Current Events in October 2020

With the Department of Justice (DOJ) suing Google for allegedly abusing its market dominance in Search, there is a new report that Apple might be seeing a good opportunity possibly left lying in Google’s wake.

According to a report from The Financial Times (FT), Apple has been in the shadows developing its own search technology for iPhones just in case regulators decide that the $8-12 billion Google pays Apple each year to guarantee its search engine is installed as a default search tool is overarching. 

The DOJ is going hard at Google, calling the company a “monopolist.” The Department previously levied antitrust actions against AT&T in 1974 and Microsoft in 1998. The DOJ says its end game this time is to “restore the role of competition and open the door to the next wave of innovation -- this time in vital digital markets.”

It started with one barely noticeable shift

iPhone users might not have noticed a change in what takes place when they type a query into the search window on iPhones using the latest Apple software (iOS 14), but Apple has reconfigured the default search results to be theirs and not Google’s. Taking a cue from Google’s auto-complete function, Apple’s now mimics that too. 

In short, if the DOJ blocks the partnership, Apple could be ready to do its own thing. The Financial Times writes that search marketing gurus have noticed that Apple’s “Applebot” -- a web crawler that databases online content such as news -- has become more active recently. 

However, Applebot has been criticized in the past for its poor functionality and “sloppy programming” -- something that Apple would have to make sure has improved and gives users a level of functionality they have experienced using Google search.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with various state governments to track down the origin of two new E. coli outbreaks. 

At this point, the agency says there are a lot of unknowns. What is known is that the illnesses have been caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 (STEC).

“We do not know what food is causing people to get sick or whether it involves an FDA-regulated food product,” said  Frank Yiannas, FDA deputy commissioner for Food Policy and Response. “However, we have seen similar recurring, emerging or persistent strains of E. coli in recent outbreaks.” 

“E. coli O157:H7 can contaminate many foods, and we cannot assume that the current outbreaks are linked to historically associated foods like romaine and other leafy greens,” the agency added. “There is no information currently to indicate that people should avoid any specific food.”

One of the E. coli outbreaks is being caused by a strain that is genetically related to a strain that caused the 2019 STEC outbreak linked to romaine grown in the California Central Coast Salinas growing region. To date, health officials have documented 23 cases and no deaths.

The second outbreak is being caused by a strain that is genetically related to a larger, diverse genetic cluster including the strain that caused the 2018 STEC outbreak linked to romaine and environmental isolates from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. To date, 21 cases and one death have been reported.

‘Transparency and early communication’

"We are issuing this update early in our investigation as part of our continued commitment to transparency and early communication,” Yiannas said. “We are also working toward making a new resource available soon on our website to provide early updates on new and active investigations.

Because the origin of the two outbreaks is still a mystery, consumers should take precautions when consuming uncooked produce. Produce should be carefully and thoroughly washed before serving. The FDA offers these guidelines for safe storage and preparation of produce.

The 2019 E. coli outbreak finally ended in January of this year, an outbreak linked to California-grown romaine lettuce. In total, 167 people across 27 different states were infected by tainted products. Of that number, 85 consumers were hospitalized and 15 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a type of kidney failure. Luckily, there were no deaths linked to the outbreak. 

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 3,121 model year 2020 Highlanders and Highlander hybrids.

Incorrect seat trim covers on one or both of the front seats can prevent the seat-mounted side airbag from deploying properly.

Improper deployment of the seat-mounted side airbag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats and replace the seat trim covers -- as necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin December 13, 2020.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 442-8696. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB14 / 20TA14.

General Motors is recalling 14,620 model year 2018 Cadillac Escalades, Chevrolet Silverado 1500s & Tahoes, and GMC Sierra 1500s & Yukons with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine.

The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.

A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module free of charge.

The recall is scheduled to begin November 16, 2020.

Owners may contact GM customer service at (866) 522-9559, Cadillac customer service at (800) 458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at (800)630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.

