Articles:

• New Dietary Guidelines Neglect The Health Risks Of Food Processing And Packaging
  Health Affairs Forefront, 3/23/2026 (with Michael Shank)
  The recently updated dietary guidelines for Americans, released this January by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), rightfully emphasize whole foods over ultraprocessed foods. But the guidelines neglect to address how that food is delivered. “Real food” can still cause chronic disease if it contains harmful chemicals lingering from processing or packaging. Congress and federal agencies should commit to ensuring that all Americans have access to safe real food by strengthening federal oversight of chemicals in food processing and packaging.

• Treaty failure is not the end of the fight against plastic pollution
  Al-Jazeera Opinion, 8/21/2025 (with Michael Shank)
  As global plastic treaty talks end in failure, with no agreement, all is not lost in the global momentum to cut plastic pollution. United States lawmakers recently introduced the Microplastics Safety Act, for example, mandating the Department of Health and Human Services to study microplastics exposure and health impacts. The bill reflects growing concern in Congress about the plastics health crisis and the broad bipartisan support to address it. However, given that plastic production, use, and hence exposure, continue to increase every year, we should not wait idly for the US report’s findings or more failed global plastic treaty talks. There is enough evidence to take action now. Below, we highlight three areas that can help reduce everyone’s exposure to microplastics: culture, business and policy.

Testimony and Briefings:

• Provided oral testimony as a medical expert in support of the Maryland Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program to the Montgomery County Delegation on 11/18/24, the Maryland House of Delegates on 2/14/25 and 2/11/2026, and the Maryland Senate on 2/18/25 and 2/10/2026

• Provided written testimony in support of the Maryland Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program in 2025 and 2026, obtaining endorsement from several medical and public health organizations for the letter.

• Featured speaker at a rally in support of the Maryland Bottle Bill in Annapolis on 2/14/2

• Co-authored “Plastic Pollution and Producer Responsibility,” a brief prepared by Environment Virginia and other organizations to inform 2026 Virginia state policy discussions

Medical Expert:

• Quoted in Ocean’s campaign for the “Farewell to Foam” Act:
  “I became a doctor because I wanted to ensure that all people had the opportunity for a healthy and dignified life. Unfortunately, plastic pollution undermines this goal. For example, expanded polystyrene foam is made with a cancer-causing chemical. That is why I am proud to support the Farewell to Foam Act. This bill phases out expanded polystyrene from single-use food packaging, packing peanuts, and coolers, allowing safer products on the market. Twelve states have already enacted similar laws reducing plastic foam, and now it’s time to safeguard the health of all Americans from this hazardous pollutant.”

• Panelist for Oceana’s webinar about plastic foam for state legislators (January 2026)