Ex-Mossad chief says Trump ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear sites, has advice for Tehran
EXCLUSIVE: The former director of Mossad, Yossi Cohen, confirmed that the joint operation coordinated by the United States and Israel “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites, halting its uranium enrichment, and warned that Israel “can come again” if Tehran resumes its nuclear program.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Shurat HaDin conference at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City this week, Cohen, who led Israel’s intelligence agency until 2021, described the operation as a turning point for Israel’s security and the region’s diplomatic future.
“For many years, everyone knew that Iran was our premier client — and my personal client,” he said, recalling his years as a Mossad operative. “That was the nation and the station in our workflow because of the threat Iran posed to Israel.”
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“Since June 2025, Iran has been in a different position,” he said. “I can absolutely accept the president’s description that Iran’s nuclear sites were obliterated. I know for sure that Iran doesn’t enrich uranium these days, which is a great achievement. And more than that, Iran knows two things: first, that we can, and we did — with the U.S., in beautiful cooperation and coordination. And second, something even more important — we can come again.”
Cohen praised the Trump administration for its discreet coordination with Israel, the Mossad and the IDF that enabled the joint strike.
“We destroyed their air-defense systems, their Revolutionary Guard sites, we chased their filthy terrorists in their own bedrooms and beds inside Tehran and other cities,” he said. “We destroyed the nuclear facilities that were threatening the State of Israel up to the level of an existential threat — and they know that we’ve done a beautiful job there.”
The day Israel stole Iran’s nuclear archive
In his newly released book, The Sword of Freedom, Cohen — who worked directly with three U.S. presidents — recalls how he warned President Barack Obama in 2015 that the Iran nuclear deal was dangerous.
“I told him it was risky,” Cohen writes. “He said, ‘Yossi, you are so wrong.’”
That conversation, he says, was a scene later repeated with President Donald Trump. “When Trump took office in 2016, I told him the deal was ‘so wrong’ in principle and practice. He replied, ‘You’re so right. It’s the worst deal ever.’”
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“We love it when the weather is extreme — when everyone else stays indoors.”
A key turning point, Cohen said, was the 2018 Mossad operation to steal Iran’s nuclear archive — a mission that ultimately influenced the U.S. decision to withdraw from the deal.
On Jan. 31, 2018, Cohen watched a live video feed showing a 25-member Mossad squad infiltrating Tehran on a cold, snowy night. “In the Mossad, we love it when the weather is extreme — when everyone else stays indoors,” he said with a smile.
That night, agents stole 55,000 pages of classified documents and 183 compact discs, which they smuggled back to Israel — “not by UPS,” Cohen joked. The materials revealed that while Iran was negotiating with the U.S. and world powers, it was secretly continuing its nuclear weapons work.
Hostage deal and the “day after” in Gaza
Cohen also spoke about the recent Trump administration brokered hostage deal.
“I can’t thank them enough, together with our allies in the Middle East,” he said. “All living hostages are free, and I hope to receive the remaining bodies shortly, as Hamas has committed.”
He expressed optimism that the end of the war in Gaza could mark the beginning of a new diplomatic era.
“From now on, we will see a better Middle East when this war is practically over,” he said. “Maybe the reconstruction of our relationships in the region will start to resume.”
“More peace treaties will come”
Cohen predicted that renewed normalization efforts would extend beyond the Abraham Accords, which he helped establish during his tenure as Mossad chief.
“Not only will the Saudis be in line,” he said. “I know there are some rumors about Indonesia, I cherish that, of course, and I’m expecting other countries to come and sign peace treaties with the State of Israel.”
He noted that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to visit Washington soon, calling it “an important visit not only for him, but for us in the region.”
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“In the spirit of the American president right now and his beautiful team — Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio and others,” he added, “I’m expecting to see more peace treaties in the future.”
The Iranian regime and the road ahead
At the Shurat HaDin conference, Cohen also said he believes the overthrow of the Iranian regime is possible, though it may take years.
“The Iranian people suffer under a cruel regime — anyone who dares to protest is hanged or shot,” he said. “But I believe the time has come, and if the world supports it, it will happen.”
Shurat HaDin President Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, who hosted the event, warned of the ongoing political and legal threats facing Israel.
“The war is not yet over,” she said. “Political threats to establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel, and the aggressiveness of the International Criminal Court, are driving an unprecedented rise in anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism. We must unite all forces working on this issue to fight back — on the battlefield, in the courts, and in the arena of global public opinion.”
