Among the first articles I wrote as I began my journalism career was on salt. In 1982, salt was called “A New Villain” on the cover of Time magazine. Studies showed that high salt consumption led to high blood pressure. Now, more than 40 years later, government regulators still are focusing on voluntary targets rather than mandatory ones. Read more →

Consumers need to read ingredient labels carefully to avoid brominated vegetable oil or BVO because, although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finally banned it, products containing BVO may remain for sale on store shelves.  BVO has mainly been used to help stabilize citrus flavorings in sodas, sports drinks, and energy drinks. Read more →

Recently, I stayed with my daughter and her family at an Airbnb in Seattle. After we were there a while, I saw a big safety hazard: dishwasher pods were stored in an attractive glass container and placed on the kitchen counter. Dishwasher pods are dangerous for children and seniors who may think that they’re candy or some treat to eat. Read more →

Consumers are in a poor position in the economy, because corporations spend so much on advertising and they donate billions of dollars to influence government to do their bidding making products and services more expensive and less safe. Now, the U.S. Supreme Court has made another decision that will reduce consumer “power” even more. Read more →

Worried about emissions from your gas stove or one a family member or friend owns? The debate is heating up. A lawsuit filed against the maker of GE Appliances in the District of Columbia Superior Court alleges that the company is violating consumer protection laws by failing to warn district consumers that gas stoves produce air pollution that can be harmful to human health.  Read more →

It’s important to protect your skin from the sun by using sunscreen and by taking other protections such as wearing a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves. Sunscreen protects your skin against radiation from sun rays called ultraviolet A and B. UVB rays are the ones that mostly cause sunburn, while UVA rays mainly cause aging skin. Read more →

In the era of climate change, so much needs to be done, it makes your head spin. However, on Earth Day this year, I’d like to give a shout out to leaders and groups who have been working for decades make a difference for the earth. A recent example is PFAS, also known as forever chemicals. They’re used in a wide range of consumer products. Read more →

Proctor & Gamble is recalling about 8.2 million Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods, and Ariel Pods liquid laundry detergent packets packaged in plastic bags. The outer packaging can split open near the zipper track, posing a risk of serious injury to children and other vulnerable people if the contents of the packets are eaten, as well as posing a risk of skin or eye injuries. Read more →

One of the most tragic things I learned in my journalism career is about a child whose esophagus was destroyed when they swallowed lye that was being used to make soap. So every year, I write about National Poison Prevention Week, which is the third full week in March. More than 2 million poisonings are reported each year to the nation’s poison control centers. Read more →

While almost all ingredients used in food need to be disclosed, federal regulations allow manufacturers to hide some ingredients behind the vague terms such as “artificial flavor,” “natural flavor,” or “spices.” Problems arise when companies obscure ingredients behind these terms, according to a report released Thursday by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Read more →