Current Events in August 2019

Tesla, which has been trying to relaunch its solar panel business, is now being sued by Walmart over allegations that the company’s solar panels caught fire on the rooftops of seven Walmart stores between 2012 and 2018.

In a court filing, Walmart alleges that Tesla engaged in “gross negligence.” Walmart said the solar panel fires caused damage to property and inventory. 

“As of November 2018, no fewer than seven Walmart stores had experienced fires due to Tesla’s solar systems -- including the four fires described above and three others that had occurred earlier,” the complaint said. 

Walmart claimed that the electric automaker and clean energy company “routinely deployed individuals to inspect the solar systems who lacked basic solar training and knowledge.” 

Faulty parts 

The suit claims Tesla never provided Walmart with a “root cause” of the fires, but Walmart believes systemic deficiencies and broken parts likely contributed to the fires. 

"Wires on the store's rooftop were still sparking at the time that Walmart discovered the fire and could have ignited more extensive flames, with potentially devastating consequences," the lawsuit claims. "Equally troubling, after Tesla technicians visited the rooftop, one of the technicians failed to close the cover to a combiner box, exposing this important piece of equipment to the elements and thereby creating a fire hazard.

Walmart is asking Tesla to remove the solar panels it had installed on more than 200 of its stores, as well as provide monetary relief for the damage caused by the fires. 

Summer is nearly over, and if you have yet to take any vacation time this year, you probably aren’t the only one in your office who hasn’t.

The U.S. Travel Association reports that American workers left 768 million vacation days on the table last year, a 9 percent increase over 2017. The researchers found that more than half of all U.S. workers don’t use all their available paid time off.

So perhaps it’s not that surprising that 96 percent of senior managers at U.S. firms believe their employees are suffering some degree of “burnout,” according to a survey from Accountemps. The condition is defined by the World Health Organization as a syndrome resulting from workplace stress. 

A separate survey found that 91 percent of employees described themselves as at least “somewhat burned out.” Managers were asked to rate the level of burnout among their staff. They had the choice of rating it a 1, which means there is no workplace stress, to as high as 10, meaning the staff is completely fried.

The average was right in the middle, at 5.6. However, 20 percent of the managers rated their staff burnout at eight or higher. Twenty-eight percent of the employees rated their burnout in the eight to 10 range.

Constant interruptions

Interestingly, the managers attributed high burnout levels to high workloads placed on employees. But when the researchers asked employees, they blamed their burnout on working conditions such as constant interruptions.

"Employees are often okay with working hard if they know that their efforts will not go unnoticed by their employers and it helps them advance their careers," said Michael Steinitz, senior executive director of Accountemps, a division of Robert Half. "However, maintaining high productivity cannot come at the expense of staff members' well-being and engagement."

While improving working conditions may go a long way toward relieving burnout, encouraging employees to use their allotted vacation time may also help. As we reported this week, a study from Syracuse University found taking a vacation can actually work to improve health by reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Researcher Bruce Hruska said people who take frequent vacations tend to have lowered risk for metabolic syndrome and metabolic symptoms. He said the researchers actually saw a reduction in the risk for cardiovascular disease that correlated to the amount of time a worker spends away from the job.

The Apple Card, the company’s entry into the credit card market, is now open for all iPhone users. Over the last 10 days, it has only been available to select customers.

Apple says its customers can quickly apply for the new credit card through the Wallet app on iPhone and start using it right away. Apple announced the card earlier this year, partnering with Goldman Sachs, saying it wanted to help consumers better manage their money.

“We’re thrilled with the overwhelming interest in Apple Card and its positive reception,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay. “Customers have told us they love Apple Card’s simplicity and how it gives them a better view of their spending.”

The Apple Card is like many regular credit cards. It doesn’t have an annual fee and it offers 3 percent cash back on Apple purchases and 1 percent on all other purchases. 

The card has gotten a rather lukewarm reception from personal finance experts who note that most cards now don’t charge an annual fee and offer rewards as generous or more than what the Apple Card pays.

Other cards may have better benefits

“The only people who should consider applying for the Apple Card are those who pay their bills in full every month and spend a lot via Apple Pay,” WalletHub CEO Odysseas Papadimitriou told us earlier this month. “Everyone else is better off with one of the best rewards credit cards or one of the best 0% APR credit cards.”

