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Food Preservatives Diabetes Study + Florida Baby Formula Heavy Metals

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Lifeuntox Daily
January 14, 2026

Good morning, wellness warriors! Some weeks, the research drops quietly. This wasn't one of those weeks.

A first-of-its-kind study just connected the dots between common food preservatives and diabetes. Florida released testing data that parents of formula-fed babies need to see immediately. And the EPA made a policy change that could reshape air quality regulations for years to come.

None of this made mainstream headlines. But all of it matters - deeply - for anyone trying to protect their family's health.

This is exactly why Lifeuntox exists: to surface the science that gets buried, translate it into plain English, and deliver it straight to the people who need it most.

This week's headlines:

  • 🧪 Landmark study links 12 common food preservatives to 50% higher diabetes risk

  • 👶 Florida releases infant formula heavy metal testing - 67% exceeded safe limits

  • 🏭 EPA announces major policy shift on air pollution health assessments

Know someone who needs to see this week's news? Share The Global Pulse (copy URL here)​.

🧪 BREAKING RESEARCH

First-Ever Study Links Common Food Preservatives to 50% Higher Type 2 Diabetes Risk

A landmark study from French researchers has established the first direct link between food preservatives and type 2 diabetes in humans - and the findings are significant enough to warrant a closer look at ingredient labels.

The research, published January 7th in Nature Communications, followed over 108,000 adults for 14 years. Scientists tracked detailed dietary records including specific brand names, then cross-referenced with databases measuring additive content in those foods.

💡 Key Finding: People with the highest preservative intake showed a 47% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who consumed the least. Non-antioxidant preservatives were linked to a 49% increase.

Preservatives Linked to Increased Risk:

  • Potassium sorbate (E202) - Found in baked goods, cheese, drinks

  • Sodium nitrite (E250) - Common in processed meats (bacon, ham, deli meats)

  • Potassium metabisulfite - Used in wine, dried fruits

  • Citric acid (E330) - Flavor enhancer in sodas, snacks

  • Phosphoric acid - Found in sodas, processed meats, cheese

"This is the first study in the world investigating the associations between exposure to these food additives and type 2 diabetes," said lead researcher Mathilde Touvier, Inserm Research Director.

The findings add scientific weight to recommendations that health advocates have made for years: favor fresh, minimally processed foods whenever possible.


👶INFANT SAFETY ALERT

Florida Testing Reveals Heavy Metals in 67% of Infant Formula Products

On January 9th, Florida officials released results from statewide infant formula testing that parents need to see. The Florida Department of Health tested 24 commonly available infant formula products - and 16 of them (67%) exceeded EPA/FDA maximum daily limits for heavy metals.

Governor Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, and State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced the findings as part of the state's "Healthy Florida First" initiative.

💡 What Was Found: Mercury was detected in 16 of 24 formulas tested. Arsenic appeared in 5 formulas, cadmium in 3, and lead in 2.

Formulas With Highest Contamination:

  • Similac Soy Isomil powder - All four heavy metals detected (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury)

  • Enfamil Prosobee - Three toxins detected

  • Enfamil Infant NeuroPro Ready to Use - Three toxins detected

"Mercury is one of the most toxic things you can put in a person's body," State Surgeon General Ladapo stated. Infants face heightened vulnerability due to immature detoxification systems and developing organs.

Important context: Florida did not release specific testing methodology or exact contaminant levels, drawing some criticism from transparency advocates. Consumer Reports' 2025 testing showed different results for some brands. More research and data transparency is needed.

In response, Florida is expanding WIC program choices to allow families more formula options. Full results are available at ExposingFoodToxins.com.

🏭 POLICY ALERT

EPA Will No Longer Assign Dollar Value to Health Benefits from Air Pollution Rules

In a significant policy shift announced January 13th, the Environmental Protection Agency will no longer calculate the economic value of health benefits when evaluating air pollution regulations.

For decades, EPA cost-benefit analyses have included dollar values for prevented deaths, avoided hospitalizations, and reduced illness from cleaner air. That practice has now ended for regulations targeting fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone - two pollutants with well-documented health impacts.bacteria are stressed by these chemicals, some become resistant to antibiotics.

💡 Why It Matters: Without monetized health benefits in cost-benefit analyses, it becomes easier to argue against pollution regulations based purely on industry compliance costs.

"It's extraordinarily unusual," said NYU legal expert Richard Revesz. "This will be the first time in a long time that EPA hasn't tried to provide a monetary benefit to reducing at least PM2.5 and ozone."

Health experts have raised concerns about the implications:

"I'm worried about what this could mean for health," said Dr. Mary Rice, pulmonologist and director of Harvard's Center for Climate Health. "Especially for people with chronic respiratory illnesses like asthma and COPD, for kids whose lungs are still developing, and for older people."

Air Pollution Health Facts:

  • PM2.5 is linked to heart disease, stroke, asthma, dementia, and premature death

  • An estimated 135,000 Americans die annually from air pollution

  • Air pollution is the second leading risk factor for death globally - ahead of tobacco

📰 MORE HEADLINES THAT MATTER

Stanford AI Predicts Disease Risk From One Night's Sleep
Researchers developed an AI system that analyzes physiological signals during sleep to predict risk for over 100 health conditions, including cancer, dementia, and heart disease. The findings suggest sleep contains early health warnings that have been largely overlooked.
Read more →

Weekend Sleep May Protect Teen Mental Health
University of Oregon research found adolescents who catch up on sleep over weekends show significantly lower risk of depression. While consistent sleep remains ideal, weekend recovery sleep appears to offer meaningful protection.
Read more →

Weak Body Clock Linked to Higher Dementia Risk
A study of 2,183 older adults found those with weaker, more fragmented circadian rhythms - or activity patterns peaking later in the day - faced significantly elevated dementia risk. Staying in sync with natural sleep-wake cycles may protect brain health.
Read more →

Wildfires Emit 21% More Air Pollution Than Previously Estimated
New research in Environmental Science & Technology found wildfires release 143 million tons of airborne organic compounds annually - including gases that transform into dangerous fine particles lingering long after fires are extinguished.
Read more →

💡 HEALTH HACK OF THE DAY

Read Preservative Labels Like a Pro: Look for codes E200-E299 (non-antioxidant preservatives) and E300-E399 (antioxidant preservatives) on ingredient lists. The new French study suggests limiting sodium nitrite (E250), potassium sorbate (E202), and phosphoric acid where possible. Cooking at home with whole ingredients avoids approximately 25% of total preservative exposures.

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