Some meals pack a days worth of sodium and calories

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Wendys ranks as the least healthy fastfood chain in the U.S., offering meals like the Triple Baconator with large fries and a Frosty that can exceed 2,160 calories and 3,400mg sodium.
  

• Sonic DriveIn follows closely, with combo meals and massive shakeslike the 44oz Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Master Shakepacking over 1,700 calories and nearly 50 teaspoons of sugar.
  

• ChickfilA, despite its healthier image, lands at No.10 on the list, with dishes like the Cobb Salad (~830 calories) and waffle fries contributing significantly to daily calorie and sodium intake.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Make America Healthy Again campaign has a lot of people giving their diets more scrutiny. In that spirit, WorldAtlas has ranked the top 10 fast food chains with the least healthy offerings.

It should be noted that the list highlights one or two menu items from each chain that are called out for a low nutritional value. However, most chains offer healthier options, should consumers choose them.

That said, heres the list:

1. Wendys tops the list. The notorious Triple Baconator meal, when paired with large fries and a medium Frosty, surrenders roughly 2,160calories, 54g saturated fat, and 3,400mg sodiumfar surpassing daily dietary guidelines.

2. Sonic Drive-In takes second place, with typical combos reaching 1,600calories and 3,000mg sodium; signature shakes alone may clock in above 1,700calories and 50tsp of sugar.

3. Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, and KFC fill out the top five, offering calorie-dense burritos, sugary Blizzards, and friedchicken buckets that routinely exceed 1,300calories plus excessive sodium and fat.

Subs, burgers and pies

• Quiznos serves toasted subs with up to 1,300calories and 2,850mg sodium, often ballooning to 2,500calories with sides.

• McDonalds continues to lure diners with Big Mac meals that hit 1,300calories and heavy saturated fatsespecially when washed down with fries and soda. However, McDonalds recently announced its bringing back its Snack Wraps, with far fewer calories.

• Smashburger disguises indulgence as gourmet, with burgers exceeding 1,050calories and shakes adding a further 930calories.

• Little Caesars, famous for its $5 HotNReady, packs a staggering 2,140calories and 4,260mg sodium into a single pepperoni pizza.

• ChickfilA, at No.10, isnt off the hook: fried chicken sandwiches with medium waffle fries contain 800calories, 750mg sodium, and sugary beverages quickly push diners into excessive ranges. However, the chain also offers broiled chicken options.

What it means for health

Americans face rising numbers of obesity; over 40% of adults and nearly 20% of children are affected, per data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meals far exceeding 2,000calories in a single sitting can contribute to weight gain, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.

Wendys defended its menu, emphasizing customizable, quality-driven options that cater to "unique lifestyles and preferences.

Health experts concur: occasional indulgence is part of life, but informed choices matter. Skipping supersized drinks, choosing grilled items over fried, and monitoring sodium intake can substantially reduce health risks.

The food products contain undeclared allergens

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The USDAs FSIS issued a public health alert for Prep Chef barbecue pulled pork and pulled pork burrito filling due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.

• Affected items include 16-oz. trays of pulled pork with BBQ sauce (various lot codes and best if used by dates in July 2025) and 10-lb. boxes of pulled pork & gouda mac and cheese burrito filling (with use by dates from April to July 2026).

• No illnesses have been reported, but consumers allergic to soy, fish, or eggs are advised not to consume the products, which should be discarded or returned.

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert for pulled pork products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.

The two ready-to-eat products, barbecue pulled pork and pulled pork burrito filling, are prepared with Worcestershire sauce, which contains soy, a known allergen that is not declared on the product labels.

The pulled pork burrito filling product also contains anchovies and egg whites, known allergens that are not declared on the product label. Consumers with allergies to soy, fish or egg should not consume these products. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

The ready-to-eat pulled pork and burrito filling products were produced between April 3, 2025, and July 9, 2025. The following products are subject to the public health alert:

• 16-oz. plastic trays containing Prep Chef PULLED PORK WITH BBQ SAUCE with Best if used by dates 7/10/25, 7/15/25, 7/24/25, or 7/31/25 and lot codes 025148, 025153, 5162, 5169, 5176, 5189, or 5190 printed on the label.

