Current Events in June 2014

Hot Mama’s Foods is recalling 304 containers (approximately 114 pounds) of Trader Joe’s Egg White Salad with Chives packaged in 6-ounce plastic containers .

The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported.

The recalled product was distributed to Trader Joe’s grocery stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The recall applies to product in a 6-ounce, plastic container with UPC # 00666695 and a SELL BY Date of JUN 10, 2014, stamped on the edge of the lid.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled product are urged not to eat it, but to dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with any questions may call toll free (877) 877-907-7508 from 8:00A.M. to 8:00P.M. CDT, 7 days a week.

Chrysler Group is recalling 4,141 model year 2013-2014 Fiat 500e Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) manufactured September 24, 2012, through April 4, 2014.

The affected vehicles have cooling plates for the Power Inverter Module (PIM) that may leak coolant into areas of the high voltage circuitry, resulting a short circuit that could cause the related service fuse to blow.

If the service fuse blows, the vehicle would have a loss of propulsion while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PIM, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2014.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P23.

President Obama has signed an executive order that could provide some relief for young consumers struggling under heavy federal student loan debt.

Obama's order, signed today, directs the Secretary of Education to draw up new regulations that would allow an additional nearly 5 million federal direct student loan borrowers the opportunity to cap their student loan payments at 10% of their income.

It won't affect students with private loans.

The Presidential action also outlines a series of new executive actions aimed at supporting federal student loan borrowers, especially vulnerable borrowers who may be at greater risk of defaulting on their loans.

The White House says before contacting their loan servicer to discuss repayment plans, borrowers can use this Repayment Estimator to get an early look at which plans they may be eligible for and see estimates of monthly and overall payments.

Proposed legislation

There is growing concern about the toll rising student loan debt is taking on the economy. Last month Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced legislation to allow those with all types of outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates currently offered to new borrowers.

Student loan debt is the second highest form of consumer debt, now at a staggering $1.2 trillion, and Warren says it is weighing on the economy - stopping young people and families from buying homes, buying cars and starting businesses.

In addition to trying to alleviate the student loan debt burden, government and public policy organizations are focusing on the reasons behind the huge growth in debt. The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) says it has found multiple reasons, including a big increase in the number of people going to college and the fact that tuitions are rising.

Role of for-profit colleges

But it also points to the role of for-profit colleges, which depend in large part on students getting access to federal loans and grants. CRL says for-profit schools collected $32 billion in federal loans and Pell grants from 2009 to 2010. It says for-profit colleges absorb around 25% of federal student aid.

“Nearly half of borrowers who default on federal student loans in the first few years of repayment attended for-profit colleges, even though these institutions only enroll 12% of all students,” CRL says on its website. “Many for-profit colleges are also known to engage in deceptive tactics to enroll students.”

Lawsuits

A suit filed in 2011 accuses Education Management Corporation, which operates a number of Art Institutes in the U.S. and is 41% owned by the investment bank Goldman Sachs, of fraudulently collecting $11 billion in federal aid.

The suit, filed by the U.S. Justice Department and several states, is similar to ones filed by whistle blowers formerly employed at various Art Institutes. Among the whistle blower claims – that school officials consistently paid recruiters by how many students they enrolled, in violation of federal law.

No resolution yet

At last report the litigation is pending. Education Management was back in court last year in an attempt to dismiss a suit by Jason Sobek, a former associate director of admissions who claims the company made false claims about its eligibility to receive federal aid. The motion to dismiss the suit was denied.

Education Management isn't the only for-profit education company having to defend itself in court. In February the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued ITT Educational Services, Inc., accusing it of predatory student lending.

The CFPB claims that ITT exploited its students and encouraged them to take out high-cost private student loans with a high probability of ending in default. The CFPB is seeking restitution for victims, a civil fine, and an injunction against the company.  

Last week's report by the Labor Department that the economy added 217,000 new jobs in May was celebrated in some circles as a milestone in an improving economy. As of May the economy had finally replaced all the jobs lost in the Great Recession.

But the flip side of that is this stark reminder: that gets the economy back to 2007 employment levels. That means everyone who has entered the workforce over the last six and a half years can't find a job.

Not all economists, it turns out, are celebrating.

“Employment is finally higher than before the recession, but don't cheer too loudly,” said Steven C. Kyle, an expert in macroeconomics and government policy and an economics professor at Cornell’s Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. “Though we continue to register gains we have yet to catch up with population growth. That's why unemployment is still at 6.3 percent and labor-force participation is distinctly lower than in 2008.

