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ANH News Beat (26/2026)

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Our weekly roundup of the latest natural news from across the globe in one place. This week: Big tobacco & UPFs; Regenerative greenwashing; EU deregulates gene-editing; Needles, not pills; Plus updates from ANH-USA and much more...

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In Brief (click on the links to read more)

Natural News

  • New research published in the American Journal of Public Health strengthens the case against major tobacco companies that helped engineer and expand the ultra-processed food (UPF) industry, applying the same product design and marketing strategies once used to sell cigarettes. Researchers found that tobacco firms developed highly palatable, potentially addictive food products and used sophisticated marketing techniques—particularly targeting children—to drive consumption. The findings add to growing evidence linking UPFs to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and cognitive decline, while strengthening calls for stronger regulation of the food industry.
  • Can the ground beneath our feet influence how we think? That question sparked widespread interest following publication of a study in Scientific Reports linking soil health with intelligence. However, Dr. Nasha Winters argues that the findings should be interpreted with caution. In her analysis, she notes that the study relied on broad population-level data and did not adequately account for major influences on cognitive outcomes, including education, income, healthcare access, environmental quality, and social conditions. While the research highlights a potentially important connection between healthy ecosystems and human wellbeing, it does not demonstrate that improving soil health alone directly increases intelligence. The debate does underscore both the value of soil health to the foods produced in them and, in turn, human health overall as well as underscoring the need for careful interpretation of complex scientific findings.

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  • More than 20 European organisations are sounding the alarm over what they call “regenerative greenwashing” — the growing use of the term regenerative agriculture in corporate marketing and EU policy without clear standards or accountability. While recognising that many farmers are genuinely adopting regenerative practices, the coalition warns that the label can also be used to rebrand input-intensive or environmentally harmful systems with only minor changes. The signatories argue that sustainability claims should be backed by science, transparent criteria, and verifiable outcomes, rather than vague promises.
  • Following the above call to action the European Parliament has voted to effectively deregulatate oversight of many gene-edited crops, claiming the change will boost innovation and sustainability, thus corrupting the original meaning of sustainable agriculture. But regardless of whether plants are altered using older genetic engineering techniques or newer gene-editing tools, novel genetic interventions should be subject to robust safety testing, environmental monitoring, and full transparency. Removing regulatory scrutiny does not remove risk. Consumers have a right to know how their food is produced, and policymakers have a duty to ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of human health or environmental protection. GM Watch has collated a range of reactions from those opposing the deregulation here, here, and here.

  • Scientists from 27 European research institutions have issued a stark warning in Science that the European Commission’s proposed Food and Feed Safety Omnibus could significantly weaken EU pesticide protections as the EU effectively deregulates oversight of gene edited crops. The researchers argue that replacing regular re-evaluation of pesticides with more permanent approvals would increase risks to human health and the environment, reduce incentives to develop safer alternatives, and undermine public trust in the regulatory system. Instead of deregulation, they call for greater transparency, better monitoring of pesticide impacts, stronger use of independent science in decision-making, and increased resources for EFSA to speed up assessments without compromising safety. The warning comes as Member States consider the proposal, raising concerns that the EU could move away from its previously robust precautionary approach to protecting people and nature.

  • Following the defeat of similar attempts to deregulate plants created using ‘new’ genomic techniques authorities in New Zealand are trying to use a back door approach to introduce similar legislation. The NZDSOS team set out what the legislation means and how it could circumvent previous opposition.

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  • New preclinical research, published in Nature Communications, suggests phytic acid, a compound found in beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and whole grains, may help strengthen the gut barrier. But before anyone starts piling their plate high with phytate-rich foods, context matters. Phytic acid is also an “anti-nutrient”, known to bind minerals such as iron, zinc and calcium, potentially reducing their absorption. Even the researchers caution that dose, physiology and food form matter — and that their findings should not be treated as dietary advice. The ANH view? Plant foods can be valuable, but overdoing consumption of high-phytate foods may not be wise, especially for those with gut issues or mineral deficiencies.
  • Persistent fatigue is often dismissed as a consequence of modern life, but a new study suggests it could be a warning sign of suboptimal nutrition. Researchers, publishing in Nutrients, found that higher homocysteine levels—a biomarker linked to deficiencies in vitamin B12 and folate—were associated with greater fatigue in men and lower motivation in women. Importantly, these associations were observed in otherwise healthy adults. The findings raise an important question: how many people are struggling with low energy when the real issue may be nutritional insufficiency? Before reaching for another coffee, it may be worth looking at what’s on your plate.
  • Two major new reports paint a troubling picture of the UK’s food landscape. The Food Foundation’s Broken Plate 2026 report reveals that the poorest households would need to spend up to 85% of their disposable income to afford the Government’s recommended healthy diet, while the gap between the cost of healthier and less healthy foods is now the widest it has been in more than a decade. Meanwhile, Arla’s Plate of the Nation report describes a growing “nutrition gap”, where people over consume calories but fail to obtain essential nutrients. Together, the reports suggest that modern food systems are delivering cheap energy but not necessarily good nutrition. For ANH, the message is clear: food policy should focus not only on affordability, but on ensuring that nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods are accessible to everyone, while access to energy-dense, nutrient poor foods is reduced.

>>> Transform your diet, correct deficiencies, and unlock vibrant wellbeing with Reset Eating Revised 1st edition

  • Court documents emerging following settlement of litigation against Merck have renewed questions about the safety evaluation of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil. According to reports, Danish physician and former Gardasil clinical trial investigator, Dr Jesper Mehlsen, repeatedly raised concerns about potential autoimmune and autonomic nervous system reactions observed following vaccination, but says his warnings were repeatedly dismissed rather than investigated. The allegations add to broader claims from independent researchers that aspects of Gardasil’s safety testing and adverse event reporting may have obscured important signals. While the claims remain contested, the case highlights a fundamental principle of medical ethics: credible safety concerns deserve transparent investigation, not dismissal. The issue isn’t simply vaccine safety, but the need for scientific openness, independent oversight, and truly informed consent.

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  • Alzheimer’s disease risk can be influenced by the lifestyle choices we make every day. Researchers publishing in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring found that dietary patterns, physical activity, social engagement, cognitive stimulation, sleep quality and other lifestyle factors can play a significant role in protecting brain health and reducing the likelihood of cognitive decline. The findings reinforce a message that ANH has championed for years: while genetics matter, they are not destiny. A nutrient-dense diet, regular movement, restorative sleep, stress management, and strong social connections may be among the most powerful tools we have to support healthy ageing and help keep our brains resilient for longer.

>>> Alzheimer’s disease: cheap nutrients outperform latest drug

  • For centuries, acupuncture has been used to support recovery from illness, but modern medicine has largely remained dismissive of its benefits. Now, a new randomised multimodal MRI trial, published in CNS Neuroscience & Therapies, suggests that true acupuncture may offer meaningful benefits for people recovering from stroke. Researchers found improvements across a range of post-stroke symptoms when compared with sham acupuncture or standard care, adding to a growing body of evidence that this traditional therapy may have a place in integrative rehabilitation. The study is another reminder that effective healthcare should draw on the best of both traditional wisdom and modern science.

ANH-USA Update

  • Americans face the removal of their access to virtually all hemp-derived products if a federal ban goes ahead in November. Two pro-hemp bills now in Congress offer a lifeline to stop the ban. Read more and Take Action to protect homeopathy today!
  • The vegetables and fruit on our plates bear little resemblance to what was available in the past. As modern agriculture has increased the nutrients in the plants we eat has dropped as soil health has been degraded by the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. We’re now facing an onslaught of genetically engineered soil microbes posing a serious risk to the health of a unique ecosystem we barely understand. Read more and share with your networks…

2 Responses

  1. Lorna
    Lorna

    For some historical background info on soil degradation it’s worth reading Graham Harvey’s “the Killing of the Countryside”. How the post war subsidy system did so much damage. Of course there is always Rachel Carson’s “silent spring” to re-read as well.

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