Nearly 70 percent of the fresh produce sold in the United States contains residues of potentially harmful chemical pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group’s 2020 Dirty Dozen. This year’s Dirty Dozen are:
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Tyson Foods received a waiver on Thursday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service from requirements for government inspectors at its Holcomb, Kansas beef slaughter plant.
Last summer, Tyson requested a regulatory wavier that would allow it to rely on company employees, rather than government inspectors, to conduct postmortem inspection activities, including identifying and trimming “isolated defects” and identifying conditions that would require additional disposition by a government public health veterinarian.
The Consumer Federation of America said it’s disappointed by the USDA’s action.
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I’ve heard a lot about the 2020 Census, but I wasn’t sure how it was going to be carried out. Was someone going to come to my door? Did I need to fill out a form? Was I supposed to do it online? If so, when and how would I go about it?
Thursday it became clear. I received a letter with directions. Submit your information online.
The directions are easy to follow: The website is given and as is a Census ID number to type in.
Continue reading "What are you supposed to do about the 2020 Census?" »
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Being a consumer journalist is helpful because you learn valuable things. When I was writing my weekly newsletter of financial tips, I ran across a Consumer Reports article on how to protect yourself from the coronavirus when grocery shopping.
In addition to shopping when it’s less busy and using a credit or debit card, Consumer Reports recommends washing nonporous containers and washing produce with soap and water. It said simple rubbing with soap and water can kill the coronavirus because it tears apart its outer barrier. Consumer Reports also said washing your fruit and vegetables with soap and water should eliminate any live virus. It recommends:
For hard-skinned produce, scrub skins or peels with a soft-bristled vegetable brush, using dish or hand soap and warm water. For other types of produce, including leafy greens, soak in soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
On a National Public Radio program, a scientist said the coronavirus lasts on stainless steel and plastic for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours.
So, it seemed to me that I should take the time to wash my groceries. Here are my tips for this time consuming process:
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Lannie or Fairley for boys or Judith or Sharron for girls? No, those aren’t names for 2020. Those names were popular names from the 1940s.
Names.org, a website all about names, has released predictions for the Most Popular Baby Names of 2020. New entries in the top 10 for boys this year are Henry and Alexander, while Mila made the top 10 list for girls.
The rankings were determined by analyzing the most recent data from the Social Security Administration, trends from the past five years, and current user interest from millions of visitors to the Names.org website.
Here are the Top 10 Girl Names for 2020
Continue reading "What’s in a name? The most popular names for girls and boys for 2020" »
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Some people are using grocery delivery services to limit their exposure to the coronavirus. Consumer Reports recommends these steps whether you buy groceries yourself or if you have them delivered:
If you’re buying groceries in a store:
See the Consumer Reports article “How to Protect Yourself From Coronavirus When Grocery Shopping” for information on what to do if you’re getting groceries delivered or you’re picking up prepackaged groceries.
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Many chemicals can migrate into food from packaging and equipment used to manufacture and process food. Some of these chemicals are known to have hazardous properties such as carcinogenicity, toxicity for reproduction, persistence and bioaccumulation, or endocrine disruption. In addition, the safety of other chemicals hasn’t been adequately assessed.
Thirty-three international scientists published a scientific consensus statement on food contact chemicals and human health Monday in Environmental Health.
The statement sends a message that the system for protecting consumers from food contact chemicals is broken, said Lisa Y. Lefferts, senior scientist for the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
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California funeral homes that use a legal loophole to hide prices tend to charge more for basic services than funeral homes that prominently disclose prices, a study showed. For example:
“Many funeral homes charging high prices use a legal loophole to hide these prices from the public,” said Josh Slocum, executive director for the Funeral Consumers Alliance. “The California legislature should close this loophole so that consumers can comparison shop among all funeral homes.”
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Consumers are very interested in finding the best airline frequent flyer program. Most are willing to switch to another airline for the slightest discount. About 10 percent of flights are paid for with points or miles. So, consumers receive value in committing to an airline. They just need to find the right one.
WalletHub, a personal finance website, compared the 10 largest domestic airlines’ rewards programs for 23 key items, ranging from the value of a rewards point or mile to blackout-date policies.
Here are the best frequent flyer programs:
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It was helpful Tuesday when a federal official advised Americans to prepare for a possible coronavirus outbreak where they live.
“It’s not so much of a question of if this will happen anymore but rather more of a question of exactly when this will happen,” Nancy Messonnier, M.D., director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a New York Times article.
Messonnier said that cities and towns should plan for “social distancing measures,” such as dividing school classes into smaller groups of students or closing schools. Meetings and conferences may have to be canceled, she said. Businesses should arrange for employees to work from home.
What do you need to do to be prepared? One federal official said to get ready in your home like it was a snow storm or hurricane. Recommendations include:
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