The once unfriendly skies of the COVID-19 pandemic are now producing an improvement in on-time performance. However, getting a refund from an airline continues to be a major hassle for travelers, according to the latest metrics from the Department of Transportation (DOT).

In monitoring 10 airlines -- Allegiant, Delta, Southwest, American, United, Spirit, JetBlue, Alaska, Frontier, and Hawaiian -- the ups and downs shook out like this:

Arrivals

Highest on-time arrival rates:

1.    Southwest Airlines – 94.5 percent and a near 15-point improvement from the previous year

2.    Alaska Airlines Network – 92.5 percent 

3.    Hawaiian Airlines Network – 91.7 percent 

Lowest on-time arrival rates:

1.    JetBlue Airways – 85.4 percent 

2.    Allegiant Air – 85.5 percent 

3.    Frontier Airlines – 87.0 percent 

Cancellations

In July 2020, reporting marketing carriers canceled 0.8 percent of their scheduled domestic flights, a higher rate than 0.4 percent in June 2020 but a lower rate than 2.1 percent  a year before (July 2019). 

Lowest canceled flight rates: 

1.    Spirit Airlines – 0.1 percent 

2.    American Airlines Network – 0.6 percent 

3.    Southwest Airlines – 0.7 percent 

Highest cancellation rates:

1.    Hawaiian Airlines Network – 4.1 percent 

2.    Frontier Airlines – 3.2 percent 

3.    JetBlue Airways – 2.8 percent 

Complaints 

In July 2020, the DOT received 11,117 complaints about airline service from consumers -- up an unbelievable 493.2 percent from the total of 1,874 filed in July 2019, but down 30.3 percent from the 15,946 received in June 2020. Of the 11,117 complaints received in July 2020, 10,257 concerned refunds.

The bad boys of the complaint world turned out to be United (850 total with 93.8 percent of those regarding refunds), Frontier (795 total with 72.4 percent regarding refunds), and American (615 total with 81.9 percent regarding refunds). 

Bad news aside, every airline should get a little credit for being efficient with handling luggage. Overall, baggage-related complaints were down from 11.8 percent in July 2019 to 0.5 percent in July 2020.

Mishandling of wheelchairs

Travelers usually don’t take into consideration things like how efficient an airline is when it comes to things like mishandling assistive devices like wheelchairs. But with the pandemic already producing enough stress as it is, every little thing that goes wrong only adds to a traveler’s stress levels.

In July 2020, airlines reported mishandling a rate of 1.17 percent mishandled wheelchairs and scooters, a tick better than a year ago, but still something a traveler who needs assistance should be aware of.

While Southwest scored well in the on-time category and American in the cancelled flights segment, neither fared well in the wheelchair/scooter breakout. American (and its subsidiaries) mishandled 150 wheelchair/scooter requests, and Southwest was a distant second at 31. The airline with the best record in this category was Hawaiian, who bungled zero wheelchair/scooter requests.

Other metrics

In the animal department, it looks like all the problems related to animals have completely vanished. Whether it was the DOT’s recent involvement or the airlines just paying more attention, who knows. However, there were zero animal-related complaints in the latest DOT statistics, and for travelers with pets, that’s a welcome change.

Also down were the complaints about discrimination -- possibly a result of a House committee calling out airlines about the matter. Discrimination complaints fell from 11 in July 2019 to only five in 2020. Of those, one regarded race, three regarded national origin, and one regarded religion. The DOT says that all complaints alleging discrimination are investigated by the Department to determine if there has been a violation(s) of the passenger’s civil rights.

KnowYourMeds is an app designed to help users manage their medications and know what pills should be taken when. For people taking several different medications, that kind of help can ensure the medicine is being used as it was intended.

But the company began to see that a growing number of users weren’t always taking all of their medication. A follow-up revealed the reason why -- they couldn’t afford the rising cost of their prescriptions.

That led to this week’s announcement of a partnership with another app -- GoodRx, a source for prescription and healthcare discounts. The goal is to not only to save consumers money but to also make sure they take their medications as their health care providers have prescribed.

"High drug prices have long been one of our users' chief healthcare complaints,” said Kim Shah, CEO of KnowYourMeds Inc. “While the government keeps talking about lowering drug prices, the reality is that prices have gone up for many drugs in the last year. This relationship with GoodRx allows us to offer much needed valuable discounts to our users." 

Discounts at major pharmacies

GoodRx allows consumers to download coupons that they can use at major pharmacies, lowering the cost of medication -- sometimes significantly. The partnership between the two firms is designed to remove cost as a factor that could negatively affect whether prescriptions are filled.

“As a medication and condition management platform, adhering to medication and condition protocols is a critical piece of our overall mission to motivate users to take control of their health,” KnowYourMeds said in a press release. “Through this integration, KnowYourMeds addresses one of the leading factors in non-adherence which is the rising costs of medications.”

According to Medicare, not following the doctor’s orders will decrease the effectiveness of the treatment. It can not only have health consequences but also add to the nation’s health care expenses.

The National Community Pharmacists Association has estimated non-adherence to prescription instructions contributes approximately 290 billion dollars every year in added costs to the health care system in the United States. 

Panera Bread has added flatbread pizza to its menus to give customers more options during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The restaurant chain said it’s seen a steady increase in takeout, delivery, and drive-through orders this year. Many customers are choosing delivery and carryout options for safety reasons. Eduardo Luz, Panera’s chief brand and concept officer, said Panera doubled its delivery business in 2020. 

Luz said Panera had already started testing the new menu item before the pandemic. 

"Our guests have been asking for this for years. We think Panera's bread heritage and outstanding ingredients meet both the desire for high quality, crafted pizza as well as a growing customer off-premise behavior," Luz said in a statement.

As of Wednesday, the company has added Cheese, Margherita and Chipotle Chicken & Bacon flatbread pizzas to its menus nationwide. Prices for the new flatbread pizzas will start at $7.99. 

The fast casual bakery-cafe chain has been aiming to boost its dinner sales in recent years by expanding its menu offerings. The addition of pizza is part of that move. 

"As restaurant traffic across the industry increasingly shifts to later in the day, Flatbread Pizzas allow Panera to further compete across dayparts and appeal to off-premise consumer preferences," the company said in a press release.

As researchers continue to discover how climate change can affect everything from consumers’ health to the financial markets, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at Santa Barbara is exploring a new way to combat the climate crisis. 

According to their findings, giving consumers access to affordable health care could be beneficial in improving climate change. The researchers analyzed a rural population in Indonesia where a health clinic was opened, and medical services were discounted in exchange for a promise to reduce illegal logging. 

In doing so, deforestation improved by 70 percent in 10 years, making these findings important in terms of both access to health care and climate change. 

“This innovative model has clear global health implications,” said researcher Michele Barry. “Health and climate can and should be addressed in unison, and done in coordination with and respect for local communities.” 

Solving two problems simultaneously

In 2007, two nonprofit organizations worked to create a health care clinic in Indonesia that was located near Gunung Palung National Park. The goal of the clinic was to serve the local community’s health care needs, while also giving consumers an incentive to preserve the natural landscape around them. Clinic patients were given a discount on medical services if they promised not to participate in illegal logging in the nearby national park. 

Prior to the clinic’s opening, the forest had been rapidly diminishing due to deforestation and illegal logging. However, the researchers analyzed data on both the patient’s health outcomes and the state of the forests, and they learned that the clinic was effective in treating both issues. 

Within 10 years, they observed that logging had reduced by 70 percent, while common health concerns in the area -- like diabetes and malaria -- were also on the decline. Additionally, those who most frequently utilized the clinic’s services were also responsible for the biggest drop-offs in logging. 

“We didn’t know what to expect when we started evaluating the program’s health and conservation impacts, but we were continually amazed that the data suggested such a strong link between improvements in health care access and tropical forest conservation,” said researcher Isabel Jones. “

As similar clinics are set to be established in Madagascar and Brazil, the researchers hope that lawmakers understand just how powerful these findings are, as there are opportunities to benefit both consumers’ health and the environment. 

“The data support two important conclusions: human health is integral to the conservation of nature and vice versa, and we need to listen to the guidance of rainforest communities who know best how to live in balance with their forests,” said researcher Monica Nirmala.

Restaurants have been hammered by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic but in many cases, their loss has been gained by convenience stores -- especially those that have emphasized grab-and-go food.

For starters, convenience stores haven’t had to change their business models much in order to adapt to the new environment. Many chains, such as Wawa, have always had sections of prepackaged sandwiches and wraps. All they’ve had to do is increase inventory.

Consumers seem to like the grab-and-go concept at a time when the alternatives are mostly fast-food drive-thrus. And some in the industry believe this trend may last beyond the pandemic.

"We are seeing more consumers opt for something prepackaged for safety reasons," Tim Powell, managing principal at consulting and insights firm Foodservice IP, told Convenience Store News. "The thinking is the food handling by the staff is eliminated."

Powell says research has shown that the pickup in business is coming from consumers who used to frequent restaurants but now avoid the few that are open. He sees only a portion of the current grab-and-go customers returning to restaurants once the danger has passed.

7-Eleven leans on delivery

7-Eleven has expanded beyond grab-and-go and is leaning more heavily on delivery now that the virus is into its second wave. The convenience store chain became Instacart’s first convenience store client in September. 

Last week, 7‑Eleven added two more U.S. ordering platforms – Uber Eats and Grubhub – to its delivery portfolio. In addition to sandwiches, users can order milk, bread and eggs, pizza with a Slurpee drink, and some 7-Select chips, coffee and a pastry, cold medicine, grocery items, and even energy shots.

“When 7‑Eleven began offering delivery in 2017, we certainly didn’t foresee a pandemic accelerating on-demand ordering platforms from convenient to essential,” said 7‑Eleven COO Chris Tanco. “This year we’ve doubled our delivery footprint and quadrupled our daily delivery orders because customers know they can count on us for their necessities in about 30 minutes. We look forward to continuing to respond as our customers’ shopping behaviors rapidly change.”

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 8,790,206 (8,708,553)

Total U.S. deaths: 226,864 (225,817]

Total global cases: 44,093,002 (43,623,111)

Total global deaths: 1,169,052 (1,161,422)

Germany prepares for another lockdown

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is raising the possibility that the country may need to return to a lockdown as coronavirus (COVID-19) cases surge in that country, as well as across Europe. 

Merkel is asking governors to agree to tighter restrictions on public gathering that would include closing bars and restaurants.

The news sent Wall Street into a tailspin, especially since it coincides with a continued rise in U.S. cases of the virus. Health officials report more than 71,000 new infections in the last 24 hours.

CVS expands COVID-19 testing

CVS Health has announced plans to expand COVID-19 testing services currently offered at select CVS Pharmacy locations. The expansion will include rapid-result testing at nearly 1,000 sites by the end of the year.

The company said rapid-result COVID-19 diagnostic tests will be available at no cost to patients who meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria -- largely everyone covered by insurance or through a government program for the uninsured.

CVS says it has administered more than five million COVID-19 tests since March and currently manages more than 4,000 drive-thru test sites at CVS Pharmacy locations in 33 states and Washington, D.C. 

Workers might switch jobs to keep working remotely

The coronavirus pandemic has turned American life upside down, forcing businesses to close offices and leaving families to figure out how to entertain and educate children at home. A new report shows that nearly two-thirds of workers have made working remotely a priority in their lives.

Since March, Weber Shandwick, United Minds, and KRC Research have conducted surveys to explore consumer and employee attitudes about the response to COVID-19. The latest survey found a large majority of workers are comfortable working from home and would consider moving to a company that makes remote work permanent.

"Workers across industries showed incredible resilience in quickly shifting to a remote work environment when the pandemic struck – and what we're seeing now is the future of the workplace and workforce being re-designed in real-time," said Kate Bullinger, president of United Minds. "Leaders who want to retain and attract top talent cannot rely on past workplace models even after the pandemic subsides."

