The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Eight consumers sickened in three states from E. coli linked to Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp chopped salad kits

State and federal agencies are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp chopped salad kits. The eight people infected are from North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Consumers shouldn’t eat food from the salad kits with this identifying information: UPC 0 71279 30906 4, beginning with lot code Z, and a best-before date up to and including 07DEC19. This information is printed on the front of the bag in the top right corner.

Health officials advise consumers to check their refrigerators for the salad kits. If they find one, they should:

• Not eat it. Throw it away. Even if some of the kit was eaten and no one got sick, throw the rest away.
• Wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators where the salad kit was stored. Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator.

Proposed model annuity regulation benefits industry, not consumers, consumer groups say

State insurance regulators on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Life Insurance and Annuities Committee should reject a proposed industry friendly, anti-consumer annuity model regulation, the Center for Economic Justice and Consumer Federation of America said in a letter to the committee. They should continue work to create a true “best interest” standard of care for insurers, agents, and brokers to use when selling complex annuity products to consumers.

“The fact that all the industry trade associations of insurers and agents selling annuities are euphoric about the proposed revisions while consumer groups are aghast at the anti-consumer nature of the proposal is stark evidence of how biased the proposal is in favor of industry interests over consumers,” said Birny Birnbaum, executive director for the center. “By allowing insurers and producers to falsely claim to be acting in consumers’ best interest when there is no such requirement and when there is no meaningful constraint on conflicts of interest that would compromise advice given to a consumer, the proposal will mislead consumers into expecting protections the rule does not provide.”

The center and federation point to shortcomings in the current draft:

University of Phoenix settles with FTC for $191 million over deceptive ads

The University of Phoenix and its parent company, Apollo Education Group, will settle for a record $191 million to resolve Federal Trade Commission charges that they used deceptive advertisements, which falsely described their relationships and job opportunities with companies such as AT&T, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Twitter, and The American Red Cross.

Under the settlement approved by the FTC, UOP will pay $50 million in cash as well as cancel $141 million in debts owed to the school by students who were harmed by the deceptive ads.

"This is the largest settlement the Commission has obtained in a case against a for-profit school,” said Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Students making important decisions about their education need the facts, not fantasy job opportunities that do not exist."

Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees are being recalled due to possible engine stalls

Photo: IFCAR

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling about 528,594 model year Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees. The fuel-pump relays may have silicon deposits that interrupt electric current, and, as a result, the engine might not start or could stall.

This recall affects 2011 to 2013 models that have had the relays corrected in a previous recall.

By Jan. 3, customers will be contacted about going to their dealership for a free inspection and repair, the FCA said.

Watch out for scammers saying they’re from the FTC

Did you recently get an official letter from the Federal Trade Commission?

Be careful. Scammers have been faking official-looking FTC letterhead to write frightening messages to people, threatening them.

A Pennsylvania man received a letter saying his online and financial activities put him under suspicion of money laundering and terrorism. And, all his activities would “be under review.”

Attorneys generals ask FTC to protect consumers from bogus ‘free trial offer’ deals

Twenty-three attorneys general urged the Federal Trade Commission Tuesday to adopt regulations to prevent consumers from being tricked by negative option marketing schemes. In a letter to the agency, they argue that the FTC should use its rulemaking authority to expand existing regulations. 

“We’re urging the FTC to take action and use its power to protect consumers from the harm of predatory marketers,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.

With negative option marketing, a marketer makes an offer and the consumers’ silence or failure to respond is considered acceptance.

Use caution when donating to a charity on Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday, a day that follows Thanksgiving on Thursday, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, is designated for giving to charities and organizations.

It’s a good reminder that charitable organizations need funding as Americans are caught up in the frenzy of holiday spending. However, caution is needed so that your money goes to worthwhile charities.

Here are tips so that your Giving Tuesday donations go to effective organizations:

Yamaha recalls portable generators due to fire and burn hazards

Yamaha is recalling about 10,100 2018 and 2019 Yamaha portable generators.

The generator’s fuel tank can leak gasoline, posing fire and burn hazards.

This recall involves model 2018 and 2019 Yamaha EF2000iS portable generators, with serial numbers 4543288 through 4553706. The blue generators have Yamaha and the model name printed on the control panel. The serial number can be found on a label below the exhaust outlet on the left side.

Nissan, Infiniti vehicles are being recalled again due to fire risk

Photo: Alexander Migl

Nissan is recalling 450,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada.

The anti-lock brake system actuator may leak brake fluid and cause a fire. If this happens, the ABS warning lamp will light up and remain lighted on the instrument panel.

If the ABS warning lamp in a vehicle lights up continually for more than 10 seconds after the engine starts, Nissan advises consumers to stop driving the vehicle immediately and call Nissan Roadside Assistance at 800-647-7261 to arrange towing the vehicle to a Nissan dealer for repair.

Trump administration’s decision to roll back light bulb standards will cost consumers billions

The Consumer Federation of America thinks the U.S. Department of Energy’s proposed determination that new lighting efficiency standards aren’t needed is wrong. The DOE’s justification for this rollback is riddled with factual errors and is based on seriously flawed assumptions and methodology, the CFA said.

The DOE’s decision to roll back money saving lighting requirements is based on analyzing only one single technology that is extremely and unjustifiably high in cost ($7/bulb), low in efficiency (only 34.5 lumens/watt), and has a short lifespan (1,000 hours), said Mel Hall-Crawford, CFA director of energy programs and special projects.

The best alternative available in the market is less than half the cost ($3/bulb), almost three times more efficient (88.9 lumens/watt), and lasts 15 times as long (15,000 hours).