The Apple Card, after all, is still a credit card that charges credit card interest. When the company announced the product in the spring, it said its rates would be lower than most credit cards. They are, but not that much lower -- topping out at around 24 percent APR. The average credit card rate is around 15 percent.

Papadimitrious points out that the Apple Card doesn’t offer 0 percent introductory rates, and its lowest interest rate -- the one offered to customers with the best credit -- is 12.99 percent.

Added utility

That said, loyal Apple customers may find added utility with the card. It’s extending 3 percent Daily Cash to more merchants and apps. And from now on customers will receive 3 percent Daily Cash when they use Apple Card with Apple Pay for Uber and Uber Eats.

There could be an additional advantage. If you own an iPhone and have been turned down by other credit card companies, the Apple Card might be your best bet. CNBC reported last week that consumers with subprime credit scores are being approved for the Apple Card. 

Apple reportedly sought a banking partner willing to approve as many of its U.S.-based iPhone users as possible, within the bounds of responsible lending. One iPhone user approved for the Apple Card told the network he was “shocked” that he was approved because his credit score is 620.

Staying up-to-date on doctor’s appointments can be critical to consumers’ overall well-being, but the price tag that can come with those visits may make it difficult to prioritize healthcare. 

According to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Gothenburg, excess charges that are associated with healthcare can prohibit many young people from seeing their physicians as often as they should. 

How costs can affect healthcare

This Swedish study included over 73,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 22, all of whom are required to start paying a copay for healthcare visits starting at the age of 20, before which there is no charge for doctor visits of any kind. 

The researchers evaluated how often the young people involved in the study visited their primary care physicians both before and after their 20th birthdays to determine how the fees associated with their healthcare affected their likelihood of making future appointments. 

The study revealed that both gender and income play a role in the frequency of doctors’ visits, as women and those who make less money were more likely to skip the doctor once the copay kicked in. 

While men’s trips to the doctor didn’t change much statistically between their 19th and 20th birthdays, the study revealed that trips to the doctor dropped over nine percent among women at the same juncture in life. However, women in the lowest income bracket dropped off on their doctors’ visits the most, with 14 percent fewer healthcare consultations after their 20th birthdays. 

The researchers hope that the findings from this study provide insight into how healthcare systems, and their associated costs, can affect young people and their likelihood of staying  up-to-date on their doctors’ visits. 

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 457 model year 2018 SL65 AMGs, model year 2019 SL63 AMGs and model year 2018-2019 SL450s and SL550s.

The front passenger airbag may have been improperly sewn, allowing the seam to tear during deployment.

A tear in the airbag may decrease performance and increase the risk of injury.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger airbag free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin October 1, 2019.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

Tip Top Poultry of Rockmart, Ga., is recalling approximately 135,810 pounds of fully-cooked diced chicken.

The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Canadian public health and food safety partners -- including the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency -- have been investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes.

A list of the frozen, diced and mechanically separated ready to eat chicken, produced on January 21, 2019 with “PACK DATE 01/21/19” on the labels, can be found here.

The recalled product, bearing establishment number “P-17453” inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the case, was shipped to hotels, restaurants and institutions nationwide.

What to do

Institutions that purchased the recalled product should not serve it, but discard or return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall may contact Terry Bruce at (770) 973-8070.

Gaia Garden Herbals is recalling Gaia Garden Herbal Dispensary brand Gaia Balancing Tea.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

The recalled product, which contains no UPC or product codes, was sold in Canada's British Columbia province from June 12, 2019, though July 22, 2019.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should not consume it, bu discard or return it to the store where purchased.

Consumers with questions may call Gaia Garden Herbals at (604) 734-4372

The big squeeze on Big Tech continues.

A contingent of state attorneys general is perched to launch a joint antitrust investigation into Big Tech. In the wake of Congress’ showdown with the industry, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that the AG’s offensive could launch as soon as September.  

Despite the lack of a formal announcement from the National Association of Attorneys General,  the WSJ noted that the group’s bipartisan make-up gives the probe added moxie. That additional vigor could help shelter Republican officials from being quizzed about whether their actions are driven by political fears over how online platforms handle conservative speech.

“The attorneys general involved have concerns over the control of personal data by large tech companies and will hold them accountable for anticompetitive practices that endanger privacy and consumer data,” a spokesperson for New York State Attorney General Letitia James told the WSJ.

What’s in this for the consumer?

