Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Not Just An Impurity: Ingredient In Heartburn Drug Zantac Might Actually Change Into A Carcinogen Inside The Body
The nation's three largest pharmacy chains 鈥� Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS 鈥� have stopped selling Zantac and its generic alternative. The heartburn drug, used by millions, was pulled after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned this month it may contain a potentially dangerous impurity. But a CBS News investigation reveals that it might not be just an "impurity" 鈥� but something much more serious. At a Connecticut lab, called Valisure, researchers test drugs from its own online pharmacy to check for purity and quality. (Lapook, 10/8)
It was a typical Thursday in May 2015 for Rachel Zubrzycki. Amid the hustle and bustle of getting their four children ready for school, Rachel exchanged a quick "I love you" with her husband of 14 years before they split up to drop their children off and go to their respective jobs -- Edward a veteran detective with the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office major crimes unit and Rachel was getting back into the workforce as a part-time reading teacher. What happened next changed her life forever. (Carrega, 10/9)
In the vast, wild world of Instagram beauty influencers, there鈥檚 a new category of products on the block: masks, sprays, lipsticks and other cosmetics for鈥ulvas. They promise to make vulvas 鈥� the outside portion of the sex organ where clothes touch the skin 鈥� glowier, fresher and softer. (Leventhal, 10/8)
Ikea is recalling thousands of infant bibs over concerns their snaps could be a choking hazard if they detach. The recalled 7,000 MATVR脜 infant bibs appear as a pair in a pack, and were sold in stores online and worldwide. Each pack has a red and blue bib, both of which have the store's logo printed on a white tag on the back. "The blue bib has a green seam along the outside with white polka dots. The red bib has a yellow seam along the outside with red polka dots," IKEA said. (Karimi, 10/9)
Alex Trebek has suggested in a recent interview that his tenure as "Jeopardy!" host may be nearing an end as he battles聽pancreatic cancer. The 79-year-old, who has hosted the show for 36 seasons totaling nearly 8,000 episodes, told CTV聽his skills "have started to diminish." Trebek revealed earlier this year that he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Despite learning he was near remission in May, he needed to go for聽 another round of chemotherapy in September 鈥撯�� right as the new season of Jeopardy! began. He admitted taping the show is becoming more difficult. (Brito, 10/8)