Latest news with #Robert F. Kennedy Jr
Washington Post
20 hours ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Organ retrieval reforms ordered after some donors showed 'signs of life'
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced reforms to the nation's organ transplant system Monday, citing recent findings that the process of removing organs has on some occasions begun even when donors showed signs of life. The federally chartered nonprofit groups known as organ procurement organizations (OPOs) that coordinate the donation process will face decertification if they fail to follow protocols that regulate when an organ can be extracted from a dead patient, according to a release from HHS. The announcement, which comes ahead of a House hearing Tuesday morning on safety breaches in the organ donation system, stems from an HHS investigation into reports that workers for OPOs pressured doctors to start procuring kidneys, livers and other organs from patients even as they showed signs of life. It follows a report by the New York Times Sunday about such patients, including one who was presumed to be dead but whose heart was discovered to be beating after a surgeon made an incision in her chest for procurement surgery. 'Our findings show that hospitals allowed the organ procurement process to begin when patients showed signs of life, and this is horrifying,' Kennedy said in a statement. In a March report, HHS looked at 351 cases in which organ donation was authorized but not completed. It found 103 cases with 'concerning features, including 73 patients with neurological signs incompatible with organ donation,' according to Kennedy's statement. At least 28 patients may not have been deceased when organ procurement was initiated, the statement said. HHS also said it found evidence of 'poor neurological assessments, lack of coordination with medical teams, questionable consent practices and misclassification of causes of death.' Kennedy said OPOs will need to adopt a formal process allowing any staff member to halt a donation process if patient safety concerns arise. They also will need to review any failures to follow protocols — including a requirement to wait five minutes after a patient is dead before making an incision — and develop clear policies around who is and isn't eligible for organ donation. The nation's supply of organs — which falls far short of demand — has been boosted in recent years by the practice of removing organs from patients who have experienced 'circulatory death.' Such patients may still show brain activity but doctors have determined they are near death and won't recover. With family consent, life support can be withdrawn and doctors then wait for the heart to stop beating. Most organ donations are still from brain-dead patients, but OPOs in some cases have pressured doctors to move quickly in procuring organs in the short time frame required. HHS launched its investigation after a House committee hearing in September, where the former employee of an OPO revealed that she, a surgeon and other workers refused to procure organs from a patient who was being prepared for surgery but was shaking his head and crying. The procurement organization, Network for Hope, is responsible for coordinating organ donation in Kentucky and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Its officials were not immediately available for comment.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Analysis-Kraft Heinz seeks to revive old brands by undoing 2015 mega-merger
By Jessica DiNapoli and Abigail Summerville NEW YORK (Reuters) -Kraft Heinz's potential spinoff of slower-growing brands such as Velveeta cheese is a risky last-ditch effort to boost returns by reversing its unsuccessful decade-old merger. The Chicago- and Pittsburgh-based foodmaker is studying a potential spinoff of a large chunk of its grocery business, including many Kraft products, into a new entity, a source said on July 11, confirming a report in the Wall Street Journal. That entity could be valued at up to $20 billion on its own, which would make it the biggest deal in consumer goods so far this year. The company declined to comment on the move. Shares in the food maker have lost about two-thirds of their value since Kraft and H.J. Heinz merged in 2015 in a deal backed by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway that was aimed at cutting costs and growing the brands internationally. U.S. consumers, however, have been spending less on increasingly expensive name-brand packaged food after the pandemic. In addition, Kraft Heinz's convenience-oriented products like its Lunchables meal kit face scrutiny in the United States, its biggest market, amid the rise of the Make America Healthy Again or MAHA social movement led by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The $33.3 billion market-cap company said in May that it was "evaluating potential strategic transactions to unlock shareholder value" as executives from Berkshire Hathaway left its board, most likely after losing faith in the food maker, bankers said. The potential move, yet to be confirmed by Kraft Heinz, would likely undo the approximately $45 billion 2015 merger, though the details of how the company's roughly 200 brands would be split up are unclear. It also is not a sure bet for investors, because they would reap the most value only if acquirers step in to buy either of the new companies, analysts said. Kraft Heinz's condiments division, led by ketchup brand Heinz and Philadelphia cream cheese, posted $11.4 billion in sales last year and has room to grow internationally. On a standalone basis, it would likely command a higher multiple than what the overall company is currently trading at, making it more valuable, analysts and bankers said. The rest of Kraft Heinz's products - with sales of $14.5 billion from legacy brands such as Oscar Mayer which face competition from cheaper private-label options - would likely be valued in line with the whole company, which currently trades just below nine times its earnings. Kraft Heinz did not immediately return a request for comment. RISKY PATH This path is dicey because the separation alone may create only a small benefit for investors, according to analysts and investment bankers. Bigger returns hinge on Kraft Heinz eventually finding a buyer - and a premium - for either of its two businesses. "It doesn't look like there's a whole lot of upside," said Bank of America analyst Peter Galbo. "It really is reliant on an acquisition down the line." Kraft Heinz's board and management may have looked at the breakup of the Kellogg Co as a success story they could replicate, investment bankers said. Earlier this month, European candy maker Ferrero agreed to acquire Kellogg Co's cereal business, WK Kellogg, for $3.1 billion. Last year, Mars scooped up Kellogg Co's other business, Pringles maker Kellanova, for about $36 billion. Possible acquirers for the condiments business could be spice and hot sauce-maker McCormick Co, Unilever or Nestle, investment bankers said. McCormick declined to comment. Unilever and Nestle did not respond to requests for comment. The slower-growing Kraft-oriented business could meanwhile garner interest from another company that wants to build up its clout with grocers like Walmart and Kroger, said Dave Wagner, a portfolio manager at Aptus Capital, which holds Kraft Heinz shares in an exchange-traded fund. But Wagner said finding buyers in a challenged segment may not be easy. Sales across the entire food maker fell 3% in 2024, and the company slashed its forecasts for sales and profit for the rest of this year. "If you keep the company as it is now or split it, both are going to have some type of black eye," Wagner said. "They probably wouldn't be tier one acquisition targets."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump says Coca-Cola to use cane sugar in namesake beverage