Survey finds pandemic is increasing financial stress

John Hancock Retirement has released its latest survey measuring financial stress on workers and its impact on employers. The survey shows that one result of the pandemic has been that more people are reaching out for financial advice.

The 2020 financial stress survey was expanded to include respondents in both the United States and Canada, and it captures similar sentiment across the two countries. Sue Reibel, global head of retirement, says it’s clear that retirement savers are more stressed than before the pandemic.

"The silver lining in this year's data is that people are more open to financial advice than in years past,” she said. “In this environment, when faced with managing multiple pressures, stress is high and responsibilities are piling up, and retirement investors are looking for a trusted source of advice when it comes to navigating their finances."

Tool helps doctors predict which patients will need hospitalization

Some people who get the coronavirus recover quickly. Others end up in the hospital, and more than 226,000 Americans have died from the virus. A new tool helps doctors predict which patients will need more intense treatment.

The tool, which was created by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), can be used to rapidly and automatically determine which patients are most likely to develop complications and need to be hospitalized.

After examining thousands of patients, the researchers narrowed down the risk factors to a top five -- age, diastolic blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, COVID-19 testing status, and respiratory rate.

Around the nation

• Arizona: Arizona’s top health official is urging state residents to remain vigilant against the coronavirus as cases have increased in recent weeks. Dr. Cara Christ, public health director for the Arizona Department of Health Services, blamed this round of spiking cases on small household gatherings where people feel safe around each other.

• Ohio: Ohio now has recorded more than 200,000 cases of the coronavirus, many of them in the recent “second wave.” State health officials report half of Ohio’s cases have been recorded since August.

• Idaho: Gov. Brad Little has moved the state back into a modified Stage 3 of the reopening plan as healthcare facilities throughout the state face alarming demand. “Hospitals throughout the state are quickly filling up or are already full with COVID-19 patients and other patients, and way too many healthcare workers are out sick with COVID-19,” Little said.

Harley-Davidson, best known for its iconic motorcycles, has launched a new company to build electric bicycles, trying to appeal to a new generation of consumers.

The new firm, Serial 1 Cycle Company, plans to introduce its first line of products in spring 2021.

The company takes its name from "Serial Number One," the nickname for Harley-Davidson's first motorcycle. Harley-Davidson is counting on its experience in two-wheel vehicles to help the start-up build a product and brand that will have wide appeal to the E-bicycle customer.

"When Harley-Davidson first put power to two wheels in 1903, it changed how the world moved, forever," said Aaron Frank, brand director for Serial 1 Cycle Company. "Inspired by the entrepreneurial vision of Harley-Davidson's founders, we hope to once again change how cyclists and the cycling-curious move around their world with a Serial 1 E-bicycle."

The E-bicycle project came out of Harley-Davidson's Product Development Center, guided by both motorcycle and bicycle specialists. They worked together to design and develop an electric bicycle that Harley-Davidson fans would both accept and appreciate.

Company executives say the new E-bicycle will allow biking enthusiasts to expand their range. They foresee the new product as being used for both recreation and urban commuting.

Few details

In announcing the new product, the company did not release any performance details of the first bike in its lineup. However, a video accompanying the press release announcement shows a black metal, lightweight bike frame with fat tires that looks very similar to the very first Harley-Davidson motorcycle, introduced in 1903. That’s apparently no accident.

"The dynamic, fast-growing E-bicycle space is at the forefront of a global mobility revolution," said Frank. "The formation of Serial 1 allows Harley-Davidson to play a key role in this mobility revolution while allowing Serial 1 to focus exclusively on the E-bicycle customer and deliver an unmatched riding experience rooted in freedom and adventure."

The transition to an electric motor bicycle comes as Harley-Davidson’s core customer, the baby boomer, is aging and buying fewer motorcycles. The company recently launched a restructuring plan that reduced its workforce by about 700 employees.

