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The Examination

New Zealand to drop world’s first ‘generational’ smoking ban

Other countries are also considering bans on tobacco product sales, similar to a pioneering law now axed in a deal by New Zealand’s right-wing coalition.

November 28, 2023
The Examination

Plastic pollution a ‘massive experiment on ourselves,’ scientists warn

As talks for an international plastics treaty advance at a UN summit in Kenya, little is known about the long-term health risks of the ubiquitous material.

November 16, 2023
The Examination

US regulator cracks down on food industry for paid dietitian ‘influencer’ posts

The agency said food and sugar industry trade groups and nutrition influencers failed to adequately disclose who was behind paid advertising.

November 15, 2023
A hairdresser straightens the hair of a woman of color

FDA’s proposed ban on chemical hair straighteners follows years of ‘beauty justice’ advocacy

We sat down with ecologist Micaela Martinez to talk about harmful products that disproportionately affect women of color as a rising frontier of environmental justice.

October 20, 2023
The Examination

Soda industry playbook on display in South Africa's sugar tax battle

As taxes aimed at reducing sugary drink consumption have been adopted around the world, health advocates face familiar pushback from the sweetened-beverage industry.

October 13, 2023
The Examination

‘Big Vape’ reporter talks lessons learned from Juul’s rise, fall, and future

We talk to the author of the book behind Netflix’s new docuseries on e-cigarette company Juul about the corporate and regulatory missteps that helped fuel a teen vaping crisis.

October 11, 2023
The Examination

Philip Morris ‘smoke-free’ and online campaigns are propaganda, lawsuit alleges

The tobacco giant is accused of violating French public health law in its marketing strategy for IQOS heated tobacco products. 

October 5, 2023
Illustration of smokers outside China's Great Hall of the People

China Tobacco, by the numbers

Measuring the power and influence of the world’s largest cigarette manufacturer.

September 28, 2023
The Examination

What to know about the global tobacco control treaty

Twenty years on, the landmark Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has changed tobacco policy across the world — but still faces fierce industry resistance.   

September 28, 2023
The Examination

I spent months reading vaping research. Here’s what science does — and doesn’t — say about the risks

As e-cigarette use spreads, the health of millions hinges on getting the answers right.

September 18, 2023
The Examination

Killing millions and lowering IQs, lead is a greater global threat than previously measured, studies show

New research surveys tainted household products and analyzes worldwide toll of the dangerous chemical, urging governments to expand blood testing for lead poisoning.

September 15, 2023
The Examination

Cheap cigarettes, misleading marketing and interference by a tobacco monopoly

Six ways China has side-stepped the global anti-tobacco treaty

September 13, 2023
A beaker with a straw, smokestacks spewing pollution, and a pack of cigarettes with money inside

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September 13, 2023
The Examination

How corporate behavior shapes our health

Poor health is often blamed on personal choices. But business activity – and lack of accountability – often have much to do with it, says Kelley Lee, an expert on 'commercial determinants of health'.

September 13, 2023
The Examination

The food industry pays 'influencer’ dietitians to shape your eating habits

Registered dietitians are being paid to post videos that promote diet soda, sugar and supplements on Instagram and TikTok.

September 13, 2023
The Examination

Why tobacco is a core beat at The Examination

While the tobacco epidemic continues to kill millions each year, the industry is making big bets on new products and emerging global economies.

September 13, 2023
The Examination

Everyday products expose us to thousands of chemicals. We’re still learning what they do to our bodies.

From baby bottles to nonstick pans, U.S. regulators often discover health risks decades after items are released.

September 13, 2023
The Examination

Help us report on nutrition influencers on social media

We’re continuing to report on this issue and we need your help.

September 13, 2023
The Examination

How China became addicted to its tobacco monopoly

For two decades, China Tobacco has undermined a landmark anti-smoking treaty. Millions more deaths are predicted as a result.

September 13, 2023