Current Events in January 2017

A new study finds that the number of American children consuming fake sugar has risen 200% from 1999 to 2012. During this time period, 25% of children and more than 41% of adults in the U.S. say they consumed food and beverages containing low-calorie sweeteners (LCS).

Researchers from George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health led the study, which was the first of its kind to look at the use of popular low-calorie sweeteners using the most recent data.  

The spike in use was striking, said lead author Allison Sylvetsky, Ph.D., an assistant professor of exercise and nutrition sciences at the Milken Institute SPH.

"Just 8.7 percent of kids reported consuming low-calorie sweeteners in 1999 and 13 years later that number had risen to 25.1 percent," Sylvetsky said in a statement, adding that kids aren’t the only ones consuming more aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin.

"More adults also are taking in low-calorie sweeteners in diet soft drinks and in a variety of foods and snack items. The findings are important, especially for children, because some studies suggest a link between low-calorie sweeteners and obesity, diabetes and other health issues,” she said.

Key findings

For the study, the investigators looked at data from 17,000 men, women, and children included in the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey from 2009 to 2012. They compared their findings to studies that used data from 1999 to 2008.

The most recent survey revealed that 44% of adults and 20% of children consumed low-calorie sweeteners more than once a day.

Key findings from the current study, which used results from two dietary interviews in which consumers recalled what they ate or drank in the last 24 hours, were as follows:

• 17% of adults consumed low-calorie sweeteners more than three times a day.
• 19% of adults with obesity compared to 13% of normal-weight adults used the products three times a day or more.
• 70% of the consumption happened at home.
• Children as young as 2 were consuming the sweeteners.

Curbing consumption

The study, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, found that 1 in 4 U.S. children are consuming the sweeteners. Most of the time, LCS consumption happens at home.

Sylvetsky says parents may choose to purchase products containing low-calorie sweeteners -- such as those labeled “light” or “low sugar" -- thinking they’re healthier than other options containing sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup. However, experts have yet to reach a consensus on the health effects of consuming products containing sugar substitutes.

More research is needed on the subject. In the meantime, parents looking to reduce the amount of artificial sweeteners in their diet can “drink water instead of soda” or “sweeten a serving of plain yogurt with a little fruit,” says Sylvetsky.

Soon, every square inch of earthly space not covered by an advertisement will be covered by, yes, an advertisement. Helping to achieve this goal is a company called Reviver, which is proposing to replace the lowly license plate with a digital advertising screen.

Besides putting prison inmates out of work, eliminating the stamped metal plates would be a great leap forward in oh so many ways, as Reviver CEO Neville Boston sees it. He's been promoting the so-called rPlate at this week's Detroit Auto Show. Already operational in California, the rPlates will be coming soon to Florida and maybe Arizona, Boston said. 

“The rPlate opens up the ‘connected car’ ecosystem to a myriad of solutions – some of which are already in development and many that have yet to be imagined,” said Boston in a news release. “In addition to automating the costly DMV registration process and providing telematics and fleet management capabilities, the rPlate immediately unlocks a powerful new channel for OEMs, dealerships, and organizations, to reach and service customers in hyper-local and targeted ways.”

In other words, the dealer could slap digital ads fore and aft on all its cars, a great leap forward considering that the current options are pretty much limited to a customized license plate holder or a crude sticker affixed to the trunk lid.

"Fifth screen"

"The rPlate is the first ever 'fifth screen' or digital signage platform to grace the back of a vehicle and can be installed as an aftermarket product or seamlessly integrated directly into the design of the vehicle," said Allan Cooper, another Reviver executive. "It can display hyper-local targeted messages to a captive audience when a vehicle is legally parked in any location.

Like what, for example?

“In a Home Depot parking lot, you could send ads that speak to what’s in a store,” Boston said. Most people already know what's in a Home Depot store but wait a minute and Boston will come up with something else.

