July 3, 2009
As consumers have been hit with huge interest rate hikes and increases in their minimum monthly payments, complaints about America’s credit card industry are reverberating through the halls of Congress.
CitiGroup, Bank of America and Capital One have all, in recent days, began raising customers’ interest rates, in many cases saying it has [...]
July 2, 2009
Trying to kick the habit can be hazardous to your health.
The Food and Drug Administration is requiring manufacturers to put a Boxed Warning on the prescribing information for the smoking cessation drugs Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion).
The warning will highlight the risk of serious mental health problems including changes in behavior, depressed [...]
July 1, 2009
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 233rd birthday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there were seven fireworks-related deaths and an estimated 7,000 hospital emergency room treated injuries last year. In 2007, CPSC had reports of eleven deaths and an estimated 9,800 injuries.
Even as the death and injury toll declines, the [...]
July 1, 2009
A leading distributor of prepaid calling cards has agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the calling cards failed to deliver the number of minutes advertised.
In tests conducted by the FTC, the calling cards on average provided less than half of the advertised calling minutes.
The settlement [...]
June 30, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has unveiled LEANWorks!, a Website designed to help businesses address obesity. LEAN stands for Leading Employees to Activity and Nutrition. The new Website was announced at a National Business Group on Health meeting in Washington, D.C.
“CDC LEANWorks! was developed in direct response to organizations asking [...]
June 29, 2009
Plainview Milk Products Cooperative, Plainview, Minn., is voluntarily recalling instant nonfat dried milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers, and gums (thickening agents) that it has manufactured over the past two years, because they might be contaminated with Salmonella.
The company sells these products to other industry customers, including distributors and manufacturers, who may have [...]
June 26, 2009
U.S. Marshals, acting at the request of the Food and Drug Administration, have seized drug products manufactured by Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd. (Caraco), at the company’s Michigan facilities in Detroit, Farmington Hills, and Wixom. The seizure also includes ingredients held at these same facilities.
“The FDA is committed to taking enforcement action against firms [...]
June 24, 2009
Still having problems receiving certain channels following the June 12 transition to digital TV?
The Federal Communications Commission suggests “double rescanning”, and double-checking and relocating your antennas. Meanwhile, local broadcasters are working to resolve any problems on their end.
Double Rescanning
Many consumers already know about the need to run the “scan” function on their digital [...]
June 23, 2009
The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat California Prime Produce and Orange County Orchards brands of pistachios repacked by Orca Distribution West Inc., Anaheim, Calif.
Orca received and repacked pistachios recalled by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., Terra Bella, Calif.
The pistachios may be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism [...]