Planning to get a workout in this afternoon? You might want to rethink using those stretchy resistance bands: More than 207,000 pieces of the workout equipment sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods have been recalled as they pose an injury risk. [More]
Quality & Safety
Sorry, Colorado — New Law Means No More Weed Gummy Bears
By 9.27.17
If Maureen Dowd ever decides to go back to Colorado and give weed edibles another chance, she may have more success figuring out how strong that chocolate bar is — but she also won’t be able to buy any marijuana gummy bears: New state laws going into effect Oct. 1 require more prominent potency labels on edibles, as well as prohibiting certain shapes that could be mistaken for regular candy treats. [More]
Which Chain Restaurants Are Still Failing At Reducing The Use Of Antibiotics?
By 9.27.17
Feeling pressure from customers, scientists, doctors, and public health advocates, a growing number of fast food and fast-casual restaurant chains are now taking steps to eliminate at least some medically unnecessary antibiotics from the animals they source for their meat. At the same time, nearly all of these positive changes have only focused thus far on curbing antibiotic overuse in chickens, and nearly half of the industry’s biggest players still have no plan in place to deal with this issue at all. [More]
Saber Gas Grills Recalled Over Potential Flame Bursts
By 9.26.17
When you’re cooking with a gas grill, it’s very important to be able to control the flow of the gas — too much, and there may be fiery consequences. That’s why Saber Grills is recalling more than a dozen models of its gas grills that could have a problem regulating gas pressure. [More]
28,000 Jogging Strollers Recalled Because Kids Could Fall Out
By 9.25.17
Strollers can be a convenient way to get a child from point A to point B. But for some 28,000 recently recalled jogging strollers it isn’t quite that easy, as the front wheel of the stroller could break, possibly allowing a child to fall out. [More]
FDA Cracking Down On “Rogue Online Pharmacies” Accused Of Illegally Selling Prescription Drugs
By 9.25.17
While you may be tempted to skip the pharmacy and just order prescription drugs online, it could be very dangerous to use any unapproved medications from illicit online pharmacies. That’s why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — along with its international enforcement superfriends — is taking action against hundreds of sites accused of selling prescription drugs illegally online. [More]
Mazda Recalls 60,000 Sedans Over Airbag, Steering Issues
By 9.22.17
Airbags can save lives in the event of a crash, but in order to do so, they have to work properly. That’s apparently not the case for some 60,000 Mazda vehicles. [More]
CPSC Inches Closer To Possible Ban On New And Potentially Dangerous Flame Retardants
By 9.21.17 — Updated: 9.22.17
Flame retardants in our furniture, clothing, and electronics seem like a positive thing, right? Generally, no one wants their home or their clothes — or their kids’ clothes — to catch fire. Yet the Consumer Product Safety Commission had safety in mind when it voted yesterday to start rulemaking that could outlaw a new type of flame retardants from use on certain products. [More]
VW Drivers Claim Company Didn’t Warn Them That Sunroofs May Spontaneously Explode
By 9.21.17
You’re cruising happily down the highway with the sun streaming through your sunroof when suddenly, there’s a loud noise and glass is exploding everywhere. Sounds scary, right? That’s what Volkswagen owners say in a new lawsuit accusing the company of failing to warn them that this could possibly happen in a slew of vehicles. [More]
UPDATE: Company Apologizes To Customer Who Found Employee ID Badge In Her Jerky
By 9.21.17
Earlier this week, we brought you the tale of a Consumerist reader who was stymied by the presence of what appeared to be an employee ID badge in a bag of beef jerky she’d purchased. After our story ran, the company reached out to our reader with apologies for her “very negative experience” and something of an explanation about what happened. [More]
Death Wish Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Recalled Over Botulism Risk
By 9.21.17
There’s strong coffee, and then there’s really strong coffee. If you were planning to drink a can the world’s purported strongest coffee, you might want to think again: Death Wish Coffee has issued the recall of certain cans of its nitro cold brew after discovering they could contain a deadly toxin. [More]
Cases Of KIND Bars Recalled For Lack Of Walnut Declaration
By 9.20.17
Tree nuts like walnuts can trigger life-threatening allergies, and they’re one of the food items that must be declared on the outside of the food package. Cases of KIND chocolate and nut bars had that declaration on each bar, but the company is now notifying customers that the exterior cartons lacked the declaration.
Judge Gives D-Link Partial Win In FTC Case Over Vulnerable Devices
By 9.20.17
Back in January, the Federal Trade Commission filed a case against D-Link, a company that makes networking equipment and connected-home devices. It alleged that D-Link deceptively marketed its products as advanced and safe when they were vulnerable to attacks that range from stealing personal information to peeping through security cameras. This week, a judge dismissed three of the counts from the FTC’s case, noting that the agency didn’t present any consumers who were actually harmed. [More]
Lyft, Budweiser Partnering Up Again To Fight Drunk Driving With Free Rides
By 9.20.17
Just like last year, Lyft and Budweiser are teaming up to offer drinkers a safer option for getting home than climbing behind the wheel of their car: They’ll be handing out 150,000 round-trip rides in some states through the end of the year. [More]
Hey Kids, Now Your Parents Have to Take Driver’s Ed, Too
By 9.20.17
The driver’s license: Perhaps nothing represents teen freedom more than that document saying you can go wherever you want without having your parents or someone else drive you there. But times have changed from the days when driving autonomy was granted to any 16-year-old who could pass the DMV’s tests. Now, some states are requiring parents to take a form of driver’s education alongside their teens. [More]
Nearly 500K Dodge Ram Trucks Recalled Over Fire Risk
By 9.20.17
Fiat Chrysler has recalled nearly half a million large trucks after reports from customers revealed the vehicles could pose a fire risk. [More]
How Did This ID Badge End Up In My Jerky?
By 9.20.17 — Updated: 9.21.17
UPDATE Sept. 21: After we published Kim’s story, Oberto reached out to her to apologize for the “negative experience,” and confirmed that the object in question is, in fact, an employee ID badge. Read the entire update here. [More]
Instagram Now Lets You Pick Who Can Comment On Your Posts
For the better part of the last year, Instagram has introduced new tools intended to keep the social media platform a “safe and positive place for self-expression” by allowing users to filter out unwanted or offensive comments. Now, the photo sharing site is launching another initiative letting users pick just who can comment on their posts in the first place. [More]