Millions of people have simply dropped out of the labor force since 2007. A record number of people are now on disability. While a lot of people have started their own businesses – a hopeful trend – many others have simply given up looking for a job and moved back in with their parents.

Change from the past

Kyle says this is markedly different than what has happened after past recessions.

“Rather than having a ‘bounceback’ as is often the case after a recession, we continue to have more of a ‘trudgeback’ – a long, slow slog which someday will result in unemployment rates that are truly worth a cheer,” he said.

Kyle believes Congress is missing an opportunity to spur the economy by appropriating funds to rebuild aging infrastructure, a move that would create construction jobs. He says the fact that interest rates are near historic lows make it an opportune time to do it.

“Somehow, waiting for interest rates to rise before investing in infrastructure makes more sense to Congress than doing it now,” Kyle said. “That makes no sense to most economists, who would never wait for higher interest rates to, say, refinance their own houses. But then neither would Congressmen. What are they thinking about?”

Disconnect

Indeed there seems to be a growing disconnect between decision makers and ordinary consumers who, even if they have a job are struggling to make ends meet. Our story last week about the growing economic pressures on consumers brought a number of poignant responses from readers.

Denise, a single mom, wrote that as far as her life is concerned, the recession never ended.

“I pay over 50% of my income to rent alone,” she wrote in a comment on our story. “As a single mom of just 1, it makes it really difficult to afford anything 'extra,' after just paying basic living expenses. Daycare bankrupts me and continues to do so every time my child is off from school for the summer - just so I can work.”

Thomas, another reader, commented that he is one of the millions of Americans caught between stagnant wages and rising prices.

“I cannot afford to buy anything new,” Thomas wrote. “It is a struggle – I am still paying for winter heat. If I save by getting the bill reduced the power company raises the rates because they are not making enough money to pay dividends to stock holders. Cannot afford gas to drive and no money to spend if I get there. Everyone acts like this is a surprise. It's been going this way for years.”

Businesses doing fine with fewer people

This may be an over simplification, but one reason so many people find themselves on the margin is a structural change in the economy since 2008. When the financial crisis hit large businesses were quick to adapt to the dramatic drop in demand.

They downsized and became profitable again with fewer people. That's one reason Wall Street has done so well in the last four years – corporations are profitable.

The people who used to work for them, unfortunately, are not. And whether Wall Street likes it or not, the economy needs consumers with money, and who aren't afraid to spend it, to keep moving higher.

In that light the Los Angeles Times adds some sobering perspective to May's seemingly rosy jobs report. Since January 2008, the economy has added 2.86 temporary jobs, a 16% increase. Manufacturing jobs have declined by 11.7% while construction jobs are down by 20%.

There's a lot of froth around streaming music services lately, what with Spotify, Pandora, Beats and others too numerous to curate all competing for not just your time but also your $10 or so per month.

Apple, you'll recall, is paying $3 billion to acquire Beats Electronics, which includes the streaming service that until recently was known as MOG. Not wanting to be left behind, Google is now said to be pawing the ground around Songza, a music streamer that keys its selections to what you're doing at the moment, according to a New York Post report.

We checked it out late this morning and found that with Songza, we could choose music for working in an office, enjoying the morning, and keeping calm and mellow, among others -- all of these being, presumably, mutually exclusive. 

This, we're told, is a notch above the way the other guys do it. They basically build playlists around a few of your favorite artists. This works OK initially, although over time it can result in some fairly esoteric selections. 

Songza, which claims about 5.5 million users, is the only music streamer that tailors its selections to what you're doing, as far as we know. Since Google, along with the NSA, presumably already knows what you're doing, what could be more natural than for it to sweep up Songza as an addition to its Google Play Music All Access, which apparently was created on the day the brand-name manager called in sick?

Where is Amazon?

Google and Apple are, of course, bitter enemies these days, having being close compatriots just a few years ago. Both, presumably, would see Amazon as a looming threat to just about all of their businesses. And it just so happens that Amazon already owns a piece of Songza, which could add some intrigue to what would otherwise be a ho-hum Monday morning business story.

Amazon doesn't currently have a streaming music service but it does sell CDs, DVDs and vinyl recordings and it operates an online music player that will play all the music you buy from Amazon as well as CDs that you upload.