Boston and Cooper list all kinds of conveniences that could, at least theoretically, accrue to the owners of rPlate-equipped cars. We've also added a few ideas of our own:

• You wouldn't have to go the DMV to register the car; it could all be done online.
• Tolls and parking fines could be paid automatically.
• The rPlate could display your speed, saving traffic enforcement officers from the tedium of staring at their radar guns.
• Your license plate could tell the world if you fell behind on your alimony and child support payments.
• Your credit score, body mass index, and blood alcohol level could be updated regularly. 

There are, of couse, even more things the rPlate could do. It could display obscene messages to that jerk who cut you off, ask the attractive person at the bus stop if he or she would like a ride, and even display reviews of the car's performance and the car dealer's business practices. 

You could also, of course, display political messages, not necessarily a good idea given the current climate. 

The cost of things usually go up, not down, but the U.S. government's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is reducing the yearly premiums for mortgage insurance by 25 basis points for most new mortgages closing on or after January 27.

When borrowers take out an FHA loan, they can borrow up to 96.5% of the home's purchase price. For any loan in which the borrower puts up less than 20% of the money, the borrower is required to purchase mortgage insurance.

Since the government is guaranteeing the loan, the mortgage insurance reimburses the government in the event of default. The mortgage insurance premium is added onto the borrower's monthly payment.

Saving $500 a year

That money goes into FHA's Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMIF), which has grown in value by $44 billion since 2012. U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro says that increase means type mortgage insurance premium will go down by $500 in 2017, lowering the typical FHA house payment by more than $41 a month.

Castro says 2016 marked the fourth straight year that the mortgage insurance fund significantly increased in value, largely because there have been far fewer FHA loan defaults since the housing market crash of 2008.

"The reduction in the premium is a result of our industry's and FHA's shared commitment to quality underwriting, and consumers will benefit as [a] result,” David Stevens, President & CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, said in a statement. “Reducing the cost of FHA loans benefits borrowers, but other changes to reduce uncertainty for lenders would be required to truly invigorate the FHA program.”

Castro said the decision to lower mortgage insurance premiums was made possible by the fact that current borrowers are doing a good job of managing their loans.

Passing on the savings

“After four straight years of growth and with sufficient reserves on hand to meet future claims, it’s time for FHA to pass along some modest savings to working families,” Castro said. “This is a fiscally responsible measure to price our mortgage insurance in a way that protects our insurance fund while preserving the dream of homeownership for credit-qualified borrowers.”

HUD officials say they carefully weighed the risks of lowering premiums and concluded the fund's value is more than adequate to reimburse the government in the event of default.

There have been significantly fewer foreclosures in recent years since mortgage lenders raised lending standards. Unlike the lower standards in place during the early 2000s housing bubble, borrowers must document income and employment and have higher credit scores.

Since the housing meltdown, Castro says FHA raised mortgage insurance premiums several times to increase the size of the MMIF. While it increased the health of the fund, he says it also significantly increased the cost of credit to qualified borrowers.

Now that the cost of mortgage insurance is coming down, National Association of Realtors (NAR) President William E. Brown says more consumers will be able to qualify for an FHA loan.

“This is a question of simple math,” Brown said. “Every time we cut the cost of mortgage insurance it means more borrowers meet the debt-to-income ratio required to purchase a home.”

Toyota Motor Company is recalling 94 model year 2017 Toyota 86 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2016 through August 11, 2016 equipped with an automatic transmission and ignition key.

Vehicles with a push-to-start button or manual transmission are not affected.

It may be possible to remove the ignition key without the transmission being in the "Park" position. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

If the key can be removed from the ignition when the transmission is not in the "Park" position, the vehicle could roll away increasing the risk of a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

What to do

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition key/transmission interlock wiring connections, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2017.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0E.

Route 11 Potato Chips is recalling its Sour Cream & Chive Potato Chips in 2-oz. and 6-oz bags, produced with best by dates from February 2 – June 10, 2017.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with this product to date.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should return it to the store where purchased it for a full refund.

Ford Motor Company recalling 7,105 model year 2017 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks manufactured August 10, 2016, to September 17, 2016.

