Health & Wellness

Testimony from ragged FDA deputy commissioner on child contrivance disaster

Published

3 years ago

March 30, 2023

Testimony from ragged FDA deputy commissioner on child contrivance disaster

— OPINION —

Editor’s show: Here’s the March 28 written assertion of Frank Yiannas, M.P.H.Prior FDA Deputy Commissioner, Meals Policy & Response (Nov 2018 – Feb 2023) for the Subcommitte On Health Care And Monetary Services U.S. House Of Representatives FDA Oversight Piece I: The Tiny one Formula Scarcity March 28, 2023

Introduction

Chair McClain, Ranking Member Porter, and members of the Subcommittee, thanks for intelligent me right here on the present time to testify sooner than you and, extra importantly, for your hobby in greater plan what came about, so we can terminate an child contrivance disaster of this nature from ever occurring again.

Our bosses, the American of us, and namely the most susceptible of patrons – infants – deserve that from us, so I thanks for scheduling and conducting this hearing.

Background

In gradual February of 2022, already amid out of the ordinary provide chain challenges brought upon by the pandemic, our nation’s fogeys and caregivers learned of a extremely substantial recall affecting relied on family producers of powdered child contrivance (PIF) products, corresponding to Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare manufactured in a facility positioned in Sturgis, Michigan. The company that produced these products, Abbott Diet (AN), voluntarily recalled these products after learning of extra than one circumstances of kid ailments prompted by a uncommon and in total fatal microorganism, known as Cronobacrer sakazakii, which is in total associated with PIF. Numerous confirmed circumstances of in uncomfortable health infants indicated that every and every person had consumed PIF produced in AN’s Sturgis facility. The ailments, along with prerequisites detected at that facility all the contrivance through a FDA inspection, corresponding to insanitary prerequisites, an environment heinous with extra than one traces of Cronobacter sakazakii, and severe equipment in disrepair, led AN to invent a voluntary recall on February 17, 2022. All in all, there had been four child ailments of Cronobacter sakazakki linked this incident and, tragically, 2 of them resulted in death.

My Trigger of Being Here This present day

It has been over a year since this incident started. There has already been a Congressional oversight hearing held by a House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations in Would possibly possibly possibly additionally of 2022. The FDA issued its procure model of what transpired in a document in September of 2022 titled, FDA Overview of Tiny one Formula Response. And there used to be huge media protection of the incident.

But, no topic these actions, an glorious and transparent plan of what took blueprint and the contributing elements that allowed it to occur – relish remained elusive. It’s most severe that we be taught from this trip and relish shut collective movement as a nation to terminate something like this from ever occurring again.

Customers deserve greater. And there would possibly possibly be extra that the trade and regulators can and MUST attain.

As a result of this fact, I arrive to you on the present time with out regard to partisan politics, nonetheless as a legit who has devoted my life’s work to keeping patrons, each and every within the general public and non-public sectors. The organism that prompted these tragic ailments, Cronobacter, would no longer peek political parties, so as we watch solutions, neither have to mild we.

I also arrive sooner than you on the present time with a balcony level see of what came about. Whereas being made attentive to the incident grand too gradual, on February 10, 2022, a full 4 months for the reason that important of a chain of ailments and a whistle blower document had been got by the agency, once I turned conscious, me and my crew jumped into movement and started coordinating day after day meetings with executives of the numerous, decentralized places of work and centers on the FDA eager with this subject. I also led the FDA’s Incident Management Personnel (IMG) for the baby contrivance response, subsequent to the recall taking blueprint.

What Follows

For the relaxation of this testimony, my intent is to place out the severe parts or elements that allowed this disaster to occur. My intent is to achieve that in a fact-finding – reasonably than a fault-finding – manner. And I hope to blueprint a heavy emphasis in my testimony on the inspiration reason and contributing elements that allowed it to occur, in hopes that this would possibly possibly allow us to focal level on preventative solutions.

Why? Because, a year later, it is my see that the yelp of the baby contrivance trade on the present time is no longer grand diversified than it used to be then. The public health surveillance gadget for this pathogen remains insufficient, the critical safeguards relish no longer been evolved or bolstered at an ample tempo to terminate a re-occurrence or future ailments, and the baby contrivance provide chain continues to lack resiliency. In other phrases, the nation remains one outbreak, tornado, flood, or cyber-attack faraway from finding itself in a identical blueprint to that of February 17, 2022.

That blueprint is a repeat subject where fogeys hear of infants turning into severely in uncomfortable health resulting from Cronobacter sakazakii, finding cabinets at their native grocery retailer empty for his or her desired child contrivance products, and having to dismay in regards to the safety of what they are feeding their infants.

Below, I would possibly possibly perhaps love to exhaust the next couple of minutes strolling you through my recollection of events, which I hope will paint a checklist of why I’m centered on these key areas.

Inadequate Public Health Surveillance for Sicknesses prompted by Cronobacter sakazakii

In 2011, Congress handed the Meals Security Modernization Act, identified as FSMA. Their mandate to the trade and FDA then is mild factual on the present time. It’s no longer ample to acknowledge to ailments, outbreaks, or recollects of food after they occur. We must attain extra to terminate them from occurring within the predominant blueprint.

Great of what all people is conscious of about foodborne ailments, their frequency, severity, the meals that encourage as important autos for transmission, besides to new routes of contamination, is a outcomes of progress made doable by foodborne disease surveillance efforts. Foundational to enhancements to the food safety gadget is a latest foodborne disease surveillance program. As said by Dr Scharff and Dr Hedberg within the e book Meals Security Economics, published by Springer Scientific, “a foodborne illness surveillance gadget is designed to amass, analyze, and disseminate info about foodborne ailments. As a result, they aid solve severe info issues faced by patrons, firms, and govt companies. By offering greater info to the market, these surveillance systems beget incentives (accountability) that ends in safer meals and greater person consciousness.”

In this instance, the foodborne disease surveillance gadget for Cronobacter sakazakii failed us and it MUST be improved.

No longer like other foodborne ailments, Cronobacter sakazakii infections are NOT a nationally notifiable situation and is no longer reportable in most states. In maintaining with the Facilities for Disease Management and Prevention (CDC), Minnesota and Michigan are the most convenient states that require reporting and the CDC experiences that they usually get experiences of handiest 2 to 4 Cronobacter infections in infants per year. That manner that there are doubtlessly circumstances of severe child ailments and deaths, despite the indisputable fact that presumably uncommon, occurring within the US resulting from Cronobacter and that these circumstances remain nameless, unreported, and invisible to most of the nation.

A leer by the CDC in 2014, published within the Journal of Rising Infectious Ailments, titled Incidence of Cronobacter spp. Infections, United States, 2003–2009, estimated that the incidence of Cronobacter sakazakii among infants (zero to three hundred and sixty five days of age) used to be 0.49 per 100,000 population.

As illustration, for the incidence of one other pathogen that is of low frequency nonetheless excessive severity, Listeria monocytogenes, the CDC estimates that there are 0.31 laboratory-diagnosed, domestically acquired infections per 100,000 population. This incidence rate is decrease than that of Cronobacter among infants, the most susceptible of patrons, but Listeria is a reportable disease, nonetheless Cronobacter is no longer. It’s handiest through reporting, and utilization of instruments corresponding to entire genome sequencing (WGS) of the isolates of Listeria monocytogenes detected that now we relish evolved what all people is conscious of about Listeriosis. Thanks to that, on the present time, we now know that most of the circumstances of Listeriosis that had been once assumed to be isolated or sporadic, have to no longer isolated at all. Increasingly, these circumstances are linked to a new food vehicle, allowing implicated meals to be taken off the market quicker, fighting extra ailments, and outbreaks from getting increased. This, in flip, is bettering our capability to beget methods to aid future prevention.

Lastly, in regard to establishing Cronobacter sakazakii a nationally notifiable situation, you relish doubtlessly heard that right here’s no longer something the CDC, nor FDA can attain on their very procure. There is a task through a body known as the Council of Train and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) that meets each and every year to deliberate and vote on blueprint statements and adjustments to national policy on notifiable prerequisites. Here’s a cosmopolitan task that is difficult to show to concerned fogeys, person groups, or public health advocates that wanted a alternate in notification policy to occur instantly after this subject used to be identified. The CSTE is scheduled to fulfill in June of this year and I’m grateful that the FDA has been working to receive this subject on the agenda. We MUST alternate this and beget Cronobacter a nationally notifiable situation appropriate like Salmonella, E. coli O157, and Listeria.

Early Signal Detection and the Need for Hasty Response

As beforehand reported, the FDA started receiving a chain of experiences or complaints of infants who had been confirmed to had been infected with Cronobacter sakazakii, all who had also consumed child contrivance products comprised of a single manufacturing plant positioned in Sturgis, Michigan.

As well to, on October 26, 2022, the agency got a Whistle Blower criticism, submitted to numerous FDA personnel through numerous manner (hard copies through Fed X, besides to electronic copies submitted through electronic mail).

