Cigarettes with ultralow nicotine levels are now being called the game-changer in the fight against smoking. If you are having trouble in quitting smoking, then, it is for you, that soon the Biden White House is expected to formally propose a plan that will order cigarette nicotine levels to be reduced, reports The Washington Post. For now though, it has been a failure, as these cigarettes, also known as VLN cigarettes that stands for very low nicotine are only available in 5,100 stores in 26 states. This is a very small fraction of the overall market for cigarettes. The company that makes it, 22nd Century, is struggling not because of the low supply, but also from the advocates who have long believed slashing nicotine levels altogether.

The Advent and ideation

Nicotine is a chemical that is produced naturally from tobacco that makes the cigarette and also keeps people hooked. While it is believed that it makes people alert, and get the "hit" to keep them going, it exposes the users to harmful substances, carcinogens, and increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and other illness.

Ultralow-nicotine cigarettes, like the VLN brand, contain about 95% less nicotine than the regular cigarettes. The idea is quite simple: without the addictive grip of nicotine, smokers will find it easier to quit. Research too has shown some promise. For instance, the studies funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse revealed that very low nicotine cigarettes reduced addiction potential significantly without having users to increase their smoking frequency. However, the problem is, why would anyone choose for a low-nicotine that does not make them feel the same way, when the high-nicotine cigarette is right next to it, making them feel the same way, with the same alertness, sold at the same price.

“It’s very hard to imagine someone actively choosing to continue to use a low-nicotine product for the same price when a high-nicotine product is right next to it,” said Eric Donny, a Wake Forest University School of Medicine nicotine researcher.

No wonder, the experiment with low nicotine product by Philip Morris' Next cigarettes in the 1980s and Vector Tobacco's Quest brand in the early 2000s, flopped.

FDA's Role in the Push

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has supported the development of such products, even allowing VLN cigarettes to be marketed as lower-risk options. However, these products remain a niche market, available in only a fraction of U.S. stores.

Recently, the Biden administration has considered a bold step—mandating a dramatic reduction in nicotine levels for all cigarettes sold in the United States. Supporters believe this move could save millions of lives, while critics, including tobacco companies, warn of potential unintended consequences.

What Could Be The Challenges?

Resistance from Big Tobacco Companies: They could argue that slashing nicotine levels could backfire. Their claim is, smokers will turn to black markets or smoke more to satisfy their cravings, which may lead to greater exposure to harmful substances.

Consumer Reluctance: History is proof to the instances of smokers being hesitant to embrace the low-nicotine products.

Political Hurdle: It may face political roadblocks, as under the Trump administration, plans to cut nicotine were shelved.

Could Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Be The Solution?

Advocates believe that ultralow-nicotine cigarettes could be a game-changer, comparing them to decaf coffee or non-alcoholic beer—products that reduce harm while offering a similar experience.

Some experts warn that a black market for traditional cigarettes could undermine these efforts. They also stress the need for safer alternatives, such as vaping products, to support smokers transitioning away from traditional cigarettes.

Lucy Davis, best known for essaying the role of Dawn Tinsley in the UK version of The Office, has revealed that she has been living with stage 4 breast cancer for the past year and a half.

The 53-year-old actress shared the news on social media, saying the cancer has spread to her bones, spine, right hip and ribs. She said that the cancer is “incurable” and that it is now “too late for chemo.”

Davis said she had kept the diagnosis private for some time. In her post, she wrote that she is now trying to focus on living whatever time she has left and continuing to find joy in her life.

“I’m not scared of whatever comes next,” Davis said reportedly.

She also spoke about the importance of paying attention to changes in the body. Reports say Davis had noticed a small, hard spot in her breast but initially overlooked it. Her experience has prompted renewed discussion around recognising possible breast cancer symptoms and seeking medical advice rather than dismissing them.

About Stage 4 Breast Cancer

Also read: Kennedy Announces Food Policy Reforms Under Trump’s MAHA Agenda: What Has Been Proposed?

Stage 4 breast cancer, also called metastatic or secondary breast cancer, means cancer that began in the breast has spread to distant parts of the body. The bones are among the most common sites for breast cancer to spread, along with the liver, lungs and brain.

When breast cancer spreads to the bones, it can cause persistent bone pain and weaken the bones. If cancer affects the spine, it can also put pressure on the spinal cord, which can become a medical emergency.

Unlike early-stage breast cancer, stage 4 disease generally cannot be cured. However, treatment can often control the cancer, ease symptoms and help maintain quality of life.

Depending on the type of breast cancer, treatment can include hormone therapy, targeted medicines, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

Also read: Donald Trump Signs Order To Split MMR Vaccine: Is It Safe For Children?

Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored

A breast lump is one of the telltale warning signs, but it is not the only one. Changes in breast size or shape, skin dimpling or redness, nipple inversion, unusual nipple discharge or swelling in the breast or armpit can also require medical assessment.

Importantly, not every breast change is cancer, but unusual changes should not be ignored. Early detection can make breast cancer easier to treat.