This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter. President Donald Trump said Coca-Cola agreed to use cane sugar in its namesake soda in the U.S., but the beverage giant stopped short of confirming his claim. 'I have been speaking to [Coca-Cola] about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,' Trump, a fan of Diet Coke, said in a social media post on X.'This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!' A Coca-Cola spokesperson, when asked about Trump's post, said the company appreciated the president's 'enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand." They added that 'more details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.' For four decades, Coca-Cola sold in the U.S. has generally been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. Coke in some countries, such as Mexico, uses sugar. The Atlanta-based CPG company imports Coke from Mexico to the U.S. for consumers who prefer the taste or who view sugar as a more natural ingredient. Coca-Cola's original formula, which dates back to the late 1800s, used cane sugar as its sweetener. The company switched to high-fructose corn in the early 1980s amid elevated costs for sugar. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously criticized high-fructose corn syrup as 'a formula for making you obese and diabetic.' Kennedy, who has vowed to 'Make America Healthy Again,' has also pushed food companies to remove artificial colors from their products. John Bode, president and CEO of The Corn Refiners Association, said in a statement that replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar 'doesn't make sense.' It 'would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit,' Bode said. Recommended Reading Coca-Cola's BodyArmor enters rapid hydration with first major product launch in 2 years Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola to use cane sugar in Coke sold in US, Trump says
The Coca-Cola Company has agreed to use cane sugar in its namesake drinks in the US, according to US President Donald Trump. In a post on social media outlet Truth Social yesterday (16 July), Trump said: "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL cane sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so." The company's classic Coca-Cola Original drink is made with high-fructose corn syrup in the US. The product is made with sugar in countries including the UK and Australia, while it contains cane sugar in Mexico. Trump added: "This will be a very good move by them. You'll see. It's just better!" A brief statement on the Coca-Cola website read: "We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.' There has been increasing scrutiny of the recipes of food and drinks sold in the US since President Trump took office earlier this year. US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has accused the country's food and beverage sector of 'poisoning' the American population. He has also taken aim at the use of high-fructose corn syrup, describing the ingredient as "just a formula for making you obese and diabetic". High-fructose corn syrup is a common ingredient in many soft drinks brands in the US, such as Mountain Dew and Dr Pepper. Trump's comments on Coca-Cola's alleged reformulation plans have not been so well received by those producing the corn syrup ingredient. John Bode, CEO and president of the Corn Refiners Association, said: "Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn't make sense. "President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers, and reducing the trade deficit. "Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit.' "Coca-Cola to use cane sugar in Coke sold in US, Trump says" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
CNA
6 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Trump says Coca-Cola to switch to cane sugar in US
WASHINGTON: Beverage giant Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its US production, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday (Jul 16) on social media. The company currently uses high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in its domestic beverages - a sweetener that has long drawn criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement. "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them - You'll see. It's just better!" The US president did not explain what motivated his push for the change, which would not impact his well-known favourite beverage, Diet Coke. Since his return to the White House, Trump has re-installed a special button in the Oval Office which summons a helping of the sugar-free carbonated drink. Coca-Cola did not immediately confirm the ingredient shift. "We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon," the company said in a short statement. HFCS became popular in the 1970s, with its use skyrocketing thanks to government subsidies for corn growers and high import tariffs on cane sugar. Any shift away from corn is likely to draw backlash in the Corn Belt, a Midwestern region that has been a stronghold of support for Trump. Both HFCS and sucrose (cane sugar) are composed of fructose and glucose. However, they differ structurally: HFCS contains free (unbonded) fructose and glucose in varying ratios - 55/45 in soft drinks - while sucrose consists of the two sugars chemically bonded together. These structural differences, however, don't appear to significantly affect health outcomes. A 2022 review of clinical studies found no meaningful differences between HFCS and sucrose in terms of weight gain or heart health. The only notable distinction was an increase in a marker of inflammation in people consuming HFCS. Overall, both sweeteners appear similarly impactful when consumed at equal calorie levels. Despite this, Mexican Coke - which is made with cane sugar - is often sold at a premium in US stores and prized for its more "natural" flavour.