In summary:

The important document of an child in uncomfortable health with C. sakazakii (which resulted in death) used to be reported to the FDA on Sept 20, 2021
On October 26, the Agency got a Whistle Blower criticism alleging egregious prerequisites and practices on the Sturgis facility.
The second document of an child in uncomfortable health with C. sakazakii used to be reported to FDA on Dec 1, 2022
The third document of an child in uncomfortable health with C. sakazakii used to be reported to FDA on January 11,
2022, and
The fourth document of an child in uncomfortable health with C. sakazakii (which resulted in death) used to be reported to the FDA on Feb 18, 2022.
It wishes to be eminent that whereas the FDA conducted an inspection of AN’s facility positioned in Sturgis on September 20, with the inspection lasting until September 24 of 2021, the inspectors on living had been unaware of the criticism the agency had got of an child illness resulting from Cronobacter on the identical date, September 20, the day the inspection started. It would had been helpful for investigators to relish had that info readily obtainable, as it would relish doubtlessly resulted in a unparalleled or extra in-depth direction of investigation.
Whereas FDA did habits notifications to the company of the illness experiences as they got right here in and did slowly relish shut steps to apply-up on the Whistle Blower criticism, it wasn’t until January 31, 2022 (four months later) that the FDA started an reliable inspection of the AN’s Sturgis facility and it wasn’t until February 10, 2022 that I individually turned attentive to the sequence complaints, the whistle blower document, and the findings from FDA’s January inspection that resulted in extra than one environmental swabs being chanced on definite for Cronobacter sakazakii within the capability.
Some relish puzzled if quicker movement by the agency on a few of the earlier indicators will relish performed with out or lessened the magnitude of the disaster. Whereas there would possibly possibly be incompatibility inside of FDA on this level, I mediate most professionals experienced in disaster administration would state the answer is yes. The literature is stuffed with examples of organizations that either did no longer fragment collectively early indicators or did no longer designate early warnings that at last allowed a disaster to grow worse,

reasonably than being contained. I mediate that the literature of the long flee will even attain that this incident is a tragic example of how FDA’s siloed organizational structure and culture impeded snappy severe scenario identification, dialog, and response.

Taking Whistleblower Complaints Seriously

In the Congressional hearing last spring, there used to be heaps of dialogue in regards to the whistleblower letters addressed to Drs. Woodcock, Mayne, and McMeekin being misplaced within the numerous FDA mailrooms for months. Nonetheless what also concerns me a glorious deal is the actual fact that the 30-plus net page criticism used to be also despatched by electronic mail to workers within the Train of job of Regulatory Affairs and CFSAN, nonetheless the worries had been no longer handled with the becoming sense of urgency. Given the worries expressed and the vulnerability of infants, this would possibly possibly mild had been elevated to leadership instantly. As Deputy Commissioner for Meals Policy and Response, I used to be no longer despatched the October 26, 2022 whistle blower criticism, and I did no longer receive an alternate to search out the criticism until I used to be made attentive to the incident in February 2022.

I would possibly possibly perhaps argue that FDA’s structure and culture exacerbated these delays. With siloed groups within the FDA’s decentralized Meals Program, it is very unlikely for leaders, even leaders like me that had titles that will additionally level to in every other case, to relish sure line of watch on what used to be occurring or to living processes in blueprint to help procure these severe public health concerns. The most up-to-date structure ends in new dialog breakdowns, and ends within the aptitude for food safety concerns to tumble through the cracks altogether.

At last, the informant used to be interviewed by FDA personnel on December 22, approximately 2 months after the letter used to be got. Whereas the subject over why it took so long to interview the informant is valid, besides to who had been the folks that got the letters, there would possibly possibly be one critical conclusion that used to be no longer talked about within the timeline and that did no longer arrive up all the contrivance through the preliminary hearing last spring. Upon completion of the interview with the confidential informant along with their attorney most up-to-date, the FDA investigators concluded that the criticism used to be “too vague” and did no longer warrant apply-up. Having be taught the letter myself and the very yelp allegations of falsification of records, attempting to deceive federal relators, and further, it’s hard for me to agree with of the investigators’ decision and, this too, will relish played a role in delaying a greater sense of urgency by agency personnel conscious on the time of the topic.

All all over again, FDA’s future structure wishes to be one wherein the chief of the Meals Program can relish sure line-of-watch on issues corresponding to those and to relish shut steps to verify the culture at FDA is one wherein investigators peek the want to relish shut snappy movement to apply-up on allegations like these. To beget this, FDA will want to empower a food safety chief with accountability for no longer appropriate the Meals Center, nonetheless also the subject inspectional resources within the Train of job of Regulatory Affairs.

The Weight of the Evidence In opposition to Abbott

The inspection of the Abbott Sturgis facility initiated in January 2022 resulted in a chain of findings that led to gigantic subject for me and my colleagues and resulted within the substantial recall.

Abbott Diet and some others relish immediate that their products had been no longer the source of ailments, for the reason that genetic traces of Cronobacter sakazakii had been never chanced on in product, nor within the Sturgis facility. This info is misleading.

Thus, I would possibly possibly perhaps love to most up-to-date a chain of details, regarding the burden-of-the-proof of the scenario at Sturgis that I used to be brooding about as we made the resolution to place a question to movement by Abbott.

1. Elevated Experiences of Cronobacter infections over a Brief Duration Time – the FDA got 4 experiences of confirmed C. sakazakii infections in infants over a brief timeframe, which is weird, on condition that it is NOT a reportable illness in most of the U.S. All all over again, the CDC experiences they relish traditionally got 2 to 4 circumstances reported per year.

2. Traceback – all 4 infants that had been infected had ingested PIF products manufactured at a single yelp (AN’s Sturgis facility), which is critical. Whereas AN in fact had a substantial market fragment, it used to be handiest one amongst 21 contrivance vegetation servicing the US market for the time being.

3. Microbiology – FDA investigators readily chanced on extra than one environmental samples definite for C. sakazakii within the Sturgis plant in only a two-day duration.

4. Genetic Fluctuate – 5 (5) diversified traces of C. sakazakii had been detected the utilization of WGS of isolates in chanced on the atmosphere on the Sturgis facility, indicating contamination with extra than one traces would possibly possibly occur.

5. Lack of Environmental Management – FDA’s subject topic experts, successfully versed in child contrivance manufacturing, described environmental prerequisites on the Sturgis facility as “out-of-administration” and a doable source of recontamination.

6. Frail Spray Dryer with Noteworthy Cracks – FDA investigators observed two sprayer dryers, one bought within the 1960s, with substantial, unrepaired cracks, doubtlessly serving as harborage parts and sources of recontamination. This identical subject has been documented within the literature to relish prompted a PIF outbreak.

7. Identified Product Contamination – FDA investigators learned that AN beforehand destroyed 2 batches of PIF heinous with Cronobacter produced at Sturgis, even supposing it is successfully documented within the literature that low ranges of sporadic contamination is unlikely to be detected by PIF sampling plans. As a result of this fact, it is extra possible than no longer that other batches of PIF produced in this plant had been possible to had been heinous with a selection C. sakazakii traces, which performed with out cease-product attempting out, and had been released into commerce.

8. Lax Standards – events had been recorded corresponding to

contract workers transferring from the roof to a manufacturing line in dirty boots, highlighting but extra avenues of doable contamination within the plant.
numerous water events had been documented including water leaks, moisture, and condensation in dry powdered child contrivance manufacturing areas.
spray dryer inspections in August 2021 showed six cases of cracks and pits within the predominant chamber recorded for spray dryer #3 and six cases of cracks, pits, and damage in dryer #4

9. PIF as a Car of C. sakazakii – contamination of PIF with C. sakazakii is successfully documented and has been the reason within the aid of puny outbreaks and sporadic infections, each and every so continuously with severe sequelae or death.

10. Low Significance of Lack of WGS Match – resulting from C. sakazakii infections have to no longer reportable in most states, it makes it extra complex to title & link infections that will additionally appear as sporadic in nature (i.e. Listeria). In this incident, four C. sakazakii infections had been passively reported to FDA. Isolates had been readily obtainable for handiest two infants for WGS characterization. Having handiest two of four medical circumstances characterized by WGS, and a scarce library of previous sequences, made it extra complex to evaluate exiguous child infections with the multitude of traces (5) recovered from the agency, besides to previous documented human circumstances.

In accordance with the parts summarized above, Abbott’s Sturgis facility lacked ample controls to terminate the contamination of powdered child contrivance with C. sakazakii. There is also proof that sporadic contamination of done product in fact did occur, and it is possible that other hundreds PIF produced in this plant had been heinous with extra than one C. sakazakii traces over time, which performed with out cease-product attempting out, had been released into commerce, and consumed by infants.

Lastly, and in summary, the elements offered above supported a conclusion that PIF made at Abbott’s Sturgis plant used to be produced below insanitary prerequisites and a doable source of ongoing, sporadic contamination of PIF with extra than one traces C. sakazakii over time, notwithstanding a lack of a match by WGS between the plant’s atmosphere and/or done product and two medical isolates.

