Reading Time: 2 minutes London | Reuters — The world’s leading experts on influenza met this week to discuss the threat posed to humans by a strain of H5N1 avian flu that has caused record numbers of bird deaths around the world in recent months. The group of scientists, regulators and vaccine manufacturers meets twice a year to decide […] Read more
Flu experts gather with H5N1 risk on the agenda
Threat to humans from current strain seen as low
U.S. court blocks California cancer label on Roundup
WHO agency's ruling alone insufficient, judge says
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — A U.S. federal appeals court on Monday blocked California from requiring that Bayer label its glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup with a cancer warning, handing the company a victory in its ongoing litigation over the product. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge William Shubb called California’s cancer warning misleading and said the state’s label is […] Read more
WHO seeks new director for cancer agency facing U.S. scrutiny
Reading Time: 2 minutes London | Reuters – The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking a new leader for its France-based cancer research agency to replace the current director, Chris Wild, from January 2019. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a semi-autonomous unit of the WHO, is currently under scrutiny by influential members of the United States […] Read more
Stop using antibiotics in healthy animals, WHO urges farmers
Reading Time: 2 minutes London | Reuters – The World Health Organization urged farmers on Tuesday to stop using antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease in healthy animals because the practice fuels dangerous drug-resistant superbug infections in people. Describing a lack of effective antibiotics for humans as “a security threat” on a par with “a sudden and deadly […] Read more
In glyphosate review, WHO cancer agency edited out ‘non-carcinogenic’ findings
Reading Time: 7 minutes London | Reuters — The World Health Organization’s cancer agency dismissed and edited findings from a draft of its review of glyphosate herbicide that were at odds with its final conclusion that the chemical probably causes cancer. Documents seen by Reuters show how a draft of a key section of the International Agency for Research […] Read more
Tim Hortons parent updates antibiotic policy for chicken
Reading Time: 2 minutes The parent company for the Tim Hortons and Burger King chains has tightened up its pledge to curb the use of antibiotics by its chicken suppliers. Restaurant Brands International on Thursday released its first “Sustainability Report,” outlining its work during 2016 in support of “sustainable practices that promote positive change.” Back in late December, Oakville, […] Read more
WHO says bird flu outbreaks raise alarm
Reading Time: 2 minutes London | Reuters — The risk of sustained human-to-human transmission of H7N9 avian flu in China is low, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday, but a surge in human cases there is worrying and requires constant monitoring. Outbreaks of H5 bird flu strains in poultry and wild birds across Europe, Africa and Asia are […] Read more
McDonald’s investor renews push to cut antibiotics in all meat
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — A McDonald’s Corp. shareholder is redoubling efforts to convince the fast-food chain to stop all of its global restaurants from serving the meat of animals raised with antibiotics that are vital for fighting human infections. More than 70 per cent of medically important antibiotics in the U.S. are sold for livestock use. Scientists […] Read more
WHO cancer agency asked experts to withhold glyphosate documents
Reading Time: 4 minutes London | Reuters — The World Health Organization’s cancer agency — which is facing criticism over how it classifies carcinogens — advised academic experts on one of its review panels not to disclose documents they were asked to release under U.S. freedom of information laws. In a letter and an email seen by Reuters, officials […] Read more
Can coffee cause cancer? Only if it’s very hot, says WHO agency
Reading Time: 3 minutes London | Reuters — There is no conclusive evidence that drinking coffee causes cancer, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency said Wednesday, in a reverse of its previous warning, but it also said all “very hot” drinks are probably carcinogenic. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had previously rated coffee as “possibly […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
