Current Events in June 2021

Recent studies have highlighted countless benefits associated with maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D, including lowering cancer risk, reducing vertigo-related symptoms, and improving consumers’ ability to exercise. 

Now, researchers are exploring how the vitamin impacts COVID-19, including its protective benefits. According to experts, there is no evidence that indicates vitamin D can protect consumers from the coronavirus or reduce the severity of the infection. 

“Vitamin D supplementation as a public health measure to improve outcomes is not supported by this study,” the researchers wrote. “Most importantly, our results suggest that investment in other therapeutic or preventive avenues should be prioritized for COVID-19 randomized trials.” 

Vitamin D doesn’t protect against COVID-19

To understand what impact vitamin D has on COVID-19, the researchers adopted a genetic approach for the study. They applied a Mendelian randomization technique, which analyzes DNA and determines health risks based on genetic variations. This study included over 1.2 million people without COVID-19 and more than 4,100 people with COVID-19 to determine how vitamin D levels played a role in infection risk. 

Ultimately, the researchers didn’t identify a link between vitamin D and COVID-19. This was true in terms of participants contracting the virus and the severity of the infection. 

“Most vitamin D studies are very difficult to interpret since they cannot adjust for the known risk factors for severe COVID-19 (e.g. older age, institutionalization, having chronic diseases) which are also predictors of low vitamin D,” said researcher Dr. Guillaume Butler-Laporte. “Therefore, the best way to answer the question of the effect vitamin D would have would be through randomized trials, but these are complex and resource intensive, and take a long time during a pandemic. 

“Mendelian randomization can provide more clear insights into the role of risk factors like vitamin D because they can decrease potential bias from associated risk factors like institutionalization and chronic disease,” he added. “Here, this method does not clear evidence that vitamin D supplementation would have a large effect on COVID-19 outcomes.” 

Though reports have indicated that higher vitamin D levels can serve as a layer of protection against COVID-19 and even help consumers keep their symptoms mild, the researchers say this isn’t the case. Additionally, they don’t recommend that consumers increase their vitamin D intake in an effort to protect against COVID-19; while the supplement does have other benefits, their work showed there is no correlation between vitamin D intake and reduced risk or severity of the virus.

In the past two years, Elon Musk has published two tweets that have violated an agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. 

In 2018, Musk agreed to have Tesla lawyers pre-approve certain social media posts. Some of the topics that Musk needs permission to tweet about include the company’s financial condition, production numbers, new business lines, and information meant for shareholders. 

That agreement was reached after Musk tweeted that he was considering taking Tesla private. The tweet led to a cascade of legal troubles for the company, and the SEC ended up charging Musk with fraud and requiring him to give up his role as chairman of the Tesla board.

In the time since the settlement was inked, the Journal reported that the SEC has notified Tesla that two of Musk’s tweets weren’t cleared by the company’s lawyers. The tweets that slipped through unapproved included one from 2019 regarding Tesla’s solar roof production volumes and one from 2020 about the company’s stock price. 

The Journal said it reviewed letters from the SEC in which the agency told Tesla that it had failed "to enforce these procedures and controls despite repeated violations by Mr. Musk" and that Tesla had "abdicated the duties" required by the order.

At this time, it’s not clear whether the financial regulators will take action against Tesla or Musk in order to hold him to the terms of the settlement. 

The Ergobaby Carrier of Los Angeles, Calif., is recalling about 2,800 METROUS1, METROUS2 and METROUS4 Compact City strollers.

The button on some buckles that releases the harness can break and detach when pressed by the user while the child is in the stroller, making it difficult to release, and posing a choking hazard to young children.

The firm has received 15 consumer reports of the button on the buckle that releases the harness breaking and detaching when pressed by the user, making it difficult to release the buckle. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves the Ergobaby METROUS1, METROUS2, or METROUS4 Compact City Strollers.

The strollers come with a harness that has a black release button in the middle of the buckle. The model name is located on the inside of the frame, above the right-side rear wheel.

The strollers have a black, gray, or teal blue canopy and Ergo Baby printed on the front bottom of the stroller.

The strollers, manufactured in China, were sold online at ErgoBaby.com, AlbeeBaby.com and Amazon.com from July 2018, through September 2019, for about $300.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and contact Ergobaby for instructions and a full free replacement restraint harness with buckle.

Consumers may contact Ergobaby toll-free at (888) 416-4888 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday, by email at Support@Ergobaby.com, or online at www.ergobaby.com and click on “safety notifications” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 33,266,191 (33,192,974)

Total U.S. deaths: 594,603 (592,432)

Total global cases: 170,800,205 (168,520,476) 

Total global deaths: 3,551,771 (3,500,945)

In COVID-19 era, childhood diseases on the decline

Masks, social distancing, and hand-washing prescribed during the COVID-19 pandemic kept cases of the flu at bay in 2020. Health officials say the flu season was nearly non-existent. 

It apparently had much the same effect on common childhood diseases. The Wall Street Journal reports that there were fewer reported cases of chickenpox, stomach viruses, and strep throat over the last 12 months.

“We’ve seen a dramatic decline in the numbers,” Rana El Feghaly, a pediatrician and director of clinical services at Children’s Mercy Hospital, told the Journal “All the peaks that we expected in the winter of this year, we haven’t seen any of those.”

U.S. cases near pandemic low

Americans celebrated Memorial Day weekend by going to the movies, going out to eat, and hitting the beach. The crowd for the Indianapolis 500 -- 135,000 -- was the largest to witness a living sporting event in more than a year.

The numbers tell the story. The COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University shows that the seven-day average of new cases is around 12,000 -- the lowest number since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

Health experts are quick to point out that people who have not been vaccinated are still at risk from the virus. In most states, they are still being asked to wear masks when in public places.

Businesses face pandemic-related difficulty in staffing up

It’s not just the service industry that is having trouble finding employees. A new survey from the Manpower Group finds that high-skill jobs in a number of industries are going unfilled, and the roots of the problem stretch back to the beginning of the pandemic.

Sixty-nine percent of employers globally report struggling to find workers with the right blend of technical skills and human strengths, including accountability, reliability, discipline, resilience, stress tolerance, and adaptability. 

One lasting effect of the pandemic may be an acceleration of digitization by these firms. The survey shows that more than one in three organizations have already headed down that road, and 86% of those companies plan to increase the process.

‘Breakthrough’ cases of the virus appear to be rare

Clinical trials of all three vaccines used in the U.S. showed that they were highly effective at preventing COVID-19. Data compiled on real-world experience shows the same thing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that “breakthrough” cases, where someone who is vaccinated becomes infected, appear to be rarer than what the trials indicated.

By late April, about 101 million Americans had been fully vaccinated. Among them, there were only 10,262 cases, a much better protection rate than found during the trials. Of those who became infected, fewer than 10% were admitted to a hospital.

Penn researchers discover potential treatment

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) say they have discovered an existing drug could play a role in preventing severe cases of COVID-19. They say the drug diABZI activates the body’s innate immune response, suggesting that it could also treat other respiratory coronaviruses.

“Few drugs have been identified as game-changers in blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection,” said Penn Professor and Senior Author Sara Cherry. “This paper is the first to show that activating an early immune response therapeutically with a single dose is a promising strategy for controlling the virus.”

The study also showed that the drug is effective at neutralizing the variants, which are highly contagious. Cherry said the discovery is important since antiviral treatments will be needed as long as COVID-19 is still around.

Around the nation

• Texas: At the height of the pandemic, it was Texas’ border towns and cities that suffered the most cases. Now, health officials say these same areas lead the state in the pace of vaccinations. Of the 39 Texas counties currently above the state average for vaccinations, more than a third of them are border counties.

• Massachusetts: The state’s mask mandate ended over the weekend, but WCVB-TV reported that nearly as many people were still wearing masks as not wearing one. "Still a little bit uncomfortable not wearing it," one person told the station. "It feels a bit odd, and I think I'll be wearing it for the foreseeable future."

• Iowa: Iowa has joined the list of states that appear to be leaving COVID-19 in the rearview mirror. The state reported 42 new positive COVID-19 tests Monday and no additional deaths. Hospitalizations are at their lowest point since early April 2020.

JBS, the world’s largest meat processor, was the target of a cyberattack over the weekend that shut down its North American and Australian operations.

The company said it was forced to shut down some of its computer networks after an organized assault by an unidentified hacker group. Officials say the attack could result in some delays in its transactions with customers.

“The company took immediate action, suspending all affected systems, notifying authorities, and activating the company's global network of IT professionals and third-party experts to resolve the situation,” JBS said in a statement. “The company’s backup servers were not affected, and it is actively working with an Incident Response firm to restore its systems as soon as possible.”

The attack is the second on a major industry in less than a month. In May, a Russia-based hacker group shut down the Colonial pipeline carrying gasoline from the Gulf Coast to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, resulting in fuel shortages and higher prices.

The latest attack could affect consumers at the supermarket. Because of JBS’s global scale, industry analysts say a shutdown that extends longer than a week could have an impact on the global supply chain. Plants in Canada and Australia ship meat around the world, Including to U.S. wholesalers.

Previous supply chain issues

The industry has only recently recovered from severe supply chain issues that arose during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Outbreaks of the virus forced some U.S. meat processing plants to close temporarily. There was also a shortage of truck drivers to deliver the products to stores.

According to Bloomberg, the attack caused plants to cancel two shifts and stop processing operations at one of its Canadian plants. The report cites a union statement that operations have been affected at some U.S. facilities.

Two weeks ago, Microsoft issued a warning that cyber attacks were increasing and were becoming more dangerous. The company said the latest threat is malware that is delivered by email in the form of a PDF attachment.

A new study conducted by researchers from the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes explored a new genetic form of ALS that’s specific to children. 

According to their findings, children experienced muscle-related symptoms around the age of four, while the majority of ALS patients are diagnosed in their 50s or 60s. The condition was linked to mutations in the SPTLC1 gene, which the researchers explained is related to the body’s fat production. 

“ALS is a paralyzing and often fatal disease that usually affects middle aged people,” said Dr. Carsten Bönnemann. “We found that a genetic form of the disease can also threaten children. Our results show for the first time that ALS can be caused by changes in the way the body metabolizes lipids.

“We hope these results will help doctors recognize this new form of ALS and lead to the development of treatments that will improve the lives of these children and young adults. We also hope that our results may provide new clues to understanding and treating other forms of the disease.” 

Understanding a new form of ALS

For the study, Dr. Bönnemann and his group analyzed medical records for 11 patients who showed signs of ALS from as young as four years old. However, unlike adults with ALS, the children’s symptoms were more severe for longer periods of time. 

“These young patients had many of the upper and lower motor neuron problems that are indicative of ALS,” said researcher Dr. Payam Mohassel. “What made these cases unique was the early age of onset and the slower progression of symptoms. This made us wonder what was underlying this distinct form of ALS.” 

After analyzing the DNA make-up of each of the patients, the researchers identified a key difference in the children with ALS -- changes to the SPTLC1 protein. While some of the children were born with a genetic mutation that created this change, others had it passed down from their families. 

With more blood tests, the researchers learned that the SPTLC1 protein was responsible for the overproduction of sphingolipids, which is a fatty acid found in brain tissue. They explained that the SPTLC1 protein is related to an enzyme known as SPT; in the ALS patients, there was no regulation of the SPT enzyme, which is what led to an abundance of sphingolipids in the body. 

“Our results suggest that these ALS patients are essentially living without a brake on SPT activity,” said Dr. Dunn. “SPT is controlled by a feedback loop. When sphingolipids are high then ORMDL proteins bind to and slow down SPT. The mutations these patients carry essentially short circuit this feedback loop. We thought that restoring this brake may be a good strategy for treating this type of ALS.” 

Moving forward, the team hopes to create treatment options for children struggling with ALS. By silencing the SPT enzyme, the researchers hope that they can better regulate the level of sphingolipids to help keep symptoms at bay. 

If anyone is looking for an indicator of just how much people want life to return to normal and the COVID-19 pandemic to be over, all they need to do is look at how many people took to the skies over Memorial Day weekend. 

The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) reports that air travel hit a new pandemic era high. In total, air travel was up nearly 450% from last Memorial Day. When you put that percentage in real numbers, it adds up to more than 7 million travelers passing through airport security checkpoints over the holiday weekend. Friday was the busiest of the four days, with a pandemic record of 1.96 million passengers, airport workers, and flight crew passing through security checkpoints.

We’re still a far cry from the pre-pandemic levels, though. TSA officials say officers are screening approximately 1.6 million people daily across the country. That’s a significant increase from last year, but it’s still down 36% from 2019, when about 2.5 million people were screened daily during summer peak travel. AAA’s Memorial Day holiday travel forecast also predicted 60% more travelers than last year, but that’s still nearly 6 million fewer than before the pandemic.

Filling up planes

Scott Keyes at Scott’sCheapFlights told ConsumerAffairs that hopeful travelers shouldn't think that planes will have plenty of seating space just because the number of travelers is down when compared to before the pandemic. 

“Though the number of flyers is still down 20-30% compared to pre-pandemic levels, on average planes are just about as full as they were in 2019. That’s because airlines have hundreds of planes that are either in storage or retired, and have yet to fully replenish their schedules,” Keyes said.

“You can expect nearly- or entirely-full planes if you’re traveling to tourist favorites like Hawaii, Florida, or Cancun this summer. With so much pent up demand for travel over the past 15 months, crowds are likely to persist until at least late August.”

Working on expediting the screening process

TSA was well-prepared for the rush of travelers. The agency claims it processed all those people in less than four minutes per person. 

“We are ready to handle the expected increase in travelers this summer,” said Bart R. Johnson, TSA’s Federal security Director for Upstate New York. “In addition, TSA is committed to supporting a healthy and secure environment for airline passengers, TSA personnel and airport employees,” he said. “For those who plan to fly this summer, I’d like for them to be aware that the checkpoint experience will look different if they have not been to the airport since the start of the pandemic.”

Johnson said the “new normal” at airport security checkpoints includes both security officers and passengers being required to wear masks and maintain socially-distant space. One nuance that might throw off returning fliers is that they will be asked to remove their masks for a few seconds so that an officer can match their face to the photo on their ID when they approach the podium where their travel documents are reviewed. 

The TSA is also reducing a touchpoint at the travel document podium. For the time being, passengers are being asked to place their own ID into the credential authentication technology scanner instead of handing it over to a security officer.

Some supplements on the market falsely claim to help cure infertility and other reproductive health issues, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Tuesday. 

In a news release, the FDA said most of the drugs in question are unapproved and sold online. Many are falsely labeled as “dietary supplements.” Officials say the claims presented on the supplements could prevent consumers from seeking out treatments that are actually effective.

"It is important to know that these products are not based on proven scientific information, and they have not been reviewed for safety and efficacy," the agency said.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said it joined the FDA in sending warning letters to five companies for illegally selling dietary supplements that claim to cure, treat, mitigate, or prevent infertility and other reproductive health disorders. The warning letters were sent to: LeRoche Benicoeur/ConceiveEasy; EU Natural Inc.; Fertility Nutraceuticals LLC; SAL NATURE LLC/FertilHerb; and NS Products, Inc.

"These purported fertility aids seek to profit off of the vulnerability and frustration many may feel as they face difficulties in getting pregnant," the FDA said. "Relying on ineffective, unproven products can be a waste of time and money, and can possibly result in illness or serious injury."

Fake consumer testimonials

The FDA said claims that sound too good to be true probably are. False claims on some of the products include: "One product does it all" or "Miracle cure" or "scientific breakthrough" or "cure all." Some sellers even include fake consumer testimonials. Here are a few examples: 

• "You will get pregnant very fast and give birth to healthy children regardless of … how severe or chronic your infertility disorder."

• " … a perfect natural alternative to infertility drugs or invasive treatments."

• "best fertility supplements to boost your chance of pregnancy or improve your IVF success rate."

• "… treat infertility… effectiveness in preventing recurrent miscarriages during early stage pregnancy."

The FDA advises consumers to talk to their doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider before deciding to purchase or use any dietary supplement or drug. Effective, science-based infertility treatments -- such as FDA-approved drugs or assisted reproductive technology -- are available to those struggling to get or stay pregnant.

"Women and families who face fertility issues deserve the best that science has to offer,” said Daniel Kaufman, Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC is proud to work with the FDA to ensure that when companies make claims about fertility treatments and cures, those claims are backed by solid scientific evidence.”

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected Johnson & Johnson’s appeal of a multibillion dollar talcum powder verdict. 

The case was brought by 22 women who said they developed ovarian cancer as a result of using the company’s talc products. Johnson & Johnson argued that it didn’t get a fair trial. Without providing further explanation, the justices decided Tuesday to reject the company’s appeal.  

A Missouri jury initially awarded the women nearly $5 billion, but a state appeals court dropped two plaintiffs from the suit and cut the damage award down to around $2 billion. 

All of the women involved in the case (of which nine have died) used Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Shimmer Effects. Both products are made with talcum powder, and the suit claims the powder was contaminated with the cancer-causing substance asbestos. 

Company defends itself

Johnson & Johnson has denied that its talc products contain asbestos and that asbestos-laced talc can cause ovarian cancer. 

The company, which is currently facing thousands of lawsuits over the possible link between cancer and talc, called the verdict in the Missouri trial “at odds with decades of independent scientific evaluations confirming Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe, is not contaminated by asbestos and does not cause cancer.” 

However, the Supreme Court wasn’t asked to decide whether the products caused cancer. It was asked to consider the company’s argument that the Missouri courts unfairly combined the cases of the women from different states. The severity of each woman’s cancer varied, and some had a genetic or family predisposition for cancer. 

The justices ruled in favor of the women by rejecting the company’s appeal on Tuesday.

