The USA, January 18, 2025 – The president who nominated him to head the National Health Service is not even inaugurated as yet, nor has he passed through the requisite Senate confirmation hearings to take on the important role in Health and Human Services but already Robert F. Kennedy Jr is having a profound effect on the state of health in the US, say those looking on.

On Wednesday January 15, the American Food and Drug Administration, FDA announced that it was banning Red Dye No. 3.  Many would say it is finally a reasonable response to a three year old petition, supported by studies which was filed by advocates who claimed the additive is linked to cancer; not in humans but in the animals the dye was tested on.

What is incredibly concerning is that this dye, once approved as ‘okay’ to be included in thousands of food products, is in everything from drinks to candies to over the counter medication.

Here is what the Today Show shared from its research.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr

“Red Dye No. 3, also known as erythrosine, is a synthetic food dye that gives foods and drinks a bright red color. It is also sometimes used in oral medicines and dietary supplements. It first was approved for use in food in 1907. It’s made from petroleum.

The FDA has approved 36 color additives for use in the U.S.; nine are synthetic dyes.”

Here is that list of foods experts say you should now avoid:  Candy, especially seasonal candies, such as candy corn and dyed marshmallows; Cakes and cupcakes; Frozen desserts, such as ice pops and ice creams with strawberry flavoring; Frostings; Maraschino cherries; Fruit cocktails; Colored beverages; Protein shakes; Vegetarian meats; Bacon bits; Sausages; Strawberry milk and Puddings.

The 2022 petition cited two studies that showed cancer in male lab rats when exposed to high levels of Red No. 3. According to the FDA announcement, the way Red No. 3 causes cancer in male lab rats does not occur in humans. And humans are typically exposed to much lower levels of Red No. 3 than lab rats. The announcement said that studies in other animals and humans did not result in these effects.

Frantically, health experts have sprung into action, populating the media circuit in an effort to warn consumers.  Worried, they say, what this additive may have been doing and what it has already done to millions of people because of its widespread use. And it would be products consumed not only by Americans, but all of its export markets which includes The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Here is what MSNBC reported on the ban by the FDA, which was announced on Wednesday January 15:  “The dye is still used in thousands of foods, including candy, cereals, cherries in fruit cocktails and strawberry-flavored milkshakes, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a food safety advocacy group that petitioned the agency in 2022 to end its use. More than 9,200 food items contain the dye, including hundreds of products made by large food companies, CSPI said, citing Agriculture Department data. The FDA is not prohibiting other artificial dyes, including Red No. 40, which has been linked to behavioral issues in children.”

If the additive is used, legally it must be included on the label.  You will want to check for:  D&C Red No. 3; FD&C Red 3 or Red 3.

Kennedy, who is expected to be approved as Health and Human Services secretary in the confirmation hearings, had said back in October that, “The first thing I’d do isn’t going to cost you anything because I’m just gonna tell the cereal companies: Take all the dyes out of their food.”

He has also been critical of the FDA approval system, labelling it “corrupt.”

The ban has now spurned conversation in countries like Canada which exports more than $16 billion in processed foods from the United States.

Red dye No. 3 is also banned in New Zealand, Australia and European countries.

By DANIELLE ROLLON

Bahamas Information Services

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas — The Government of The Bahamas is committed to improving healthcare facilities throughout The Bahamas, with steady progress being made on the state-of-the-art Freeport Health Campus.  With construction set in three phases, the Freeport Health Campus, when completed, will be a major development for Grand Bahama, providing comprehensive and essential healthcare services for all — citizens, residents, visitors, and those arriving on the new Celebration Cay.

Phase one of the project — a 60,000-square-foot clinic — is set for completion in late 2025, according to the Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville.  “The Freeport Health Campus is more than just a building; it is an embodiment of our collective vision for accessible, high-quality healthcare. Imagine a place where families can come together to receive a multitude of essential services, all under one roof — a hub of healing, equipped with cutting-edge technology and staffed by compassionate professionals dedicated to the well-being of our community,” said Dr. Darville.

With these ongoing improvements and the upcoming completion of phase one, the Freeport Health Campus is poised to see a significant boost in healthcare services in Grand Bahama, supporting the health and well-being of the community for years to come.

(BIS Photos/ Andrew Miller)

Kingston, Jamaica, January 18, 2025 – A new state-of-the-art immunohistochemistry (IHC) machine, installed at the National Public Health Laboratory in Kingston, was commissioned into service on Wednesday (January 15).