It wouldn't be much of a stretch to imagine Amazon becoming an active player if a Songza bidding battle breaks out.

And about that name -- Songza? Yes, it does have a faintly Italianate ring and yes, the company is based in Long Island City, N.Y., long known as the slice of Queens where taxis go to sleep, but beyond that, we're not speculating.  

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue into adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and over-activity.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) the disorder can vary, causing some with it to be impulsive while others are mostly inattentive. Doctors are not sure what causes ADHD, although many studies suggest that genes play a large role.

A new study by neuroscientists at the Mayo Clinic in Florida and at Aarhus University in Denmark believe a contributing factor is a miswiring of neurons in the brain's reward system.

In their research they found a receptor system that ensures the brain neurons are wired correctly. They also found that cutting that system causes damage that results in typical ADHD symptoms.

Brain miswiring

“A number of studies have reported that ADHD patients commonly exhibit miswiring in this brain area, accompanied by altered dopaminergic function,” said Dr. Anders Nykjaer, the study's lead investigator. “We may now have an explanation as to why ADHD risk genes have been linked to regulation of neuronal growth.”

Nykjaer and his team say they are working on a therapy that prevents damage to this key brain circuit. It could be a big step since NIH says currently available treatments focus on symptoms and improving functioning. Treatments include medication, various types of psychotherapy, education or training, or a combination of treatments.

Other studies over the years have suggested other causes. Some researchers have found a link between smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy.

Others have linked the disorder to brain injuries. Some have even linked the severity of ADHD symptoms to refined sugar, though NIH notes more research discounts that theory than supports it.

Over-medication concerns

When it comes to treating ADHD with drugs, some doctors are very concerned when the patient is a very young child. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 10,000 U.S. toddlers receive medication for ADHD symptoms.

"It does not surprise me that some children are being given medicine as the easy way out but that doesn't mean it's the right way to do it," said Dr. Max Wiznitzer, a pediatric neurologist at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio.

But Wiznitzer doesn't rule out drug therapy either. He says the drugs Ritalin and Adderall have proven effective, but in patients who are at least 3 years-old.

"It's almost unheard of to give ADHD medication to a 2-year-old," Wiznitzer said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued no guidelines for ADHD in children under the age of 4 but Wiznitzer says the Preschool ADHM Treatment Study, funded by the U.S. government, looked at ADHD in children as young as 4.

Last resort

He says, while medication for toddlers shouldn't be ruled out, it should only be a last resort. And that means making certain that the symptoms are really stemming from the disorder and not something else.

“We've made sure they (the patients) do have ADHD features, that their behavior is occurring in multiple settings, that it's not due to poor parenting, it's not due to poor teaching, it's not some other medical condition," Wiznitzer said.

Depression is rather common among seniors and so, unfortunately, is Alzheimer's disease. And now researchers say they have found a link between the two.

In fact, they say, late-life depression could become a major risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s faster than those who aren't depressed, according to research unveiled at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s 2014 Annual Meeting.

Depression has been previously proven to have its own neurodegenerative effects on the brain, but researchers say they have now found an undeniable connection between beta-amyloid in depressed elderly patients with cognitive deficits and advancement to Alzheimer’s disease. They were able to demonstrate this using molecular imaging data from a global dementia imaging database.

“Our results clearly indicate that mild cognitively impaired subjects with depressive symptoms suffer from elevated amyloid levels when compared with non-depressed individuals,” said the study’s principal scientist, Axel Rominger, MD, from the department of nuclear medicine at the University of Munich in Germany. “The combination of elevated amyloid levels and coexisting depressive symptoms constitute a patient population with a high risk for faster progression to Alzheimer’s disease.”

The finding could help patients make necessary lifestyle changes in an attempt to head off the deadly disease. 

“Therapeutic options for Alzheimer’s disease are still limited and therefore the identification and understanding of contributing risk factors that influence the disease are crucial in ongoing research as they offer the possibilities for future medical intervention,” said co-author and fellow researcher Matthias Brendel. 

Study details

The study involved 371 patients with mild cognitive impairment who underwent PET imaging with the radiotracer F-18 florbetapir and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) chosen retrospectively from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database, which includes data from at least 55 research centers across the U.S. and Canada now readily available to more than 2,500 researchers worldwide.