The frame reinforcement bracket may not have been attached to the front fuel tank strap, allowing the fuel tank strap to separate from the frame.

A fuel tank strap that separates and allows the fuel tank to contact the ground may cause a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install the reinforcement bracket, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 6, 2017.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S45.

Toshiba America Information Systems of Irvine, Calif., is expanding its March 2016 recall of Panasonic battery packs used in Toshiba laptop computers by about 83,000.

Some 91,000 units were recalled in March 2016. In addition, 10,000 were sold in Canada and 5,000 in Mexico.

The lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers.

The firm has received five reports of the battery pack overheating and melting, including one additional report since the first recall announcement. No injuries have been reported.

This expanded recall involves Panasonic lithium-ion battery packs installed in 41 models of Toshiba Satellite laptops, including the Satellite models affected by the March 2016 recall.

Toshiba has expanded the number of battery packs to include those sold between June 2011 and November 2016. The battery packs also were sold separately and installed by Toshiba as part of a repair. Battery packs included in this recall have part numbers that begin with G71C (G71C*******). Part numbers are printed on the battery pack.

A complete list of battery pack part numbers included in this recall can be found at http://go.toshiba.com/battery.

Battery packs previously identified as not affected by the March 2016 recall are included in this expanded announcement.

The batteries, manufactured in China, were sold at Office Depot, Staples and other electronics stores nationwide, and online at Toshibadirect.com and other websites from June 2011, through November 2016, for between $500 and $1,000 for the laptop and between $70 and $130 for the battery pack.

What to do

Consumers should immediately go to the firm’s website and click on the battery pack utility link in the first shadowed box on the page.

Consumers also can perform a manual check using the laptop and battery pack’s model, part and serial numbers. If it is part of the recall, consumers should power off the laptop, remove the battery and follow the instructions to obtain a free replacement battery pack.

Until a replacement battery pack is received, consumers should use the laptop by plugging into AC power only.

Consumers may contact Toshiba toll-free at 866-224-1346 any day between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. (PT), online at http://go.toshiba.com/battery or at www.us.toshiba.com and click on “Consumer Notices” under the Support heading at the bottom of the page.

The Federal Trade Commission and New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman have sued dietary supplement maker Quincy Bioscience, LLC, charging that it deceptively markets the widely-sold supplement Prevagen by falsely claiming that it improves memory, despite lacking reliable scientific evidence.

“The marketing for Prevagen is a clear-cut fraud, from the label on the bottle to the ads airing across the country,” said Schneiderman. “It’s particularly unacceptable that this company has targeted vulnerable citizens like seniors in its advertising for a product that costs more than a week’s groceries, but provides none of the health benefits that it claims. Quincy Bioscience must be held accountable for deliberately misleading consumers across the country.”

Quincy Bioscience said it "vehemently disagrees" with the allegations and said the case was "another example of government overreach and regulators extinguishing innovation by imposing arbitrary new rules on small businesses like ours."

“Prevagen is safe. Neither the FTC nor the New York Attorney General has alleged that Prevagen can cause or has caused harm to anyone. And hundreds of thousands people tell us it works and improves their lives," the company's statement said. 

Prevagen, which can cost up to $69 per bottle, is sold at major retailers and pharmacies across the country, including CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, the Vitamin Shoppe, and Amazon. Sales of Prevagen in the United States from 2007 through mid-2015, minus refunds, totaled $165 million.

"Clearer thinking"

In its advertising and product labeling, Quincy Bioscience claims that Prevagen is “clinically shown” to support “clearer thinking” and to “improve memory within 90 days” – yet, the primary support Quincy Bioscience has for these claims is a single study that failed to show a statistically significant improvement in the treatment group over the placebo group on any of the cognitive measures used, Schneiderman said.

Quincy Bioscience developed and marketed Prevagen on the theory that its active ingredient, apoaequorin, a dietary protein, enters the human brain to supplement proteins that are lost during the natural aging process. Yet the suit charges that Quincy Bioscience lacks any studies showing that this orally-administered protein can cross the human blood brain barrier, and in fact, Quincy’s own studies show that the protein is rapidly digested in the stomach and broken down into amino acids like any other dietary protein.

