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USDA Urges Consumers to Cook Frozen Chicken
The Department of Agriculture is urging consumers to cook frozen chicken dinners thoroughly. The agency said 32 people in 12 states have been sickened by Salmonella. The USDA warning deals with frozen dinners in which chicken is raw.
The USDA on Friday is urging consumers to follow cooking instructions for frozen stuffed chicken entrees. The agency said that 32 people in 12 states got Salmonella poisoning after using microwaves to prepare the meals.
While the package instructions identified the product as uncooked, people who were sick did not follow the instructions and used microwaves.
The agency said that all poultry products should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 74 degrees Celsius. The USDA also recommends a food thermometer.
Some of the entrees appear to be cooked because they were breaded or pre-browned. These chicken products are raw stuffed and labeled "chicken cordon bleu" or "chicken Kiev," as well as chicken breasts stuffed with cheese or vegetables.
Salmonella can be life-threatening for infants or the elderly and other people with weakened immune systems. The common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within eight to 72 hours. However, people could also experience chills, headache, nausea and vomiting for up to a week. The Department of Agriculture is urging consumers to cook frozen chicken dinners thoroughly. The agency said 32 people in 12 states ha... more -
Fashion and pizza: soaring sales despite credit crunch
Online fashion firm ASOS saw sales more than double in the six months to 30 September, compared to the same period a year earlier, a trading update shows.
Meanwhile Domino's Pizza saw sales up 8.8% year-on-year in the third quarter.
Both companies remain positive in their outlook and expect strong growth to continue, as consumers seek out deals.
Many firms have been hit as consumers try to tighten their belts, following higher fuel prices and mortgage costs.
However ASOS, which has its own brand clothing as well as discounted designer labels, has benefited from solid demand from young customers and a shift to online spending.
Chief executive Nick Robertson said: "We believe that our business dynamics and customer base should be resilient to the wider economic issues and that online shopping will continue to gain market share."
Domino's has also benefitted from consumers' desire to save money, as eating at home becomes increasingly attractive.
James Cooke, an analyst at Panmure Gordon stockbrokers, said: "Despite the slowing of the economy and squeeze on consumer spending, Domino's Pizza continues to see organic growth in the business". Online fashion firm ASOS saw sales more than double in the six months to 30 September, compared to the same period a year earlier, a t... more -
100 companies no environmentalist should ever support
If you're worried about environmental issues, take a look at this list of offenders and make sure you're not contributing to their assault of the environment. If you're worried about environmental issues, take a look at this list of offenders and make sure you're not contributing to... more
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Telephone bill fees illegal says judge
Bell ExpressVu's charge to customers who fail to pay their monthly bill on time is illegal, an Ontario judge has ruled in a class-action lawsuit that throws into disarray the common corporate practice of charging consumers late fees. Bell ExpressVu's charge to customers who fail to pay their monthly bill on time is illegal, an Ontario judge has ruled in a class... more
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Is your Gas pump ripping you off?
The article from CBS news talks about consumers not getting their moneys worth at the gas pumps across America, because the inspection of gas pumps varies state to state. Some gas pumps have not been inspected for up to three years and others only get inspected when something goes wrong. Therefore many pumps do not give you what you payed for. With the gas prices so high as it is, the fact that you are still not getting "your money's worth" is incredible. The article from CBS news talks about consumers not getting their moneys worth at the gas pumps across America, because the inspection... more
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FDA plots to mislead consumers over irradiated foods: Natural News
"Consumer awareness is considered undesirable by the FDA; an agency that also works hard to censor truthful statements about nutritional supplements and functional foods. Accordingly, the FDA pursues a policy of enforced ignorance of consumers regarding irradiated foods, nutritional supplements, medicinal herbs and all sorts of natural substances. It is currently illegal in the United States to state that cherries help ease arthritis inflammation if you are selling cherries. http://www.naturalnews.com/019366.html)
On the food irradiation issue, the FDA is now proposing two things that are nothing short of astonishing in their degree of deceit:
FDA proposal #1: Irradiated foods shouldn't be labeled as irradiated unless consumers can visibly tell they're irradiated.
This ridiculous proposal by the FDA suggests that foods shouldn't be labeled as irradiated unless there is some obvious material damage to the foods (like their leaves are wilting). Thus, foods that don't appear to be irradiated should not have to be labeled as irradiated.
Imagine if this same ridiculous logic were used to regulate heavy metals content in foods: If consumers can't SEE the heavy metals, then they should be declared free of heavy metals!
FDA proposal #2: Irradiated foods should be labeled as "pasteurized," not "irradiated."
This FDA proposal is so bizarre that it makes you wonder whether the people working at the FDA are smoking crystal meth. They literally want irradiated foods to be labeled as "pasteurized."