Consumer confidence fell slightly in October but still remains fairly high, considering America is in the midst of an uncertain election campaign and a raging pandemic.

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index retreated from 101.3 in September to 100.9. Consumers appear to feel pretty good about the way things are at the moment but less certain about the short-term future.

The Present Situation Index – based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions – increased significantly from 98.9 to 104.6 in October. However, the Expectations Index – based on consumers' same view for future months – dropped from 102.9 in September to 98.4 this month.

The wave of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases is getting higher, requiring some jurisdictions to tighten restrictions again. New cases of the virus have increased by nearly 70,000 per day this week.

The seven-day average of new cases is also rising, suggesting the wave is building momentum. The seven-day average is up 20 percent in just the last week.

Little economic momentum

"Consumers' assessment of current conditions improved while expectations declined, driven primarily by a softening in the short-term outlook for jobs,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at The Conference Board. “There is little to suggest that consumers foresee the economy gaining momentum in the final months of 2020, especially with COVID-19 cases on the rise and unemployment still high."

The metrics employed by The Conference Board definitely show doubts beginning to cloud consumers’ outlook as 2020 draws to a close. Those expecting business conditions will get worse in the coming weeks increased from 15.8 percent to 17.0 percent. 

Optimism about the job market was mixed. There was a slight increase in those who expect there to be more jobs available in the months ahead, but the increase was slight. 

Regarding the short-term income outlook, the percentage of consumers expecting an increase improved from 17.3 percent to 18.4 percent, but the proportion expecting a decrease also rose, from 13.0 percent to 14.2 percent.

BMW of North America is recalling 312 model year 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles.

A small portion of the rearview camera image may be slightly obscured.

If the driver relies on only the camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

What to do

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and -- if necessary -- program the rearview camera with updated software.

The recall is expected to begin November 23, 2020.

Owners may contact BMW customer service at (800 525-7417.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling seven model year 2019 C300s.

The center console lock-system might not lock properly and -- in the a rear-end crash -- the lid may open, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will check the center console storage compartment, and replace it -- if necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin December 1, 2020.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany has expressed doubt that a coronavirus relief package will be agreed upon before the Nov. 3 election, Reuters reported. 

McEnany said Tuesday that House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D - Calif.) is seeking stimulus checks for tax paying immigrants, which goes against the wishes of Republicans and could delay an agreement. 

“The chances are slim when you have someone like Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, when you look at the proposal they put forward and it still stands today,” McEnany said on Fox Business Network.

“This is not serious if we’re providing stimulus relief for the American people, it should be just that, for American people, for U.S. citizens,” McEnany added. “So it’s on her.”

Pelosi remains optimistic 

Earlier this month, Pelosi set a 48-hour deadline for the White House to agree to a bill. She said she was “optimistic” that the deal could get done ahead of the presidential election. 

“The 48 only relates to if we want to get it done before the election, which we do,” Pelosi told ABC News. “We’re saying to them, we have to freeze the design on some of these things — are we going with it or not and what is the language? I’m optimistic because again we’ve been back and forth on all this."

A deal has yet to be reached, however, as the leaders of both parties are still at an impasse over several elements of the second relief package. The House approved a $2.2 trillion plan in May, but Republicans countered that it was too large. 

Democrats are pushing for funding for state and local governments, and Republicans are pushing for liability protection for businesses during the pandemic. The leaders of both parties have agreed to send Americans a second $1,200 stimulus payment, as well as provide aid to the struggling airline industry.

Pelosi reportedly had an hour-long phone conversation with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday, and her spokesman Drew Hammill tweeted that she “remains optimistic that an agreement can be reached before the election.”

“We continue to eagerly await the Administration’s acceptance of our health language,” Hammill said. He added that it is “clear that our progress depends on [Senate Majority] Leader [Mitch] McConnell agreeing to bipartisan, comprehensive legislation."

While most efforts to reduce sugary drink consumption have been aimed at the youngest population, recent studies have identified the heart health risks associated with a high intake of sugar-filled beverages. 

