Health News Roundup: Abortion rights supporters and opponents mark one year without Roe v. Wade; Former PM Cameron says Britain was prepared for flu-like pandemic rather than COVID and more

The UK government said on Saturday that rules banning multi-buy deals on HFSS foods and drinks, including buy one get one free (BOGOF) deals, will be delayed until October 2025. Analysis-New rules set to shake up China's shrinking infant formula market China's introduction of the world's strictest nutrient standards for infant formula are likely to see scores of brands give up on a market that is shrinking along with the country's falling birth rates, industry executives and analysts say.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Abortion rights supporters and opponents mark one year without Roe v. Wade

Abortion rights advocates and opponents are set to mark this week's one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that had legalized the procedure nationwide with events to rally voters and highlight the ongoing fights over access. The ruling, whose anniversary comes this Saturday, had a swift impact by freeing states to ban abortion. Republican-controlled legislatures in numerous states passed restrictive legislation, with near-total abortion bans now in place in 14 states even as opinion polls show that a majority of Americans want abortion legal in all or most cases.

Former PM Cameron says Britain was prepared for flu-like pandemic rather than COVID

Former prime minister David Cameron told an inquiry on Monday that Britain was prepared for a flu-type pandemic but not enough work was done in advance to confront an asymptomatic disease similar to COVID-19. Britain is holding an inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic after Britain recorded one of the world's highest death tolls. More than 175,000 deaths from the novel coronavirus had been reported by July last year.

AstraZeneca planning China business spin off -FT

Drugmaker AstraZeneca is drafting a plan to spin off its China business, and listing a separate unit in Hong Kong is being viewed as an option, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. A separation might not ultimately take place, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter, with one of them saying listing the entity in Shanghai was also possible.

UK high-sugar promotion ban delay angers health campaigners

Britain's decision to further delay rules banning multi-buy deals on food and drinks high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS) has dismayed health campaigners who say it will not help families trying to save money. The UK government said on Saturday that rules banning multi-buy deals on HFSS foods and drinks, including buy one get one free (BOGOF) deals, will be delayed until October 2025.

Analysis-New rules set to shake up China's shrinking infant formula market

China's introduction of the world's strictest nutrient standards for infant formula are likely to see scores of brands give up on a market that is shrinking along with the country's falling birth rates, industry executives and analysts say. New rules imposed in February force infant formula makers to invest heavily to re-make, test, certify and re-register their products for China, before potentially conducting new marketing campaigns.