And why? Because the word "pasteurized" sounds a lot more palatable to consumers, of course. Never mind the fact that it's a lie. Irradiated foods are not pasteurized, and pasteurized foods are not irradiated. These two words mean two different things, which is precisely why they each have their own entries in the dictionary. When you look up "irradiated," it does not say, "See pasteurized."
But the FDA is now playing the game of thought police by manipulating the public with screwy word replacement games that bear a strange resemblance to the kind of language used in the novel 1984 by George Orwell. And it is, indeed, an Orwellian kind of mind game that the FDA wants to play with the food supply: After unleashing Weapons of Mass Destruction (radiation) onto the foods, the FDA wants to label them all as simply being "pasteurized," keeping consumers ignorant and uninformed.
How do I know the FDA wants to do this? The agency said so itself in an April 4, 2007 document filed in the Federal Register (Volume 72, Number 64). As published in the document (2):
FDA is also proposing to allow a firm to petition FDA for use of an alternate term to "irradiation'' (other than "pasteurized''). In addition, FDA is proposing to permit a firm to use the term "pasteurized'' in lieu of "irradiated,'' provided it notifies the agency that the irradiation process being used meets the criteria specified for use of the term "pasteurized'' in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) and the agency does not object to the notification."
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This deception is simply so immoral and so absolutely out of the realm of all humanity that I find it hard to wrap my head around it. The FDA, an organization of the US federal government that is supposedly here for our safety, only sees us as guinea pigs. They did it with GM foods, Rbgh, and the countless drugs on the market killing people, and they now do it with radioactive food without our consent. I don't even know what to say anymore. And this is so important because people otherwise will not know of this unless it gets out to the masses, and yet the media will not tell people about this. How many will have to get sick or die before it is considered news? "Consumer awareness is considered undesirable by the FDA; an agency that also works hard to censor truthful statements about nutr... more -
Flint man takes home his 53rd brand new Cadillac
Few people love Cadillacs like Joseph Macko.
The 84-year-old Flint man has been driving a new Cadillac every year since 1955. And, he took home his 53rd Cadillac Thursday from Al Serra Auto Plaza.
Why does he do it?
"You only live one time. Money is to spend," Macko said. "I spend it once I get it."
His wife, Marcella Macko, said the annual trip to the dealership for Joseph Macko to trade in his old car and take delivery of his new one is something she just doesn't get excited about anymore.
"He does, but I don't," she said, chuckling.
And, Marcella Macko said her husband isn't really as loose with money as he claims. He actually saves up all year long for the new car, she said.
Joseph Macko used to buy the cars, but a couple years ago started leasing them -- including the black 2009 Cadillac DTS he took home on Thursday.
Joseph Macko, a General Motors retiree, said he likes Cadillacs because they are made with a high standard of quality.
Gordon Taylor from Al Serra has been selling Joseph Macko Cadillacs for 22 years. Taylor said Joseph Macko is a "Cadillac-kind-of-guy." Few people love Cadillacs like Joseph Macko. ... more -
Japan adds carbon footprints to labels
In a move to help consumers count their carbs, carbon footprints that is, Japan is putting a carbon footprint label on all consumer products. So now shoppers can find out how good a bag of cookies is for their bodies and the planet. In a move to help consumers count their carbs, carbon footprints that is, Japan is putting a carbon footprint label on all consumer pr... more
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Drink while you shop!
" A Cleveland clothing store wants to make sure its customers are comfortable, so it has opened a bar in the middle of its sales floor. M. Lang Executive Attire owner Mike Lang said he hopes the cash bar will not only help put shoppers in a relaxed mood to buy clothing but also will encourage people to hang out at the shop with their friends.
Lang said when he approached the Ohio Department of Liquor Control, he was told they'd never had anyone request a liquor license for a clothing store. For now, he and his only sales person do double duty, as the bartenders.
After 20 years of catering to men, the store also added women's apparel recently, along with the bar."
Now your boyfriend won't mind coming shopping with you! " A Cleveland clothing store wants to make sure its customers are comfortable, so it has opened a bar in the middle of its sales ... more -
US Consumer Bill Partially Bans Plastic Softener
A partial ban on controversial plastic-softening chemicals called phthalates has been agreed on as part of a bill to revamp consumer product safety, lawmakers involved in the negotiations said on Monday.
The legislation also would sharply cut the amount of lead allowed in toys and other products while increasing funding for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an agency much criticized after millions of toys, mostly made in China, were recalled last year.
The ban on phthalates, which some believe can cause abnormal reproductive development in children, was one of the most hotly debated items considered by members of the House and Senate who hammered out the final version of the legislation.
Three types of phthalates would be permanently banned in children’s toys and child care items, except for minute amounts, while three others would be temporarily banned pending further study.
“The compromise on phthalates is a significant victory for families, because the ban goes into effect before the research review is completed,” said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women and Families, a consumer group. “Congress put children’s safety first.”
But the American Chemistry Council criticized the phthalate restrictions. “There is no scientific basis for Congress to restrict phthalates from toys and children’s products,” the industry group said.
The bill, which still needs to be voted on, also would mandate national safety standards for all-terrain vehicles, linked to hundreds of deaths each year, as well as set standards for toys.
It would authorize an increase in the CPSC’s annual budget from its current $80 million to $118 million starting in fiscal 2010 and growing to $136 million over five years.
“The Consumer Product Safety Commission has been a neglected agency for too many years, but this legislation puts an end to that neglect,” said a statement by Sen. Daniel Inouye, an Hawaii Democrat and chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.
The legislation also includes whistle-blower protections, third-party testing requirements for certain children’s products, and gives CPSC the authority to inspect manufacturers’ proprietary labs.
In addition, the bill would increase maximum criminal penalties for violations.
“This reauthorization gives the CPSC more teeth and a deeper bite, and makes it dramatically more certain that toys aren’t tested for safety by kids on the living room floor before they’re tested in a lab by experts,” said Rep. Joe Barton, a Texas Republican and ranking minority member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Senate and House members have been meeting in conference for several weeks to resolve differences between two bills that aimed to overhaul the CPSC. House members passed their legislation in December, and the Senate passed its bill in March, that included a ban on phthalates.
The conferees agreed the legislation should not preempt state regulations and requirements.
Mattel Inc (MAT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), RC2 Corp (RCRC.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), and other companies were forced to pull millions of their toys from shelves last year, mainly due to excessive lead content in paint.
The trend continued into 2008, with total recalls up 22 percent so far this year compared to that same period in 2007, according to an analysis of CPSC data by a group of consumer advocate organizations including Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America.
“We applaud the conference committee for reconciling their differences and coming up with an extremely strong and consumer protective bill,” said Rachel Weintraub, director of product safety and senior counsel for the CFA. A partial ban on controversial plastic-softening chemicals called phthalates has been agreed on as part of a bill to revamp consumer p... more -
Trim the grocery bill, not nutrition
Food prices, fuel costs and economic fears are growing, but that doesn't mean you can't eat healthfully while on a recession diet.
Feeding yourself and your family on a budget can still include nutritious lean protein, fruits and vegetables in your diet every day, said Holly Scherer, a registered dietician at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor. It just requires an open mind and a bit of extra time.
"With a little bit of planning, you can watch how much you're spending and still eat a healthy diet," Scherer said.
By Terri Coles - TORONTO, (Reuters) Food prices, fuel costs and economic fears are growing, but that doesn't mean you can't eat healthfully while on a recession... more -
New "Natural, No-Calorie Sweetener" Hits the Market
Not yet approved by the FDA and considered unsafe by some, the new sweetener is made from "stevia" - a shrub native to Paraguay. It will be marketed as a natural alternative to the array of artificial sweeteners widely available today.
It will be interesting to see if/how consumers react to this new additive. I suppose it will depend on the reaction of health authorities (?) and the media (!) to some degree. Not yet approved by the FDA and considered unsafe by some, the new sweetener is made from "stevia" - a shrub native to Parag... more -
Does Being An "Ethical" Corporation Pay? MIT Study Says YES.
For corporations, social responsibility has become a big business. Companies spend billions of dollars doing good works—everything from boosting diversity in their ranks to developing eco-friendly technology—and then trumpeting those efforts to the public.
But does it pay off?
(article continues)
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This study is interesting in light of recent conversations on Current on the topic of corporate responsibility vs. greed, CEO vs. worker pay, etc. My contention all along has been that corporations, bound by their duty to provide shareholders with maximum return on their investments, will only act responsibly when consumers start to reward them when they do and punish them when they don't.
So let this serve as another reminder to keep the pressure on EACH OTHER -- as consumers -- to demand more of the companies that serve us, and then watch as the corporations eventually follow suit. For corporations, social responsibility has become a big business. Companies spend billions of dollars doing good works—everything fro... more -
Consumer confidence tumbles to 16-year low
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A key measure of consumer confidence dropped in June to the fifth lowest reading ever, as Americans grew more concerned about their jobs and rising food and fuel prices.
The New York-based research group Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 50.4 from a revised 58.1 in May. The reading was the lowest since February 1992, when it was 47.3.