After a recent attorneys general meeting, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement saying that the group discussed “the real concerns consumers across the country have with big tech companies stifling competition on the internet.” Those “concerns” shouldn’t come as a surprise to Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, et al. The same questions that were on the federal probe’s tongue are the same as the states: do they impede competition, and do they have too much influence?

If the state AGs coalesce on the issue, it could present a considerable hardship for Big Tech. Not only will the likes of Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon have to gird themselves with more attorneys and lay out more cash to defend themselves, the mere size of having to fend off a dog pile of states wanting a pro-consumer resolution could be present difficulties. 

Ask Microsoft, which, when faced with a joint effort between the U.S. government and 19 states some 20 years ago, finally cried uncle and agreed to a host of conditions from regulators. Those included splitting Microsoft into two competing entities -- one that ran its Windows operating system business and one that was in charge of Microsoft Office -- and making the Windows platform available to third-party software developers.

"We are proposing these remedies because the law was broken and because the violations seriously harmed consumers and competition," said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, representing the 19 states that were part of that joint suit.

Consumers can hope for a similar outcome if the state attorneys generals’ investigation comes to fruition.

The National Association of Attorneys General has not yet responded to ConsumerAffairs’ request for comment on the matter.

Wireless providers are pretty upfront about it. They tell customers they may slow their data flow when networks get congested. But a new academic study says it happens more than consumers think, even at times when networks aren’t all that congested.

Researchers at Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts say they found that all four major wireless providers -- Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint -- often engage in “throttling” whether they have lots of video traffic or not. 

The recent debate over net neutrality was apparently one of the motivations for the study. The researchers said there is “currently a lack of tools or data for stakeholders to independently audit the net neutrality policies of network providers.”

Study of content-based traffic

Within the parameters of their one-year study, the researchers say they analyzed “content-based traffic differentiation policies deployed in operational networks, using results from 1,045,413 crowdsourced measurements conducted by 126,249 users across 2,735 ISPs in 183 countries/regions.”

The team said it found that YouTube videos get slowed the most. Netflix and Amazon Prime also come in for their share of throttling depending on the provider.

Pushback

AT&T provided some pushback against the study, telling CNET that it doesn’t slow down customers’ data based on the content. A spokesman said customers are able to manage their accounts, including data speeds.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rolled back the Obama Administration’s net neutrality rule, which prevented wireless providers from slowing some content and while leaving others alone. Net neutrality advocates warned that consumers would see degraded service without that protection.

First responders have also expressed concerns about throttling. The Texas legislature earlier this year considered a bill that would prevent providers from throttling data during a disaster.

A new study conducted by researchers from the American Heart Association found that consumers who suffer with insomnia could also be at greater risk for more serious health concerns. 

The researchers discovered that insomnia can increase the risk for consumers to develop heart disease or suffer a stroke. 

Understanding the risk factors

The researchers took a genetic approach to better understand how insomnia can lead to more serious health issues. 

Using medical records from over one million participants enrolled in public studies, the researchers were able to test their genetic make-up to see if certain diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, were more likely when insomnia was present. 

During their tests, the researchers found that those who had a specific gene that predisposed them to insomnia were also more likely to develop heart disease or be at risk for a stroke. 

These findings emphasize the need for consumers suffering from insomnia to seek out medical professionals to help get to the bottom of this pervasive condition and prevent any serious health episodes. 

“It’s important to identify the underlying reason for insomnia and treat it,” said researcher Susanna Larsson, PhD. “Sleep is a behavior that can be changed by new habits and stress management.”

Mercedes-Benz may be the next automaker to agree to meet California’s tougher auto emissions standards, the New York Times reports. 

In July, California negotiated with four automakers -- Ford, Honda, BMW, and Volkswagen -- who committed to making cars that meet the state’s stricter standards instead of the national standards proposed by the Trump administration.

Sources tell the Times that Mercedes-Benz is also expected to agree to meeting the state’s emissions rules, but the automaker hasn’t yet confirmed that it will do so. 

Fiat Chrysler, Toyota, and General Motors also met with the White House last month and one of those three automakers also intends to voluntarily “disregard the Trump proposal and stick to the current, stricter federal emissions standards for at least the next four years,” the Times said. 

More automakers siding with California

Collectively, the six automakers who plan to adhere to California’s standards would represent more than 40 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S. Last week, a group of House Democrats encouraged 14 other automakers to agree to the deal California made with Ford, BMW, Honda, and Volkswagen. 

