What does the term “autopilot” mean to you? For many people, it applies to a machine that can steer itself with minimal human intervention, but for electric carmaker Tesla it’s a marketing term to describe a feature that is decidedly not hands-off — and which consumer safety advocates believe can cause potentially dangerous confusion.
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Quality & Safety
Pressure Mounts For Tesla To Stop Using The Term “Autopilot”
By 11.29.16
L.L. Bean’s Duck Boots Still All The Rage, Continue To Be Backordered
By 11.28.16
Last year, L.L. Bean hired 100 additional workers to ramp up production of their iconic, unglamorous USA-made duck boots. Nonetheless, the popular footwear was quickly put on backorder. Now, the long-time retailer is once again putting some styles on backorder, despite increasing production, hiring additional employees, and making plans for a larger facility. [More]
Everyone Probably Already Ate Recalled Sandwiches And Veggie Trays Made With Potentially Contaminated Hummus
By 11.28.16
You might remember that earlier this month, Sabra Dipping Co. announced that there was possible Listeria contamination in its hummus, and recalled a variety of sizes and flavors. That hummus was also used in commercial products, which included vegetable trays, sandwiches, and snack boxes. [More]
Court Overturns Federal Ban On Potentially Dangerous, High-Power Magnet Toys, Gadgets
By 11.23.16
Not that long ago, lots of us were going out on Black Friday weekend and buying Buckyballs or some other stocking stuffer that used tiny high-powered magnetic spheres. Then we learned that these doodads can do an awful lot of damage if swallowed. Since 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been recalling these products and filing lawsuits against the companies that continue to make these potentially dangerous items. The CPSC even created a new safety standard that effectively bans the remaining magnetic products, but this week a federal appeals court overturned that rule. [More]
Kia Recalls 72K Sportages Over “Thermal Events” — A Snazzy Way Of Saying “Fire”
By 11.23.16 — Updated: 11.27.16
Blaze, inferno, and conflagration are all words that can be use interchangeably with “fire.” But, as referenced in Kia’s latest recall, the carmaker has its own term to describe the incident you never want to happen to your vehicle — “thermal event.” [More]
Safety Regulators Hope A “Driver Mode” On Phones Would Curb Distracted Driving
By 11.23.16
Whether it’s Tweeting, SnapChatting, playing Pokémon Go, or just sending a text while on the road, it’s clear that smartphones present a potentially deadly distraction for drivers. Most states have banned or restricted texting while driving, but these problems persist. Now federal safety regulators are proposing new guidelines to curb distracted driving, including asking phone manufacturers to include a “Driver Mode” that would limit the use of a smartphone while behind the wheel. [More]
“World’s Largest Waterslide” To Be Torn Down After 10-Year-Old’s Death
By 11.23.16
Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, KS, will no longer be home to the “world’s largest waterslide.” Three months after a 10-year-old boy died on the ride, officials with the park say they will tear down and replace the main attraction — The Verrückt. [More]
Toyota Recalling 744,000 Sienna Minivans Because Doors Can Open While Driving
By 11.22.16
Unless you have little regard for your personal safety or the safety of those in your vehicle, you generally want the doors on your minivan to remain closed while it’s in operation. But Toyota says that a defect in its Sienna minivan can result in the doors opening on their own. [More]
This Holiday, Make Sure You Don’t Give Kids The Gift Of Exploding Batteries Or Lead Poisoning
By 11.22.16
‘Tis the season for millions of American consumers and families to start hitting stores and start helping “Santa” along with some toy distribution efforts. But while folks are out shopping to stuff stockings, consumer advocates warn: stay clear of potentially deadly recalled toys — and know what to do if you end up with any. [More]
Have You Started Defrosting Your Turkey Yet? Don’t Wait Too Long
By 11.22.16
In a little more than 48 hours, many of us will be sitting down to a Thanksgiving meal that probably includes a turkey. Some of us will have to wait longer or just eat something else because the person responsible for said turkey didn’t take it out of the freezer until Thursday morning. [More]
Apple Intentionally Keeps Verizon iPhone 7 From Reaching Max Speed, To Match AT&T
By 11.21.16 — Updated: 11.23.16
You would think an iPhone 7 is an iPhone 7, right? Apple’s famous for making one consistent device that’s the same inside, and works the same way, from carrier to carrier. So it’s a little surprising that one carrier’s version of the phone actually could work faster than another’s… and even more surprising that Apple’s set it up not to perform as well as it can. [More]
‘Don’t Wash Your Turkey’ & 4 Other USDA Tips To Avoid Making Your Family Sick This Thanksgiving
By 11.21.16
If you’re preparing a holiday feast for this Thursday, maybe you’ve already began some preparatory work beyond starting to defrost the turkey. If you want to keep your guests more safe from foodborne illnesses, here are some useful tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on everything from cleaning the exterior of your turkey to keeping your dinner safe from wild animals. If you don’t want to keep your guests safe, they can’t help you. [More]
After Note 7 Debacle, Samsung Tells Galaxy S7 Users Phone Is Perfectly Safe
By 11.21.16
After Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 exploding smartphones debacle, the company is more than ready to move on, and is hoping it can convince customers its other phones — like its flagship Galaxy S7 — won’t explode or set fire to your bedroom. [More]
Toys “R” Us Pulls Tonka Riding Truck After One Catches Fire, Explodes, In Real Truck
By 11.21.16
If your Black Friday shopping list included purchasing a rideable Tonka Mighty Wheels Ride-On dump truck from Toy “R” Us, you’ll need to revisit your game plan. The toy retailer announced that it has pulled the truck after a couple says it exploded in the back of their own life-sized pickup truck over the weekend. [More]
Apple Admits Some iPhone 6S Batteries Are Busted, Will Fix For Free
By 11.21.16
The entire purpose of a smartphone is to be able to go online, message, or call anyone from just about anywhere, so if the battery ceases working you’ve got little more than an expensive fashion accessory. That’s why Apple has agreed to repair some iPhone 6S devices that have a bad habit of suddenly turning themselves off. [More]
Sabra Recalls Hummus Over Listeria For Second Time In Two Years
By 11.21.16
What’s your favorite flavor of hummus — is it garlic? Maybe roasted red pepper? How about Listeria monocytogenes? The bacteria might not be a popular flavor, but for the second time in less than two years*, Sabra Dipping Co. is recalling some of its products over concerns they may be contaminated with the pathogen.” [More]
Court: Lawsuit Failed To Show That Purina’s Beneful Sickened Thousands Of Dogs
By 11.18.16
After determining that he could not accept the testimony of an expert witness, a federal court judge has handed a legal victory to Nestle Purina PetCare in a class action lawsuit that claimed the company’s Beneful brand dog food made thousands of dogs ill. [More]
Ice Cream Plant Linked To Listeria Contamination Coincidentally Shuts Down
By 11.18.16
Does the shutdown of a gourmet ice cream company, Dr. Bob’s Handcrafted Ice Cream, have anything to do with the recall of ice cream produced in its facility for possible Listeria contamination? The company’s owner told a local news outlet that it closed because of “business complications.” [More]