Results showed that mild cognitive impaired patients with depressive symptoms had higher amyloid deposition than non-depressed controls as indicated by the binding of the radiotracer to amyloid particularly in the frontal cortex and the anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus of the brain, both involved in mood disorders such as depression.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia. It is estimated that 44.4 million people are living with dementia worldwide. This number is expected to increase to approximately 75.6 million in 2030 and 135.5 million in 2050, according to 2013 data from the Alzheimer’s Disease International.

“Never open an unsolicited file or download an unsolicited attachment.”

In the world of online security, that statement is the equivalent of “Look both ways before going out into traffic” — sounds self-evident, yet it needs to be repeated because rarely a day goes by without someone ignoring (or forgetting) that advice and coming to a bad end as a result.

Consider the latest scam alert issued by the Better Business Bureau: somebody is sending out emails made to look like “shipping notifications” from the U.S. Postal Service.

Supposedly, they were unable to deliver a package to you, so you should download the attached “confirmation form” and take it to your nearest post office.

Of course, if you click on the link to download the form, you'll actually infect your computer with a nasty virus. The BBB ended its scam alert with five pieces of advice, all of which we've discussed during previous anti-scam pieces:

Don't believe what you see. Scammers make emails appear to come from a reputable source. Just because it looks like an "@usps.com" address does not mean it's safe.

Be wary of unexpected emails that contain links or attachments. As always, do not click on links or open the files in unfamiliar emails.

Beware of pop-ups. Some pop-ups are designed to look like they've originated from your computer. If you see a pop-up that looks like an anti-virus software but warns of a problem that needs to be fixed with an extreme level of urgency, it may be a scam.

Watch for poor grammar and spelling. Scam emails often are riddled with typos.

Immediate action is necessary. Scam emails try to get you to act before you think by creating a sense of urgency. Don't fall for it.  

Be original

Another important rule to remember is this: seek out your own contact information. When you get such an email, even if you clearly recognize typos and other indications of possible scamminess, you might not be able to blithely dismiss it as a fraud.

After all (the nagging worrywart part of your mind might argue), the post office's losing a package or not delivering it to a clearly labeled address happens all the time. As for the no-typos rule — well, it's always possible that someone with poor writing skills nonetheless got stuck with email duty today, right?

So if you can't bring yourself to ignore that potentially scammy warning message, you don't have to. Go ahead and ask the post office if they have a package for you — but do this independently, after having done your own research to find a phone number or email address or some other legitimate USPS contact information.

The seek-your-own-information rule applies to every other threatening email, phone call or other message you might get: this letter, allegedly from the IRS, says you owe extra taxes? Then ignore the “contact information” in that letter, and find the IRS' phone number yourself.

That email, allegedly from Netflix, warns of massive problems with your Netflix account? Ignore the phone number and email address it offers you, and look for the Netflix customer-service information yourself.

And never trust anyone who deliberately tries pushing your panic button or otherwise demands “immediate action” as the BBB warned about — legitimate authorities collecting legitimate debts have no need to do that.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is putting the finishing touches on a rule that sets standards for manufacturers of infant formula.

In light of comments received after the interim rule published last February, the final rule provides some modifications and clarifications, and sets a date of September 8, 2014, for manufacturer compliance.

Formula standards

Under the final rule, standards include:

• Current good manufacturing practices specifically designed for infant formula -- including required testing for the harmful pathogens (disease-causing bacteria) Salmonella and Cronobacter.
• A requirement that manufacturers demonstrate that the infant formulas they produce support normal physical growth.
• A requirement that infant formulas be tested for nutrient content in the final product stage, before entering the market, and at the end of the products’ shelf life.

“FDA sets high quality standards for the safety and nutritional quality of infant formulas during this critical time of development,” says Stephen Ostroff, M.D., FDA’s acting chief scientist.

The final rule applies only to infant formulas intended for use by healthy infants without unusual medical or dietary problems. The agency notes that many companies now manufacturing infant formula for the U.S. market have been producing safe products and have voluntarily applied many of the current good manufacturing practices and quality control procedures included in the final rule.

But this rule will set in place federally enforceable requirements for the safety and quality of infant formula.

FDA does not approve infant formulas before they can be marketed. However, all formulas marketed in the U.S. must meet federal nutrient requirements, which are not changed by the new rule. Infant formula manufacturers are required to register with FDA and provide the agency with a notification prior to marketing a new formula.

