The Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccine advisory committee voted unanimously today to recommend Moderna’s mRNA influenza vaccine, mFlusiva, for adults 50 and over. This was its first time reviewing a new vaccine application since 2023.
The vote by the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, or VRBPAC, is a step towards what may be the first vaccine filed and approved under the second Trump administration despite sustained criticism of vaccines from President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Indeed, last year, Kennedy pulled back almost $500 million in contracts to develop mRNA vaccines.
“It’s such a breath of fresh air, considering what we’ve gone through with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.” says Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and former committee member of the FDA panel that voted Thursday.
The rocky road to the review
In February, the FDA declined to review Moderna’s application for the mRNA flu vaccine but then reversed its decision two weeks later after criticism.
Messenger-RNA, or mRNA, provides instructions for the body to produce flu antigens to develop immunity. Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine includes microscopic doses of mRNA for three to four strains of the flu — totaling about the same weight that a fingerprint leaves on a mirror.
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Researchers used the technology to develop the COVID-19 vaccine – another reason why Kennedy has been critical of its use during the pandemic with vaccine mandates.
In addition to the flu vaccine providing potentially stronger protection, many public health and infectious disease experts are excited about the shot because mRNA vaccines can be produced much more reliably and quickly — and potentially faster than traditional flu vaccines. That could make the mRNA vaccine far more effective when a new flu strain suddenly emerges.
While some public concerns have persisted, Moderna and the FDA did not find credible safety risks in Thursday’s review. Moderna wrote in its brief that the vaccine “does not enter the cellular nucleus, does not interact with the genome … and does not persist in the body.”
The research
Results from Moderna’s phase 3 trial were also published in the New England Journal of Medicine and Nature Immunology. Hanover Matz, postdoctoral researcher at Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues examined the vaccine response from 75 patients in the trial in detail — looking at not only how many antibodies patients produced, but how good the antibodies were and why that might be the case.
“It’s not something that is typically evaluated when anybody looks at vaccine research, whether it’s a company or in academic research,” Matz says. They found that the mRNA vaccine produced a longer-lasting response and antibodies that recognized more flu strains — which Matz says could explain why the mRNA vaccine may be better than today’s flu vaccines.
“There were no shortcuts taken. There was a full efficacy evaluation done per standard FDA guidance … phase 3 efficacy studies conducted in tens of thousands of individuals,” Dr. Anna Durbin, director of the Center for Immunization Research at Johns Hopkins University and VRBPAC member, said to NPR.
Dr. Jesse Goodman, former director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, acknowledges that the mRNA vaccines became politicized and that there has been a tremendous amount of false information about them — like that they cause cancer or that they get into your cells’ DNA. He says “these things are not possible [and] disproven.”
Durbin points to the figure that over 6 billion doses of mRNA vaccines have been administered since 2020 and says they have an “incredibly safe safety profile” and “there is not a risk of DNA integration.”
“The mRNA platform has really been a game changer for vaccines, and it’s an incredibly important advancement in medical science,” Durbin says. “We have to do a much, much better job in educating the public around that, but I have the highest confidence in the vaccine.”
Goodman agrees. “It’s not going to change overnight. And I’m sure there are people who are going to remain concerned about [m]RNA-based vaccines, and there will be people who spread erroneous information about it,” he notes. “However, people will also look at the evidence.”
The review
In the meeting, Dr. Lisa Grohskopf from the CDC presented that there have been at least 32 million flu cases, 390,000 hospitalizations and 24,000 deaths in the U.S. in the past 2025-2026 flu season. She said, “approximately 85% of those eligible for vaccination were not fully vaccinated against influenza.”
Dr. Evan Anderson, vice president of epidemiology at Moderna, acknowledged flu prevalence and highlighted the issue of strain mismatch with current vaccines. Anderson said the proposed mRNA vaccine could shorten the window of time it takes to get a vaccine that targets a specific strain of flu from about 6 months now to 2-3 months — as used for COVID-19 vaccines — potentially improving the strain-selection accuracy and vaccine efficacy.
Dr. Gauri Raval, medical officer of the FDA’s Division of Clinical and Toxicology Review, presented that “[the Moderna mRNA flu vaccine] may offer greater efficacy than the standard dose comparator in preventing more severe influenza-associated illness[es].” The FDA found no “major safety issues or deficiencies.”
After six and a half hours, the committee voted. All nine members recommended the vaccine.