Could Cohen one day replace Netanyahu as prime minister?
In the Fox News Digital interview, Cohen also addressed speculation about his political ambitions, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 2018 hint that he could one day be his successor.
“I’m not going into politics right now,” he said. “There’s a long, long way to go before I enter politics. I think the Israeli situation today is relatively stable, and nobody is going anywhere. Next year we’ll have elections for sure, and I don’t think I’ll join.”
However, he did not rule out future involvement in Israel’s foreign affairs.
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“I’d love to do whatever it takes to support Israel’s relationships internationally,” he said. “We need better agreements, good ones, with as many countries as we can.”
Blue state ICE agents dodge bullets, speeding cars as left ramps up tracking campaigns
Two shootings involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers took place over the past 10 days in Southern California as individuals on the left continue to track its agents.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital that an individual pulled their car in front of ICE officers on Thursday in Ontario, California. After ICE officers ordered the driver to leave the area, the individual attempted to run them over “by reversing directly at them without stopping,” the DHS official said.
One ICE officer feared “for his life” and fired shots at the car, which McLaughlin said fled the area.
McLaughlin said the incident is “another example of the threats our ICE officers are facing day-in and day-out.”
DHS WARNS OF ‘UNPRECEDENTED VIOLENCE’ AS DEATH THREATS AGAINST ICE OFFICERS SOAR 8,000%
“ICE officers now face a 1,000% increase in assaults against them including cars being used as weapons and death threats against our agents are up 8,000%,” she said. “This violence must end. Let me be clear: Anyone who assaults, impedes, obstructs, or threatens the lives of federal officers will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
In a separate incident on Oct. 21, DHS said TikTok influencer Carlito Ricardo Parias, an illegal immigrant, tried to ram his car into a law enforcement vehicle in Los Angeles.
ICE officers fired shots at Parias, hitting him in the elbow, McLaughlin said. One U.S. Marshals officer was also shot in the hand by a ricochet bullet.
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Both individuals are in stable condition, and the DHS official said charges are being pursued against Parias for allegedly assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal law enforcement.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Parias has been tracking ICE agents for months before his eventual arrest, and was known by some people as “Tiktokquero,” “El Señor Richard and “Richard.”
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Attorney General Pam Bondi called out Democrats in Los Angeles, including Mayor Karen Bass, after they released plans to track ICE agents.
“Shutdown Democrats are already refusing to pay our law enforcement agents. Now, @RepRobertGarcia and @SenBlumenthal are trying to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs,” Bondi wrote. “@TheJusticeDept has ZERO tolerance for violence against law enforcement — we will prosecute any person who physically assaults our agents.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Bass, Rep. Garcia, D-CA, and Sen. Blumenthal, D-Conn., for comment.
Riley Gaines fires back at ‘self-absorbed, misogynistic socialist’ AOC over transgender sports stance
Riley Gaines clapped back at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in the latest edition of her OutKick podcast, “Gaines for Girls,” after their recent social media feud.
The two went back and forth in a spat that stemmed from AOC saying if Gaines had put “all this anger into swimming faster [she] wouldn’t have come in fifth place” in the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships.
Gaines mentioned that she is in the “roughly 2%” of people who competed in Division I athletics and that “there are only eight women … who make the final and are All-Americans in their event.” The person she tied with was Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer who won the national title in the 400-meter freestyle the day prior.
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“If they think fifth place is bad, what in the world do they think about 462nd? Because that’s what Will Thomas placed amongst the men just 12 months prior,” Gaines responded, calling Thomas by the former UPenn swimmer’s birth name.
“This comment is just so snide. It’s basically that same tired idea we’ve heard from the Democratic Party and those who support men stealing our opportunities and our spots on the podium over and over and over again, that women aren’t allowed to be angry when we’re screwed over, and if we are, then there’s something wrong with us as women, as female athletes,” Gaines continued. “And also, this notion that women lose against men in sports because we just don’t try enough, because we’re lazy, maybe we should have just swam faster, it’s dismissive, it’s condescending, and honestly, it’s sexist…. They would only feel comfortable and confident and secure in saying that to a woman.”
“For the life of me, I cannot understand this line of attack.”
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Gaines then said the New York congresswoman was “hell-bent on being on the wrong side of every 80-20 issue.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the border, crime, castrating kids, parental rights, or the men in women’s sports issue,” Gaines said.
After Gaines challenged AOC to a debate on “The Ingraham Angle,” the congresswoman then “challenged” Gaines to “get a real job.” Gaines said she does have one — being a mother to a new daughter.
