Just because you can arrange every item you own into a patchwork rooftop tower of furniture, household items, cleaning supplies, blankets, and bungee doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. The best you can say about it is that your efforts will make for a good photo when the police pull you over. [More]
Quality & Safety
Airports Must Enhance Security Screenings, Or Face Laptop Ban
By 6.28.17
The Department of Homeland Security is telling airports around the world that they could face a ban on carry-on electronics for U.S.-bound flights if their security doesn’t meet new DHS standards. [More]
ABC News Settles ‘Pink Slime’ Defamation Case With Beef Company
By 6.28.17
Well, that was quick: Just a few weeks after Beef Products Inc. and ABC News squared off in the opening arguments of the trial over the broadcaster’s use of the phrase “pink slime” to describe an ingredient in some ground beef, the two sides have agreed to put the whole thing to rest. [More]
Ford’s Latest Recall Involves Only 3 Vehicles
By 6.28.17
Another day, another recall for airbags. But what makes this Ford recall stand out is that the recall involves a grand total of just three vehicles. [More]
2 Years After Being Sentenced, Egg Execs Behind Massive Salmonella Outbreak Are Finally Going To Prison
By 6.28.17
In April 2015, a federal judge sentenced the father and son former executives of the inaccurately named Quality Egg — the company behind a salmonella outbreak that sickened around 60,000 people — to three months in prison, but neither of the two men have begun to serve their sentence, hoping the U.S. Supreme Court would see things their way. But now that the Supremes have snubbed the eggs-executives, it’s finally time for them to do their brief stints behind bars. [More]
Pharma Frantically Searching Humanity’s Medicine Cabinet For Non-Opioid Pain Medicines
By 6.28.17
As opioid addiction continues to ravage large swaths of the country, doctors are being urged to prescribe fewer narcotic painkillers, putting pressure on drug companies to come up with new ways to treat pain patients. [More]
How To Avoid Ticks And What To Do If A Tick Bites You
By 6.27.17
The bad news (for humans): It’s shaping up to be a great year for disease-bearing ticks. The good news: We can tell you how to defend your body and your yard from these pests. [More]
Don’t Use These Recalled Fireworks & Other July 4th Safety Tips
By 6.27.17 — Updated: 6.30.17
Each year, tens of thousands of people are injured in fireworks accidents. While these incidents can occur when someone is ill-trained in setting off the brightly colored explosives, they can also be the result of defective products, such as the 36,000 TNT Red, White, & Blue Smoke fireworks now under recall. [More]
California To List Roundup Ingredient On List Of Cancer-Causing Chemicals
By 6.27.17
The state of California will add glyphosate — the main ingredient in weed-killer Roundup — to a list of chemicals known by the state to cause cancer next month, signaling just the latest battle for Roundup manufacturer Monsanto after the company was accused of writing at least some of an academic research paper used to demonstrate glyphosate’s safety. [More]
If VW Executive Comes To The U.S., The Authorities Will Be Waiting
By 6.26.17
Back in January, federal authorities filed criminal charges against six Volkswagen executives for their part in the company’s “dieselgate” scandal. Just last week, international arrest warrants were issued for some of those individuals who live in Germany, prompting lawyers for one engineer to warn him not to leave the country. [More]
Company Behind “Healing” Stickers Says NASA Connection Claim Was A Misunderstanding
By 6.26.17
Last week, officials with NASA called out Gwyneth Paltrow’s “modern lifestyle brand” Goop for promoting “healing” stickers that it claimed were made from material designed for NASA space suits. Now, the company behind the stickers has apologized, claiming the inaccurate affirmation was just a big ol’ misunderstanding. [More]
Company Stops Selling Cladding Linked To Deadly London Apartment Tower Fire
By 6.26.17
A type of lightweight aluminum cladding made by Arconic (formerly known as Alcoa) has been discontinued after being linked to the deadly fire that claimed at least 79 lives at the 24-story Grenfell Tower in London. [More]
What Does Takata Bankruptcy Mean For Deadly Airbag Recall?
By 6.26.17
After months of speculation, embattled auto parts maker Takata has officially filed for bankruptcy following a massive shrapnel-shooting airbag recall affecting more than 42 million vehicles and the legal fallout that followed. [More]
Is The FDA Doing Enough To Keep Problematic Personal Care Products Off Shelves?
By 6.26.17
When you slather that trendy beauty lip balm on or try a new shampoo for the first time, perhaps you’re under the impression that the federal government has a process in place that ensures that cosmetic or personal care product is safe before it touches your body. But the reality is that cosmetics manufacturers don’t have to obtain premarket approval before selling most new products — and whether or not they report adverse events related to those items is pretty much up to them. Some in the industry think it’s time for this to change. [More]
As Cost Of Opioid Epidemic Rises, One City May Consider Not Reviving Addicts Who Repeatedly Overdose
By 6.26.17
With opioid painkiller and heroin use exploding to the point where police officers, firefighters, and even librarians are carrying (and using) Narcan, an emergency treatment that can revive someone who has overdosed. While the drug is saving lives, it’s not free, and one Ohio city is being asked to consider whether it has to use Narcan on people who repeatedly overdose. [More]
Teen Falls From Six Flags Ride, Other Park Guests Catch Her
By 6.26.17
Several guests at a Six Flags amusement park in New York worked together over the weekend to catch a teen dangling from a ride, video from the tense situation shows. [More]
Driver Ignores Safety Measures, Gets His Minivan Stuck In Drawbridge Gap
By 6.23.17
When you see a brightly colored, reflective traffic arm blocking the path of your car, you probably assume it’s down for a good reason — to keep you and your vehicle safe from whatever is going on beyond it. But one driver apparently saw that precautionary measure as an optional kind of thing, and ended up with his minivan stuck in the gap of a drawbridge. [More]
NASA: Goop’s ‘Healing Stickers’ Are An Expensive “Load Of BS”
By 6.23.17
Gwyneth Paltrow’s “modern lifestyle brand” Goop offers customers a range of tips, tricks, and products to make their lives better and healthier — some which are polarizing or just plain weird. For instance, the Goop website sold “healing” stickers that it claimed were made from material designed for NASA space suits. But the folks at NASA say that’s all a bunch of overpriced hooey. [More]