• 10-lb. boxes containing two 5-lb. bags of frozen Prep Chef BBQ PULLED PORK & GOUDA MAC AND CHEESE BURRITO FILLING with USE BY dates 4/3/2026, 4/24/2026, 5/2/2026, 5/5/2026, 5/16/2026, 5/22/2026, 6/12/2026, 6/23/2026 or 7/3/2026 and lot codes 025093, 025114, 025122, 025136, 025142, 5163, 5171, or 5184 printed on the side of the box.

What to do

The products subject to the public heath alert bear the establishment number EST. 46046 inside the USDA mark of inspection. The barbecue pulled pork product was shipped to Hannaford grocery store locations in Maine and New York. The pulled pork burrito filling product was distributed to Jackson's gas station locations in Idaho for breakfast burrito products.

The problem was discovered during a routine FSIS label review.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

New research on over 1 million kids finds no connection between vaccines and autism

• Findings from a recent study found no link between aluminum in vaccines and autism, asthma, or 47 other health issues

• The research tracked over 1.2million Danish kids born between 19972018 using national health records.

• The cumulative aluminum exposure showed no increased risk of any of the 50 adolescent childhood conditions measuredand even hints of slight protection for some conditions.

A recent nationwide Danish study, the biggest of its kind, has delivered clear, reassuring results for parents and health care providers alike.

Tracking more than 1.2 million children born in Denmark between 1997 and 2018, researchers looked at childhood vaccines containing a small amount of aluminum (used as an adjuvant to boost immunity).

They investigated whether these vaccines were associated with any longterm health problems, such as allergies, autoimmune disorders, or neurodevelopmental issues like autism. The study found no evidence that vaccinerelated aluminum exposure was tied to increased health risks.

Our results are reassuring, researcher Anders Hviid said in a news release. By analyzing data from more than one million Danish children, we found absolutely no indication that the very small amount of aluminum used in the childhood vaccination program increases the risk of 50 different health outcomes during childhood.

The study

Researchers from the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen linked Denmarks health recordsincluding birth, vaccination, and diagnosis datato form a massive childhood cohort.

They estimated how much aluminum each child received from vaccines before they turned 2. Then they used statistical models to see whether an extra milligram of aluminum by age two affected the risk of developing any of 50 childhood disorders later on.

Children were followed from age 2 until age 5, the end of 2020, if they left the country, or died.

What the Results Mean

Overall, there was no increased risk of autism detected. The hazard ratios for all three condition groups hovered around 1 or even belowmeaning no increase in risk, and in some cases a potential slight decrease.

For autism, the hazard ratio was 0.93 (CI 0.890.97); for ADHD it was 0.90 (CI 0.840.96). These are not clinically worrying and show no sign of harm from the aluminum component of vaccines.

The study didnt look at rare outcomes or illnesses that appear only later in childhood. Also, it didnt involve reviewing individual medical chartsbut in Denmark, registry data is generally accurate.

In an era marked by widespread misinformation about vaccines, it is crucial to rely on solid scientific evidence, Hviid said in the news release.

Large, population-based register studies like this one tracking more than a million children over many years is a bulwark against the politicization of health science which undermines public trust in vaccines. It is absolutely essential to distinguish real science from politically motivated campaigns otherwise, it is the children who will end up paying the price.

Bottom Line for Parents

If you're a parent worried about aluminum in vaccines, this study is a major confidence booster. Large-scale and thorough, it confirms that the tiny aluminum amounts used in vaccines are not linked to autism, allergies, asthma, autoimmune conditions, ADHDor any of the other 50 conditions studied.

This is the first study of this scale and with such comprehensive analyses, and it confirms the strong safety profile of the vaccines weve used for decades in Denmark, Hviid said.

The slowdown coincides with an increase in mortgage rates

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Mortgage applications dropped 10.0% amid rising interest rates and post-holiday adjustments.
  

• Refinance activity declined 7%, while purchase applications fell to their slowest pace since May.
  

• Jumbo mortgage rates remained below conventional rates for the third consecutive week.
  

The U.S. housing market ground to a halt last week if mortgage applications are any indication. The Mortgage Bankers Association reports the number of people applying for mortgages plunged by 10% from the previous week.

