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Consumer News & Alerts

August 6, 2007

SEEKING SAFETY IN AN UNSAFE WORLD
Consumers are up in arms over the seemingly endless stream of safety breaches -- lead paint on toys, defective tires, poisonous pet food and a fractured food safety program. The Bush Administration so far shows little sign of wanting to break the pattern of ineffective bungling established by its response to Katrina, leaving Congress to take action ... and the ensuing political credit. Congress last week gave the Consumer Product Safety Agency a new, if short-term, lease on life, authorizing it to begin taking action even though it lacks the required number of commissioners.

Fisher Price Recall The recall last week of nearly 1 million Fisher Price toys contaminated by lead paint may have helped Congress get the lead out of its efforts to re-energize the consumer safety agency.

Ford Tries Again Ford is finally recalling additional vehicles to fix a dangerous defect that can cause parked vehicles to burst into flame. Fords have been catching fire for years. The company has reluctantly recalled various models over the last few years, turning a deaf ear to the cries of consumers whose charred cars and trucks didn't make the recall list. The latest effort adds 3.6 million or so cars and trucks and may finally get the problem under control.

States Recall Chinese Tires Feds have been unable to force a recall because the tire importer is running low on cash but a number of states have banded together to pump some pressure into the recall effort.

Global Commerce Complicates Food Safety While all this stepped-up governmental activity is admirable, a prominent researcher says the global nature of today's food production and supply makes it extremely difficult to guarantee the safety of what's on your plate. The poisonings of thousands of pets earlier this year was a "wake-up call" that should be answered, said Col. John T. Hoffman, a senior research fellow with the National Center for Food Protection and Defense, in Minneapolis.

WATCH BOTH HANDS
Credit card gargantua Capital One tried to generate itself a little positive press by dropping its longtime policy of withholding information about its customers from the national credit bureaus. Meanwhile, its spinmeisters remained silent about the cards it send out to thousands of its best customers. Which cards? The ones that bluntly said Cap One was raising its customers' interest rates from single to double figures. Why? "Business reasons." Many consumers we hear from are citing the same reason for taking their business elsewhere.

In other financial news ...

• American Home Mortgage Collapses It's the latest corporate casualty of the subprime implosion, but certainly not the last.

• Research Firm Rates Credit Cards On Security Which card is safest? Report says no card is yet as safe as it should be.

GAS PRICES SINK, FOOD PRICES DON'T
Forecasting the price of gasoline is getting to be as tricky as forecasting the weather. The price of crude oil is at all-time highs but so far, gas prices are still headed downward. A gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is selling for an average of $2.86, 8 cents less then a week ago. But meanwhile, food prices are headed up and some are blaming the growing use of ethanol for driving up the price of corn.

Other automotive notes ...

• Runaway Acceleration Plagues Prius Owners We continue hearing from Toyota Prius owners complaining of unintended acceleration. Toyota denies the problem exists. It blames driver error or, sometimes, claims the carpet was on top of the accelerator pedal.

• Daimler Rids Itself of Chrysler German automaker unloads its ill-fated acquisition. Chrysler plans "celebration."

• Luxury Cars a "Mediocre Lot" in Low-Speed Collisions Low speed, high cost, insurance tests find.

SKIN CANCER GAINS GROUND
The death rate from cancer in general has been receding slightly but the tide is still rising for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The increase is greatest in the young and the elderly. Dermatologists says there are some simple safety measures that everyone should practice. They're worth checking out before you head for the beach.

More health notes ...

• FDA Rejects Advice to Pull Avandia Increased risk of heart attack doesn't outweigh drug's benefits, panel decides.

• Laser Printers Can Cause Indoor Air Pollution A dirty laster printer can spew out as much pollution as a cigarette smoker. Printers should be placed in well-ventilated areas, researchers advise.

• Aspirin is Aspirin Coating on aspirin has no effect on the stomach, Harvard scientists report.

• Religious Doctors a Disappointment A study finds that doctors who pass themselves off as religious are less likely to volunteer their services to treat the poor.

NORTHWEST LEVELS OFF
Trying to get above the turbulence that has marred its emergence from bankruptcy, Northwest Airline has reached a new agreement with its pilots, hoping to end the crew shortages that have caused rampant flight cancellations at the height of the summer travel season.

Also on the travel front ...

• Airlines Compete for Inflight Internet American, JetBlue, Southwest hoping to launch within a year.

• Passengers to Get Restitution From Airline Collusion British Airways, Korean Air pay $300 million each.

• TSA Not On Board with Registered Traveler Programs TSA chief things pre-screening programs pose a security risk.

SAFETY RECALLS

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