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“If AOC had a little girl, she would probably feel a little differently about a grown man exposing himself to her daughter. But on the other hand, she’s proven herself to be a self-absorbed, misogynistic socialist, so probably not,” said Gaines.
Conservative firebrand joins ‘The View’ after backlash for being partisan echo chamber
ABC’s “The View” is set to host Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., after receiving backlash from conservatives who claimed that the show had become a partisan liberal echo chamber. A NewsBusters study released this summer revealed that from January to July, the show featured 102 left-leaning guests and zero conservatives.
“I look forward to joining the ladies on ‘The View’ on Tuesday!” Greene posted to X on Thursday.
Greene’s announcement on X was met with excitement by some conservatives who have been waiting to see someone with a different political viewpoint challenge the liberal co-hosts.
‘THE VIEW’ CO-HOST SAYS GOAL IS TO HAVE PEOPLE ‘WITH DIFFERENT VIEWS AT OUR TABLE’
“Oh this is gonna be gold,” one user wrote. “MTG walking into ‘The View’ is like dropping a grenade in a hen house.”
After hosting actress Cheryl Hines, wife of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., on the show last week, the liberal co-hosts noted that they would like to host more guests who aren’t aligned with them politically, with Joy Behar adding that some Republicans are “scared” to come on.
“I think that we should have more Republicans on the show, but they don’t want to come on. They’re scared of us,” Behar claimed.
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The co-host’s assertion prompted conservatives to flood social media with receipts showing that they had requested to appear on the show and found no success.
Fox News Digital obtained emails showing a booker for “The View” either denying or dodging offers to feature prominent conservative guests including Outkick’s Riley Gaines, The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh and New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz. Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer was told there wasn’t “room at the moment” when a representative pitched him appearing on Veterans Day next month.
Gaines, who became prominent for her advocacy to protect women’s sports, posted earlier this month, “When I was pitched to go on, they said no,” to accompany a viral clip of Behar claiming Republicans “don’t want to come on” the daytime talk show.
A 2023 report from NewsBusters revealed that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who had been on the show in the past, requested to appear on “The View” during a promotional book tour but was turned down. Cruz quoted Gaines’ X post slamming the show for rejecting her request, writing, “Me too!”
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Cruz wasn’t the only Republican to criticize the show for rejecting requests to appear.
“Hey @TheView, my offer still stands. I’m ready when you are!” Florida Rep. Byron Donalds posted to X, quoting a post from RNC Senior Advisor Danielle Alvarez, who noted that Donalds’ bid to appear on the show was rejected.
A variety of conservative guests have appeared on the program over the years, including Cruz, Caitlyn Jenner, Donald Trump Jr., former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.
Critics of the show say supporters of President Donald Trump are represented. The only conservative, Alyssa Farah Griffin, has been largely critical of the administration along with her co-hosts, all of whom supported Kamala Harris for president in 2024.
Fox News Digital has reached out to ABC for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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‘We feel betrayed’: NYC bodegas sound off against leader backing Mamdani
Some of New York City’s beloved bodega owners and community leaders are speaking out against Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, saying they feel betrayed by a bodega business leader who endorsed him.
“I don’t know how my friend got convinced to say that, when all of the bodega[s] together, they feel that they were betrayed by someone that’s supposed to represent [us] and they know the problem that we have been facing with the public safety. That’s our No. 1 concern that we have,” Bodega and Small Business Association President Francisco Marte said on “Fox & Friends First” Friday.
Marte’s comments followed the resignation of United Bodegas of America co-founder Fernando Mateo this week, after the group’s president, Radhames Rodriguez, publicly endorsed Mamdani on behalf of the organization.
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After stepping down, Mateo announced he would be founding a new bodega coalition called the “Bodega Alliance.”
“We are not in any position to endorse anyone. We are in a position to expose what our concerns are and what we feel like government should treat us,” Mateo told the New York Post. “Radhames Rodriguez violated not only the trust of every bodega owner that we respect but the trust of the organization and the leaders of that organization.”
One of Mamdani’s main policy proposals, according to his campaign website, is to create a city “Department of Community Safety” designed to “prevent violence” by investing in mental health programs and crisis response teams.
“Remember, that [Mamdani] was the one who create[d] the problems that we are facing now with their own safety. He was the one that supported ‘defund the police,’ not prosecuting, not pressing charges to the criminals. So we’re gonna have huge problems,” Marte said.