FDA conducts yearly inspections of all facilities that manufacture infant formula and collects and analyzes product samples. FDA also inspects new facilities. If FDA determines that an infant formula presents a risk to human health, the manufacturer of the formula must conduct a recall.

Products on the market

While breastfeeding is strongly recommended and many mothers hope to breastfeed their infants, most infants in the U.S. rely on infant formula for some portion of their nutrition. An estimated 1 million infants in the United States are fed formula from birth, and by the time they are 3 months old, about 2.7 million rely on formula for at least part of their nutrition.

Infant formula comes in three forms:

• Powder -- the least expensive of the infant formulas. It must be mixed with water before feeding.
• Liquid concentrate -- must be mixed with an equal amount of water.
• Ready-to-feed -- the most expensive form of formula that requires no mixing.

The protein source varies among different types of infant formula.

FDA’s nutrient specifications for infant formulas are set at levels to meet the nutritional needs of infants. In addition, formula manufacturers set nutrient levels that are generally above the FDA minimum requirements. Thus, babies fed infant formulas do not need additional nutrients unless they are fed a low-iron formula.

The infant formulas currently available in the United States are either “iron-fortified”—with approximately 12 milligrams of iron per liter—or “low iron”—with approximately 2 milligrams of iron per liter. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that formula-fed infants receive an iron-fortified formula as a way of reducing the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia.

Safety issues

Here are some simple steps caregivers can take to make sure their formula is safe:

• Formula preparation. In most cases, it’s safe to mix formula using ordinary cold tap water that’s boiled for one minute and cooled. Formula made with hot water needs to be cooled quickly to body temperature -- about 98 degrees Fahrenheit -- if it is to be fed to the baby immediately. If the formula is not being fed immediately, refrigerate it right away and keep refrigerated until feeding.
• Bottles and nipples. The Mayo Clinic says you may want to consider sterilizing bottles and nipples before first use. After that, you can clean them in the dishwasher or wash them by hand with soapy water.
• Water. Use the exact amount of water recommended on the label.
• Formula warming. This isn’t necessary for proper nutrition. The best way to warm a bottle of formula is by placing the bottle in a pot of water and heating it on the stove until warm (at body temperature). Never use microwave ovens for heating infant formulas. Microwaving may cause the bottle to remain cool while hot spots develop in the formula. Overheated formula can cause serious burns to the baby.
• “Use by” date. This is the date after which a package or container of infant formula should not be fed to infants. It indicates that the manufacturer guarantees the nutrient content and the general acceptability of the quality of the formula up to that date. FDA regulations require this date to be specified on each container of infant formula.
• Storage. Manufacturers must include instructions on infant formula packaging for its handling before and after the container is opened. They must also include information on the storage and disposal of prepared formula.
• Freezing formula. This is not recommended, as it may cause a separation of the product’s components.

With millions of Americans already suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia and millions more approaching the age when they are most vulnerable, does it seem likely that a $30 nutritional supplement would do what some of the world's best scientists have been unable to do?

Of course not but that didn't stop i-Health, Inc. and Martek Biosciences Corporation from advertising that their BrainStrong Adult dietary supplement could improve adult memory and prevent cognitive decline.

The Federal Trade Commission charged that the advertising was deceptive and that the marketers falsely claimed they had clinical proof that BrainStrong Adult improves adult memory.

“Supplement marketers must ensure that adequate scientific proof supports their specific advertising claims,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “When the results of a scientific study don’t match the hype, consumers are likely to be misled.”

$1 a day

Since at least March 2011, i-Health and Martek have sold BrainStrong Adult for about $30 for a 30-day supply at major retail stores, including CVS Pharmacy, Walmart, Walgreens, and Rite Aid; and online through drugstore.com and Amazon.com. They advertised the product – which contains the Omega-3 fatty acid DHA – on television, on Twitter, and at www.brainstrongdha.com.

In the television ad, a woman forgets why she walked into a room. Through a voice over, her dog tells the audience she is there to find her sunglasses, which are sitting on top of her head. Another voice over then asks, “Need a memory boost? Introducing BrainStrong…Clinically shown to improve adult memory.”

The FTC's proposed administrative settlement covers any dietary supplement, food, or drug promoted to prevent cognitive decline or improve memory, or containing DHA. It bars the companies from claiming that any such product prevents cognitive decline or improves memory in adults unless the claim is truthful and supported by human clinical testing.