Though many consumers have made the switch to artificially-sweetened drinks as they were believed to be a healthier alternative, a new study conducted by researchers from the American College of Cardiology has found that neither sugar-sweetened drinks nor artificially-sweetened drinks lead to good heart health. Their work revealed that both types of drinks can increase consumers’ risk of developing heart disease. 

“Our study suggests artificially sweetened beverages may not be a healthy substitute for sugar drinks, and these data provide additional arguments to fuel the current debate on taxes, labeling, and regulation of sugary drinks and artificially sweetened beverages,” said researcher Eloi Chazelas.  

Avoiding sweetened drinks

To see the effect that sweetened drinks can have on heart disease risk, the researchers analyzed medical records of over 104,000 participants in the French NutriNet-Santé study. Every six months, the participants logged everything they ate and drank over three different 24-hour periods. Based on their consumption of artificially-sweetened and sugar-sweetened drinks, participants were divided into three groups, and the researchers then followed up with them over the course of a 10-year period. 

Overall, those who drank the highest amounts of both sugary drinks and artificially-sweetened drinks were at the highest risk of developing cardiovascular disease. 

For this study, cardiovascular disease was indicated by one of five primary markers: angioplasty, transient ischemic attack, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and myocardial infarction. Even after accounting for other factors that could contribute to heart disease, the association between sweetened drinks and heart disease remained. 

Risks of artificial sweeteners

While a lot of work has been done to reduce consumers’ intake of sugary drinks, artificially sweetened drinks have been seen as a healthier alternative. However, in addition to cardiovascular disease, several recent studies have pointed to the health risks associated with drinking artificially-sweetened beverages, as they can greatly upset the digestive system, and increase the risk of stroke and MS symptoms. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that legislators do their part to better regulate these types of drinks, as doing so could greatly benefit consumers’ health in several ways. 

Many parents have taken steps towards incorporating healthier foods into their kids’ diets, while also limiting their junk food intake. However, a new study conducted by researchers from New York University has discovered a new way that kids could be influenced to crave unhealthy options. 

According to their findings, kids with popular YouTube channels are often promoting unhealthy food and drinks, which ultimately encourages young viewers to want those same things.

“Kids already see several thousand food commercials on television every year, and adding these YouTube videos on top of it may make it even more difficult for parents and children to maintain a healthy diet,” said researcher Marie Bragg. “We need a digital media environment that supports healthy eating instead of discouraging it.” 

The power of advertising

To better understand the influence these young YouTubers could have on the food and drink choices of other young people, the researchers analyzed nearly 420 videos from the five most popular kid accounts, and noted all food-related product placement and advertisements. 

These videos aren’t about food or nutrition, but instead typically feature kids playing with toys or doing other activities. However, many have ads for specific brands, which can entice young viewers. 

“Parents may not realize that kid influencers are often paid by food companies to promote unhealthy food and beverages in their videos,” said Bragg. “Our study is the first to quantify which junk food product placements appear in YouTube videos from kid influencers.” 

Fast food often featured

Ultimately, the researchers learned that 90 percent of the food and drinks shown in the videos they analyzed were unhealthy choices, with fast food as the most popularly featured junk food item. Healthy food choices, whether a specific brand or not, were shown in just five percent of the videos included in the study. 

These findings are concerning primarily because of how popular these videos are. Combined, they’ve garnered nearly 50 billion views, and the accounts have more than 38 million subscribers. With that kind of platform, there’s no question that these young people will have an effect on the food and drink choices for other kids across the country. 

“It’s a perfect storm for encouraging poor nutrition -- research shows that people trust influencers because they appear to be ‘everyday people,’ and when you see these kid influencers eating certain foods, it doesn’t necessarily look like advertising,” said Bragg.

“But it is advertising, and numerous studies have shown that children who see food ads consume more calories than children who see non-food ads, which is why the National Academy of Medicine and World Health Organization identify food marketing as a major driver of childhood obesity.”