“Our districts and the country as a whole need the auto industry to help us address climate change, and in the near-term that means a serious commitment to greenhouse gas reduction through emission reduction from vehicles,” wrote lawmakers led by Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Paul Tonko (D-NY). “We encourage all automakers to come to the table and work towards pragmatic solutions that will better protect the planet while preventing years of litigation and economic uncertainty”

President Trump has said rolling back Obama-era rules governing vehicle pollution standards would help major automakers keep their car prices down for consumers. However, the Trump administration’s efforts to weaken the 2012 rules “could be rendered irrelevant if too many automakers join California before the Trump plan can be put into effect,” the Times noted. 

A panel created in the wake of the two deadly Boeing 737 MAX crashes is expected to recommend that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) change the way it certifies new planes, CNN reports. 

The international panel, called the Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR), is in the "final stages of completing their work,” sources tell CNN. The team, which consists of both U.S. officials and representatives from aviation agencies from nine other countries, is expected to issue its report on the matter as early as next week. 

Preventing future problems

Since the crashes, officials have been examining the FAA's processes with the goal of ensuring that problems similar to the one that caused two Boeing 737 aircraft to crash within a five month period don’t happen again. 

All Boeing 737 MAX aircraft were grounded in March following the crashes, which were later linked to a flaw in the MCAS automated stabilization system. 

Prior to being cleared to fly, the jets hadn’t undergone the full certification process for a new plane because Boeing had argued that the plane was simply an updated version of an existing aircraft. 

Now, the JATR team is preparing to make “several recommendations that will be presented to the FAA,” CNN reported. “It is not clear if the agency plans to accept or publicly release the recommendations.” 

In a statement, the FAA said reviews of its processes are still taking place. 

"The FAA's certification of the Boeing 737 MAX is the subject of several independent reviews and investigations that will examine all aspects of the five-year effort. While the agency's certification processes are well-established and have consistently produced safe aircraft designs, we welcome the scrutiny from these experts and look forward to their findings. We will carefully review all recommendations and will incorporate any changes that would improve our certification activities."

Spotify has announced that it will be launching a new Premium Family plan with parental controls -- a feature it says has been “long-requested” on community boards. 

Parents will soon be able to exclude songs with swearing, violence, and other explicit content by toggling on the parental control setting. Deactivating the feature will require the parent’s passcode, so kids won’t be able to switch off the feature themselves. 

“At a time where parents are trying to reduce screen time for both themselves and their family, we’re creating more ways for families to bond over music together, while still celebrating individual tastes and giving parents more control if they want it," Spotify's chief premium business officer Alex Norstrom said in a press release.

The music streaming giant has also added a “Family Mix” feature, which gives all family members using the account access to the same personalized playlists. Parents will be able to “control who is in each session” to personalize the playlist, which can help ensure that the playlist won’t be dominated by tunes favored by one family member. 

The new parental control feature was launched in Ireland on Monday and will roll out more widely “soon.” Spotify’s Premium Family plan costs $15 a month for up to six people who live in the same household. 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has named Robert G. Cameron as the Bureau’s private student loan ombudsman, which means he is charged with representing borrowers’ interests. 

In making the announcement, the CFPB listed Cameron’s qualifications, noting his service in the UInited States Army as well as his service with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, where CFPB says he was “a high-ranking official responsible for litigation, compliance, and risk mitigation efforts.”

That last qualification is raising eyebrows among consumer groups that contend the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is one of the largest student loan servicers in the country, representing the interests of lenders. Critics question why the agency would select someone whose job it was to collect student loans to protect consumers from those loans.

‘Not interested’

“The student loan ombudsman should protect student loan borrowers from poor practices in the student loan industry,” said Debbie Goldstein, executive vice president at the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). “Instead, by appointing a former student loan servicer executive to oversee the student loan market, the federal government is signaling that it is not interested in the nation’s 44 million student loan borrowers or their families.”

Goldstein said it will be up to states to adopt policies that protect student loan borrowers.

In promoting his credentials, the CFPB said Cameron directed legal personnel activities and was responsible for making sure the company was in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.

The position of ombudsman was created by the Dodd-Frank Act, which was passed by Congress to deal with the aftermath of the financial crisis a decade ago. Under the law, the ombudsman is responsible for receiving, reviewing, and attempting to resolve complaints from private student loan borrowers. 

Other duties include compiling and analyzing complaint data on private education loans and making appropriate recommendations to government officials and Congress. 