The unveiling of the VENTANA® BenchMark GX, valued US$419,584.38, is intended to strengthen the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ capabilities in managing breast cancer analysis, diagnosis and treatment.

The Ministry partnered with Roche, one of the largest biotechnical companies globally, for the undertaking.

Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said the acquisition marks a major step in further enhancing Jamaica’s diagnostic capacity, and will support the Ministry’s efforts to improve breast cancer care in the health system.

“The need for diagnostics is a big one in our public health system, and I am prepared to say we are not where we want to be. We have acquired a few mammograms over the last year and there are others that are supposed to be coming in. We… want to ensure that the initial screening, even before lab testing, is easier to assess as we encourage more persons to access,” he stated.

While acknowledging, “We are better off today than we were [approximately] five years ago”, the Minister maintained that “it’s a journey that has to continue if we are to stem the late detection and, unfortunately, the mortality rates in terms of late detection”.

Dr. Tufton emphasised that early diagnosis is critical in providing the necessary treatment and saving lives, noting data indicating that one in 21 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Dr. Tufton indicated that through the ‘Know Your Numbers’ Initiative, more than 100,000 tests were conducted. The initiative aims to encourage more Jamaicans to get screened for lifestyle diseases.

“We are going to be doing a lot more of that as part of the policy initiative to get more in,” he said, adding that through the Ministry’s mobile health centres, more persons will have access to healthcare services in small towns and communities.

Additionally, Dr. Tufton said more will be done to normalise the concept of screening for lifestyle diseases in order to support early detection and, by extension, a longer and better quality of life, particularly through the Ministry’s primary healthcare reform programme.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tufton said the work undertaken at the National Public Health Laboratory is crucial in providing diagnostics for the tests that have been undertaken through various programmes.

“Right now, on a monthly basis, some 40,000 samples are collected [and] some 200,000 tests are conducted… using approximately 20 machines which essentially provide the critical diagnosis for Jamaicans right across the length and breadth of the country as to their health status, and that is done by 250… employees,” he informed.

Dr. Tufton also indicated that the Ministry is moving towards having adequate diagnostic equipment within all the necessary health facilities as part of “helping or supporting the screening and the determination process as to what the status of the health of an individual is”.

Additionally, he said the Ministry is introducing a policy that will result in the long-term engagement of service contractors to repair and maintain equipment at health facilities.

Meanwhile, Consultant Haemato-oncologist at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), Dr. Joye Taylor-Houston, said accurate and early cancer diagnosis is essential in the fight against the disease.

“By improving access to tests, we can enhance patient care and outcomes through early diagnosis and, therefore, reduce the risk of the disease’s recurrence,” she stated.

Dr.Taylor-Houston said the oncology community is committed to the cause of providing comprehensive cancer care that meets the needs of patients.

“This new immunohistochemistry equipment will assist us in providing this level of care,” she added.

Disease Area Strategy Director, Roche Caribbean, Central America and Venezuela, Juan Cruz, said the equipment’s provision will enable Jamaica to optimise the national breast cancer testing regime and improve biomarker testing and diagnosis.

“This collaboration is another important step in the country’s commitment to having the required diagnostic capacity for a personalised approach to breast cancer, continuing the work that we began since 2015,” he said.

General Manager, Roche Caribbean, Central America and Venezuela, Alvaro Soto, acknowledged Jamaica being one of the first Caribbean countries to commence local IHC and continue this process to ensure precise cancer diagnostics.

“This milestone underscores the country’s commitment to enhancing healthcare outcomes through advanced technology. Achieving precise and early cancer diagnosis is crucial in the fight against this disease. With this new equipment, we are optimistic about the significant improvements in patient care,” he said.

Roche’s investment in the installation, maintenance and provision of test reagents for the equipment represents 86 per cent of the total cost.

The remaining 13.52 per cent allocated by the Health Ministry is for test reagents.

CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON

Release: JIS

Photo Caption: Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (second right), listens as Senior Medical Technologist at the National Public Health Laboratory in Kingston, Lincoln Fisher (second left), explains the functions of the new state-of-the-art VENTANA® BenchMark GX immunohistochemistry equipment, which was installed at the facility and commissioned into service on Wednesday (January 15). Also listening (from left) are Disease Area Strategy Director, Roche Caribbean, Central America and Venezuela, Juan Cruz; and Director, National Laboratory Services, Dr. Marline Tapper.

Photographer: Michael Sloley