US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced food policy reforms as part of efforts to implement President Donald Trump’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

The proposed measures focus on two areas: greater oversight of food ingredients and establishing a standardized federal definition of ultra-processed foods.

As per Kennedy, “nearly 60% of the American diet is made up of ultra-processed foods, and childhood obesity now affects more than one in five American children”.

To counter this, transforming the food system is key, he said.

“These historic actions bring greater transparency to what’s in our food and stronger science to federal nutrition policy. President Trump and I promised to Make America Healthy Again, and today we are turning that promise into policy,” Kennedy said.

What Are the Proposed Changes?

HHS has proposed a rule that would require manufacturers to notify the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when they determine that a substance added to human or animal food is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).

In addition, HHS and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have submitted for final review the federal government’s first proposed definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said the measures are intended to increase transparency and strengthen science-based oversight of ingredients entering the food supply.

“By proposing mandatory GRAS notifications, we are closing critical information gaps and giving the FDA greater visibility into substances entering the food supply,” Diamantas said.

He added that the proposed UPF definition could provide a stronger foundation for future nutrition research.

What Is GRAS?

GRAS stands for Generally Recognized as Safe. It refers to substances that are considered safe by qualified experts for their intended use and are therefore exempt from the standard premarket approval requirements for food additives.

Examples of GRAS ingredients include canola oil, vinegar and spices such as black pepper.

Under the proposed rule, manufacturers would be required to notify the FDA when they conclude that a substance qualifies as GRAS. The agency would also expand its public-facing inventory of submitted GRAS notices.

According to Diamantas, mandatory notifications would help close information gaps and give the FDA greater visibility into substances entering the food supply.

First Federal Definition of Ultra-Processed Foods

HHS and USDA have submitted for final review the federal government’s first proposed definition of ultra-processed foods.

Research has linked high consumption of UPFs with preventable chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. However, the absence of a standardized federal definition has made it difficult to maintain consistency in research across federal agencies.

The proposed definition incorporates feedback from thousands of stakeholders, including industry representatives, consumer organizations, researchers and members of the public.

Diamantas said the definition could help “create a stronger foundation for future nutrition research.”

How Does This Support Trump’s MAHA Agenda?

The measures are part of the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again Strategy and build on efforts to strengthen nutrition science, improve transparency and modernize oversight of the US food supply.

HHS also encouraged Congress to build on these efforts through legislation aimed at further strengthening the safety of the American food supply.

The death toll from Ebola has crossed 2,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), three months after the outbreak was officially declared in May.

The outbreak has caused 4,381 confirmed cases across five provinces, making it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak recorded in the Central African country. The response has been complicated by strikes by unpaid health workers, misinformation and cultural practices.

Ebola Virus Outbreak Began in February

The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved treatment or vaccine.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus first emerged in the DRC in February, about three months before the outbreak was officially declared in the DRC and neighboring Uganda on May 15.

Some early patients were reportedly treated for malaria or typhoid, which can initially cause fever, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea. Early testing also focused on the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, delaying recognition of the Bundibugyo virus.

By early May, WHO had identified an unusual cluster of severe illness and deaths in the Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri Province. An investigation covering April 15 to May 13 subsequently identified 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths across three health zones.

The response has also been affected by conditions in Ituri, including armed conflict, population displacement and poor road access. Health workers have faced shortages of protective equipment, while some healthcare facilities have been affected by workers' strikes.

Zoonotic Spillover Likely Triggered the Outbreak

A new study published in Nature Medicine suggests that the outbreak began through a zoonotic spillover event, meaning the virus jumped from animals to humans before spreading between people.

Researchers from Congo, Uganda, Belgium and other countries found that the outbreak strain was genetically distinct from Bundibugyo Ebola viruses identified during previous outbreaks in 2007 and 2012.

The findings are consistent with a new animal-to-human transmission event, followed by sustained human-to-human transmission.

The study did not identify the specific animal source. However, Ebola viruses are known to periodically spill over from infected animals into human populations.

Genetic analysis also confirmed that cases detected in Uganda were linked to the outbreak in Congo.

How Was the Study Conducted?

Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreaks were previously recorded in 2007–2008 in Bundibugyo District, Uganda, and in 2012 in Isiro, DRC.

For the 2026 outbreak, researchers generated 22 viral genomes from samples collected from patients with BVD in the DRC and Uganda.

The genomes formed a well-supported phylogenetic cluster separate from variants associated with the 2007 and 2012 outbreaks. The analysis also showed evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

The researchers called for greater decentralized laboratory diagnostic capacity, including pan-Orthoebolavirus testing and genomic sequencing, to improve early detection and control of future outbreaks.

How Does Ebola Spread From Animals to Humans?

Ebola can jump to humans from infected animals such as bats, monkeys and apes. Transmission can occur through contact with blood, body fluids, excrement or raw meat during hunting and butchering.

Once the virus enters the human population, it can spread from person to person through contact with infected bodily fluids.

Symptoms of Bundibugyo Virus Disease

Symptoms of Bundibugyo virus disease are similar to those caused by other Ebola viruses and can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Unexplained bleeding or bruising, usually in later stages of illness