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Consumer News & Alerts

September 17, 2007

By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.com

TOXINS FOUND IN PET TOYS SOLD AT WAL-MART
First it was toxic dog food from China, then toys contaminated with lead. Next up: pet toys contaminated with lead and other heavy metals. Tests ordered by ConsumerAffairs.com found that two Chinese-made toys for pets sold at Wal-Mart stores contain elevated levels of lead, chromium, and cadmium. Two veterinarians, however, said the levels of toxic metals found in the toys do not pose a health risk to dogs or cats. Whether the toys are a hazard to children and adults who handle them isn't clear.

One of the dog toys -- a latex one that looks like a green monster -- tested positive for what the lab’s toxicologist said are high levels of lead and the cancer-producing agent chromium. A cloth catnip toy also tested positive for “a tremendous amount” of the toxic metal cadmium, the lab said. Wal-Mart had no comment. You'd think there'd be a federal agency keeping an eye on such things, but as Lisa Wade McCormick repots, it's not too clear just which agency that might be.

Senate Grills Consumer Safety Potentates
Congress is finally taking note of consumer safety problems. A Senate committee raked acting consumer safety chief Nancy Nord over the coals. Nord cited her agency's out-of-date facilities, low budget, and lack of inspectors. Meanwhile, Joe Enoch reports that Arkansas Democrat Mark Pryor has introduced legislation that would put some teeth back into consumer protection and give the states more authority to go after troublemakers.

• Disney, Toys 'R' Us Get the Message Perhaps noting the regulatory hammer about to drop, both Disney and Toys R' Us say they will conduct their own tests of toys for product defects and safety hazards.

• Feds' Import Safety Efforts Flawed, Report Says Interagency task force faults feds for poor coordination.

• Study: U.S. Companies to Blame for Dangerous Toys Defective design, lax oversight cause most safety problems, study finds.

RECENT RECALLS

ONLINE CAMERA STORES: A CLOSER LOOK
If you're a shutterbug who wants the latest and greatest in camera technology, shopping online may seem like a great deal--but be careful! Many Internet vendors will pump their wares up with false five-star reviews or trap you in a bait-and-switch swindle. Our David Wood turns his electric eye on the best ways to shop for cameras online, including what to look for in a good or bad store, tricks and traps to avoid, and review sites that can help you see the big picture.

FEDS "AWARE OF" PRIUS ACCELERATION PROBLEMS
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it's "aware of" the continuing reports of runaway acceleration problems with the Toyota Prius, but so far no one's doing much to address the concerns of frightened Prius owners. Joe Benton takes another look at the potentially deadly consequences of runaway Priuses.

More automotive news ...

• U.S. and China Sign Auto Safety Pledge Safety agencies say they'll open new communication pathways.

• Public Citizen Claims Cheney Engineered Mileage Standards Email records show Cheney's influence, group charges.

• Chrysler Plans Hybrid Unit New CEO Nardelli pledges to move fast to develop hybrid Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler vehicles.

• Lithium Ion Batteries to Power Mercedes Luxury Hybrid Mercedes confident the batteries will be safe.

HACKERS STEAL INFORMATION ON 6.3 MILLION AMERITRADE CUSTOMERS
Online discount broker Ameritrade has had data breach gaffes before, but nothing like this--the company disclosed that hackers gained access to a company database that contained the personal information of 6.3 million clients, nearly the entire customer base of the company. The breach was only discovered over the course of an investigation into why Ameritrade customers were receiving spam e-mails touting pump-and-dump stock scams, a problem that has apparently been going on for months.

BLUE HIPPO IS SO BLUE
The Baltimore-based computer layaway firm Blue Hippo makes its money by collecting layaway payments for computers that turn out to be pretty ordinary -- or, even worse, sometimes don't turn up at all. The company has held back angry consumers by pointing to an arbitration clause in its agreement but a federal judge has ruled the clause is illegal, thus opening the door for class action suits against the company.

More scams & outrages ...

• Movieland Defendants Settle FTC Charges Pop-ups sought payment, claiming consumers had used up their 'free trial'.

• Kevin Trudeau ... Again 'Natural Cures' weight-loss book misleads consumers, FTC charges.

• Deceptive Mortgage Ads Claims about 'incredibly low rates and payments' are often false.

• Prescription Labels Most labels emphasize brands over information.

• Xbox Phishing Email claims to be about changes in the target's account.

• Quechup Spam Social network hijacks user accounts to send unauthorized invites.

TERMINATING THE TERMINATORS
Capitol Hill chiropractors must be busy these days. Congress and the federal agencies that have rolled over for business interests while snarling at consumers are doing such abrupt about-faces we fear for their spinal cords. In the latest turnabout, the FCC and Congress are grousing about the early termination fees that cell phone and cable providers use to nail their customers' feet to the floor.

• Verizon Wireless Challenges FCC Telecom giant opposes "open access" conditions supported by Google.

AVANDIA LINKIED TO HEART ATTACK RISK
Researchers question whether the popular diabetes drug should remain on the market, given evidence that it carries a higher risk of heart attack than other drugs. If you're a diabetes patient taking Avandia, our Dr. Henry Fishman advises you have a prompt talk with your physician.

In other health news ...

• Cancer Painkiller Can Be Fatal Fentora linked to several deaths among cancer patients.

• Acetaminophen: Widely Used but Dangerous Commonly known as Tylenol, overdoses can be toxic to the liver.

• Study Finds Little Short-Term Cell Phone Health Risk More research needed to measure long-term effects, however.

• Virus Probably Behind Honey Bee Mystery Pesticides, cell phones are exonerated, at least for now.

• Kids Getting Too Much Sodium Popular snacks contain way too much salt, set kids up for hypertension.

• Judge Overturns New York Menu Rule -- Or Does He? Both sides claim victory in court's decision over calorie postings.

• FDA Approves Evista For Reducing Breast Cancer Risk New option for women at high risk of breast cancer.

• Study Confirms Benefits of Smaller Breast Reductions Insurers generally consider the procedure to be cosmetic.

• Chocolate 'Addiction' -- Is It Real? Researcher concludes chocolate may be an indulgence, but not an addiction.

• Mediterranean Diet May Extend Alzheimer’s Patients’ Lives Earlier study finds Mediterranean diet lowers risk of developing Alzheimer's.

PASSPORT SNARL OVER?
The State Department claims it has caught up with the huge backlog of passport applications that disrupted summer travel plans for thousands of families this year. Passport offices had been swamped with millions of applications after the imposition of new rules requiring all Americans arriving in the U.S. by air to produce valid passports.

More travel news ...

• New Rules on Private Planes DHS Chief Chertoff: New rules plug a large loophole.

• Sloppy, Shirtless Tourists Hostesses patrol the sidewalks and canals, looking for litterers.

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