The settlement also prohibits claims about the health benefits, performance, safety, or effectiveness of these products unless the claims are backed up by competent and reliable scientific evidence.

Finally, the companies cannot claim they have clinical proof to support their claims when they do not.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 183,425 model year 2010-2014 Taurus vehicles manufactured November 24, 2008, through February 28, 2014.

The vehicles were originally sold in or are currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

When used in areas that use road salt, the license plate lamp assembly may experience an electro-chemical reaction and corrosion as a result of water intrusion. This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the license plate lamp assemblies, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on July 25, 2014.

The company Ford will also notify owners in non-corrosion states, and -- at the customer's request -- dealers will replace the license plate lamp assembly.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S08.

GreenSmoothieGirl is recalling two products containing organic sprouted chia powder.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella

The company says there are no reports of illness to date.

The affected products include:

• GreenSmoothieGirl Sprouted Ground TriOmega Superfood, 16-oz, UPC 853811005036 with lot number AC030141, Exp. 1/2016 (Silver Ziplock Pouch)
• GreenSmoothieGirl Sprouted Ground TriOmega Superfood, 16-oz, no UPC, with lot number BIO13TOP300, Exp. 10/2015 (Gold Ziplock Pouch)

The the recalled products lot numbers were distributed in retail stores in Utah, Oregon and Montana, and directly to consumers throughout the U.S. via GreenSmoothieGirl.com.

Consumers with unopened or partially used packages are should to discontinue any use of the product and return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions or who purchased directly from GreenSmoothieGirl should contact the company at 435-625-1596 or by email at gsgchiarecall2014@gmail.com

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm400143.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Chrysler Group is recalling 6,120 model year 2014 Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured January 16, 2014 to April 8, 2014, Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 16, 2014, to April 8, 2014; Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT vehicles manufactured February 3, 2014, to April 8, 2014; and Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured March 6, 2014, to April 17, 2014.

When the adaptive cruise control is engaged and the driver presses the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle's speed more than the cruise control system would on its own, the vehicle may continue to accelerate briefly after the accelerator pedal is released.

The unintended continued acceleration may increase the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will re-flash the Driver Assistance System Module (DASM), free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2014.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P31.

Navitas Naturals is expanding its earlier recall of products containing Organic Sprouted Chia Powder to include additional expiration dates.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Navitas Naturals says it is not aware of any reported illnesses associated with the products.

The company says the moved comes after one of our suppliers, Health Matters America, expanded its recall of Chia products.

The affected products were distributed nationally and include:

• Navitas Naturals Organic Sprouted Chia Powder, 8oz, UPC 858847000369 all best by dates up to and including 11/22/2015
• Navitas Naturals Omega Blend Sprouted Smoothie Mix, 8oz, UPC 858847000314 all best by dates up to and including 11/05/2015
• Williams-Sonoma Omega 3 Smoothie Mixer, 8 oz, SKU 506436 all best by dates up to and including OC 2015

No other Navitas Naturals products are affected by this recall.

Consumers who have purchased any of these products should not eat them, but dispose of them or return them to the store where they were originally purchased.

Consumers with questions or who would like product replacements or refunds may call 888-886-3879.

Olde Thompson of Oxnard, Calif., is recalling Kirkland Signature Coarse Ground Malabar Pepper packed in 12.7-oz plastic jars.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella. 

The recalled product is identified and distributed as follows:

• Kirkland Signature Coarse Ground Malabar Pepper 12.7 -oz Plastic Jars UPC code: 096619164998

The recall affects 5,153 cases of Kirkland Signature Coarse Ground Malabar Pepper 12.7-oz plastic pars with a Best Before date of 03/2017 and Lot #: OT 065099, OT 065169, OT 065254, OT 065255, OT 065256, and OT 065284 located below the back label.

The recalled product was sold exclusively at Costco Wholesale Club nationwide between April 4, 2014, and June 4, 2014.

Customers who have the recalled product sould not consume it, but dispose of it along with the container.

Consumers with questions may contact Olde Thompson Customer Care at 1-844-568-5555 between 8:30AM and 8:00PM CST.

Estimates vary but the National Institute on Aging believes as many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. This irreversible, progressive brain disease slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.

As the Baby Boom generation enters old age there is concern that the number of people with this cognitive disease could surge, severely taxing the health care system.

While recent research has been promising, a cure is not on the horizon. However, an early warning system may be.