Economists had expected the index to decline to 56, according to Briefing.com. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A key measure of consumer confidence dropped in June to the fifth lowest reading ever, as Americans grew mo... more -
COOL! Country of Origin Labeling is on the way
On Sept. 30, mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) will be enforced for beef, lamb, pork, fruit, vegetables and peanuts. The provision was originally approved as part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, but special interests have lobbied to delay it since then. (Purveyors of wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish, nonetheless, have had to disclose their origin since 2005.) And as the date nears, COOL is gaining momentum in Washington: Last month, the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 expanded the list of covered commodities to include chicken, goat meat, ginseng, pecans and macadamia nuts.
ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND AT:
http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/client/e3...
(The normal upload/link process wasn't working properly to anything on the adweek site.)
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Pay attention to all sides of the story, as it has direct implications for consumers and businesses, and will result in both sides having to modify their behavior to adapt. On Sept. 30, mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) will be enforced for beef, lamb, pork, fruit, vegetables and peanuts. The pro... more -
Shoppers pay as oil costs trickle down
The shock of $4-a-gallon gas is like a psychological thunderbolt. But less-obvious damage to our paychecks is starting to trickle in from a hidden flood of petro-fueled price increases.
Whether they pay for fuel used to ship bananas from Central America, natural gas or crude oil used to create a plastic milk jug or myriad oil derivatives used as ingredients in beauty products, price jumps at the wellhead are eventually reflected at the consumer level.
Few retail prices have increased dramatically so far because of petro-prices. But at least one has already gone through – and on – the roof.
Consider asphalt shingles. (Asphalt is some of what's left when crude oil is refined.)
Bill Bicksler, president of Academy Painting and Roofing in Plano, has been in the business for about five years.
"Typically we'll get one or two price increases a year from my roofing suppliers," he said. "Last month they went up 10 or 15 percent, and we're told they will be going up every month now."
Shingles are sold in 10-foot-by-10-foot squares. A square now costs about $185, Mr. Bicksler said.
Which means he's getting caught between his costs and what his customers want to pay.
"I'm having to contact all my customers and say, 'If you want to do this at the price I gave you, pull the trigger now,' " he said.
Hard as it may be to believe while focused on the panic at the fuel pumps, it won't take much for nongasoline petro-costs to add to the gas-driven pain. . .
more @ link The shock of $4-a-gallon gas is like a psychological thunderbolt. But less-obvious damage to our paychecks is starting to trickle in f... more -
Canadian consumer is paying an average of 18 per cent more for those items than th...
For the past year, the Canadian loonie has been on par with the U.S. dollar. So you might think consumers in both countries should be paying the same prices for the same goods. But you would be wrong. For the past year, the Canadian loonie has been on par with the U.S. dollar. So you might think consumers in both countries should be ... more
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Prius bad for the environment?
This may or may not come as some shock to you, but many scientists are saying that Toyota's best-selling hybrid, the Prius, is actually bad for the environment. Some are even asserting that it has a worse impact on our world than the widely-hated Hummer.
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I don't know if this is good or bad information but it is out there so I think we should address it because people are reading it.
cg This may or may not come as some shock to you, but many scientists are saying that Toyota's best-selling hybrid, the Prius, is ac... more -
Don't Be A 'GasHole'
"GasHole" is a new documentary film about the history of Oil prices and the
future of alternative fuels. The film takes a wide, yet detailed examination of our dependence on foreign supplies of Oil.
What are the causes that led from America turning from a leading exporter of
oil to the world's largest importer? What are the economic and sociological
forces that have contributed to that change and impede its solution?
When this film went into production the average price of a gallon of gasoline was close to $2.35 and now, as the price approaches $4.00.
The film examines many different potential solutions to our oil dependence.
Starting with claims of buried technology that dramatically improves gas
mileage, to navigating bureaucratic governmental roadblocks, to evaluating
different alternative fuels that are technologically available now, to
questioning the American Consumer's reluctance to embrace alternatives.
If you buy gas, you should see this movie!
The movie is currently on tour. Check out the movie's website to see which city it will be in next. The film hopes to be premiered in major cities in late summer and hopefully will be out on DVD in November or December 2008.
http://www.gasholemovie.com/ "GasHole" is a new documentary film about the history of Oil prices and the ... more -
Retailers break vows on analog TV sales, get FCC wrist slap
The Federal Communications Commission has proposed almost $4 million in fines to seven major retailers for "willfully and repeatedly" selling analog-only TV sets without labels that warn consumers that the devices may not work after February 17, 2009—the last day of analog broadcasting. The scofflaws include the Sears-Roebuck/K-Mart group, which received a fine of $1.096 million; Wal-Mart, hit with a $992,000 forfeit; and CompUSA, which took the lowest penalty at $168,000. The Federal Communications Commission has proposed almost $4 million in fines to seven major retailers for "willfully and repeate... more
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