Since I wrote an article recently on the top consumer and personal finance stories of 2021, I was interested in a list offered by U.S. PIRG on the progress made in health, climate, and consumer issues in 2021. U.S. PIRG, a public interest research group, and its state partners worked on or supported many of these issues. Read more →
The Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of toxic lead acetate in consumer hair dyes, an action that will help protect the public from hazardous chemicals. Lead acetate is the ingredient that slowly darkens gray hair when used every few days and can increase the level of lead in users’ bodies. Read more →
About 70,000 teak shower benches in the United States and about 11,317 in Canada are being recalled. The shower bench can collapse during use, posing a fall hazard to the user. Consumers have reported 81 incidents of the shower benches collapsing, breaking during use, or falling apart. Read more →
Recently, I went to a dermatologist because I had a skin rash that was getting worse. When I showed it to him, I said it seemed to appear first around a couple of mosquito bites, probably because I’m allergic to them. I showed him my hand where I had three mosquito bites in an uneven row under the knuckles on my right hand. Read more →
Only 25 percent of the sunscreens rated this year by the Environmental Working Group offer adequate protection and no worrisome ingredients such as oxybenzone. EWG researchers rated the safety and effectiveness of more than 1,800 products that advertise sun protection. Read more →
The U.S. CPSC is warning consumers about the danger of the Peloton Tread+ exercise machine after incidents of small children and a pet being injured beneath the machines. The CPSC has found that the public health and safety requires this notice to warn the public quickly about the hazard. Read more →
Consumer Reports is launching CR Recommended, a program to bring Consumer Reports recommendations easily to consumers before they buy autos and other products. When consumers shop online, at a dealership, or in a store, they’ll see a “CR Recommended” mark for products. Read more →
BATTOP is recalling about 5,000 foldable infant bath seats. The bath seats don’t meet the federal safety standard for infant bath seats, including requirements for stability, and can tip over while in use, posing a drowning hazard to babies. No incidents or injuries have been reported. Read more →
When I was writing my weekly Helpful Money Tips for You newsletter (see Newsletter heading above to subscribe), I ran across an article by a women who was upset because a new coffee shop in her area turned out to be secret “nutrition club,” a recruiting tool for Herbalife. Read more →
During the pandemic, more people are going to emergency rooms for injuries from some consumer products such as batteries, fireworks, all-terrain vehicles, and skateboards, although emergency room treatments for all product-related injuries decreased by 24 percent. Read more →