GLP podcast: Red state ‘bullies’ trying to ban fake meat; Alt-health activists in a second Trump Admin? Psilocybin might be superior to some antidepressants

Why are some states trying to ban lab-grown meat? Conspiracy thinking prevails in the alternative health movement, and some of its gurus may be appointed to powerful positions in a second Trump Administration. Are magic mushrooms better than established depression therapies? Maybe, according to a recent clinical trial.

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Join hosts Dr. Liza Dunn and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 288 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

• Viewpoint: The FDA should not be bullied into taking away consumer’s choice to eat cell-grown meat

A handful of conservative states have implemented or tried to pass legislation banning the production and sale of lab-grown meat. Advocates of these alternative proteins see this response as a threat to consumer choice and an attempt to turn sustainable food production into a culture-war issue. Critics of cell-based meat counter that the nascent industry is energy-intensive and entirely dependent on government subsidies for survival, rendering it unsuitable as a substitute for (or even a supplement to) animal agriculture.

• Viewpoint: Conspiracy thinking undergirds ‘woo woo’ alternative health advocates – and they could be in the next Trump administration

If Donald Trump wins a second term as president, there is a real possibility that alternative health gurus like RFK, Jr. could occupy high-level positions in his cabinet—where they could directly influence public health policy and federal research priorities. As noted critics of synthetic pesticides, vaccines and other science-based tools widely used in farming and medicine, Kennedy and his acolytes could jeopardize our food system and harm America’s health in a variety of ways. How did we get to a place where this coalition has so much influence, and what do we do about it?

• A single dose of psilocybin appears more effective than drugs in treating depression

Just two doses of psilocybin, the psychedelic drug in so-called “magic mushrooms,” treated depressive symptoms better than an FDA-approved anti-depressant in a recent clinical trial. As we’ll see, the study had important limitations that raise questions about using psychedelics as depression treatments. Nevertheless, the study does suggest that psilocybin may be a viable alternative in cases where established therapies fail. Let’s take a close look.

Dr. Liza Dunn is a medical toxicologist and the medical affairs lead at Bayer Crop Science. Follow her on X @DrLizaMD

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish