Consumer News & Alerts | June 16, 2008


By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.Com

FDA INACTION BLAMED FOR SALMONELLA-CONTAMINATED TOMATOES
An outbreak of rotten tomatoes infected with salmonella has put 23 people in the hospital, caused as many as 150 people to fall ill, and harmed the business of thousands of restaurants who have scrambled to take tomatoes off the menu -- and both consumer advocates and government investigators say much of the blame can be laid at the feet of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). New reports from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that the FDA has refused to release a clear, concrete plan for implementing food safety procedures at American farms, preferring to let the industry voluntarily self-regulate, with disastrous results. Read more...

IRAN CLAIMS OIL MARKET IS "SATURATED"
The sudden massive jump in oil prices has led many to theorize that speculators may be driving up the price of oil futures on Wall Street in order to turn a quick profit. The Bush administration has dismissed the idea, saying that regular market forces of supply and demand are at work, and that oil-exporting countries such as Iran need to boost production. But as Mark Huffman reports, Iran's oil minister Gholam Hossein Nozari claimed this week that the oil markets were "saturated" with petroleum, and that there was no need to increase demand -- and as the finger-pointing continues, prices keep rising. Read more...

GAS PRICES KEEP ON CLIMBING
Speaking of rising prices, Joe Benton is back this week with the roundup of where gas costs are highest -- and the answer is essentially "everywhere." Regular self-serve gas is now topping $4 a gallon in 27 states and the District of Columbia, with California topping the charts at $4.54 a gallon, while Missouri has the lowest statewide average at $3.84 a gallon. Read more...

More about gas prices ...

• High Gas Prices Good For Kia, Honda Fuel-sippers slide off lots as gas prices hover around $4.

• Reports of Prius Price Gouging Rise with Gas Prices Premiums of up to $10,000 can be the price of Prius envy.

• High Gas Prices Could Mean Lower Insurance Rates Driving less? Tell your insurer.

• Feds See No Relief from High Gas Prices Prices likely to climb through at least August.

• Kia Owners Awarded $6 Million in Class Action Defective Sephia brakes need frequent replacement.

In other automotive news ...

• Toyota Resists Possible Tacoma Recall Feds probing unintended acceleration problems in popular pickup.

• J.D. Power Finds Automakers Improving Initial Quality Scores Honda, Ford, General Motors, Toyota score big.

• Ford Trucks Burn in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina Truck owners thought danger of fire was remote, ignored recall notices.

This week's recalls...

• Toys R Us Merry-Go-Rounds

• Sara Lynn Togs Children's Overalls

• Bosch Hammer Drills

• Saunas by Airwall Recalls Infra-Red Sauna Rooms

• MTD 'Cub Cadet' Utility Vehicles

• The Children's Place Camouflage Pajama Sets

• Crate and Barrel 'Remy' Shag Rugs

• Progress/Thomasville Ceiling Lights

• Backyard Leisure 'Adventure' Swing Sets

CHECKING A BAG? THAT'LL BE $15
The struggling airline industry continues to outdo itself in imposing fees for formerly free services in order to cover exploding fuel costs, and this week both United Airlines and US Airways announced they would join American Airlines in charging $15 to check a single bag on domestic flights. Worse, the costs will solely be borne by passengers in coach class, as first-class passengers won't pay the fee--and there are signs that even with all the extra fees levied, ticket prices may go up in the future as well. Read more...

More scams and outrages...

• Shower Curtains May Be Hazardous to Your Health That 'new shower curtain smell' is a shower of chemicals.

• Golf Cart Injuries Increasing Adolescent, elderly males have high injury rates.

• FTC Sues CompuCredit Lender charged with violating both credit and debt collection laws.

• Missouri Sues 'Diabetic Partner Dog' Business Heaven Scent Paws misrepresented its dogs' abilities, suit charges.

• Kennel Hounded Out of Missouri State charged kennel misrepresented the health of its dogs.

TELCOS USE CELL PHONE TERMINATION FEES FOR ATTEMPTED POWER GRAB

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering a plan to lower contract termination fees for customers looking to switch cell phone providers without getting dinged for $175 or more. But the price of the plan would be tossing out the many class-action lawsuits filed against the wireless carriers over the punitive fees, and blocking state regulators from restricting the fees in favor of weaker federal laws. Consumer advocates, members of Congress, and ordinary citizens alike argued that while the fees are terrible, the power grab from the FCC plan would be a cure worse than the disease. Read more...

GLITCHES ABOUND IN DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION

The FCC also took center stage this week at the latest House Telecommunications Subcommittee hearing on the switch to digital television signals, scheduled to happen on February 17, 2009. The $40 coupons redeemable for set-top converter boxes have seen wide adoption, the hearing found, and consumer awareness of the DTV transition is improving by leaps and bounds, but many consumers who are aware of the transition are still frustrated by misleading information as to what they are actually supposed to do. Worse, the first batch of coupons issued are set to expire, and the agency overseeing the coupon program has no plans to ask Congress for more funds to offer more coupons. Read more...

More week's technology news...

• Critics: FCC Inaction Slows Economic Development Agency continues to rely on faulty data while promising to improve.

• More Teens Using Cell Phones While Driving NC study finds state law is widely ignored.

• Apple Unveils New Generation iPhone Third-generation phone costs one-third the original price.

• HP Introduces 'Touchy-Feely' PC New line of computers controlled by touching the screen.

MAY FORECLOSURE FILING RATE THE HIGHEST EVER

Ed McMahon's got a lot of company on the foreclosure front. One in every 483 U.S. households received a foreclosure filing in May, the highest monthly rate since the real estate tracking firm RealtyTrac began issuing reports. Mark Huffman reports that there are signs of good news, such as default and auction notices posting slight declines, but bank repossessions of homes continue to spiral upward, pushing the overall total for May to 261,255 properties in foreclosure. Read more...

More real estate news...

• Pending Home Sales Rise Unexpectedly A glimmer of hope in a moribund market.

• California Foreclosures Linked To West Nile Virus Vacant homes, unattended pools are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

SUMMERTIME CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR PET'S HEALTH


Summertime is one of the best times of the year for outside fun and frolic, especially with a beloved pet by your side. But just as summer fun can often have hidden risks and concerns for people, pets can be endangered or harmed if you don't take proper precautions first. Lisa Wade McCormick runs down the list of possible dangers to your pet this summer, and how you can avoid them. Read more...

Ths week's health news...

• Pomegranate Juice May Help Fight Arthritis Study finds the fruit can reduce inflammation.

• Safeway Introduces Generic Drug Discounts Competitors scramble to keep up with Wal-Mart.

• Patients 'Overdose' on Medical Debt Hospitals, doctors encourage patients to pay with plastic.

• Feds Find Less Risky Teen Behavior Less improvement found in Hispanic population.


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By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffa
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ConsumerAffairs.com Inc., 11400 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90064