FDA launches full nutrient review of infant formula in 27 years; NIH finds breast tissue biomarker that could flag cancer; most Americans trust the MMR vaccine, not Trump’s handling of measles outbreak – Morning Medical Update

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FDA launches first full nutrient review of formula since 1998

As part of Operation Stork Speed, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) are giving infant formula its first full nutrient checkup in over 25 years — because babies deserve better than outdated guidelines. The agency has issued a Request for Information to gather the latest science (and public opinions) on whether current minimum and maximum nutrient levels still make sense, and if any new ones should be added. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called it “radical transparency” for America’s tiniest eaters, while FDA Commissioner Martin Makary stressed the moral and medical importance of getting baby nutrition right. Comments are open for 120 days, with a public expert panel on deck for June.

NIH finds breast tissue clue that could flag cancer risk

National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers have identified a new potential biomarker — called stromal disruption — that could predict which women with benign breast disease are more likely to develop aggressive breast cancer, and who among those with invasive cancer might face worse outcomes. Using machine learning on thousands of breast tissue samples, the team linked stromal changes to known cancer risk factors like obesity, younger age, and Black race. The finding could lead to low-cost, widely accessible screening tools — especially valuable in low-resource settings — and raises the possibility that anti-inflammatory interventions or lifestyle changes might reduce risk by protecting breast tissue's connective framework.

Poll: Most Americans trust the MMR vaccine — not the Trump administration

With the largest U.S. measles outbreak in 25 years underway, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that only 31% of Americans believe the Trump administration is managing it responsibly, even as 86% say the MMR vaccine is safe. Public health experts blame falling vaccination rates — down to 92.7% nationwide and as low as 82% in Texas’s outbreak epicenter — on misinformation and political mixed messaging, including from Secretary Kennedy. While most parents agree it’s their duty to vaccinate their kids, one in four Republicans disagreed, raising concerns among infectious disease specialists about the future of measles control.