Neurologist Dr. David Geldmacher leads the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) memory disorders program. He sees Alzheimer's patients on a daily basis. When he talks with the patients' caregivers, he says he invariably gets the question, “can this happen to me?”

Does it run in the family?

“It is very common for family members of a patient receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia to wonder about their own risk,” said Geldmacher.

Because of the persistent question Geldmacher began looking into ways to possibly predict whether someone will be affected by Alzheimer's disease or some other cognitive impairment. He's begun to prepare a personalized dementia risk assessment for people concerned about their risk for developing memory problems as they age.

As part of the assessment he compiles a family history and provides an in-depth memory history for the patient, cognitive testing and a baseline MRI scan. The results all go into risk predictor models.

From that, Geldmacher believes it will be possible to quantify the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, as well as identify risk factors that, once reduced, can lessen the chances of developing the disease.

He says existing research has already established that negating one or more risk factors can reduce a patient's overall risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease.

Reducing the risk

“Our goal is to understand what risk factors are present in each individual and create a plan that best helps them reduce their risk and make appropriate plans for the future,” Geldmacher said.

Ideally, subjects would undergo the assessment when they are in their 50s and 60s and before they display any symptoms. The results should provide a risk prediction covering the next 20 years.

Not only that, Geldmacher believes that knowing the risks will allow – and motivate – people to take steps that can minimize the risk of serious memory loss.

The UAB clinic is currently setting up the assessment program. Participants will get two clinical visits with Geldmacher and his staff. The first will be to compile histories and conduct testing.

The second will be to go over a customized treatment plan, with instructions on how to access resources to achieve lifestyle changes and where to find supportive educational materials.

The two-visit assessment and treatment will cost about $1,000, which includes the MRI scan.

“It’s really for those who are worried about their cognitive health but do not currently have major memory issues,” Geldmacher said.

Blood test

UAB is not the only institution working on a treatment to predict Alzheimer's disease. Earlier this year researchers at Georgetown University Medical School said a simple blood test can predict with 90% accuracy whether someone will develop Alzheimer's.

If an analysis of the blood shows low levels of 10 specific blood fats, it's highly likely the patient will display dementia symptoms in the future.

"We do not know why all 10 of those lipids are lower in individuals who are predisposed to go on to cognitive impairment," said study author Dr. Howard Federoff.

But again, researchers believe having an early warning of impending Alzheimer's can help a patient make the lifestyle changes that can significantly delay its onset.

Virgina, a state known for harsh and swift law enforcement, has ordered Uber and Lyft to shut down after warning the car-sharing services earlier this year that they were operating illegally, the latest challenge to the smartphone-driven services that have upset the taxi industry, disabled consumers and regulators.

“I am once again making clear that Uber must cease and desist operating in Virginia until it obtains proper authority,” state DMV commissioner Richard D. Holcomb said in a letter to the companies.

The state earlier fined the companies $35,000 for not having the proper permits, and Holcomb said his department has been warning Uber and Lyft for more than six months that they must comply with state laws.

Uber, unimpressed, issued a defiant statement. 

"We wanted to write to let you know that Uber will operate as usual, and we plan to continue full-speed ahead with our commitment to providing Virginians access to safe, affordable and reliable rides," said Zuhairah Washington, General Manager, Uber DC, and Rachel Holt, Uber Regional General Manager, East Coast, in an email.

"We are surprised and disappointed by the DMV’s actions, given that Uber has been working with the Virginia government for months to modernize regulations that will put consumer safety first. Virginia should be standing for innovation, consumer choice and job growth," they said, vowing to defy Holcomb's order. 

Winners & losers

Like many other battles involving peer-to-peer services -- most notably Airbnb -- the interests of consumers may not always be easily identified.

Economist Matthew Mitchell of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., has been closely following the battle between regulators and ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft for several years. This is his asssessment of the winners and losers:

• Winner: Local taxi monopolies. Cab companies have long benefited from regulations that restrict entry and from regulators who see it as their job to preserve these firms’ profits. The traditional model has been challenged in the last few years by Uber and Lyft, and depending on how long the decision lasts, Cab companies are going to be able to reclaim some of the customers they have lost. 
• Losers: Uber and Lyft -- and the multitudes of drivers who work with them -- will clearly be harmed. This is why they are not likely to take this lying down.  
• Losers: Customers. Uber and Lyft have been quite successful because they offer an innovative and convenient service and customers have flocked to them for that. Their customer ratings systems provided a degree of quality control that taxi regulators were never able to achieve. 

