By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Baby boomers are the most obese generation, and although their top two fears are cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, perhaps they should be more concerned about diabetes and heart attacks. About a third of the baby boomers are obese, compared with about a quarter of... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Consumer news doesn’t often make headlines, but the selection of Richard Cordray, a former Ohio attorney general, instead of Elizabeth Warren to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is big news. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, says Warren was the obvious best... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Changzhou Globe Tool Group Co. Ltd. is recalling about 20,000 Task Force 5-ton electric log splitters. The electric log splitters have a hydraulic arm that, during use, slides under the handle used to move the machine. The moving hydraulic arm poses a laceration or... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep? Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week: My best: Free blackberries I had fun picking blackberries with my family and making blackberry pie. We... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist The number of workers age 50-plus is growing rapidly – from 20 percent of the workforce in 1996 to 31 percent in 2011. For many, getting older doesn’t mean a retirement full of golfing or other fun activities; it means a second career. A... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Consumers in several states reported being contacted by an electronic notarization service provider. The provider claimed their service could offer an online notary via webcam that bypasses the need to appear in person to receive notarization. Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt cautioned consumers not... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist My daughter and I got a chuckle out the recommendation by The Consumerist to take your own scale with you to the airport to avoid baggage weight overcharges. The article said a TV station found nine out of 23 scales at the Boston Logan... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Mizuno USA Inc. is recalling about 131,000 Mizuno Supreme Series and Ballpark Pro baseball and softball gloves. Some gloves were found to contain a variety of molds that could cause respiratory or other infections in individuals with chronic health problems, or in individuals who... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep? Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week: My best: Getting an e-mail from a battery company about a refund Last week, for my worst... Read more →
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist The Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers have agreed to work together for a series of reforms that will improve the lives of laying hens. The UEP, a trade association for the egg industry, and the society have been... Read more →