Vacant for months

The ombudsman position has been vacant for months. It was last held by Seth Frotman, who quit a year ago and blasted the Trump administration on his way out the door. In a blistering letter, he was also harshly critical of Mick Mulvaney, who was the acting director of the CFPB at the time.

“I had hoped to continue this critical work in partnership with you and your staff by using our authority under the law to stand up for student loan borrowers trapped in a broken system,” Frotman wrote. "Unfortunately, under your leadership, the Bureau has abandoned the very consumers it is tasked by Congress with protecting.”

Frotman currently serves as executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, a consumer group.

Politicians are sometimes quick to criticize Amazon, claiming the retail giant pays little in the way of federal taxes.

Thanks to a federal court ruling, the company just avoided a very big tax bullet.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with Amazon in its dispute with the IRS over the way some of the company’s intangible assets, transferred to one of its European subsidiaries more than a decade ago, should be taxed.

Thanks to the court’s ruling, Amazon says it won’t have to pay a significantly higher tax, said to be in the neighborhood of $1.5 billion. It all came down to how these assets, such as customer lists, software, and intellectual property, are classified. The IRS insisted on a broader definition which would have meant Amazon had to pay more tax.

The assets are held by Amazon Europe Holding Technologies SCS, based in Luxembourg. Amazon said it chose that location for its European headquarters in part because of its favorable corporate tax rate.

Fought a local tax

Amazon has worked hard to keep its taxes low. Last year, when it appeared Seattle was about to impose a surtax on local large corporations the retailer teamed with Starbucks to fund a signature-gathering campaign to defeat it.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has been a fierce critic of Amazon’s pay and working conditions. Last year he took note of Amazon’s rock-bottom tax bill, contrasting it with the plight of the homeless population.

But tax experts say Amazon has historically plowed all or most of its profits back into the company to expand operations. Now that it is earning profits, they say Amazon’s tax bill will go up.

In Amazon’s dispute with the IRS, the court ruled that the law allows companies to transfer taxable assets to foreign subsidiaries without incurring a penalty, so long as the subsidiaries actually paid a portion of the development costs.

Polish Trade Center is recalling Ryki brand Gouda Cheese Slices.

The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no reported illnesses to date.

The following item, sold in Canada's Ontario province, is being recalled:

• Ryki Gouda Cheese Slices, 4.76 oz. package, UPC 5 902208 000859, product code: C29N / 290351

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should not consume it, but discard or return it to the store where purchased.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (+48) 81 865 15 07 or by email at sekretariat@smryki.pl

Texas Tripe is recalling 35 lots for each of 23 varieties of raw pet food.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes.

The following products and lot numbers sold frozen in 20-pound and 40-pound cases containing multiple plastic pouches, are being recalled:

1. Texas Tripe Ground Turkey Necks: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
2. Texas Trip Chicken Tripe Complete: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
3. Texas Tripe Ground Chicken w/Bone: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
4. Texas Tripe Shepherd's Blend: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
5. Texas Tripe Chicken/Pork/Salmon with Egg: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
6. Texas Tripe Chicken Blend: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
7. Texas Tripe Green Tripe: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
8. Texas Tripe Phat Katz: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
9. Texas Tripe Senior Pro: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
10. Texas Tripe All-Star Bully Blend: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
11. Texas Tripe Beef Blend: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
12. Texas Tripe Duck-Rabbit: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
13. Texas Tripe Goat Tripe Complete: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
14. Texas Tripe Boneless Chicken Blend: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
15. Texas Tripe Turkey Pork Blend: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
16. Texas Tripe Beef Tripe and Ground Rabbit: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
17. Texas Tripe Boneless Beef Blend: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
18. Texas Tripe Coarse Ground Beef with Bone: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
19. Texas Tripe Wolf Run Plus: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
20. Texas Tripe Turkey Blend: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
21. Texas Tripe Pork Blend: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
22. Texas Tripe Beginners Choice: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182
23. Texas Tripe Wolf Run: 19148, 19149, 19150, 19151, 19152, 19153, 19154, 19155, 19156, 19157, 19158, 19159, 19160, 19161, 19162, 19163, 19164, 19165, 19166, 19167, 19168, 19169, 19170, 19171, 19172, 19173, 19174, 19175, 19176, 19177, 19178, 19179, 19180, 19181, 19182

The recalled products were sold directly to consumers in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should stop feeding it to their pets and discard it in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it.

Consumers with questions may call (903) 674-8042