Need for Strengthening Preventive Controls all the contrivance through the Tiny one Formula Alternate (Unusual Facilities, Sanitary Affect, Ambiance Monitoring, & Enhanced Verification)

A key lesson learned for me is that we want to exchange child contrivance policies to aid prevention. Whereas the prerequisites on the Sturgis plant had been egregious, the Sturgis plant is no longer the most convenient plant that has experienced issues with Cronobacter. As that you can possibly additionally relish considered within the records, there had been extra than one recollects currently associated with the aptitude for Cronobacter at other facilities. Now we want to encompass the lessons learned from recent events and replace FDA’s child contrivance rule. One key example is our most up-to-date attempting out rules. The utilization of the most up-to-date attempting out requirements, the possibilities of detecting Cronobacter are grand smaller than they wishes to be.

These requirements must be up to the moment so as that firms relish a greater likelihood of detecting contamination events.

We also want to work extra with trade to beget obvious manufacturing facilities are yelp of the artwork. In 2023, we have to mild no longer be producing food for infants the utilization of equipment that is exhibiting its age and rising the chance of doable issues. About a of the equipment mild being outdated in a few of the largest manufacturing facilities on the present time used to be installed sooner than I used to be born. Reduction then, we knew far decrease than we attain now.

Gratifying Our Public Health Mission – Protecting Infants

From the time I first learned of the incident, on February 10, 2022 to the time it took Abbott Diet to habits a voluntary recall to present protection to infants, it used to be 7 days. Seven days contrasted to the 4 months of time wherein the sequence of events unfolded.

Starting on February 11, 2022, as Deputy Commissioner of the Train of job for Meals Policy and Response, I originate up a chain of day after day meetings, each and every so continuously extra than once a day, with all Meals Program principles and places of work to encompass ORA, CFSAN, Appropriate, and Media Family to coordinate activities and to work as one FDA Meals Program Group.

I need that the communications silos had no longer existed and that I would possibly possibly perhaps had been notified earlier, so I will relish initiated these steps sooner. I also mediate that had we been in a position to provoke these steps and act sooner, the recall would possibly possibly additionally had been smaller in dimension.

Addressing the Affect of the Recall

My Train of job initiated a urged and escalated level of dialog that told important parts of the US Authorities (USG) including the USDA and White House, of the evolving incident and its possible invent on child contrivance provide availability.

The sequence of actions taken at all ranges of the USG had been successfully summarized within the hearing testimony offered in Would possibly possibly possibly additionally of 2022 and, in my see, these collective actions had been somewhat daring. Below is a recap of pick out and well-known actions.

o Asking outlets to lickety-split blueprint limits on the sequence of devices obtainable for aquire.

o Assembly regularly with important child contrivance producers to greater perceive and maximize their capability to carry manufacturing of numerous kinds of kid formulas and critical medical meals.
o The urged acquisition of wanted info and monitoring the living of the baby contrivance provide by the utilization of the Agency’s 21 Forward food provide chain continuity gadget, mixed with exterior info.
o Compiling info on traits for in-stock rates at each and every national and regional ranges to help perceive whether the most practical amount of kid contrivance is readily obtainable within the most practical places, and if no longer, where it would mild budge.
o Imposing a singular task to lickety-split exercise enforcement discretion, on a case-by-case basis, for obvious requirements that prepare to child contrivance. These flexibilities allowed for a puny volume of kid contrivance to carry present and newly produced presents.

o The Administration invoking the Defense Production Act, directing firms to prioritize and allocate the manufacturing of key child contrivance inputs to help carry manufacturing and creep up provide chains.

o Launching Operation Hover Formula and coordinating with the Division of Health and Human Services and U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA) to leverage Division of Defense contracts with commercial air cargo lines to rep abroad child contrivance that met U.S. health and safety requirements, so it would possibly possibly possibly receive to retailer cabinets faster.

o USDA offering yelp health commissioners flexibilities through WIC to search out out products that will possible be substituted for recalled products, allowing families to aquire diversified container sizes and bodily kinds, and allowing aquire of noncontract producers, and waiving retailer minimum stocking requirements to permit contrivance to transfer to where it used to be most wanted.

o Congress passing the Entry to Tiny one Formula Act of 2022 to enhance receive admission to to child formulas for obvious American families all the contrivance through the provision chain disruption.

The Recall’s Affect on the Tiny one Formula Scarcity and Extra Elements that Would possibly possibly possibly additionally Have faith Minimized Disruptions
Clearly, the overarching measure that will relish performed with out this disaster from occurring within the predominant blueprint used to be Abbott Diet’s working prerequisites, procedures, identical outdated of care, and dedication to maintaining a solid food safety culture. Simply place, what used to be chanced on at Abbott’s Sturgis facility used to be unacceptable and Abbott Diet bears the predominant accountability for this disaster.

Moreover, as beforehand talked about, earlier detection of indicators by Abbott, public health officers, and/or regulators will relish allowed this incident to unfold in a less catastrophic manner.

Nonetheless, after the sequence of events had been allowed to escalate and manufacture upon one one more, by the level February of 2022 got right here along, containment of this incident turned grand extra great.

There had been longstanding gaps in Federal movement on provide chain monitoring and resiliency actions that every and every helped to beget a subject wherein a single plant going offline will relish this kind of gigantic impact. It also made it hard to relish the intelligence wanted at our fingertips to checklist resolution-making.

Even sooner than the recall on Feb 17, 2022, the US used to be already going through child contrivance provide chain stress. Thus, as proof of this cascading subject unfolded, the FDA knew that it had to behave to present protection to infants, nonetheless that with an impending substantial recall of kid contrivance by a important market player, it also had to achieve every thing it would possibly possibly possibly, along with other USG companions, to decrease disruptions and doable shortages.

Per FDA’s procure Regulatory Procedures Handbook, in Chapter 7 titled Recall Procedures, it states that “ORA and the Center (in this case, CFSAN) will even pick whether the recall would possibly possibly reason an absence of regulated products.” Nonetheless, the FDA’s Meals Program used to be in uncomfortable health outfitted to achieve a appropriate analysis of the consequences of the recall on provide availability, as the crew at CFSAN guilty for child contrivance products lacked the form of quantitative child contrivance provide chain insights, info and analytical capabilities to habits a extra thorough analysis of the doable impact, simulate subject planning, nor an capability to lickety-split pick what measures would possibly possibly be taken to creep a restoration.

21 Forward – a Meals Provide Chain Files Analytical Platform
Sooner than 2020, the Meals Program had no info gadget in blueprint to video display key food provide chains. All the contrivance through the COVID-19 disaster, many in federal service, including myself, felt it used to be our accountability to achieve all that lets to invent greater, info driven insights into the structure, plan, and resilience of food provide chains, so as that lets proceed to fulfill the wishes of the American of us. Meals and agriculture used to be a form of severe infrastructures that had to stay in operation to encourage the general public, and these of us engaged on this identified that food security (ensuring of us relish receive admission to to food) used to be a subject of national security. Thus, we lickety-split realized that to present protection to and harden FDA-regulated food assets in opposition to the chance of SARS-Cov-2 transmission among food workers, we would want greater info, insights, and extra info sets. And, thus, the theory of 21 Forward used to be born.

In file time and on a shoestring funds, my crew, in partnership with other places of work and an out of doors vendor, built the 21 Forward Machine, a first of its kind food provide chain info analytical platform which can be outdated to carry resiliency of the excessive priority food provide chains in opposition to COVID-19 connected disruptions. It used to be executed by transposing loads of suggestions, leveraging disparate, nonetheless connected info sets, and combing them with diversified computational capabilities. The gadget used to be outdated to aid FDA-regulated food assets from COVID-19 disruptions, including child contrivance vegetation. Because the baby contrivance disaster unfolded, we built on this vogue and turned it into the records platform for the entire USG response.

What the inferior-governmental crew did to manufacture this platform used to be wonderful and is a luminous example of the dedication of public servants who labored across the clock to beget this occur. Nonetheless in point of fact, we shouldn’t had been building this on the flee – it would mild had been in blueprint years ago.

FDA had no longer made these investments resulting from traditionally, the Agency’s food mission has centered around food safety and nutrition. Even as COVID created the largest danger to the food gadget in a hundred years, there used to be interior debate on the agency on whether there used to be in point of fact a role for the FDA in monitoring food provide chains.

Requests for funding to extra originate the 21 Forward gadget had been met with resistance by the previous Performing Commissioner and Director for the Center for Meals Security and Utilized Diet. Genuinely, one very yelp place a question to prematurely of the baby contrivance disaster used to be declined by Agency leadership, no topic Congress giving the agency out of the ordinary ranges of money within the manner of a COVID supplement funding to originate such capabilities. In hindsight, this used to be a substantial omit that will relish enabled the Agency to acknowledge to the baby contrivance disaster in a quicker, extra thorough, and records-driven manner.

