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New research raises questions about the packaged snacks lining grocery store aisles

• More than 80% of packaged foods marketed for toddlers in one study were classified as ultra-processed.

• Nearly half failed to meet at least one World Health Organization nutrient standard for young children.

• Researchers say parents shouldn't assume products sold in the toddler food aisle automatically meet nutritional guidelines.

Parents often reach for foods marketed specifically for toddlers believing they're designed with young children's nutritional needs in mind. But new research from The University of Texas at Austin suggests that may not always be the case.

In an audit of grocery store shelves, researchers found that the overwhelming majority of packaged toddler foods were classified as ultra-processed, and many also exceeded recommended levels for nutrients like sugar, sodium, or fat.

The findings come at a time when federal officials are considering changes to food labeling that could make it easier for shoppers to quickly identify products high in certain nutrients. According to the researchers, the U.S. currently does not require warning labels for foods that are high in sugar, sodium or calories, meaning parents often have to rely on carefully reading ingredient lists and nutrition labels to compare products.

Many parents may assume that products sold on the baby/toddler food aisles of their grocery stores have to meet certain nutrient standards. Our findings highlight that half of the toddler foods available in local grocery stores do not, researcher Erin A. Hudson said in a news release.

As a result, parents have to be vigilant in checking labels and ingredients to determine the nutrient content and processing level of products for their toddlers.

How the researchers conducted the study

For the study, researchers photographed products sold in the baby and toddler food aisles of 21 grocery stores in Austin, Texas.

They analyzed 2,783 packaged foods marketed for children between 6 and 36 months of age. Infant formula, beverages, and purees commonly introduced as first foods were excluded from the analysis so the focus remained on packaged toddler foods commonly found on store shelves.

Each product was classified using the NOVA food classification system, which categorizes foods based on their level of processing. Researchers also evaluated products against the World Health Organization's Nutrient and Promotion Profile Model, which sets recommended nutrient standards for commercial foods intended for young children.

What the findings could mean for families

Overall, 81% of the products examined were classified as ultra-processed, while 49% failed to meet at least one WHO nutrient recommendation.

Specifically, 17% exceeded recommended sugar levels, 25% were too high in sodium, 11% exceeded fat recommendations, and 12% did not meet energy density guidelines. Examples included fruit pouches, oat bars, macaroni and cheese products, turkey sticks, and puffed snacks.

The researchers emphasized that their work examined only packaged foods sold in grocery stores and did not reflect everything toddlers actually eat.

Still, they say the results highlight the importance of checking nutrition labels rather than assuming products marketed for toddlers automatically meet recommended nutritional standards.

During these critical early years of development, most parents are trying to feed their children healthfully but may be challenged to do so by the toddler food products available in their grocery stores, said Hudson.

Warning labels on products exceeding nutrient thresholds could help parents navigate the toddler food environment and might encourage manufacturers to reformulate these products.

New poll shows food safety concerns are influencing produce purchases nationwide

• Four in 10 Americans say they're buying or eating less produce because of the Cyclospora outbreak.

• Most people are following news about the outbreak, with those paying the closest attention most likely to change their eating habits.

• Confidence in the FDA is mixed, though more Americans say they have confidence in the agency than not.

The ongoing Cyclospora outbreak isn't just making headlines it's also changing the way many Americans shop for food.

According to a new CBS News/YouGov poll, 40% of U.S. adults say they are now buying or eating less produce because of concerns about the outbreak.

The poll suggests the outbreak has captured widespread public attention. Most Americans say they are following news about Cyclospora at least somewhat closely, making it one of the more closely watched public health stories at the moment.

Women were somewhat more likely than men to report cutting back on produce, while older adults were also more likely than younger people to say they've changed their eating habits.

The findings come as federal health officials continue investigating illnesses linked to Cyclospora, a parasite that can contaminate food or water and cause an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis.

How the poll was conducted

The findings are based on a nationally representative CBS News/YouGov survey of 2,193 U.S. adults conducted between July 22 and July 24, 2026.

Researchers weighted the results to reflect the U.S. adult population based on demographic factors, including gender, age, race, education, and 2024 presidential vote. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.

Participants were asked about how closely they were following news about the Cyclospora outbreak, whether it had affected their produce purchases or consumption, and how much confidence they had in the Food and Drug Administration's (FDAs) ability to respond to the situation.

What the results mean for consumers

One of the clearest patterns in the survey is that attention appears to influence behavior. People who said they were following the outbreak "very closely" were especially likely to report buying or eating less produce than those paying less attention to the news.

The poll also found mixed opinions about the FDA's handling of the outbreak. Overall, more Americans expressed confidence in the agency than a lack of confidence, but relatively few said they had "a lot" of confidence.

While the survey highlights shifting consumer behavior and attitudes, it doesn't examine whether reducing produce consumption lowers the risk of illness. Instead, it offers a snapshot of how a high-profile food safety investigation is influencing Americans' perceptions, shopping decisions, and confidence in the nation's food safety system.

