Health Highlights: June 24, 2019

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Climate Change is a 'Health Emergency': Medical Groups

Climate change is a "health emergency," 74 U.S. medical and public health groups say in a climate change agenda released Monday.

"The health, safety and well-being of millions of people in the U.S. have already been harmed by human-caused climate change, and health risks in the future are dire without urgent action to fight climate change," according to the agenda, the Associated Press reported.

The groups want elected officials and presidential candidates to "meet and strengthen U.S. commitments" under the 2015 United Nations climate agreement. President Donald Trump has said he will withdraw the U.S. from the deal.

The agenda also calls for carbon pricing and "a plan and timeline for reduction of fossil fuel extraction in the U.S," the AP reported.

Groups that endorsed the agenda include the American Medical Association, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American College of Physicians and numerous state-level and academic public health organizations.

The fact that the groups do not have "a political axe to grind" could help them get more people to pay attention to climate change, Ed Maibach, director of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University, told the AP.

"It's incredibly helpful when health professionals point out the actual reality of the situation, point out that this is also a threat to our health and well-being now ... and it's likely to get worse, much worse, if we don't take action to address it," Maibach said.

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Brand Castle Cookie and Brownie Mixes Recalled

Several brands of cookie and brownie mix have been recalled by Brand Castle, LLC because the flour in the mixes may be contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

The following mixes, sold in 25-oz and 32-oz glass jars, were recalled: Brand Castle Arctic Chill Chocolate Mint Cookie Mix, UPC: 6-54448-01035-2, Lot: L6112618; Brand Castle Hot Cocoa Cookie Mix, UPC: 6-54448-01036-9, Lot: L5111918; Sisters Gourmet Million Dollar Cookie Mix, UPC: 6-54448-00002-5, Lot: L2121818; Sisters Gourmet Billion Dollar Brownie Mix, UPC: 6-54448-00017-9, Lot: 31OCT2019BC8324; In the Mix Chocolate Mint Chip Cookie Mix, UPC: 6-54448-01081-9, Lot: LM101518; Brand Castle The Grinch Sugar Cookie Mix with Sprinkles, UPC: 6-54448-01038-3, Lot: 25JUL2019BC8324.

The products were distributed in Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Utah.

Consumers should not use or eat recalled flour or bake mixes, the FDA said.