Durbin commended the FDA, Moderna and the rest of the committee — calling the meeting excellent and discussions robust. She says the public should be very confident in the vote.
What this means for the future of the FDA
The FDA’s reversal on reviewing the vaccine was unusual, Offit says. “You can’t say, yes, go ahead, spend tens of millions of dollars, and then, when they present data, say, no, we’re not even going to look at this data. You can’t do that.” Dr. Vinay Prasad, who made the initial call and has since left FDA, “ultimately backed down,” Offit says.
The FDA did not provide NPR a comment by the time of publication.
Offit says he was relieved to see the VRBPAC was left mostly intact in contrast to the CDC’s gutted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP. “It’s great. It’s just what you want. You want to have a lively, open discussion, a discussion that’s open to the public.”
Goodman concurs: “I’m encouraged that this is happening, and in what appears to be a balanced way that’s paying attention to the feedback of the FDA vaccine experts and also the outside experts who really wanted to see this vaccine come forward and get reviewed in the light of day.”
In the public hearing portion of the meeting, Michael Abrams, a senior researcher with non-profit organization Public Citizen, echoed those sentiments. “We urge the FDA to frequently convene this committee as well as many other expert advisory committees the agency, since January 2025, has insufficiently utilized.”
There have been 44 vaccines approved between 2000 and 2019. Of those 44, the VRBPAC convened for 21 of them — meeting about once a year to review a new vaccine application.
Yet the VRBPAC hasn’t convened for over three years for a new vaccine application. The most recent was May 18, 2023, for Pfizer’s Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine.
Durbin agrees the VRBPAC has had fewer meetings since January 2025. A flu meeting normally held every spring did not happen in 2025, Durbin says as an example.
Durbin is more concerned about the other vaccine committee, CDC’s ACIP, however. She explains, “ACIP has a different purpose than VRBPAC — they will determine how these vaccines are used.”
“The ACIP members who were fired were highly qualified,” Durbin says. “Right now it’s not clear how recommendations would be made for the fall.”
She notes Kennedy “could reconvene the ACIP committee that he disbanded at any time, as long as it meets the charter.”
If the agencies Kennedy oversees do approve and recommend the new vaccine, Moderna says it could be available for the next flu season.
NPR Health Correspondent Rob Stein contributed to this report.

Table of Contents
Whether you use sales to stock up on household essentials like dish soap or as a time to splurge on big items like a new 65-inch TV, the time is nigh because Prime Day 2026 is coming. If you’re eager to start saving, we found all of the best early Prime Day deals, including a classic $99 AirPods deal.
Prime Day usually takes place in July, but this year, Amazon decided to shake things up and run the sale in June. So, if you haven’t already heard the news (or seen the many TV commercials), Amazon Prime Day 2026 runs from June 23 to 26. The timing may have changed, but we’re still expecting the same great savings on products from Apple, Sony, Dyson, Bose, Ninja, and Samsung.
Mashable shopping experts will be closely monitoring the latest discounts and collecting all of the best Prime Day deals into this shopping guide, so keep checking back for new deals. We’re also tracking prices at competing sales from Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and beyond, and we’ll make sure we’re always pointing you to the lowest possible price.
Deals marked with a ✅ are Mashable editor favorites. Deals marked with a strikethrough are no longer available.
Best early Prime Day Apple deal
Leading up to Prime Day, we’re obviously hunting for the best Apple deals. A major AirPods deal just dropped, and it’s a famous one. That’s right — $99 AirPods are back at Amazon, where you can save $30 on the newest AirPods 4 earbuds.
Fair warning: We have seen these AirPods drop even lower in price (though, not since 2025), but we think a further price drop is unlikely given the wave of price increases we’ve seen in the tech world lately.
Apple Watch deals
Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $219 $249 (save $30)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $299 $399 (save $100)
AirPods deals
Apple AirPods 4 — $99 $129 (save $30) ✅
Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $179.99 $249 (save $69.01)
Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499 $549 (save $50)
iPad deals
Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi) — $299.99 $349 (save $49.01) ✅
Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) — $474 $499 (save $25)
Best early Prime Day headphone deal
When the main event starts on June 23, we expect some of the best Prime Day deals of 2026 to include our favorite flagship headphones, such as the Sony 1000XM6 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. But leading up to it, those big brands still have lots of savings to give. Right now, the best deal on headphones is on the Sony WH-CH720N, an affordable pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. Normally $179.99, the WH-CH720N just dropped under $100 ahead of Prime Day. Snag them now for as low as $94 and save $85.99.
More headphone deals
Sony WH-CH520 — $38 $69.99 (save $31.99)
Soundcore Space Q45 — $139.99 $149.99 (save $10)
Logitech G735 — $142.53 $259.99 (save $117.46)
Sennheiser Momentum 4 — $219.99 $299.99 (save $80)
Sony WH-1000XM5 — $278 $399.99 (save $121.99)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra — $329 $429 (save $100)
Sony WH-1000XM6 — $398 $459.99 (save $61.99)
Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499.99 $549 (save $49.01)
More earbud deals
Soundcore V20i Open-Ear Headphones — $26.99 $49.99 (save $23)
Sony WF-C510 — $48 $69.99 (save $21.99)
Technics AZ100 Earbuds — $232.99 $299.99 (save $67) ✅
Best early Prime Day Amazon device deals
Echo prices dropped in the week leading up to Prime Day. The latest Echo devices, the Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio, both hit new, all-time low prices. But the biggest discount is on the Amazon Echo Spot, the smart alarm clock. This tiny speaker sits compactly on nightstands but provides everything you need to start your morning, including a weather report and tunes to get you out of bed.
Ahead of Prime Day, get the Amazon Echo Spot for just $44.99. That saves you $35 off its $79.99 price tag for a 44% discount.
More Echo deals
Amazon Echo Glow — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10)
Amazon Echo Dot — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15) ✅
Amazon Echo Dot Kids — $34.99 $59.99 (save $25) ✅
Amazon Echo Show 5 — $59.99 $89.99 (save $30)
Amazon Echo Dot Max — $64.99 $99.99 (save $35)
Amazon Echo Show 8 — $124.99 $179.99 (save $55)
Amazon Echo Show 11 — $149.99 $219.99 (save $70)
Amazon Echo Studio — $174.99 $219.99 (save $45)
Amazon Echo Show 21 — $319.99 $399.99 (save $80)
Best Prime Day Kindle deals
We’re eagerly waiting for the best Prime Day Kindle deals. And having covered Prime Day for a long time, we know that Amazon always offers Kindle bundle deals in the weeks before a big sale. So, while we wait for our favorite Amazon e-readers to go on sale, this is your chance to score a discounted bundle, which comes with a Kindle, a cover, and a power adapter.
Kindle deals to watch:
Amazon Kindle — $109.99
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite — $159.99
Best early Prime Day speaker deal
Whether you’re hosting summer movie nights or dinner parties, if you want to upgrade your home’s audio, early Prime Day deals are coming in clutch. The advanced Sonos Era 300 is equipped with Dolby Atmos and powered by six drivers for surround sound. Right now, grab it for just $379, saving you $100 off its $479 price tag.
More speaker deals
JBL Go 3 — $29.95 $39.95 (save $10)
JBL Go 4 — $39.95 $49.95 (save $10)
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 — $51.44 $99.99 (save $48.55) ✅
Ultimate Ears Miniroll Ultra — $59.99 $79.99 (save $20)
Sony ULT Field 1 — $88 $139.99 ($51.99)
Sonos Roam 2 — $134 $179 (save $45)
Sonos Beam Gen 2 — $369 $499 (save $130)
Sonos Move 2 — $399 $499 (save $100) ✅
Best early Prime Day power station deals
Ready for summer adventures? If you’re gearing up to pack the car and head into nature, don’t forget to invest in a portable power station to keep your campsite powered. Plus, it can serve as an at-home power backup in an emergency.
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Prime Day and Black Friday are the best times of year to buy these popular devices, and you can often find savings of 50% or more on Mashable-tested brands like Anker, Jackery, and Bluetti. If you’re looking to buy your first-ever power station, an affordable new model from Bluetti is on sale ahead of Prime Day.
More portable power station deals
Jackery Explorer 1000 — $429 $799 (save $350) ✅
Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 — $499.99 $799 (save $299.01) ✅
Bluetti Elite 200 V2 — $799 $1,070 (save $271)
Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station — $799.99 $1,499 (save $699.01)
Anker Solix F3800 Plus — $2,199.99 $2,699.99 (save $500)
Best early Prime Day TV deals
Getting ready for the World Cup? If you want to watch every heart-racing moment in 4K and your TV isn’t up to par, then look for Prime Day deals on award-winning OLED and Micro RGB TVs. Case in point: the Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV, on sale now. Normally $1,697.99, it’s down to $1,397.99, saving you $300. That also means it’s just $100 away from its lowest price ever. It’s an exceptionally crisp TV with deep contrast and built-in AI.
More TV deals
Google TV Streamer — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Roku 65-inch QLED 4K Smart TV — $399.99 $449.99 (save $50)
TCL 75-inch T7 QLED 4K Google TV — $739.99 $899.99 (save $150)
Hisense 65-inch U7 ULED 4K Google TV — $947.99 $1,499.99 (save $552)
Best early Prime Day vacuum deal
Mashable in-house vacuum expert Leah Stodart named the Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop the best affordable vacuum-and-mop combo. Despite its budget price, Stodart says it’s the most heavy-duty robot mop you’ll find, and delivers spotless cleans. Ahead of Prime Day, get the Eufy C28 for just $499.99. That’s the vacuum’s lowest price ever, and provides $300 in savings.
More robot vacuum deals
iRobot Roomba 105 Robot Vacuum — $248.98 $449.99 (save $201)
Dreame X50 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop — $899.99 $1,049.99 (save $150) ✅
Roborock Saros 10R Robot Vacuum and Mop — $999.99 $1,599.99 (save $600) ✅
More vacuum deals
Shark HV343AMZ Rocket Corded Stick Vacuum — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)
Shark IZ363HT Cordless Vacuum — $219.99 $349.99 (save $130)
Bissell PowerClean FurGuard Cordless Vacuum — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120)
Upholstery cleaner deals
Bissell Little Green Mini — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20) ✅
Shark StainStriker — $109.98 $139.99 (save $30.01)
Bissell Little Green Max Pet — $117.78 $159.99 (save $42.21)
Best early Prime Day home and kitchen deal
Here’s a summer hack to keep your house cool: Don’t turn on the oven. That doesn’t mean only eating cold salads all summer. What you really need is an air fryer. My air fryer has saved me countless times in the summer, letting me cook dinner without breaking a sweat. Ahead of Prime Day, grab the Cuisinart 2.6-Quart Air Fryer for just $59.95 and save $30.
More home deals
Levoit 36-inch Tower Fan — $54.95 $74.99 (save $20.04)
Dreo 36-inch Tower Fan — $69.96 $79.99 (save $10.03)
Lasko 42-inch Tower Fan — $75.64 $88.99 (save $13.35)
More kitchen deals
Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender — $69.95 $99.99 (save $30.04)
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker — $64.99 $109.99 (save $45)
Instant Pot 6-Quart Vortex Plus Air Fryer — $69.99 $149.99 (save $80)
Ninja Pod and Grounds Single Serve Coffee Maker — $99.98 $129.99 (save $30.01)
Best early Prime Day Lego deal
While novelty Lego sets are fun, there’s something special about a set that gives you full creative control. The Lego Classic Large Brick Box has 790 pieces to build the neighborhood of your dreams. Just in time for summer break when kiddos need some entertainment, this box set is on sale for 44% off. Grab it now for under $30 ahead of Prime Day.
More Lego deals
Lego Botanicals Happy Plants — $18.39 $22.99 (save $4.60)
Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid — $23.95 $29.99 (save $6.04)
Lego Botanicals Plum Blossom — $23.99 $29.99 (save $60)
Lego Creator 3-in-1 Colorful Hummingbird — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)
Lego Botanicals Bonsai Tree — $39.98 $49.99 (save $10.01)
Lego Botanicals Tiny Plants — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)
Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant — $41.99 $59.99 (save $18)
Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon — $67.99 $84.99 (save $17)
Lego Art Mona Lisa — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle — $136.99 $169.99 (save $33)

Independent advisors for the Food and Drug Administration on Friday voted 9–0 in support of approving Moderna’s seasonal mRNA flu vaccine, which a Trump appointee at the agency initially tried to block from even being reviewed.
In an all-day meeting, members of the FDA’s advisory committee—known as VRBPAC for Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee—pored over data and presentations on the vaccine, which is dubbed mRNA-1010 and branded as mFlusiva. The presentations included a review from FDA scientists, which was supportive of the vaccine.
Data from a Phase 3 trial including over 40,000 adults age 50 and older found the mRNA vaccine was around 27 percent more effective against seasonal flu than a standard flu shot. A smaller Phase 3 trial, involving data from nearly 3,000 people age 65 years and older, showed the shot produces stronger immune responses than a high-dose flu vaccine, which is recommended for this age group. The safety profile of the vaccine was also generally good.
“I think that the studies that were presented today were very well conducted,” VRBPAC voting member Flor Munoz-Rivas, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Baylor College of Medicine, said after the vote. “They have very clear results that are very robust in terms of demonstrating that additional efficacy.”
She also expressed enthusiasm for the agile mRNA platform for the flu vaccine, which is based on the same platform Moderna used to develop its mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. In addition to the better efficacy, it allows for “rapid development of the vaccines in regular seasonal flu activity” and makes us “better prepared for emerging strains or pandemic strains in the future,” she said.
Fellow voting member Hayley Gans, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Stanford University, agreed. “I think that this particular platform adds exciting ways that we can actually move our vaccines to the future,” she said. “The signals that we’re seeing now are not putting people at risk and the benefits are actually large not only for this season, but for really what it can do for our vaccine platform. … This one has the potential to really move us in a modern direction.”
FDA drama
The outcome today is in stark contrast to a few months ago, when Trump official Vinay Prasad was overseeing vaccines at the FDA. In a shocking decision in February, Prasad rejected Moderna’s filing, refusing to even review the vaccine. Prasad claimed that the large vaccine trial was not “adequate and well-controlled” because it did not compare efficacy to a high-dose vaccine in people 65 and older. Instead, Moderna used the smaller trial to compare immune responses of mRNA-1010 to a high-dose vaccine—which was a plan the FDA had previously agreed would be acceptable.
Moderna was blindsided by the refusal, which Prasad issued over the objections of FDA scientists and career officials. Amid widespread outcry, the FDA reversed the decision the next week, agreeing to review the vaccine. Around the same time, Prasad was also behind the rejection of a closely watched gene therapy for Huntington’s disease made by UniQure, which was widely criticized and called “truly evil” by a former FDA official.
Prasad was pushed out of FDA at the end of April amid a string of decried decisions and controversies. Prasad’s decision on UniQure’s gene therapy was reversed on Wednesday.
Moderna released a statement saying it was pleased with today’s outcome.
“We appreciate the thoughtful review by the members of VRBPAC and their recognition of the clinical evidence supporting mRNA-1010,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in the statement. “We believe mRNA-1010 has the potential to provide an important new option for seasonal flu prevention and further demonstrate the versatility of our mRNA platform. We look forward to continuing to work with the FDA as it completes its review.”
Next steps
While unanimous support from the advisors is a positive sign for the vaccine’s fate, the FDA ultimately decides whether to grant approval. The agency has set a deadline for a decision by August 5.
Moderna has previously said it is aiming to release the vaccine later this year, pending approval.
A further hurdle will be getting a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Newly FDA-approved vaccines would first be reviewed by the CDC’s advisory committee—the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—which would vote on recommendations for use that it thinks the CDC should adopt. Having recommendations from ACIP and CDC mean that almost all commercial insurance providers and federal programs would be required by law to cover the vaccine at no cost.
However, ACIP is effectively defunct after a federal judge issued a temporary injunction that blocked almost all of the allies anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. installed on the committee. The judge ruled that Kennedy’s handpicked advisors were appointed improperly. Like Kennedy, many of them hold anti-vaccine views and are also openly hostile to mRNA technology.
The US Department of Health and Human Services is now appealing the injunction on an expedited schedule that will stretch at least into July.

A woman is suing McDonald’s over a Sausage Egg McMuffin that she says left her “violently ill” and permanently “unable to perform work as she was accustomed to do,” according to a lawsuit filed in New York in May.
It’s one of the latest legal troubles to hit McDonald’s, after a class-action lawsuit was filed against the burger behemoth in late December over claims about its McRib Sandwich.
Here’s what you should know about the Sausage Egg McMuffin lawsuit.
Food ‘not fit for human consumption,’ lawsuit alleges
Texas resident Yvette Hinds claims that in 2023, she ate a Sausage Egg McMuffin at a McDonald’s in New York City’s Times Square that was “not fit for human consumption,” according to a complaint filed May 26 in New York’s Supreme Court.
The case was elevated to the high court because, as the complaint notes, the damages Hinds sustained were so costly, they “(exceed) the jurisdictional limits of all lower courts” that otherwise would’ve heard it.
‘Systemic poisoning’: Parents say popular baby foods gave kids ‘brain injury’ in new lawsuits
In the complaint, Hinds alleges that soon after she ate the meal, she “became violently ill and nauseated, and suffered severe pains and distress throughout her body,” symptoms she claims were directly tied to the food.
The complaint includes a litany of potential causes, including “injurious substances, contaminants, poisons, toxins, parasites, bacteria, germs and/or organisms.” It further alleges that the staff either knew, or should have known, that the food was tainted.
In a statement shared with USA TODAY, McDonald’s owner-operator Paul Goodman said he takes “great pride in serving safe, high-quality food to every customer who walks through our doors,” and that his team is “committed to upholding strict food safety and handling practices across our restaurants every day.”
“We always take matters like these seriously and investigate thoroughly,” Goodman added. “We strongly dispute the facts alleged in this lawsuit, but to remain focused on our customers, this matter was resolved months ago.”
Opinion: I don’t care if the McRib is real pork rib. This is AMERICA!
Lawsuit alleges permanent damage
Hinds’ complaint claims that the Sausage Egg McMuffin “made her dangerously ill and sick,” and that “her entire body became infected and poisoned” by whatever toxins were in the breakfast food.
Three years after eating it, the lawsuit states, Hinds continues to suffer “intense and severe pain in her entire body,” despite undergoing “several operations, procedures and treatments” in her search for a cure.
The permanent damage to Hinds’ “physical, nervous and mental systems” have since left her unable to perform regular duties around the house, as well as “work as she was accustomed to do,” the lawsuit states. Meanwhile, she also suffered significant economic damage in medical expenses.
All of this, the lawsuit claims, was the direct result of “negligence and carelessness” on the part of McDonald’s and its employees.
Hinds’ attorney did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for more information, including the exact nature of her illness and injuries.
McRib class-action lawsuit
McDonald’s has also been busy this year responding to a class-action lawsuit that alleges its iconic McRib sandwich doesn’t contain any rib meat, but is made entirely from other pork cuts, as USA TODAY previously reported.
“Despite its name and distinctive shape – its meat patty has been deliberately crafted to resemble a rack of pork ribs – the McRib does not contain any actual pork rib meat at all,” the lawyers wrote in the lawsuit filed in late December.
In a statement shared with USA TODAY in January, McDonald’s said the lawsuit “distorts the facts and many of the claims are inaccurate.”
“We’re committed to using real, quality ingredients across our entire menu,” McDonald’s USA said. “Our fan-favorite McRib sandwich is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers across the U.S. We’ve always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them.”
False advertising? Costco sued over its $4.99 rotisserie chicken
The lawyers have pushed for class members to receive damages, attorneys’ fees, and interest. They have also asked the courts to order McDonald’s “to desist from further deceptive naming, marketing and advertising practices with respect to the McRib.”
Contributing: Saleen Martin, Mike Snider / USA TODAY
Drew Pittock covers national trending news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.

Waymo is recalling nearly 4,000 robotaxis after more than a dozen incidents in which the autonomous vehicles entered closed freeway construction zones, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall report.
The recall affects 3,871 vehicles equipped with Waymo’s 5th Generation Automated Driving System.
According to NHTSA, the software issue could allow a vehicle to enter a closed freeway construction zone and continue traveling at posted speeds. Regulators said affected vehicles may avoid or fail to recognize certain construction-zone closures because of the software defect.
Waymo estimates that all 3,871 vehicles covered by the recall are affected.
WAYMO PAUSES FREEWAY ROBOTAXI ROUTES AFTER SAFETY AND SOFTWARE CONCERNS
According to the recall report, Waymo’s Field Safety Committee began reviewing the issue in late April after examining six incidents in which robotaxis drove past ramp closure signs and entered freeway construction zones.
The committee met again in May after identifying seven additional instances involving active construction zones in the San Francisco Bay Area.
As a result of the 13 reported incidents, Waymo implemented freeway-driving restrictions while engineers worked to identify the root cause and develop a remedy, according to the filing.
The recall covers Waymo 5th Generation Automated Driving Systems manufactured between May 17, 2022, and May 19, 2026. As of June 13, a software remedy remained under development, according to the filing.
WAYMO RECALLS MASSIVE AUTONOMOUS FLEET AFTER INCIDENT FLAGS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE
Waymo currently operates driverless ride-hailing services in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, and has announced plans to expand into additional markets.
Ticker Security Last Change Change % GOOG ALPHABET INC. 367.46 +5.36 +1.48%
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A Waymo spokesperson told FOX Business the company voluntarily restricted freeway operations while making improvements, notified regulators and filed a voluntary recall with NHTSA.
“We identified an area of improvement regarding performance around freeway construction zones,” the spokesperson said.