Additionally, Mamdani has proposed the controversial city-owned grocery stores – which some local owners fear could put them out of business. Marte argued that government-owned grocery stores are something that has “failed all the time.”
“They want to use our tax-paid money to compete with us,” Marte said. “If we have Mamdani there, we will disappear as a small business because his platform is to destroy the small business, and then New York. It would create huge chaos in the economy of New York City.”
“I [have] been telling the people, ‘thank God I have [got] a lot of people that they are not voting for him,’ because I said — listen, he cannot do what he’s offering. He just wants to say that he’s offered you so many things, free stuff, because like that, you can vote for him,” Marte added.
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The Mamdani campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
As of Thursday, Mamdani’s lead in the mayoral race has narrowed ahead of Tuesday’s Election Day. A new Fox News Poll found Mamdani with a 16-point lead: 47% back him, while 15% favor Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and 31% go for independent candidate Andrew Cuomo.
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Thwarted Michigan Halloween terror attack had international ties, source tells Fox News
The arrests the FBI announced in Michigan related to a potential attack planned over Halloween weekend are tied to international terrorism, a top fed law enforcement source told Fox News. There is no further information available at this time.
The FBI said earlier Friday that it prevented a potential terrorist attack in Michigan, arresting multiple suspects accused of plotting violence over the Halloween weekend.
“This morning, the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend,” FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X.
“More details to come,” Patel wrote. “Thanks to the men and women of FBI and law enforcement everywhere standing guard 24/7 and crushing our mission to defend the homeland.”
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In a statement to Fox News, Patel said the FBI’s quick response prevented a potentially tragic situation from unfolding.
“Through swift action and close coordination with our local partners, a potential act of terror was stopped before it could unfold,” Patel said. “The vigilance of this FBI prevented what could have been a tragic attack — and thanks to their dedication, Michigan will have a safe and happy Halloween.”
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FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino also praised the reported operation, calling it an example of proactive law enforcement that saves lives.
“This is what real law enforcement looks like — proactive, relentless, and focused on saving lives,” Bongino said in a statement to Fox.
“Our agents and partners in Michigan acted fast, followed the evidence, and stopped a threat before anyone got hurt. Under the leadership of Director Patel and the watch of this FBI, America is a safer place.”
Bongino also posted on X, writing: “Protecting the Homeland is our top priority. We will not rest.”
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News of the thwarted plot comes 10 months after Shamsud‑Din Jabbar plowed a pickup truck into New Year’s revelers on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street. Fifteen people were killed and dozens were injured, making it one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in the U.S. since 9/11.
Jabbar’s truck carried an ISIS flag and the FBI said he was inspired by the terror group.
“As a retired FBI agent, I can tell you that cases like the one in Michigan highlight how these investigations are carefully built over time and why they are so important to public safety,” Jason Pack, a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent, told Fox News Digital. “The FBI often becomes aware of potential threats through a tip from the public, a local police partner, or activity observed on online platforms where individuals share violent or extremist ideas.”
“When someone independently expresses a desire or plan to harm others, the bureau may use undercover agents or trusted sources to engage that person in a controlled setting… Agents are trained to avoid any actions that could be considered entrapment, and all undercover operations follow strict oversight and legal guidelines,” Pack added.
Pack said that, following this morning’s arrests, agents are likely executing search warrants to collect more evidence.
Authorities announce cause of death for six people killed at Colorado farm
The six people who died at a Colorado dairy farm in August were exposed to toxic hydrogen sulfide gas, authorities said on Thursday, citing autopsies and toxicology reports on the deceased.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas at “very high concentrations can quickly lead to death.”
The autopsy reports did not indicate the circumstances of the deaths.
Hydrogen sulfide is colorless, but has a sulfurous smell, similar to rotten eggs. OSHA warns that those who have breathed in enough hydrogen sulfide to become unconscious but survive can still struggle with long-term health effects, such as headaches and poor attention span.
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The deceased have since been identified as Ricardo Gomez Galvan, Noe Montañez Casañas, Carlos Espinoza Prado, Jorge Sanchez Pena, Alejandro Espinoza Cruz and Oscar Espinoza Leos, who was just 17 years old at the time of his death. Cruz was the father of Leos and Prado. The men were also related to Pena through marriage, according to Jolene Weiner, chief deputy coroner for Weld County.
The dairy at Prospect Ranch where the six people died was located in a rural area near Keenesburg, Colo., which is less than 40 miles northeast of Denver.
When the deaths were reported in August, authorities quickly assessed that gas exposure was the likely culprit. It was then up to investigators to determine what kind of gases possibly played a role in their deaths.
“We are investigating these deaths as the possible consequence of gas exposure in a confined space,” Weiner said at the time.
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In late August, the bodies of six people — which have since been identified as five men and one teenager — were discovered after an apparent accident. Southeast Weld Fire Protection District officials said crews were dispatched to a “confined space” rescue, where the bodies were found.
The deaths shocked the community, which quickly sprung into action to help the surviving families of the deceased by organizing fundraisers, such as dances and car washes. Several churches also organized memorial events.
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“People are in shock. Everybody in the ranching and dairy community knows it’s difficult, hard work and there are accidents,” said Rev. Thomas Kuffel, a priest at Catholic churches including Holy Family in Keenesburg. “But this is very foreign to them, in that accidents are typically one or two people.”
Fox News Digital reached out to OSHA for comment, but a message indicated that they may not be able to respond during the government shutdown.
Halloween fear spreads as police urge parents to stay alert for sinister new danger
As children throughout the country plan to don their costumes for another year of Halloween trick-or-treating, authorities are sounding the alarm over drug-laced snacks potentially making their way into kids’ candy bags.
Last week, a Michigan police department issued a warning to parents after an investigation revealed several large bags of candy, chips and other snacks that – at first glance – appeared to be stored in traditional packaging, but were actually laced with THC and psychedelic mushroom products.
“The packaging made these products look like regular, well-known candies and snacks,” the Warren Police Department said in a news release. “It is clear that these items were intentionally designed to mimic popular treats which any child would enjoy eating.”
The incident is one of many plaguing the country, as law enforcement agencies throughout the United States are issuing warnings to parents to check their children’s candy haul.
DRUG-LACED CANDY DISGUISED AS KIDS’ TREATS FUELS NEW HALLOWEEN SAFETY WARNING FOR PARENTS: POLICE
Earlier this month, a traffic stop led Florida police to discover brightly colored candy reminiscent of pearlescent gumballs that field tested for fentanyl, according to the West Palm Beach Police Department. Subsequent testing revealed no presence of narcotics, police said, but the similarity to the deadly synthetic opioid raised concern.
Fentanyl is described as a “powerful synthetic opioid” that can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, with the department warning even trace amounts can be fatal.
“As Halloween nears, we urge everyone to take extra precautions,” Tony Araujo, police chief for West Palm Beach, said in a news release. “If you believe you or your child may have come into contact with fentanyl in any form, do not touch it and call 911 immediately. Your safety is our top priority, and swift action can save lives.”
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Candies can be manufactured to appear like commonly purchased store-bought treats – a common tactic used by traffickers to appeal to children and young adults while also driving addiction, according to the West Palm Beach Police Department.
The trend is a point of concern for medical professionals across the country, said Dr. Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist who treats children and teenagers.
“Although it is a responsible attempt by [authorities] to warn families of the danger of Halloween candies being laced with drugs, the likelihood of kids and parents being able to recognize the dangerous ones is slim,” Lieberman told Fox News Digital.
“Even the police were having trouble distinguishing between the fake from the real, so kids would certainly have trouble too.”
Incidents involving children ingesting illicit substances disguised as candy have made headlines over the years.
In April, a New York public school teacher was placed on paid administrative leave after accidentally giving two students THC gummies, according to WKBW.
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The unnamed teacher allegedly offered what appeared to be a bag of Sour Patch Kids candy to two students during swim class, the outlet reported. The package reportedly looked nearly identical to the authentic treat, except a small label indicating the gummies contained 500 milligrams of THC.
One student reported feeling sick after eating the gummy, and both students were transported to a hospital for evaluation, according to WKBW.
A similar incident unfolded at a Pennsylvania school in 2022, after six middle school students were hospitalized after consuming mystery drug-laced edibles, according to the Centre Daily Times.
DRUG-LACED CANDY DISGUISED AS KIDS’ TREATS FUELS NEW HALLOWEEN SAFETY WARNING FOR PARENTS: POLICE
The six children reportedly all “experienced severe sickness within minutes of each other,” and were subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment, the outlet reported.
The South Allegheny County School District and Buffalo Public Schools did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
“The problem is there are people out there who are envious of childhood, envious of kids having fun, people who are just angry at their neighbors,” Lieberman said. “[They] want to try to hurt people by putting drugs in the candy. It’s a real risk.”
As families take to the streets to celebrate Halloween night, Lieberman and various law enforcement agencies are imploring parents to prioritize safety when it comes to their kids’ trick-or-treating experience.
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Caregivers should carefully inspect all candy before allowing their children to enjoy them, while also throwing out any unwrapped or homemade items, according to the Warren Police Department.
Additionally, parents should speak with their children about not eating any candy until an adult has a chance to ensure everything is safe, police said.
“[Kids] get excited by the kinds of candy that they get,” Lieberman told Fox News Digital. “I mean, it’s very difficult to expect a child to [not eat their candy]. But of course, parents should be parents. They have the responsibility to be parents and to really make a firm rule about that.”
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Lieberman also cautions parents to know the signs of a drug overdose, and look for symptoms such as changes in breathing and heart rate, nausea or unusual behavior from their child.
She hopes that by raising awareness, communities can continue to partake in the festivities, while making sure everyone stays safe.
“Trick-or-treating is a fun experience, and it’s sad to have to put a damper on it,” Lieberman said. “But it’s important to keep the tradition of Halloween and trick-or-treating alive, because it’s a fun night for kids, families and communities.”
Popular fruit combo in smoothies cancels out health benefits, new study finds
Adding a banana to your berry smoothie might sound healthy, but new research suggests the popular combo could cancel out some of the fruit’s benefits.
Scientists at the University of California, Davis, found that adding a banana to your smoothie could significantly reduce the absorption of the berries’ heart- and brain-boosting compounds by as much as 84%.
The study, published this month in the journal Food & Function, points to an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (PPO), which is abundant in bananas, as the reason for the drop.
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PPO reacts with beneficial plant compounds known as flavanols — found in foods like berries, grapes, apples and cocoa — which are linked to a boost in heart and brain health.
“We sought to understand, on a very practical level, how a common food preparation like a banana-based smoothie could affect the availability of flavanols to be absorbed after intake,” lead researcher Javier Ottaviani, an adjunct professor at UC Davis, told Fox News Digital.
In a small clinical study, volunteers drank two smoothies — one made with banana and another with mixed berries, which are low in PPO. Blood and urine samples showed that the banana smoothie had reduced flavanol absorption, compared to the berry version or a flavanol capsule.
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“While we anticipated that PPO might influence the flavanol content and absorption from smoothies, we were surprised by how quickly and significantly the addition of just one banana reduced flavanol content in the smoothie and, consequently, the levels of flavanols in the body,” Ottaviani said.
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“It was also surprising to find that even if bananas are consumed at the same time as flavanols, but not in the same smoothie, the PPO still reduced the levels of flavanols in the body,” he added.
“It is important to avoid combining flavanol-containing foods with ones that quickly turn brown after they are cut, like bananas, avocados and beet greens.”
When bananas are blended, PPO reacts with oxygen and begins breaking down flavanols, the same process that causes fruit to brown after being cut. This can continue during digestion, leaving fewer of those compounds for the body to absorb.
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The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises getting between 400 and 600 milligrams of flavanols daily. To meet that goal, Ottaviani said it’s best to combine flavanol-rich fruits, like berries, with low-PPO ingredients such as pineapple, oranges, mangoes or yogurt.
“If you enjoy your bananas in a smoothie, go for it. But you could switch between making berry and banana smoothies.”
“Nevertheless, bananas remain a great fruit and a great option for smoothie preparation, but not if aiming to maintain the flavanols in your smoothie,” Ottaviani added.
Dr. Parth Bhavsar, a Georgia-based board-certified family medicine physician and founder of TeleDirectMD, said the key is diversity and fine-tuning your diet.
“Moderation and rotation are much more relevant,” Bhavsar, who wasn’t involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “If you enjoy your bananas in a smoothie, go for it. But you could switch between making berry and banana smoothies.”
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Other common food pairings can also interfere with nutrient absorption, Bhavsar noted. For example, tea or coffee can block iron uptake, calcium can compete with iron, raw cruciferous vegetables may hinder iodine absorption, and very high fiber intake can limit mineral absorption.
“Although small in each instance, they can add up in patterns over time,” he said.
The UC Davis researchers noted that the recent findings could spur more research into how food preparation affects nutrient absorption.
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The study, which was conducted along with scientists from the University of Reading in England and King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, was funded by a research grant from Mars, Inc., a frequent collaborator in cocoa flavanol research. Ottaviani is the director of the Mars Edge Core Laboratory.