It used to be namely nerve-racking to me and my workers that our early work on 21 Forward extra than a year sooner than the Abbott recall had highlighted for us the focus of kid contrivance manufacturing, and we desired to manufacture out the monitoring instruments to receive a greater take care of on severe provide chains like these. In interagency discussions, we had been elevating child contrivance as a factual case leer to reach provide chain actions – we had the most practical preliminary insights, and we had been looking to beget the case for resources – the emergency appropriate got right here sooner than the USG used to be prepared.

Having lived this trip, I’m grateful that Congress has directed the Center for Meals safety and Diet to assign an Train of job of Serious Meals and the critical capabilities to video display these severe meals for doable disruption. I aid you to verify this blueprint of business builds the becoming monitoring instruments and I aid you to proceed to define expectations for the roles this unique blueprint of business and other parts of the Federal Authorities as they pertain to produce chain monitoring and mitigation actions.

A Fragile and Inelastic Tiny one Formula Provide Chain
Lastly, one have to mild wonder, how does the shutdown of 1 of 21 child contrivance vegetation serving the U.S. market reason such an absence and disruption. And what had been the elements that led to the appearance of such an inelastic and fragile child contrivance provide chain gadget.

The fact is that the FDA has had minimal authorities and levers to have an effect on the gadget, as a change of the safety and nutrition requirements they beget and their capability to approve unique markets submissions in a brief manner. Nonetheless, like most provide chains, financial implications, incentives, and disincentives play an substantial role in within the terminate influencing how provide chains evolve. Thus, I’m grateful that Congress, through the Omnibus, has requested that an Tiny one Formula Provide Chain Resiliency document be done and submitted to them for review.

It’s severe that Congress watch ways to help competition and redundancy of producing in this trade. FDA has a role to play with its child contrivance policies, nonetheless FDA is no longer alone. American taxpayers pay for approximately half of the baby contrivance bought within the U.S. through the USDA-WIC program. I would possibly possibly perhaps argue that the only real-source yelp WIC contracts helped to beget the most up-to-date concentrated provide chains. Nonetheless WIC would possibly possibly additionally additionally provide unparalleled alternatives to take care of the need for greater competition and redundancy going forward. Congress must stay laser-centered on the resiliency document and beget a extra holistic manner that will relish us from repeating a subject wherein a single facility is the most convenient manufacturing living for area of skills formulas, and there shouldn’t be any longer any such thing as a aid-up manufacturing capability. Congress must inform that severe meals like contrivance no longer be one outbreak, tornado, flood, or cyber-attack faraway from a subject corresponding to that of Feb 17, 2022.

Solutions
In closing, I would possibly possibly perhaps love to pass away this subcommittee with a brief checklist of pick out suggestions. 1. It’s time to beget Cronobacter sakazakii a nationally notifiable disease.

We have to mild habits WGS on all isolates of Cronobacter whether or not they arrive from medical, environmental, or food samples and enter these genomic sequences into the National Center for Biotechnology Info (NCBI) database.
The FDA must enhance its capability to detect indicators of doable safety concerns with regulated products and act on them with a greater sense of urgency.
Congress have to mild take care of the cultural, siloed, structural, and leadership issues within the FDA Meals Program that contributed to a decrease than neat response to this incident.
Seek info from that the Tiny one Formula Alternate living increased requirements of like themselves that encompass extra modernized productions facilities and equipment, stronger preventative controls, enhanced sanitary originate, extra aggressive environmental monitoring, and statistically bolstered verification procedures.
Toughen regulatory requirements for child contrivance producers to encompass extra sturdy sanitary originate, environmental monitoring, a revaluation of sampling plans beyond N=30 for Cronobacter, and critical reporting of product positives to the FDA.
Reassess the thoroughness and frequency of FDA inspections conducted at child contrivance producers.
Re-accomplish the technique outdated by FDA and health officers to research confirmed experiences of Cronobacter sakazakii linked to a yelp child contrivance product. Moral now, the technique outdated is unscientifically overweighted on attempting out a few cans, with out info to how carefully where these cans had been produced in terms of the consumed product and with out emphasize on the inability of statistical significance to the take a look at outcomes.
Dramatically aid person and doctor education on the becoming use and going through of PIF in hospitals and properties, besides to suggestions to use change sterile, liquid formulations for at-chance and premature infants.
Enhance the reach of extra new, info-driven Meals Provide Chain Analytic Platforms, corresponding to 21 Forward, as a instrument to take care of food provide chain challenges the utilization of information-driven insights.
Complete an in-depth Prognosis of the Building and Resilience of the Tiny one Formula Provide Chain within the U.S. and put into effect policies that will promote competition, diversification, resiliency, redundancy, and each and every day low prices for patrons.

Conclusion
In closing, ensuring the safety and availability of an in total sole-source of nutrition, corresponding to child contrivance, is a gigantic accountability for the trade that makes them and for the companies that administration them. The baby illness and deaths resulting from Cronobacter, the Abbott Diet recall, and the cascading and devasting outcomes it had on child contrivance availability in our nation used to be a preventable tragedy. It’s my hope that we transparently look the lessons learned and relish shut the critical actions to terminate this kind of disaster from ever occurring again. Clearly, there would possibly possibly be extra the trade and regulators can and MUST attain.

I thank this subcommittee and its members for your hobby and I wait for answering any questions that you can possibly additionally relish.

Health

Vertical Dramas Panel at the 2026 Hollywood Movie Awards with Walid Chaya, Paul Ruddy, Yoko Chen & Jenny Rosen

Published

4 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Ellora Cummins

At the 2026 Hollywood Movie Awards, a festival recognized for highlighting both established voices and emerging industry shifts, one panel captured a growing reality across film, television, and new media. Titled “Short, Creative, Profitable: How Vertical Dramas Escaped—and Are Reinventing—the Studio System,” the discussion examined how vertical storytelling is rapidly reshaping production, casting, and career pathways.

Panelists included:

Walid Chaya — Actor and Director of Studio For Performing Arts LA
Paul Ruddy — FlareFlow and Hollywood Casting Director
Jenny Rosen — DramaBox
• Yoko Chen — GoodShort

The panel was hosted by Jamie Miller alongside Hollywood Movie Awards founder and festival director Matt Beurois, celebrating the festival’s 9th year.

While the conversation covered platform strategy, audience behavior, and data-driven development, the discussion was notably grounded in how these changes affect actors. From that vantage point, Walid Chaya framed vertical drama not as a short-form experiment, but as a structural evolution—one that echoes Hollywood’s past while pointing toward its future.

Following the panel, we spoke further with Chaya to dig deeper into the implications for performers. Chaya drew a parallel to Hollywood’s Golden Age, when studios signed actors to long-term contracts and built careers through steady output and visibility. In his view, many vertical drama companies are now reviving that model in a modern form—signing actors exclusively for extended periods and producing multiple series back-to-back within a single platform ecosystem. The difference, he noted, is that today’s “studio system” lives on mobile screens rather than sound stages.

That perspective aligned with insights from the other panelists. Executives from GoodShort and DramaBox discussed how vertical platforms rely heavily on real-time audience behavior—completion rates, retention, and repeat viewing—to guide creative decisions. As reported by The Wrap, this data-centric approach allows vertical dramas to evolve quickly, refining stories based on what audiences actually watch rather than on traditional greenlight cycles.

From the platform side, Jenny Rosen and Yoko Chen emphasized that vertical dramas are competing not just with other scripted content, but with social media itself. In a scroll-first environment, they noted, storytelling must deliver immediate impact—often within the first few seconds—to stop a viewer’s thumb. That reality shapes everything from openings and pacing to heightened emotional stakes, favoring bold hooks and rapid escalation designed to grab attention instantly.

Paul Ruddy spoke to the scale and trajectory of the space from a casting and production standpoint. Drawing on his experience working across vertical dramas as well as film and television, he highlighted the sheer volume of projects now being produced and the consistency of demand for talent. Ruddy framed vertical drama as an industry still in its early chapters—one that has already proven its viability, but will continue to mature as infrastructure, resources, and professional standards evolve alongside the growth.

The panel also placed the U.S. vertical boom within a global context. According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, China’s short-form drama market reached an estimated 50 billion RMB (roughly $7–8 billion USD) in 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in entertainment. That scale has influenced how Western platforms approach volume, pacing, and talent development.

Audience insights further explain the momentum. Business Insider has reported that U.S. micro-drama viewers skew heavily female, with a significant portion of the audience aged 35 and older—a demographic long underserved by traditional scripted television. This clarity allows platforms to align storytelling, casting, and genre choices with proven demand.

Importantly, the panel remained clear-eyed about where the industry stands. While some vertical productions have gone union, a dedicated SAG-AFTRA agreement tailored specifically to vertical dramas is still in high demand. As several panelists acknowledged, labor frameworks are evolving alongside a format that has already found its audience.

Within the broader context of the Hollywood Movie Awards—an international festival that has welcomed artists such as William Baldwin, Michael Shannon, Scott Adkins, and Alex Pettyfer—the panel reinforced the festival’s role as a space for meaningful industry dialogue. Under Matt Beurois’s leadership, HMA continues to create room for conversations that connect emerging formats with working professionals across the entertainment landscape.

By the end of the panel, one takeaway stood out: vertical dramas are not replacing film or television, but they are redefining how stories are tested, talent is developed, and careers are sustained. At the Hollywood Movie Awards, this panel made clear that vertical storytelling is no longer on the margins—it is firmly part of the industry conversation.

The Hollywood Movie Awards continues to serve as a vital platform for forward-looking industry conversations, bringing together filmmakers, talent, and innovators shaping where storytelling is headed next. For more on upcoming panels, events, and festival updates, visit facebook.com/hollywoodartandmovieawards.

Health

Get Featured in Women Magazine: Your Ultimate Guide to Visibility and Influence

Published

8 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Sahil Sachdeva

If you want to get featured in Women Magazine, you’re aiming for more than just press coverage—you’re seeking credibility, visibility, and a powerful platform to share your story with a global audience. Women Magazine is known for spotlighting inspiring women, successful entrepreneurs, wellness experts, creatives, and change-makers. A feature can elevate your brand, boost your reputation, and open doors to new opportunities.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to position yourself effectively, craft a compelling pitch, and increase your chances of landing a coveted feature in one of the world’s most respected women-focused publications.

Why Getting Featured in Women Magazine Matters

Being featured in Women Magazine instantly enhances your authority and personal brand. The publication reaches millions of readers who trust its editorial voice, making it a powerful credibility booster.

Key benefits include:

Increased brand awareness
Enhanced professional credibility
Access to a highly engaged audience
Improved media presence and online visibility
Stronger positioning as a thought leader

Whether you’re a business owner, influencer, author, coach, or wellness expert, a feature can set you apart from competitors and elevate your public profile.

Understand What Women Magazine Looks For

Before pitching, it’s essential to understand the publication’s editorial style and audience. Women Magazine focuses on empowering stories, practical advice, personal growth, fashion, wellness, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

They typically seek:

Inspirational success stories
Expert insights and practical tips
Unique journeys and challenges overcome
Topics that resonate with modern women
Authentic voices with a strong message

Aligning your story with these themes significantly improves your chances of being selected.

Build a Strong Personal or Brand Narrative

To get featured in Women Magazine, your story needs to be compelling, authentic, and relevant. Editors want more than surface-level success—they want real journeys, struggles, and lessons learned.

Ask yourself:

What makes my story unique?
How have I helped others or made an impact?
What challenges have I overcome?
What insights can I share with readers?

Crafting a strong narrative that connects emotionally with readers is one of the most powerful tools in your media strategy.

Create a Media-Ready Profile

Before pitching, ensure your online presence reflects professionalism and authority. Editors often research potential contributors before responding.

Make sure you have:

A polished website or landing page
Active and professional social media profiles
A clear bio highlighting your expertise
High-quality photos and brand visuals
Previous media mentions (if available)

This builds trust and makes it easier for editors to say yes.

Write a Compelling Pitch

A strong pitch is essential if you want to get featured in Women Magazine. Your pitch should be concise, personalized, and value-driven.

Your pitch should include:

A compelling subject line
A brief introduction of who you are
Your unique story angle or expertise
Why your story fits Women Magazine
How it benefits their readers
A call to action

Example pitch opening:

“I’m an entrepreneur and wellness advocate who transformed personal adversity into a thriving brand that empowers women to reclaim confidence and balance. I’d love to share this journey with your readers.”

Avoid generic pitches. Personalization shows professionalism and respect for the publication’s editorial standards.

Offer Value, Not Self-Promotion

Editors prioritize content that serves their readers, not promotional content. Instead of focusing solely on your product or service, highlight insights, experiences, and lessons that benefit women.

Think about:

Actionable advice
Inspirational takeaways
Educational value
Empowerment-focused content

When your story helps readers grow, learn, or feel inspired, your chances of being featured increase significantly.

Leverage Professional PR Support

While it’s possible to pitch yourself, working with a PR agency can dramatically improve your success rate. Professional publicists understand editorial requirements, have established media relationships, and know how to position your story effectively.

PR professionals can help you:

Refine your messaging
Identify the right editors
Craft high-impact pitches
Secure strategic placements
Manage media follow-ups

If you’re serious about getting featured in Women Magazine, investing in expert PR support can accelerate your results and save time.

Be Consistent and Patient

Media features rarely happen overnight. Rejection or silence is common, but persistence is key. Keep refining your story, updating your pitch, and building your credibility.

You can also increase your visibility by:

Contributing guest articles
Participating in podcasts
Attending industry events
Collaborating with influencers
Building a strong online presence

Each of these efforts strengthens your profile and makes you more attractive to editors.

Final Thoughts

To get featured in Women Magazine, you need more than ambition—you need strategy, authenticity, and consistency. By crafting a compelling narrative, building a strong media presence, and pitching with purpose, you can significantly increase your chances of securing a high-impact feature.

A Women Magazine feature isn’t just publicity—it’s recognition of your journey, your voice, and your impact. Start positioning yourself today, and take the next step toward becoming a trusted voice in a publication that empowers women worldwide.

Health

How to Get Featured in Business Insider Magazine: A Comprehensive Guide

Published

1 day ago

February 2, 2026

Sahil Sachdeva

If you’re looking to elevate your brand’s visibility, credibility, and authority, getting featured in a leading publication like Business Insider Magazine can be a game-changer. Business Insider is one of the most respected business and financial news platforms globally, reaching millions of readers who are decision-makers, investors, and industry influencers. Being featured in this magazine can significantly boost your brand recognition, drive traffic to your website, and create long-lasting business opportunities.

In this guide, we’ll explore actionable strategies to help you get featured in Business Insider Magazine, from crafting compelling pitches to leveraging media connections.

Why Being Featured in Business Insider Matters

Before diving into strategies, it’s important to understand why Business Insider is a coveted media platform:

Wide Reach: Business Insider attracts millions of readers worldwide, including professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
Credibility Boost: A feature in Business Insider instantly enhances your brand’s authority, signaling to your audience that your insights are trustworthy.
Traffic and Leads: Being published can drive significant traffic to your website and generate quality leads, particularly if your article links back to your business or product.
Networking Opportunities: Coverage in major publications often opens doors to speaking engagements, collaborations, and partnerships.

With such advantages, it’s no wonder that entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies alike aim to get featured in Business Insider Magazine.

Step 1: Understand the Publication

Before reaching out, research Business Insider thoroughly. Understand its audience, tone, and content style. Key things to focus on include:

Audience Profile: Business Insider primarily targets business professionals, investors, and executives interested in finance, tech, and market trends.
Content Format: The magazine features news, opinion pieces, interviews, and trend analyses.
Popular Sections: Finance, technology, startups, leadership, and market insights are among the most-read categories.

By understanding their style and readership, you can tailor your pitch to align with the magazine’s objectives and increase your chances of being featured.

Step 2: Craft a Strong Story Angle

Journalists are always looking for compelling stories that resonate with their readers. A strong story angle is crucial to getting noticed. Consider these approaches:

Unique Insights: Share data-driven insights or market trends that aren’t widely known.
Personal Success Stories: Highlight entrepreneurial journeys, overcoming challenges, or innovative solutions.
Industry Expertise: Offer expert commentary or advice that establishes you as a thought leader.
Newsworthy Developments: Announce milestones, product launches, or groundbreaking research in your industry.

A well-crafted story angle not only makes your pitch stand out but also makes it easier for editors to see why your content is relevant.

Step 3: Build Relationships with Journalists

Connections are key in PR. Building relationships with Business Insider journalists and editors can increase your chances of being featured:

Follow and Engage: Follow relevant journalists on LinkedIn and Twitter. Engage with their content by commenting thoughtfully.
Personalized Outreach: Avoid generic emails. Tailor your pitch to the journalist’s beat and reference their recent work.
Be Helpful: Offer exclusive data, expert insights, or interview opportunities that make their job easier.

Remember, editors receive hundreds of pitches daily, so building a genuine relationship can make your submission stand out.

Step 4: Craft a Compelling Pitch

Once you’ve identified the right journalist or editor, your pitch needs to be concise, compelling, and relevant. Here’s a framework:

Subject Line: Make it clear and attention-grabbing. Example: “Exclusive Insights: How [Your Company] is Transforming [Industry]”
Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and why your story is relevant to their audience.
The Hook: Present your unique angle or insight. Why is this story timely or important?
Supporting Evidence: Include data points, case studies, or expert commentary to strengthen your pitch.
Call to Action: Invite them for an interview, provide additional resources, or offer an exclusive angle.

Keep your pitch concise—editors appreciate brevity and clarity.

Step 5: Leverage Press Releases

A professionally crafted press release can complement your pitching strategy. Focus on:

Newsworthiness: Highlight milestones, product launches, or research findings.
Clear Messaging: Use simple, impactful language that editors can easily understand.
Multimedia Assets: Include high-quality images, charts, or infographics to make your story more engaging.

Distribute your press release strategically to journalists covering your industry, including those at Business Insider.

Step 6: Be Ready for Follow-Ups

If a journalist shows interest, respond promptly and provide any requested information. Flexibility and professionalism during follow-ups can make the process smoother and increase the likelihood of your story being published.

Step 7: Utilize a PR Agency

If you find the process overwhelming, partnering with a professional PR agency can save time and increase your chances of success. PR experts have established media relationships, understand editorial requirements, and can craft pitches that resonate with Business Insider editors.

Step 8: Promote Your Feature

Once your story is published, don’t let the momentum go to waste:

Share the feature across social media channels.
Include it in newsletters and email campaigns.
Highlight it on your website and marketing materials.

Maximizing exposure ensures you reap the full benefits of your Business Insider feature.

Conclusion

Getting featured in Business Insider Magazine is more than just a vanity metric—it’s a strategic move that can elevate your brand’s credibility, expand your reach, and open doors to new opportunities. By understanding the publication, crafting compelling stories, building relationships with journalists, and leveraging professional PR strategies, you can position yourself to capture the attention of Business Insider editors.

Invest time in research, storytelling, and strategic outreach, and your brand could soon be showcased in one of the world’s leading business publications.

Start today, and take the steps needed to get featured in Business Insider Magazine—the visibility and credibility gains are well worth the effort.

Health

How to Get Featured in Fast Company Magazine (and Why It Matters More Than Ever)

Published

4 days ago

January 30, 2026

Sahil Sachdeva

In today’s crowded digital world, attention is currency—and credibility is everything. Brands are louder, founders are bolder, and thought leaders are everywhere. But only a few stories rise above the noise. One of the most powerful ways to stand out? Get featured in Fast Company magazine.

Fast Company isn’t just another publication. It’s a cultural authority at the intersection of business, innovation, creativity, and impact. Being featured there doesn’t simply put your name in print—it places your story inside a global conversation about what’s next.

So how do you actually get there? And more importantly, how do you deserve to be there?

Let’s break it down.

Why a Fast Company Feature Is a Big Deal

Fast Company doesn’t chase hype. It highlights ideas, companies, and people shaping the future—often before everyone else notices. That’s why a feature instantly elevates your brand in ways ads and social posts never can.

When you get featured in Fast Company magazine, you gain:

Instant credibility with investors, partners, and customers
Thought leadership status in your industry
Long-term brand authority, not just short-term attention
Global visibility among decision-makers and innovators

In short, it signals that what you’re building matters.

Understand What Fast Company Actually Looks For

Before pitching, you need to think like an editor.

Fast Company is less interested in who you are and more interested in why your story is relevant right now. They focus on:

Innovation (new models, new thinking, new systems)
Impact (cultural, social, technological, or environmental)
Design, creativity, and leadership
The future of work, tech, business, and society

If your story doesn’t clearly connect to one of these themes, it won’t land—no matter how successful you are.

The goal isn’t to promote yourself. It’s to contribute something valuable to their audience.

Craft a Story, Not a Pitch

This is where most people get it wrong.

Editors don’t want press releases dressed up as stories. They want narratives—real challenges, bold ideas, unexpected pivots, and meaningful lessons.

Ask yourself:

What problem are we solving differently?
What insight can others learn from our journey?
Why does this matter now?

The more human and specific your story is, the stronger it becomes. Vulnerability, clarity, and originality go much further than polished marketing language.

Build Visibility Before You Pitch

Here’s a quiet truth: most people who get featured didn’t start with Fast Company.

They were already:

Publishing thoughtful content on LinkedIn or Medium
Speaking at industry events or panels
Quoted in niche publications
Known for a clear point of view

Fast Company editors often discover stories through momentum—not cold emails.

If you want to get featured in Fast Company magazine, start acting like someone worth featuring:

Share insights, not just updates
Comment intelligently on industry trends
Be consistent with your voice and message

Visibility builds familiarity. Familiarity builds trust.

Pitch With Precision (and Respect)

When you do pitch, keep it short, relevant, and editor-focused.

A strong pitch includes:

A compelling subject line
A clear story angle (not your bio)
Why it fits Fast Company’s audience
Why now

Avoid attachments, exaggeration, and generic claims. And always remember: editors are people with limited time. Respect that.

Consider Strategic PR Support

For many founders and brands, working with experienced PR professionals can dramatically increase the odds of success.

Why? Because the right PR team:

Understands editorial calendars
Knows how to shape stories editors want
Has existing media relationships
Positions you as a thought leader, not an advertiser

If Fast Company is a serious goal, strategic media positioning isn’t a shortcut—it’s an investment.

Final Thoughts: Earn the Feature

At the end of the day, you don’t just get featured in Fast Company magazine—you earn it.

You earn it by building something meaningful.
You earn it by thinking differently.
You earn it by sharing ideas that move the conversation forward.

When your story aligns with impact, innovation, and authenticity, the right platforms notice.

And when they do, that single feature can open doors you didn’t even know existed.

Health

Menopause Masking Is Harming Women’s Health and Professional Lives

Published

1 week ago

January 24, 2026

Ellora Cummins

For countless women, menopause represents more than a physical change—it’s an ongoing, often invisible struggle to maintain normalcy in professional and social environments. Symptoms like brain fog, exhaustion, hot flashes, and heightened anxiety are frequently concealed to avoid judgment or perceptions of reduced competence.

Specialists are increasingly highlighting the dangers of this “menopause masking.” The ongoing effort to hide or downplay symptoms depletes energy reserves, heightens burnout risk, amplifies emotional strain, and erodes overall resilience. Rather than pursuing accommodations or medical help, many women overcompensate—putting in extra hours, depending excessively on reminders, or steering clear of demanding tasks and interactions.

The workplace consequences are stark. In the UK, millions of women aged 45–55 remain active in the workforce, precisely when menopausal symptoms tend to intensify most. Research indicates that around one in ten women in this demographic have exited jobs due to unmanaged symptoms. In contrast, others scale back more subtly—passing on promotions, lowering their profile, or moving to less demanding, lower-paying positions to manage daily challenges.

Menopause manifests differently for each woman: some endure debilitating physical discomfort that hinders basic activities, while others face cognitive issues that undermine confidence during meetings, presentations, or complex discussions. Social isolation often follows, with many avoiding events due to trouble focusing or engaging in conversations.

Cultural perspectives on menopause differ globally. In Japan, it’s termed “konenki,” evoking renewal or a “second spring.” Many Indigenous traditions regard post-menopausal women as entering eras of greater wisdom, authority, and esteem, frameworks that may foster more positive experiences. By comparison, Western views often medicalize it as a problem to fix, emphasizing symptoms and interventions over potential for personal growth, equilibrium, or new purpose.

Progress is emerging through policy. In the UK, menopause assessments are being integrated into standard health checks for women over 40, and larger employers face mandates to develop menopause action plans (with voluntary adoption starting in 2026 and requirements becoming compulsory by 2027 under recent legislation). Yet experts stress that regulations alone fall short.

Meaningful improvement requires widespread education, supportive managers, and inclusive workplace environments where women can openly address health concerns without jeopardizing advancement. Above all, it calls for reframing menopause—not as a flaw to conceal, but as a normal phase worthy of empathy, resources, and accommodation.

The key insight for many women is reassuringly straightforward: they’re far from isolated in this experience. Opening up about it could mark the beginning of genuine, lasting transformation.

Health

Get Featured in TechCrunch Your Ultimate Guide to Startup Visibility

Published

2 weeks ago

January 23, 2026

Sahil Sachdeva

If you’re building a startup, launching a product, or scaling a tech brand, there’s one dream headline many founders share: Get Featured in TechCrunch.

Why? Because a TechCrunch feature doesn’t just bring traffic — it brings credibility, investors, partnerships, and momentum. It’s the kind of media coverage that can transform a startup from “unknown” to “unmissable” overnight.

But let’s be honest — getting featured in TechCrunch isn’t easy. It requires more than a press release and a prayer. It takes strategy, storytelling, timing, and the right media approach. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to increase your chances — and how brands like yours can make it happen.

Why Being Featured in TechCrunch Matters

TechCrunch isn’t just another tech blog. It’s a global authority in startup news, innovation, venture capital, and emerging technology. When your brand appears on TechCrunch, you instantly gain:

✔ Trust from investors and stakeholders
✔ Exposure to millions of readers
✔ Strong SEO backlinks
✔ Media credibility that opens more doors
✔ Social proof that boosts conversions

In today’s competitive tech landscape, visibility equals opportunity. And TechCrunch visibility? That’s next-level.

What TechCrunch Actually Looks For

Before pitching, it’s crucial to understand what TechCrunch cares about. They don’t feature companies just because they’re new — they feature companies because they’re newsworthy.

Here’s what catches their attention:

Product launches or major updates
Funding rounds and investor announcements
Breakthrough innovations or disruptive ideas
Rapid growth, user traction, or market expansion
Impactful solutions in AI, fintech, SaaS, healthtech, climate tech, and more

If your story doesn’t feel newsworthy, it won’t get published — no matter how well written it is.

The Power of a Strong Story

To get featured in TechCrunch, you need more than data — you need a story.

Instead of saying:
“We launched a new SaaS platform.”

Say:
“We built a tool that saves small businesses 40% of their time and 30% of their operating costs — and we’re scaling globally.”

Journalists want impact, emotion, and real-world relevance. They want to know:

What problem are you solving?
Why does it matter right now?
How does it change the industry or people’s lives?

This is where many founders struggle — and where professional PR makes a massive difference.

How to Pitch TechCrunch (The Right Way)

Here’s what an effective TechCrunch pitch includes:

A compelling subject line
Example: “Exclusive: AI startup reduces cybersecurity breaches by 60%”
A strong hook in the first 2–3 lines
Journalists skim. Make them stop.
Clear news value
What’s happening? Why now?
Proof and credibility
Metrics, traction, funding, users, or partnerships.
Concise and respectful tone
No fluff. No pressure. No desperation.

Pitching TechCrunch isn’t about begging — it’s about presenting a story they’d want to tell.

Why Most Founders Fail to Get Featured

Let’s be real — most startups don’t get featured in TechCrunch because they:

Pitch without a news angle
Use generic templates
Send mass emails
Don’t follow journalist guidelines
Lack media relationships

It’s not that their product isn’t good — it’s that their pitch isn’t strategic.

That’s where experienced PR professionals step in.

How Level Up PR Helps You Get Featured in TechCrunch

At Level Up PR, we specialize in helping tech brands, startups, and founders get featured in TechCrunch and other top-tier publications — not through shortcuts, but through smart, ethical, and effective PR strategies.

Here’s how we do it:

1. Strategic Story Positioning

We craft your narrative around what journalists actually want — not just what you want to say.

2. Targeted Media Outreach

We pitch the right journalists at the right time with personalized, high-conversion media angles.

3. Newsworthy Angle Creation

No big announcement? No problem. We help uncover hidden stories within your brand — from customer success to market trends.

4. Relationship-Based PR

We don’t blast emails. We build relationships — which leads to better placements, faster responses, and higher-quality coverage.

5. Measurable Results

Our clients don’t just get features — they get traffic, leads, funding interest, and industry authority.

Real Benefits After You Get Featured in TechCrunch

Once you get featured in TechCrunch, the impact goes far beyond a headline:

Surge in website traffic Increase in inbound leads

Investor interest and credibility

Media snowball effect (other outlets follow)

Higher Google rankings due to strong backlinks

It’s not just PR — it’s a growth catalyst.

Final Thoughts: Your Feature Is Closer Than You Think

Getting featured in TechCrunch may feel like a long shot — but with the right story, strategy, and support, it becomes a real, achievable goal.

You don’t need to be a unicorn. You don’t need a billion-dollar valuation. You just need:

A meaningful story
A strong news angle
The right media approach

And if you want expert guidance, Level Up PR is here to help your brand rise above the noise and into the spotlight.

Ready to get featured in TechCrunch? Let’s make it happen.

Business

Get Published in Elle How Top PR Agencies Help Brands Get Featured

Published

3 weeks ago

January 12, 2026

Sahil Sachdeva

Being featured in ELLE is a dream for many fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and luxury brands. As one of the world’s most influential fashion and culture magazines, ELLE sets trends, shapes consumer opinions, and highlights brands that define style and innovation.

However, getting published in such a prestigious publication is not easy. ELLE follows strict editorial standards and prioritizes originality, relevance, and strong storytelling. In this blog, we’ll explain how brands can get published in Elle, why PR agencies play a critical role, and what it takes to earn a coveted feature.

Why Getting Published in Elle Matters

ELLE is more than a fashion magazine—it’s a global authority in style, beauty, wellness, and culture. A feature in ELLE instantly elevates a brand’s image and credibility.

Here’s why brands aim to get published in Elle:

Global exposure across print and digital platforms
Strong credibility in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle industries
Increased trust among consumers and buyers
Higher brand recognition and visibility
Long-term SEO and digital authority

A single ELLE feature can position your brand as trend-worthy and industry-relevant.

Who Should Try to Get Published in Elle?

ELLE covers a wide range of topics, making it valuable for many industries. Brands and individuals who benefit most include:

Fashion designers and apparel brands
Beauty, skincare, and wellness companies
Luxury and lifestyle brands
Female founders and entrepreneurs
Creative professionals and influencers
Sustainable and purpose-driven brands

If your brand aligns with style, innovation, or cultural relevance, ELLE is a powerful platform.

Why You Need a PR Agency to Get Published in Elle

ELLE does not accept promotional content or unsolicited pitches from brands. Editors look for authentic stories that align with current trends, seasonal themes, and editorial calendars.

Professional PR agencies help brands:

Develop editorial-ready story angles
Pitch directly to ELLE editors and contributors
Align launches with fashion seasons and trends
Position founders and creatives as industry voices
Ensure messaging meets editorial standards

Working with experts significantly improves your chances to get published in Elle.

How PR Agencies Help Brands Get Published in Elle

Top PR agencies follow a strategic approach when targeting premium publications like ELLE.

1. Story Development

PR agencies focus on storytelling—not selling. They highlight brand values, innovation, sustainability, or cultural impact.

2. Editorial Alignment

They align pitches with ELLE’s content themes such as fashion weeks, beauty trends, wellness, or women empowerment.

3. Media Relationships

Established relationships with editors increase trust and pitch credibility.

4. Timing & Placement

PR professionals pitch at the right time—before seasonal features, trend reports, or special issues.

5. Follow-Ups & Positioning

Consistent communication and strong positioning help secure long-term media visibility.

Top PR Agencies That Help Brands Get Published in Elle

Below are PR agencies known for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle media expertise:

Level Up PR – Leader in Fashion & Lifestyle Media Coverage

Level Up PR is a top choice for brands aiming to secure premium features in publications like ELLE. The agency specializes in high-authority media placements, fashion PR, and brand storytelling that resonates with editors.

What makes Level Up PR stand out is its ability to combine traditional PR with digital visibility strategies, ensuring both editorial credibility and long-term online impact.

Key strengths include:

Strong fashion, beauty, and lifestyle media expertise
Editorial-focused storytelling and pitching
High-authority media placements
Digital PR and SEO-driven visibility
Transparent strategy and measurable results

KCD Worldwide

KCD is a globally recognized fashion PR agency known for representing luxury brands and designers. Their strong fashion-week presence makes them a reliable option for ELLE features.

Karla Otto

Karla Otto works with premium fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands worldwide, offering strong editorial connections and strategic brand positioning.

PR Consulting

PR Consulting specializes in fashion and beauty PR, with experience securing placements in top-tier magazines including ELLE.

Purple PR

Purple PR focuses on luxury, fashion, and lifestyle brands, delivering creative storytelling and strong editorial exposure.

What Editors at Elle Look For

To successfully get published in Elle, your story must offer value beyond promotion. Editors typically look for:

Original and trend-driven concepts
Authentic brand stories
Cultural or social relevance
High-quality visuals and aesthetics
Expert opinions or founder insights

PR agencies ensure your brand meets these expectations.

Final Thoughts

Getting featured in ELLE is a powerful way to elevate your brand’s authority, visibility, and influence in the fashion and lifestyle space. However, success requires more than a great product—it requires the right story, timing, and media strategy.

Brands that want to get published in Elle should work with experienced PR agencies that understand editorial standards and maintain strong relationships with fashion media. Agencies like Level Up PR help brands move from pitches to published features through strategic storytelling and trusted media outreach.

Health

US Seizes Venezuelan Leader Nicolás Maduro in Bold Military Raid

Published

4 weeks ago

January 6, 2026

Ellora Cummins

In a sharp intensification of US-Venezuela relations, American forces have apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a rapid operation in Caracas on January 3. Elite US troops detained the couple and evacuated them from the country, representing the first such direct US action against a South American head of state in over 30 years.

President Donald Trump revealed the mission on January 3, labeling it a “successful counternarcotics effort.” The administration insists it was a targeted law enforcement action to enforce existing US indictments, rather than an act of aggression.

The US Justice Department has long charged Maduro in New York with narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and ties to the FARC rebels. Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighted the severe penalties, potentially including life imprisonment.

Authorities accuse Maduro of heading the “Cartel of the Suns,” a drug network allegedly run by high-ranking Venezuelan military figures. Washington recently raised the bounty for his capture to $50 million, branding him a major global drug trafficker.

The raid echoes the 1989 US operation in Panama that captured Manuel Noriega on similar drug charges. However, Maduro’s detention was far swifter, completed in hours to reduce risks of casualties or chaos.

Venezuela has declared a state of emergency, with Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López rallying for resistance against “imperialist invasion” and calling for evidence of Maduro’s well-being. Troops are deployed in key cities amid rising tensions.

Global responses vary: Russia has denounced it as a breach of sovereignty, while some Western countries advocate calm and a smooth power handover. The US states no additional military moves are planned.

Venezuela now faces deep instability. Constitutionally, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez steps in as acting leader to organize elections, though military allegiances to the regime may spark conflicts.

Maduro is set for a prolonged US trial on the indictments. The operation’s broader impacts on Venezuela and hemispheric stability remain uncertain.

Health

Get Featured in TechCrunch: A Practical Guide for Startups and Technology Companies

Published

4 weeks ago

January 5, 2026

Sahil Sachdeva

For startups and technology-driven businesses, media visibility can play a decisive role in growth and credibility. Among technology publications, TechCrunch stands out as one of the most trusted sources for startup news, funding updates, and innovation trends. Many founders aim to Get Featured in TechCrunch because of its ability to influence investors, customers, and the broader tech ecosystem.

This guide explains how TechCrunch operates, what journalists look for, and how companies can responsibly prepare for editorial coverage.

Why TechCrunch Coverage Is Highly Valued

TechCrunch has built its reputation through independent reporting and in-depth analysis of emerging technologies and startup ecosystems. Its readership includes venture capitalists, founders, product leaders, and industry analysts.

A feature on TechCrunch can help companies:

Establish authority and trust
Attract investor and partner interest
Increase qualified website traffic
Strengthen brand perception within the tech community

Because of this reach and credibility, many early-stage and scaling companies strategically work toward the goal to Get Featured in TechCrunch at key moments in their growth journey.

Understanding TechCrunch’s Editorial Focu

TechCrunch is an editorial platform, not a promotional directory. Its journalists prioritize factual, timely, and industry-relevant stories that offer value to readers.

Primary Topics Covered

TechCrunch commonly reports on:

Startup funding rounds and acquisitions
Product launches with market impact
Artificial intelligence and deep technology
SaaS, fintech, Web3, and enterprise tools
Venture capital trends and startup ecosystems

To Get Featured in TechCrunch, your announcement must align with these topics and present clear relevance to current industry developments.

What Makes a Story Newsworthy

One of the most common mistakes companies make is pitching content that lacks a genuine news angle. TechCrunch evaluates whether a story contributes meaningful insight or signals a shift in the market.

Examples of strong news angles include:

A confirmed funding round or acquisition
A product launch addressing a clear market gap
Proprietary technology or original research
Verified traction, revenue growth, or adoption metrics
Industry disruption or operational innovation

Without a timely and factual story, it becomes difficult to Get Featured in TechCrunch, regardless of product quality.

Preparing Your Company Before Outreach

Before contacting any journalist, your company must be ready for public scrutiny. Editors frequently research brands before responding to pitches.

Essential Preparation Checklist

A clear and informative website
Transparent company and founder information
Supporting data or performance metrics
Press-ready product descriptions
Consistent online presence

Preparation demonstrates professionalism and credibility, which significantly improves your chances to Get Featured in TechCrunch.

How to Pitch TechCrunch the Right Way

An effective pitch is concise, factual, and respectful of a journalist’s time. Editors receive a high volume of emails daily, so clarity is critical.

Key Elements of a Strong Pitch

A precise subject line referencing the news
A brief summary of what is happening
Explanation of why it matters to the industry
Verified facts, numbers, and timelines
Optional quotes from founders or executives

Avoid exaggerated claims or marketing language. A clear, information-driven pitch is essential if you want to Get Featured in TechCrunch.

The Role of Timing in Media Coverage

Timing plays a major role in editorial decisions. Even strong stories may be declined if they are poorly timed.

Best practices include:

Pitching before public announcements
Coordinating with funding or launch embargoes
Aligning with trending industry discussions
Avoiding periods of low editorial activity

Strategic timing increases relevance and improves the likelihood to Get Featured in TechCrunch when editors are actively covering similar topics.

Direct Outreach vs. Professional PR Support

While founders can pitch independently, many companies choose to work with experienced PR professionals. Media specialists understand how to position stories and communicate with journalists effectively.

PR support can help with:

Story framing and narrative development
Identifying the right TechCrunch reporters
Managing follow-ups professionally
Reducing common pitching errors

For companies unfamiliar with media outreach, professional guidance can improve the chances to Get Featured in TechCrunch without damaging long-term media relationships.

Common Reasons TechCrunch Declines Pitche

Rejection is common and does not necessarily reflect a weak product. Most rejections are based on editorial fit and timing.

Common reasons include:

Lack of a clear news angle
Overly promotional messaging
Insufficient data or validation
Story not relevant to current coverage priorities

Understanding these factors helps companies refine their approach and prepare better for future attempts to Get Featured in TechCrunch.

Maximizing Impact After Publication

Securing coverage is only the first step. How you use that coverage determines its long-term value.

Recommended actions after publication:

Share the article across professional networks
Add TechCrunch mentions to your website
Include coverage in investor and sales materials
Reference the feature in future media outreach

Effective amplification extends the benefits of being able to Get Featured in TechCrunch beyond the initial article.

Conclusion

TechCrunch coverage is earned through relevance, preparation, and responsible storytelling. Companies that understand editorial standards and focus on real industry impact are far more likely to succeed.

By approaching media outreach strategically and maintaining realistic expectations, the goal to Get Featured in TechCrunch becomes achievable for startups and technology brands committed to long-term growth and credibility.

Health

Weight-Loss Shots: The Real Story of What Happens After You Quit

Published

1 month ago

December 26, 2025

Ellora Cummins

semaglutide-injection-pen-in-stomach (1)

For countless individuals battling obesity, weight-loss injections have been a game-changer, achieving what endless diets couldn’t. These GLP-1 agonist medications, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, work by imitating a hormone that naturally controls hunger, helping to silence the relentless “food noise” that leads to overeating. But with their popularity skyrocketing, a tough reality is coming into focus: what occurs when someone decides to stop?

Take Tanya Hall’s story—she’s found quitting far tougher than beginning. Every attempt to pause her Wegovy shots has brought back intense hunger almost immediately. “It’s like flipping a switch,” she explains. “Suddenly, you’re ravenous.” In no time, she’s consuming way more than planned, leaving her stunned and worried.

Tanya, who works in the fitness sector, started the injections as a test. She felt her expertise was overlooked due to her size. After dropping several stones, she noticed people treating her differently—with more respect. But the journey wasn’t easy. In the beginning, she dealt with nausea, headaches, insomnia, and even major hair loss, likely tied to the quick weight drop.

Fast-forward 18 months: Tanya has shed six stones and hit a weight she’s happy with. Still, despite trying multiple times, she can’t seem to go without the medication. Each pause sparks dread of packing the pounds back on fast. “I feel almost hooked on continuing,” she confesses, wondering if the drug has taken over her life.

Experts confirm this is common. Lifestyle doctor Dr. Hussain Al-Zubaidi compares stopping GLP-1 drugs to “leaping off a cliff” for many. Patients often quit cold turkey after hitting their goal, sometimes still at max dose, only for appetite to roar back right away.

Research backs this up: Studies show that within one to three years of stopping, people typically regain 60-80% of the weight lost. Dr. Al-Zubaidi stresses that while these drugs are incredibly effective, they don’t fix underlying issues like poor eating habits or the obesogenic world we live in.

Contrast that with Ellen Ogley’s success. She turned to Mounjaro when her weight threatened a critical surgery. “It was my last chance to make it work,” she says.

Before the shots, Ellen was an emotional eater, turning to food in good times and bad. The medication curbed that impulse, giving her room to rebuild her relationship with eating. She prioritized balanced nutrition, established better habits, and ramped up her exercise.

After 16 weeks, she tapered off over six weeks. She’d lost over three stones and kept up her workouts. When her weight ticked up a bit post-medication, it rattled her, but she stuck to her new routines. Eventually, she stabilized—and has since dropped even more, totaling over eight stones.

The key difference? Support. The UK’s health guidelines from NICE advise at least a year of ongoing help after stopping, including personalized strategies for maintaining healthy changes. Sadly, many who buy these drugs privately miss out on that structured follow-up.

Drug makers like Novo Nordisk (Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (Mounjaro) emphasize consulting doctors for decisions on starting or stopping, weighing side effects and long-term use carefully. Patient safety is their priority.

As these injections surge in demand, doctors caution against seeing them as a lifelong cure. “Obesity isn’t just a lack of GLP-1 hormones,” says Dr. Al-Zubaidi. Without shifts in diet, movement, and surroundings, quitting can feel like starting over.

Right now, users are essentially gambling: Will they hold steady or slip back? For some like Ellen, life without the shots is manageable and ongoing. For others like Tanya, it’s a constant tug-of-war between the drug’s perks and the terror of letting go.