Mitchell notes that these peer-to-peer platforms have tangled with municipal regulators in cities across the country where taxi lobbies are powerful. It is rare, however, for state regulators to take this sort of action.

Not recommended

Holcomb's department has been promoting a "Know Your Ride" database that lists transportation providers licensed by the state. Not surprisingly, it doesn't include Uber or Lyft.

"When you hire a ride, you are placing your safety in the hands of that driver," Holcomb said in a prepared statement. "I urge the citizens of Virginia to protect their families by using only companies that appear on DMV's website as licensed transportation services. If it's not on the list, it's not recommended."

But Uber, in its response to Holcomb, said it already meets or exceeds the DMV's requirements.

"Uber has set the standard for consumer safety in the Commonwealth. All uberX rides in Virginia are insured up to $1,000,000, nearly 300% more than the $350,000 required of for-hire drivers by the Virginia DMV. While the Virginia DMV does not require that all for-hire drivers pass background checks, all drivers on the Uber platform pass rigorous background checks at the county, state and federal level before they are ever allowed access to the technology. Our commitment to safety far exceeds the requirements set by the Virginia DMV - making their actions puzzling," the company said.

Uber and Lyft face challenges in a number of states. In Maryland, which borders Virginia, Uber is currently appealing an order that it must file an application to become a for-hire carrier.

The app-based companies are getting a slightly warmer reception in Washington, D.C., where the city council is considering legislation that would allow them to operate if they follow certain regulations.

In what may emerge as one of the most serious challenges, a lawsuit charges the companies deny service to disabled consumers and are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Licensed taxis and bus companies are required to provide wheelchair-accessible vehicles when requested under terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) but three Texas plaintiffs say Uber and Lyft simply ignore the requirement, providing their drivers with no training and allowing them to deny services to disabled travelers.

The lawsuit is regarded as significant because it could result in a ruling that could be applicable nationwide.  

If you're paying more for car insurance and have had no accident or tickets, maybe you should check your credit score. In all but a handful of states, your credit history is part of the formula used to set your rate.

According to esurance, a web-based insurance provider, the practice stems from a 2003 study by researchers at the University of Texas. They found that consumers with lower credit scores tended to be involved in more car insurance losses and higher claims – meaning they were a greater risk.

A 2007 study by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found pretty much the same thing, drawing a strong reaction from a number of consumer groups. They cited other studies that found tying insurance rates to credit scores tends to discriminates against low income and minority consumers because of the racial and economic disparities inherent in scoring.

3 states ban it

If you think that linking credit histories to insurance rates doesn't seem fair, the state legislatures in California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts agree. They have passed laws preventing insurance companies from using credit scores – or “credit-based insurance scores,” as esurance calls them – as part of the rate formula.

Some insurance companies weight this credit data more heavily than others, so a consumer with a spotty credit record would want to avoid companies that place a lot of stock in credit history and go with one where it seems to matter less.

The financial website WalletHub.com said it obtained quotes from five of the largest car insurance providers for two hypothetical consumers – one with good credit and one with no credit history. What did it find?

Among the five insurance companies Allstate appeared to rely most on credit history. The study found a 116% swing in premiums between the good credit/no credit consumers.

At the other end of the scale, State Farm appeared to rely least on credit history. The difference was still significant, but was only 45%.

The differential differs state to state. In the average state the study found a 65% differential in the cost of car insurance premiums for a person with an excellent credit score and a person with no credit history.

Transparency

Some insurance companies are more upfront about their use of credit data in setting rates. Progressive, for example, was found to be the most transparent, scoring a perfect 10 in that category. Liberty Mutual was the lowest-scoring provider, logging a rating of 4.5.

Back to esurance's point that companies don't use your credit score but use the data to create their own insurance credit score. That's technically true and may explain why there appears to be such a variation of rates in the WalletHub study.

According to Credit Karma, different companies calculate their scores in different ways. But the bottom line – with most companies your credit history is a significant factor in determining your rate, sometimes just as important as your driving record.

Whether or not you think that's fair, it's a fact of life, to one extent or another, in all but 3 states. Your best defense is to try to improve your credit score if you have a less than stellar record. Or move to California, Massachusetts or Hawaii.