There could be other factors that help explain the numbers. The decline followed an Independence Day holiday week, which typically disrupts normal mortgage application patterns. On an unadjusted basis, applications rebounded 13% compared to the previous week, reflecting some normalization after the holiday.

The Purchase Index, which reflects new home loan applications, declined 12% seasonally adjusted the slowest pace since May while the unadjusted index rose 11% week-over-week and remained 13% higher than the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the Refinance Index dropped 7% week-over-week. Still, refinance activity was 25% higher than the same week in 2024, suggesting longer-term gains despite short-term rate volatility.

The increase in mortgage rates last week, driven by higher Treasury yields and concerns about economic impacts from tariffs, led to a slowdown in both purchase and refinance activity, said Joel Kan, MBAs vice president and deputy chief economist. Jumbo rates being lower than conventional rates for a third week signals strategic shifts by some depository institutions toward balance sheet lending.

Interest rates climbed across loan types

The rise in rates was evident across all major loan categories:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages (conforming): Increased to 6.82% from 6.77%.

• 30-year jumbo loans: Rose to 6.75% from 6.69%.

• FHA-backed 30-year loans: Increased marginally to 6.52%.

• 15-year fixed-rate loans: Jumped to 6.16% from 6.04%.

• 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs): Increased to 6.08%, though the effective rate decreased due to lower points.

The refinance share of total mortgage activity ticked up to 41.1% from 40.0% the previous week. However, adjustable-rate mortgages saw a dip in demand, making up only 7.1% of total applications, down from 7.6%.

If passed, the law would make California the first state to protect pregnant consumers from toxic lead in daily supplements

• A California Assembly committee just advanced a first-of-its-kind bill to ban lead in prenatal vitamins sold in the state.

• A recent study found 90% of tested prenatal vitamins contained lead, which can harm a babys development.

• The proposed law would require manufacturers to meet the strictest lead limits starting in 2027.
  

California is one step closer to becoming the first state in the U.S. to ban prenatal vitamins that contain leada toxic metal known to harm developing babies.

A bill recently advanced by the California Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee would prohibit the sale of prenatal supplements containing more than 0.5 micrograms of lead per daily serving.

That threshold aligns with the strictest public health recommendations and is aimed at protecting pregnant people and their babies from unnecessary exposure to a dangerous contaminant.

Any exposure to lead during pregnancy is dangerous there is no safe level, Susan Little, the Environmental Working Groups (EWGs) California legislative director said in a news release.

Even trace amounts can interfere with a babys brain development, raising the risk of lifelong health and learning problems. Its unacceptable that pregnant people are unknowingly exposed to toxic metals in the very supplements they take to protect their health.

Lead in vitamins? It's more common than you think

While lead in vitamins might sound surprising, a recent study by the EWG and Unleaded Kids found that more than 9 out of 10 prenatal vitamins tested contained detectable levels of lead. Some even exceeded Californias maximum allowable dose level, which is set to warn consumers of reproductive harm under Proposition 65.

Prenatal vitamins are typically taken daily for months or even years. Even low levels of lead exposure over time can be dangerous, especially during pregnancy.

Lead has been linked to a range of developmental issues in children, including learning difficulties, lower IQ, and behavioral problems. And because lead can cross the placenta, babies are exposed in the womblong before their first breath.

What's in the billand why it matters

If passed, the new California law would require all prenatal vitamins sold in the state to meet the 0.5 microgram-per-day lead limit by January 1, 2027. This includes products sold both online and in stores. Manufacturers would be prohibited from selling non-compliant products or even advertising them to California consumers.

Unlike prescription drugs, dietary supplements in the U.S. are not tightly regulated by the FDA before they hit the market. That leaves consumers largely in the dark about whats actually in the vitamins they rely on.

Pregnant people have a right to know exactly what theyre putting in their bodies, Bernadette Del Chiaro, EWGs senior vice president for California, said in the news release.

SB 646 brings long-overdue transparency to the supplement industry and puts California once again at the forefront of protecting maternal and infant health.

Whats next

The bill still needs to be approved by other legislative committees and both chambers of Californias legislature before it can be signed into law. If successful, it could set a national precedentand spark broader efforts to clean up the supplement industry.

In the meantime, experts advise consumers to research brands carefully and look for independent testing results when choosing prenatal vitamins.