The FDA noted fresh-cut or prepackaged produce like spinach, lettuce and fruit is the fastest-growing segment of the $12 billion annual produce industry.
Government Policy
FDA Introduces Fresh-Cut Produce Guidelines
By 3.12.07
To Whom Do You Complain About The FTC's Broken Complaint Form?
By 3.12.07
The FTC runs a web app that is supposed to allow consumers to complain to the FTC and clue them into stuff they might want to investigate, with the link to it on the page at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm
Phishing Scams More Costly Than Bank Robbery
By 3.12.07
The amount of money taken typically is fairly small and will not dent a bank’s bottom line. Further, bank robbers are apprehended in almost 58 percent of cases, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics. Only murder has a higher rate of clearance by arrest.
So what do banks worry about? Phishing scams.
ID Stolen? Get an ID Theft Passport
By 3.9.07
Several states have started programs, often called “ID Theft Passport” programs, to help victims of ID Theft regain control over their information and establish their innocence of any crimes that may have been committed under their ID.
Lawsuits: Vonage Owes Verizon $58 Million
By 3.9.07
The jury hearing the case awarded Verizon $58 million in damages and said that the VoIP provider must pay royalties of 5.5 percent to Verizon if it wishes to continue using Verizon’s IP.
Lawsuit Alleges Comcast Allowed Murder Suspect To Stay On The Job, Kill Again
By 3.7.07
A Polish immigrant was killed because a cable repairman was allowed to continue making house calls despite being a suspect in a murder investigation, the victim’s fiance alleges in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Chicago.
How To File A Federal Tax Extension
By 3.7.07
My Money Blog tells us how to submit for a federal tax filing extension if you’re still waiting for some forms or you just don’t think you can get it together in time.
Fisher-Price Fined $975,000 for Failing to Report a Serious Choking Hazard With A Popular Toy
By 3.5.07
Over the next two months, Fisher-Price received nine additional reports, including one case of a child placing the nail fastener in her mouth.
RIAA Extortion Site Thanks You, "Looks Forward To Future Business Together"
By 3.5.07
Isn’t that nice? The RIAA knows that even after they’ve extorted $3,456.23 from you, you’re still going to buy their products. The extorted college student posted this anonymously, because they were afraid of the RIAA finding out they’d posted it. This is scary. —MEGHANN MARCO
Tattle On Tax Cheats, Get Big Bucks
By 3.5.07
Know someone who is cheating on their taxes? Under a IRS program enacted in December, you could fink on them and receive a sizable reward.
Cingular Tries to Get Class Action Lawsuit Thrown Out, Cites Arbitration Clause
By 3.5.07
“Although the exact wording of these provisions has changed somewhat over time, each has required customers to pursue their disputes with Cingular or AT&T Wireless in either individual arbitration or small claims court,” the defendants allege in their motion.
FDA to Review Children's Cold Remedies
By 3.2.07
The agency has for decades promised to review systematically the safety of all old drugs, but for a variety of reasons like budgetary constraints, time and popularity of a particular drug has not done so.
We, like the reader who sent this story in, find it troubling that “popularity” is a factor in deciding whether or not to review the safety of a drug. The New York Times doesn’t explain in detail what is meant by this quote, but we’re hard pressed to think of any explanations that would make us say, “Wow, that’s really awesome.”
American Airlines Lets Al Gore Skip The Security Checkpoint
By 3.2.07
Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority spokesperson Lynne Lowrance said an American Airlines employee took Gore and two other passengers from the airline’s ticketing counter through a door in the baggage claim area where only “badged employees” can enter. The door led to a tunnel and then to a ramp that accessed an American Airline’s gate beyond the airport’s security checkpoint.
The RIAA P2PLawsuit Letter Sent To College Students
By 3.2.07
Unfortunately for the students who have been targeted (a group that apparently includes both downloaders and sharers), minimum damages that the RIAA can request under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act is $750 per infringement. For students who have hundreds of songs on their computer, that could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
Consumer Reports On Baroody Nomination
By 3.2.07
Consumer Reports weighs in on Bush’s nomination of Michael Baroody, former National Association of Manufacturer’s (NAM) spokesman (emphasis added):
Michael Baroody Gets CPSC Nomination Nod, White House Confirms
By 3.1.07
The White House broke its press blackout and confirmed that Bush intends to nominate Michael Baroody for chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, WSJ online reported today at 5:20 pm.
RIAA Bullies College Students With P2PLawsuits.com
By 3.1.07
The RIAA is sending what amounts to a cease and desist letter to 400 college students at 13 universities. The letter encourages students to confess and pay a “settlement” at an RIAA website: P2PLawsuits.com. The website suggests using Mastercard, Visa or Discover to pay your fines.
