How the Wellness Industry May Be Harming Animals, Spreading Disease, and Contributing to Future Pandemics

Raw Pet Food Trend Fuels Bird Flu Spread and Raises Pandemic Fears

The rising popularity of raw pet food is increasingly linked to the spread of H5N1 bird flu, particularly among cats. This growing risk is a byproduct of the booming $6.3 trillion wellness industry, which often thrives on scientific skepticism, the idolization of “natural” alternatives, and fear-driven marketing.

But the consequences go beyond human health misinformation — they’re now endangering animals, too. Pseudoscientific practices promoted by holistic pet health influencers, organic farming advocates, and alternative medicine proponents are creating conditions ripe for viral outbreaks. H5N1 has already killed pets and could pave the way for a future human pandemic.

The threat is further magnified by weakened oversight. With the effective dismantling of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., critical infrastructure for monitoring and responding to the outbreak is crumbling.

Misinformation isn’t just infiltrating human wellness—it’s deeply rooted in veterinary circles as well. And with even fewer safeguards in place than in human healthcare, the risks are mounting. The veterinary wellness market is booming, with the raw pet food segment alone projected to double from $7.39 billion in 2024 to $14.5 billion by 2030.

"Greenpeace Faces Trial in $300 Million Lawsuit That Could Lead to Bankruptcy"

Greenpeace is set to go on trial on Monday before a North Dakota jury in a high-stakes lawsuit that could potentially bankrupt the organization. The lawsuit was filed in 2017 by Dallas-based company Energy Transfer, which accused Greenpeace of orchestrating disruptive protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation nearly a decade ago. Activists argue that the lawsuit is an attempt to suppress free speech and set a dangerous precedent for protest groups, asserting that Greenpeace only played a supporting role in demonstrations led by Native Americans. “This trial is a critical test of the future of the First Amendment, both freedom of speech and peaceful protest under the Trump administration and beyond,” said Greenpeace’s interim director, Sushma Raman, in public remarks on Thursday. Energy Transfer declined to comment ahead of the trial. However, in a statement released in August, the company stated that the lawsuit against Gr...

Child Dies in Texas Measles Outbreak as Washington Officials Urge Vaccinations

WASHINGTON STATE — A child has died amid a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, marking the first measles-related death in the U.S. in a decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In response, health officials in Washington state are urging residents to stay vigilant and ensure vaccinations are up to date as concerns grow over the potential spread of the disease. Dr. James Lewis, a health officer with the Snohomish County Health Department, stated, “We have not seen an uptick yet in Washington, but it’s certainly possible that we could end up seeing an increase in cases, just as some places in the country have.” The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported six confirmed measles cases in 2024, with none reported so far this year. However, Dr. Lewis noted that there have already been two confirmed measles exposures in the state in 2025. "None of those exposures resulted in illness, likely due to prior immunity," he said. ...

Supreme Court Set to Rule in Favor of Straight Woman in Discrimination Case

The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in an employment discrimination case brought by a straight woman who was twice passed over for positions in favor of gay colleagues. The case follows the court’s 2023 decision to strike down race-conscious college admissions and comes amid the Trump administration’s push to dismantle diversity-focused policies. While some conservative groups had hoped for a broad ruling on workplace diversity initiatives, the justices appeared poised to issue a narrow decision, affirming that anti-discrimination laws apply equally to all employees. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch noted the unusual agreement among justices and lawyers from both sides, acknowledging that the lower appeals court erred by imposing stricter requirements on majority-group plaintiffs proving workplace discrimination. Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh suggested the ruling could be short and unanimous, simply stating that discrimination based on sexual orientation—whether against gay or straig...

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