“The marketers of Prevagen preyed on the fears of older consumers experiencing age-related memory loss,” said Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Yet despite the defendants’ claims, there is no scientific proof that use of the product will improve memory or provide any other cognitive benefit.”

In its statement, which was not attributed to any specific individual, Quincy insisted its product works as claimed.

“Quincy has amassed a large body of evidence that Prevagen improves memory and supports healthy brain function. This evidence includes preclinical rat studies, canine studies, human clinical studies, and, most importantly, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical testing. This type of testing has long been acknowledged by both the FTC and the FDA to be the ‘gold standard’ for scientific evidence.

The lawsit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and seeks a ban on further false claims about Prevagen, restitution for consumers, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and civil penalties for violations of state law. 

Research has shown that a chemical called Bisphenol A, used to make hard plastics and the resin linings of canned foods, is present in the bloodstream of more than 90 percent of Americans.

The plastics, food packaging and chemical industries, long having vouched for the safety of BPA, don’t dispute that Americans are frequently exposed to this chemical through their diet. But industry trade groups like the American Chemistry Council have heavily lobbied and argued that the presence of BPA in human samples shouldn’t be a concern, because they say that BPA leaves the body nearly as quickly as it enters.

“Extensive scientific studies have shown that BPA is quickly metabolized, excreted and does not accumulate in the body,” the American Chemistry Council said in 2010. At that time, the ACC was criticizing the Canadian Minister of the Environment’s decision to list BPA as a toxic substance.

Other government panels and agencies meanwhile have sided with the industry, including a 2011 panel organized by the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, whose experts “found that BPA does not accumulate in the body.” The ACC reminded the public again that BPA “is rapidly eliminated in urine, and that it is difficult to interpret the relevance of studies claiming adverse health effects from BPA.”

But those conclusions are hardly the last word, as a new, worrying study conducted by a United States government agency reveals.

Workers who make BPA have higher levels

Researchers working for the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health took urine samples from 77 workers over a one-year period. The workers were all employed at United States companies that produce BPA or food packaging products containing BPA.

The results, published January 1, say that the workers on average had levels of BPA in their bodies on average more than 70 times higher than the general public, a strong indication that BPA can be absorbed through skin contact and that it does in fact accumulate in the body.

“It resets the argument that ‘100 percent [of BPA] is gone in a day,” Frederick vom Saal, a University of Missouri-Columbia researcher, told the Environmental Health News site. Vom Saal, who was not involved with this study, has an extensive body of his own research suggesting that BPA is in fact harmful to humans, even at small doses.

In a statement to ConsumerAffairs, Steve Hentges of the American Chemistry Council responds: “It is important to note that this NIOSH study has little relevance for consumers, but may be informative for some workers in manufacturing facilities that use BPA."

He argues that “since this study was designed to look at exposure only, it is incapable of evaluating whether BPA could cause health effects in workers or could accumulate in the body...the FDA and many government agencies around the world have concluded that the low levels of BPA in consumer products are safe."

Feds suggest limiting worker exposure

Because federal regulators in the FDA and the EPA still consider BPA to be safe, there are no occupational exposure limits for workers who make BPA. But similar, previous research into Chinese workers who manufacture BPA linked high exposure to the chemical to decreased reproductive hormones and sexual dysfunction.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health now advises companies to voluntarily search for ways to minimize worker exposure to BPA.  Among the NIOSH’s suggestions are to minimize the time workers spend in BPA production areas or altogether eliminating BPA from products when possible.

The fatal attack at the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., airport Friday has sparked new concerns about passenger safety, with passenger groups, TSA officers and lawmakers all calling for tighter security in non-secure areas -- the parts of airports that are accessible to the general public, which includes baggage claim areas in many airports. 

Five people were killed and eight others wounded last week when a man opened fire in a baggage claim area. Authorities say a 26-year-old Iraq War veteran arrived at Ft. Lauderdale aboard a flight originating in Alaska. After retrieving his handgun from his checked baggage, they say he went into a restroom to load it.

Authorities say when Esteban Santiago emerged he began firing at people at random. When he ran out of ammunition, they say he lay down on the floor and waited to be arrested.

FlyersRights.org, a passenger rights consumer group, has issued a statement, calling for more security at the nation's airports, saying this latest attack just underscores the fact that air transportation remains “a prime target for terrorism and mass murder.”

"This horrific shooting is just another reminder that more needs to be done to secure our nation's airports," J. David Cox Sr., national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said in a statement. "AFGE has long-called for extensive training for TSA Officers and the creation of a new unit of trained and armed law enforcement officers within TSA at airports nationwide. Lawmakers and airport officials must implement increased security measures to ensure the safety of passengers and all airport personnel."

After the 2015 shooting at Los Angeles International Airport left a TSA officer dead, lawmakers tasked TSA with reassessing the whole question of airport security, particularly in perimeter areas. But as is often the case in Washington, not much happened. Now lawmakers are again calling for action.

"There's no question we need to review not only the question of whether people should be able to travel with their firearms even if they're in checked baggage, but I think we need to take a hard look at the security around baggage claim areas, and not just leave it at that," Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida said, according to the Associated Press.

At this point police and intelligence agencies aren't sure of the motivation for the attack, but note that Santiago had recently been treated for numerous mental health issues since his discharge from the army. He reportedly told the FBI at one point that he believed the government was controlling his mind, forcing him to watch ISIS videos.

Previous requests for beefed up security

In its statement, FlyersRights.org noted that it had asked the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Congress to provide for stronger airport security after a shooting attack at Los Angeles International (LAX) Airport in 2013. It said it renewed the request last July after the Brussels and Istanbul airport massacres, but said nothing was done.

The group said it wants to see the use of the National Guard as a temporary security force at the nation's airports. It also calls for the installation of airport perimeter security to detect weapons and other threats.

Other measures include a ban on live ammunition in checked bags; increased use of canine patrols to detect explosives; and putting anyone who is deemed a security threat by a law enforcement agency on the TSA Watch or No Fly list, but with due process means for removal.

"Those victims at Ft. Lauderdale should not have died, and should certainly not have died in vain,” said Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights.org. “Blood on the ground is unfortunately too often the price for government officials to act."

The weeks immediately following the holiday shopping season have been marked by store closings.

Sears announced it will close another 150 Sears and Kmart stores. Macy's announced it would shutter 68 stores.

While holiday sales disappointed at some of the oldest names in American retail, online sales hit another record.

Now, The Limited is the latest victim of the trend, announcing it will close the last of its 250 stores after a disappointing holiday season. The remaining inventory will be sold at its website, TheLimited.com, with everything marked down at least 50%.

Changing its business model

In a message posted on its website, the company made clear that it isn't going out of business, just changing its business model. It's still in the retail clothing business, it just isn't setting apparel out of stores any longer.

“The styles you love are still available online - We’re just a quick click away 24 hours a day,” the company said in its message to customers.

Does that mean the brick-and-mortar retail store is going the way of the dinosaur? Probably not. But it does mean that in the future, there will be a lot fewer stores where you can go in, handle the merchandise and take it home with you.

But it isn't just consumers' preference for online shopping that damaged The Limited, and other retailers that have lately been forced to close stores.

Stores have to be 'hyper-relevant'

Liz Dunn, CEO of retail consulting firm Talmage Advisors, told The Washington Post that The Limited has lagged in the markeplace because if hasn't been able to stay on top of trends. Dunn said consumers want fashion that is both “hyper-relevant” and inexpensive, and apparently weren't finding it at The Limited.

A 2015 study by iVend Retail suggests there is hope for brick-and-mortar retailers who find ways to remain relevant. The authors said there will always be demand for a physical location where consumers can handle or try on merchandise, and take it home with them without having to pay for shipping.

But stores are expensive things to operate. And as existing brick-and-mortar outlets face growing competition from online channels, companies will continue to weed out unprofitable stores, while some companies may disappear altogether.

Subaru has updated its Starlink infotainment system to include eight new apps, including one of potential interest to birdwatchers.

Drivers can see information from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology through eBird -- an app that displays information on bird sightings and provides an interactive coach to help guide users to areas where the birds are.

Other additions to the multimedia system are similarly focused on helping steer users toward areas of interest. Along with eBird, apps added include Magellan Navi, Best Parking, Yelp, Glympse, RightTrack, Tweddle Quick Reference Guide, and Wcities’ "eventseeker." 

Driver assistance

Using the Yelp app, drivers can find food and business reviews while on-the-go. Glympse lets users share their location and estimated arrival time with friends. Best Parking, as its name suggests, helps drivers find a good place to park.

There are four other apps available:

• RightTrack. An app by Liberty Mutual intended to help drivers lower their insurance rates via driving habit monitoring and tips for safer driving.
• eventseeker. An app that lets users explore local events such as music, sports, and date-night activities.
• Magellan NAVI. A cloud-based navigation system (included free with the 2017 Impreza for three years).
• Quick Guide. A digital version of the vehicle’s owner’s manual.

The eight new apps are available on the 2017 Impreza and 2016-17 BRZ sports coupe. Subaru says they will be available on additional models soon.

Heartburn is just one of the many symptoms you can you expect when you’re expecting. During pregnancy, acidic digestive acids tend to splash back up as a result of hormonal changes and pressure on the stomach from a growing uterus.

Nearly half of expectant mothers experience the uncomfortable, chest-focused burning sensation throughout their pregnancy. Heartburn medication may ease the discomfort, but could it have a negative effect on a womb’s occupant?

New research suggests that children born to mothers who take heartburn medication during pregnancy may have a greater risk of developing asthma. The potential association was uncovered following a review of eight previous studies involving more than 1.3 million children.

One third more likely

Experts say the link isn’t conclusive, and moms-to-be should continue using heartburn medicines as recommended by their doctors. Further research will help determine whether the pills affect the health of children or if the association is caused by a separate, linked factor.

Nevertheless, researchers found that children born to mothers who had been prescribed acid-suppressing drugs during pregnancy were at least one third more likely to have visited a doctor for symptoms of asthma. 

“We don’t yet know if the heartburn medication itself is contributing to the development of asthma in children, or if there is common factor we haven’t discovered yet that causes both heartburn in pregnant women and asthma in their children,” said Dr. Samantha Walker, Director of Policy and Research at Asthma UK.

Jean Golding, an emeritus professor of pediatric epidemiology at the University of Bristol, says the heartburn itself, not the drugs used to treat it, may be the most important association. Other experts say obesity in the expectant mother could play a key role. 

More research needed

Acid-blocking drugs called H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors have been considered safe to use in pregnancy because they do not affect the development of the baby. 

However, previous studies suggested that these drugs may impact the immune system of an unborn baby, leading to an increased risk of allergies. Subsequent studies to investigate the link were inconclusive, the researchers noted.

The new study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, was led by the Universities of Edinburgh and Tampere in Finland. The investigators stress that the research is still at an early stage.

“Expectant mums should continue to take any medication they need under the guidance of their doctor or nurse,” Walker said, adding that the study "points us towards something that needs further investigation which is why we need to see more research carried out into the causes of asthma.”

Pets are big business. As evidence, candy- and pet-food-maker Mars Inc. is paying $9.1 billion to buy VCA Inc., the animal hospital chain that runs general and specialty care veterinary centers around the country.

"VCA is a leader across pet health care and the opportunity we see together — for pets, pet owners, veterinarians and other pet care providers — is tremendous," Mars CEO Grant Reid said in a statement.

VCA will continue to operate under its own brand as a division within Mars Petcare, the announcement from the companies said. McLean, Va.-based Mars has operated Mars Petcare for more than 80 years under the Banfield, BluePearl and Pet Partners brands.

"Together with VCA, these businesses will provide an unprecedented level of access to high quality veterinary care for pets, from wellness and prevention to primary, emergency and specialty care," the announcement said.

Mars Petcare also makes Royal Canin, Pedigree and Whiskas brand pet foods and has a growing business in pet DNA testing through the Wisdom Panel. It also owns pet technology provider Whistle.

Since its founding in 1986, VCA has grown from one facility in Los Angeles to nearly 800 animal hospitals with 60 diagnostic laboratories throughout the United States and Canada.

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), more commonly called the Detroit Auto Show, is underway with manufacturers vying for attention for their new concept cars.

Forbes reports crossovers from Audi and Infinity have gotten a lot of the early attention, but that important changes have also been announced for the Toyota Camry, BMW 5-Series and Lexus LS.

New technology will also be on display, from in-car comfort and convenience to the latest in driver-assist features. In fact, the marriage of cars and technology has become so important that the automotive press showed up at last week's Consumer Electronics Show and the technology press is well-represented this week in Detroit.

“We expect to see new technology debuted at the show and, importantly, existing technology more widely offered,” said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst at AutoTrader. “That’s what consumers are most interested in – in-car technology.”

Technology rates higher than brand with consumers

Krebs said Autotrader's recent Tech Impact Study demonstrated the right technology is more important to consumers than ever. For a growing number of buyers, she said technology is more important than brand.”

With SUVs and crossovers proving to be popular with consumers, it's no surprise carmakers have brought plenty examples to the show. GM has a number of redesigned SUVs for the 2018 model-year. The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse features more traditional SUV styling while providing the requisite comfortable, high-tech interior.

“Last year’s introduction of the Chrysler Pacifica breathed new life into the minivan segment,” Krebs said. “Honda ups the ante with the remake of the always-popular Odyssey.”

Electric cars may have lately fallen out of favor with falling gasoline prices, but automakers are betting that won't last. GM says the new Chevy Bolt offers a breakthrough in EV technology, extending the range without running up the price.

The new Genesis G90 from Hyundai is also turning heads. It offers traditional luxury features at a significantly lower sticker price. Volvo is also getting some attention with its S90. It is said to combine luxury with enhancements in its infotainment system.

“Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone,” Apple co-founder Steve Jobs said on January 9, 2007.

In a presentation to the Apple faithful, Jobs proceeded to introduce a new mobile phone that not only turned an industry upside down, but changed how human beings interact with one another.

In the 10 years since Apple's introduction of the iPhone, smartphones have been used less for talking and more for communicating on social media, buying things online, getting directions and watching TV. In other words, they have become computers in our pockets. Chances are, you're reading this on one.

It was a vision that Jobs, who died of cancer in 2011, laid out in the presentation below.

Exclusive to AT&T

Apple partnered with AT&T in the development of the iPhone and for several years, AT&T was the exclusive carrier for the device.

In his presentation Jobs mentioned that Apple had patented its revolutionary design, expressing confidence that the smartphone future belonged to Apple. But after Google's Android operating system appeared and was adopted by many electronics manufacturers, a protracted legal battle ensued. In the end, Apple found that it had to share the smartphone space.

According to Statista, there are approximately 215 million smartphone users in the U.S., with the number estimated to reach 222.9 million this year. The number of users worldwide is projected to reach 2 billion by the end of this year.

TreeHouse Foods is amending the “best by” dates used in its December 2016, recall of macaroni and cheese cup products.

The products contain cheddar cheese seasoning that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

There have been no confirmed illnesses to date.

The following list contains the products being recalled with their amended “best by” dates:

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should dispose of or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may call 1-800-756-5781, Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m. (CST).

If you adopt the habits of financially fit consumers – checking your credit report, analyzing your budget, setting goals and managing debt, chances are you're going to find you have money left over at the end of each month.

That, after all, is the objective. So, what does the financially fit consumer do with that left over money?

Paul Golden, spokesman for the National Endowment for Financial Education, says it's important to understand the difference between saving and investing. Interest rate changes, inflation and economic turbulence are factors to be considered.

“Talk to a Certified Financial Planner, who can make investment recommendations based on your specific life and financial situation,” Golden told ConsumerAffairs. “Interview several candidates before selecting a financial advisor and make sure you know how he or she is paid.”

Golden says some financial planners work for flat fees, while others take a percentage of your portfolio or earn a commission for selling certain products.

Sometimes it's hard to get started

That's very much in Michelle Perry Higgins' wheelhouse. Higgins is Principal and Financial Planner of California Financial Advisors, in San Ramon, Calif. She often hears consumers say it's hard to save because they live paycheck-to-paycheck. In that case, she advises to start small.

“I call it the 1% rule, she said. “Start saving 1% of your income into your employer retirement plan and 1% into your emergency reserve. Then, try to increase each bucket another percent every year.”

To prevent backsliding, she recommends making savings to these accounts a non-discretionary systematic withdrawal.

“Beginning is always the hardest part and the 1% savings is typically not missed and easily achievable for families on a tight budget,” Higgens said.

Pay yourself first

Diane Moogalian, Vice President, Customer Care, Equifax, agrees with that approach. She suggests consumers pay themselves first.

“It’s a simple concept, but with today’s life conveniences at our fingertips, it’s one that’s often overlooked,” Moogalian said. “Think about how much some of the little things we like to call 'coffee and conveniences' may add up – a daily cup of coffee that you pay for may add up. Make sure that you pay yourself first and contribute to your savings account.”

Bruce McClary, Vice-president of Communications for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, also recommends starting small with a savings program, saying the goal has to be reasonable.

“Sometimes that means starting very small, like setting aside all the spare change you get in a month,” McClary said. “At the end of the month, count it and calculate a 10% increase for the next month. That becomes your new savings goal in the month ahead.”

At the same time, he says consumers should be looking for ways to trim their budget here and there.

“For motivation, create a reward for reaching a milestone after six months or a year,” he said. “Treat yourself with a portion of what you saved, but be sure to leave most of it alone so it can continue to grow over time.”

Once you become a financially-fit consumer, McClary says you'll be surprised at how much you will be able to put into savings each month. Setting aside 20% or more of income, he says, is not unusual.

Consumers should be wary of emails stating that there is a security problem with their PayPal or Amazon account. Emails of this nature are the latest email scheme designed to trick users into giving up personal information.

Responding to one of these emails, or clicking on a link to submit your information, gives scammers access to your financial information. It may even infect your computer with a virus.

“These online services and businesses make it easy for consumers to shop and pay for items online, but there are people out there who want to use this convenience as a way to steal your money, or even worse, your identity,” said Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood in a statement.

These phishing scams can also appear as pop-up messages on your computer, he noted. Tip-offs that an email from PayPal or Amazon might actually be from a scammer include typos and plenty of questions designed to gather personal information.

Misspelled words: a red flag

Think twice before responding to an email asking for your username, password, or financial information. Reputable business will never ask for this information in an email, Hood said.

Misspelled words are another giveaway that the email you’re looking at may have been crafted by a scammer. Hood says the latest PayPal email scam misspells the word PayPal and sends you to a fake website.

Scammers attempt to trick Amazon users into giving up their personal information by asking them to confirm an order for something they didn’t buy, asking that they update their payment information, or asking for their username, password or other information. Like emails intended to ensnare PayPal users, these emails usually contain misspelled words or grammatical errors.

Protecting against phishing emails

PayPal and Amazon have nothing to do with the scams, he noted. So, instead of responding to unsolicited emails from PayPal or Amazon, Hood recommends going to the companies’ websites and using the sites’ secure login to verify account activity.

“Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files,” he said. To reduce your risk of falling victim to a phishing scam, Hood recommends heeding the following advice: 

• Do not respond to any unsolicited e-mails of this nature.
• Do not click on any attachments associated with such emails, as they may contain viruses or malware.
• If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company’s correct Web address. In any case, don’t cut and paste the link in the message.
• If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization’s website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”).