New research suggests the medication's effects can outlast early appetite changes

• People taking semaglutide continued eating fewer calories after 60 weeks, even as some feelings of hunger returned.

• The study suggests eating less not just feeling less hungry may help explain the medication's long-term weight loss benefits.

• Researchers say the findings may help set realistic expectations for people taking semaglutide over the long term.

Many people who take semaglutide for weight loss notice dramatic changes early on, including feeling less hungry and thinking about food less often. But as time goes on, some worry the medication has stopped working if those effects begin to fade.

A new study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that may not be the case. The researchers found that adults taking semaglutide continued to eat significantly fewer calories after more than a year on the medication, even though some of the early appetite-suppressing effects became less noticeable over time.

The findings, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, help explain how semaglutide may support both initial weight loss and long-term weight maintenance.

Many patients worry that their medication has stopped working if they notice some return of hunger after the first several months, researcher Jena S. Tronieri said in a news release.

Our findings show that even when people feel some of those sensations returning, semaglutide continues to help them eat less. That sustained reduction in calorie intake appears to be a key reason why weight loss is maintained over time.

How the study was conducted

The randomized, double-blind clinical trial followed 120 adults with overweight or obesity for 60 weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a once-weekly 2.4-milligram dose of semaglutide or a placebo, and everyone also received regular counseling on healthy eating and physical activity.

At the start of the study and again after 20, 40, and 60 weeks, participants completed a five-hour laboratory visit. After eating a standardized breakfast, they were offered lunch and instructed to eat until they felt comfortably full. Researchers then measured exactly how many calories each participant consumed.

The study also tracked hunger, fullness, food cravings, and how rewarding participants found different foods.

What the findings could mean

Throughout the study, people taking semaglutide consistently consumed about 24% to 30% fewer calories than those receiving the placebo. Participants in the semaglutide group also lost an average of 15.1% of their starting body weight after 60 weeks, compared with 3.4% in the placebo group.

One of the more notable findings was that the medication's effects on appetite didn't all last equally. During the first 20 weeks, participants reported feeling less hungry, having better appetite control and thinking about food less often. By weeks 40 and 60, however, many of those self-reported differences were no longer statistically significant, even though calorie intake remained substantially lower.

For consumers, that distinction may be reassuring. The researchers say a gradual return of hunger doesn't necessarily mean semaglutide has stopped working. Instead, the medication may continue helping people eat fewer calories even if it no longer feels as dramatically effective as it did during the first few months.

This study highlights an important distinction between peoples perceptions of their appetite and how they actually eat, researcher Thomas A. Wadden said in the release.

People taking semaglutide for weight loss often notice dramatic reductions in hunger and food noise when they begin this treatment. If those sensations gradually become less noticeable, some may incorrectly assume the medication is no longer effective.

The scammers are using letters instead of email or texts

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The IRS is warning cryptocurrency holders about fake letters directing them to a nonexistent Digital Asset Compliance Portal.

• QR codes in the letters lead to a website that imitates IRS.gov and seeks wallet details, exchange credentials, and personal information.

• Recipients should avoid responding, verify communications through IRS.gov, and report suspected fraud to IRS Criminal Investigation.

The IRS is alerting cryptocurrency holders to a mail-based phishing campaign designed to steal personal information and digital assets.

Fraudsters are sending official-looking letters claiming recipients must enroll in a Digital Asset Compliance Portal before a specified deadline. The letters contain QR codes that lead to a fraudulent website modeled after IRS.gov, according to an IRS Criminal Investigation fraud alert.

The IRS said it does not operate such a portal and did not send the letters.

Once on the fake website, victims may be asked to provide identifying information, cryptocurrency wallet details, exchange-account credentials, or other sensitive data. Criminals can use that information to steal identities, access accounts, or take control of digital assets.

Criminals continue to exploit public trust in government agencies, IRS-CI Chief Jarod Koopman said, urging taxpayers to verify unexpected requests before responding and report suspected fraud to law enforcement.

Social engineering tactics

The campaign uses several familiar social-engineering tactics, including government branding, urgent deadlines. and unsolicited QR codes. Although the IRS includes QR codes in some legitimate correspondence, taxpayers who receive an unexpected notice should independently visit IRS.gov or contact the agency using information published on its official website.

Coinbase and cybersecurity company DarkTower traced the infrastructure to a recently registered domain obtained through a Hong Kong registrar and hosted in Romania, The Journal of Accountancy reported. The IRS has not disclosed how the perpetrators obtained cryptocurrency holders names and mailing addresses or how many people may have received the letters.

Anyone who shared information through the fraudulent site should stop communicating with the scammers, change passwords on affected accounts, and contact the relevant bank or cryptocurrency exchange immediately. The IRS also recommends enabling multifactor authentication and never disclosing private keys or wallet-recovery phrases.

Potential victims should preserve letters, screenshots, and emails as evidence and submit reports through the IRS-CI tip portal.