of more than 700 multi-year NIH grants have been changed this year, according to an analysis by Jeremy Berg, a former agency official
www.statnews.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Absolutely chilling story by @aniloza.bsky.social on censorship in grant titles at NIH and how researchers are complying and sometimes fighting back. "They are trying to make people afraid to use the word equity," said one program officer. "It's highly effective." www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/n...
The Trump administration is rolling back benefits that required “reproductive cancer of any type” be covered for veterans, arguing that it doesn't apply to men diagnosed with breast cancer because male breasts are not reproductive organs.
www.propublica.org/article/vete...
www.propublica.org/article/vete...
Citing Trump Order on “Biological Truth,” VA Makes It Harder for Male Veterans With Breast Cancer to Get Coverage
A Department of Veterans Affairs memo obtained by ProPublica erects new roadblocks to care for veterans with the rare but deadly cancer. The agency cites no new science but relies on an executive orde...
www.propublica.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The Trump administration is rolling back benefits that required “reproductive cancer of any type” be covered for veterans, arguing that it doesn't apply to men diagnosed with breast cancer because male breasts are not reproductive organs.
www.propublica.org/article/vete...
www.propublica.org/article/vete...
Reposted by Sarah Todd
just flagging that this story is wonderful and poignant all the way through 🥹
www.statnews.com/2025/10/27/h...
www.statnews.com/2025/10/27/h...
Hope and ‘no regrets’: How pancreatic cancer surgeon Dr. Michael Zinner faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis
Hope and ‘no regrets’: How pancreatic cancer surgeon Dr. Michael Zinner faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis
www.statnews.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
just flagging that this story is wonderful and poignant all the way through 🥹
www.statnews.com/2025/10/27/h...
www.statnews.com/2025/10/27/h...