Subject: Why a law to protect people with food allergies backfired

Plus: A popular weight-loss drug may curb addictions too

View this email online September 3, 2023 by Andrea Muraskin This week: A new regulation elevates the visibility of a common food allergen, but people with that allergy say now it’s even tougher to find things safe to eat. And: Patients say a popular drug designed to get people eating less has them drinking less alcohol, too. Plus: A widow pays for her deceased husband’s hospital stay, only to receive a mysterious second bill.  Whoops, a sesame allergy law has made it harder to avoid the seed. Here's why Sergey Verin /Getty Images Thinking about the foods I consume that contain sesame, the list seems pretty short: toasted sesame seeds sprinkled on a bagel or on sushi, sesame oil, tahini, and a little halva when I’m feeling indulgent. But that short list is deceptive. It turns out sesame has been mixed into many baked goods in the form of flour, or hidden under blanket terms like “spices.”  Those invisible ingredients could be a big problem for roughly 1.6 million people in the U.S. who have a sesame allergy. A law in January added sesame to the FDA’s official list of regulated food allergens, joining more familiar foes like dairy, nuts and shellfish. That means any company selling packaged food or supplements containing sesame is required to list it on the label, or risk a recall.  But much to allergy-sufferers’ disappointment, in reaction to the law, many food manufacturers began adding sesame to products where it never was before. Learn why, and how different rules might do a better job protecting people with sesame and other allergies. Listen: Have a food allergy? Your broken skin barrier might be to blame Newsletter continues after sponsor message Ozempic seems to curb cravings for alcohol. Here's what scientists think is going on lucentius/Getty Images Earlier this summer, we shared an intriguing report by NPR’s Michaeleen Ducleff on how understanding the neurochemical dopamine can help us wean our kids, and ourselves, off of unhealthy amounts of screen time and junk food. For me, the major revelation of that story was that dopamine, which pop-psychologists have dubbed the “happiness molecule,” activates feelings of desire rather than pleasure. We feel a desire to scroll through Instagram or eat the last cookie in the box, but we don’t necessarily feel better for doing it.  This week Michaeleen’s back with more fascinating dopamine news: the molecule may be responsible for an unexpected side-effect of the diabetes drug Ozempic and counterpart Wegovy, which is prescribed for weight loss. With the drugs’ surge in popularity, doctors and patients have noticed they appear to reduce people's cravings for alcohol, nicotine and opioids. They may also reduce some types of compulsive behaviors, such as gambling and online shopping. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy, decreases hunger by triggering a sense of satiety, or fullness. Foods people tend to crave – especially the ones that are bad for us, like sweet and fatty treats – trigger a release of dopamine in the brain’s motivation center that drives us to keep chowing down. Semaglutide suppresses that dopamine release when we’re eating such foods, and the same goes for alcohol consumption, at least in some patients. Experts caution that it may be too early to start prescribing semaglutide for alcohol cravings or addictions, but research is ongoing. Learn more. Plus: Wegovy works. But here's what happens if you can't afford to keep taking the drug   You Count On NPR. NPR Counts On You.  Community support is the NPR Network's greatest strength and individuals like YOU make it possible. It's a key part that fuels our mission informing and engaging your community, your nation, your world.  It takes all of us. Help today.  Donate Now Bill of the Month: She paid her husband's hospital bill. A year after his death, they wanted more money Matt Kile for KFF Health News Kent Reynolds had been receiving chemotherapy for colon cancer for about four years. In 2022, his doctors determined he was too weak to receive chemo and admitted him to a hospital to see what was wrong. After a partial blockage of his bowel was discovered, Kent told his wife Eloise he no longer wanted to continue the difficult treatments. He into hospice care at home, and passed away the next month at the age of 62. Eloise Reynolds paid the bill for Kent's time in the hospital, about $820 after insurance – a fraction of the full cost of a two-week hospital stay. But a full year after her husband’s death she received a second bill, this one asking for nearly $1100. Reynolds was perplexed: she combed through the both bills and didn't find any new charges. Was the second bill the result of a clerical error, as the hospital claimed? Or as one health policy researcher suggested, was it consistent with the design of Kent Reynolds’ insurance plan? Get the scoop and learn what to do if you get a weird bill in the latest installment of Bill of the Month. Have a mystery medical bill? We want to help investigate. Share your bill and your experience with NPR and KFF Health News. Your story may be featured in our ongoing series.  Before you go: Malaka Gharib for NPR COMIC: In the '90s I survived summers in Egypt with no AC. How would it feel now? How to start a financial self-care routine As U.S. COVID hospitalizations rise, some places are bringing mask mandates back Fake 'sober homes' targeting Native Americans scam millions from taxpayers New York City is embracing teletherapy for teens. It may not be the best approach We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots. All our best, Andrea Muraskin and your hypoallergenic NPR Health editors Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Up First, Life Kit and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy