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A new RAND Corporation study has criticized the inept of a Los Angeles ordinance touted to significantly bring down obesity rates in low-income areas by putting restrictions on opening of new fast-food restaurants. The law has so far scattered on the ground and has not reduced fast-food consumption or obesity rates in the targeted neighborhoods.

The study results showed that since the fast-food restrictions were passed in 2008, the rates of overweight and obesity in South Los Angeles and other neighborhoods have witnessed a rise faster than in other parts of the city or other parts of the county. Findings of the study have been published online by the journal Social Science & Medicine.

The US Food and Drug Administration, on Tuesday, announced that Trader Joe’s has voluntarily recalled the packages of raw walnuts due to the risk of Salmonella, a bacteria that can cause illness and at times can lead to death in young children, the frail or the elderly.

Such kind of food poisoning can result in diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, cramps and other related symptoms that typically develop within 12 to 72 hours after the infection period. The salmonella infection lasts around four to seven days depending on the strength of the bacteria.

Trader Joe’s removed the walnuts temporarily from shelves when the samples tested positive for bacteria, but fortunately, till now, no illnesses have been reported.

A new study has found that aspirin could protect people with common genes from developing colon cancer, a cancer of the large intestine.

Dr. Christina J. Seo, colorectal surgeon at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, said it was known that aspirin has the ability to decrease the formation of polyps. Polyp is an abnormal growth of tissue projecting from a mucous membrane. The new study has shown why aspirin decreases the formation of polyps, as per Seo. The doctor also said that it will be too soon for the medical establishment to start recommending aspirin for colon cancer prevention, but it couldn't hurt.

A study published in Royal Society Open Science suggests that parasites can promote cannibalism in animals if the latter one is a freshwater shrimp from Northern Ireland.

The shrimp belonging to the species Gammarus duebeni can eat each other even when they are not infected with the parasite. In this case, the parasite is Pleistophora mulleri. The researchers said that the infected shrimp has more chances to eat each other and it also makes them more voracious.

Alison Dunn from the University of Leeds said the parasite settles in the muscles of the shrimp. This act makes the shrimps to be not active enough to catch prey from other species. Therefore, these sick shrimps are not left with any other option to survive and they eat smaller shrimps.

Results of a meticulous screening test have showed that at least 27 people have tuberculosis at a Kansas high school. The test was conducted after one student in Northwest High School was diagnosed with active tuberculosis. The health officials also tested those who came into contact with the person and found some of them infected with the disease as well.

According to a report by health officials, the people who tested positive last week have not exhibited any signs of the disease so far.

The health department director Lougene Marsh said in a statement that they have left no stone unturned to accurately identify other possible cases in the school. The outcome for the diagnosis of the disease in the school has so far not surpassed their expectation.

France's Health Minister has said she is in support of plans that would criminalize the use of advertising with anorexic models in France. According to the health ministry, it is believed that about 40,000 people have anorexia in France and 90% of them are women.

According to Socialist lawmaker Olivier Veran, who is also a doctor, the aim is to include language to an upcoming health bill in order to make it unlawful to employ models deemed to have an eating disorder. According to experts, the measure would put France among countries such as Israel and Spain that are cracking down on the glorification of dangerously thin models.