Johnson & Johnson has stopped selling talcum-based baby powder in the United States and Canada, but it remains on the market elsewhere. The American Cancer Society has said "it is not clear if consumer products containing talcum powder increase cancer risk.” 

The chicken sandwich wars has a new entry — Chili’s. The casual dining chain made its announcement on Monday with a rather bold salvo, saying that its “chicken sandwich is here to put all other chicken sandwiches to shame.” 

However, chicken sandwich aficionados need to move quickly. Chili’s chicken sandwich is a limited-time menu add-on through June 30, and it can only be had by members of its My Chili's Rewards program.

The spicy chicken sandwich vaulted to the top as America’s favorite food item during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a rise of 318% in orders throughout the year. Overall, chicken prices continue to spike in the U.S. Looking forward, those prices may rise even higher due to a cybersecurity incident over the weekend that shut down some operations at one of the world's largest meat processors.

The Chili’s difference

Every restaurant that’s entered the chicken sandwich fray has tried to find something it can call its own. In Chili’s case, it’s putting its money on a “secret sauce” that’s drizzled both on the inside of the bun and on the chicken. A tomato slice and lettuce complete the build, with fries served on the side. Complementing the chicken breast are the same elements that most others use — lettuce and a tomato slice.

"We didn't want to create just another chicken sandwich. We're all about food perfection and wanted to create the best chicken sandwich. And that takes time," said Michael Breed, vice president of marketing at Chili's. "We've been testing a chicken sandwich and our new Secret Sauce for over a year to ensure we give our Guests the perfect bite — a bite that's full of flavor and makes you want another bite and another — and we've done just that with the Chili's Chicken Sandwich."

Breed went on to say that another difference between the chain’s product and its competitors’ chicken sandwiches is value. During the limited time offer, My Chili’s Rewards members can order the sandwich either in a restaurant, as part of a to-go order, or for delivery for $10 as the entree portion of its 3 for $10 menu. For those who aren't familiar with that offer, it includes a nonalcoholic beverage, an appetizer, and an entree for just $10. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder explored how consumers’ sleeping habits can impact their risk of depression. According to their findings, waking up just one hour earlier can reduce the risk of depression by more than 20%. 

“We have known for some time that there is a relationship between sleep timing and mood, but a question we often hear from clinicians is: How much earlier do we need to shift people to see a benefit?” said researcher Celine Vetter. “We found that even one-hour earlier sleep timing is associated with a significantly lower risk of depression.” 

How sleep impacts mental health

For the study, the researchers analyzed genetic data from over 850,000 participants. One portion of the group filled out questionnaires about their typical sleeping habits, while another portion wore wearable sleep trackers for one week. The team then combined that information with another dataset of survey responses about mental health and sleep records to determine if being genetically predisposed to waking up earlier impacted depression risk. 

The large majority of the participants didn’t define themselves as either early risers or night owls, as the most common sleep patterns were from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, the study also showed that participants that were genetically predisposed to waking up earlier were at a much lower risk for developing depression. 

The researchers learned that putting more of an emphasis on sleep -- even by just one hour -- can have significant impacts. Going to bed at 12 a.m. versus at 1 a.m., while still waking up at 6 a.m., was linked with a 23% lower risk of depression; going to bed at 11 p.m. and maintaining a 6 a.m. wake-up time lowered the risk of depression by 40%. 

The researchers also explained that the sleep midpoint -- the halfway point between sleeping and waking -- is an important factor in mental health. Consumers can lower their risk of depression by more than 20% with each hour earlier they make their sleep midpoint. 

Getting on an earlier schedule

While sleeping can be tricky for many consumers, the researchers recommended some ways to go about adopting an earlier schedule and improving mental health. 

“Keep your days bright and your nights dark,” said Vetter. “Have your morning coffee on the porch. Walk or ride your bike to work if you can, and dim those electronics in the evening.” 

Key Bank reports the number of consumers who have “graduated” from its secured credit card to an unsecured card has doubled over the last year. It’s yet another sign that many consumers improved their credit standing during the pandemic.

Key Bank’s secured credit card program is designed for consumers with no credit score or a very low one. The consumer deposits an amount of money -- $500 is typical -- and that money serves as the credit limit.

Cardholders use the card for small everyday purchases such as gas and groceries. The balance never goes over the amount of their security deposit. Since the balance stays low, it’s easier to get into the habit of paying the balance in full each month.

Key Bank reports its May 2021 graduating class from the Secured Credit Card Program included a record 4,513 clients, double the size of last year’s class. Nearly 3,000 people in the program had no credit score when they began. Those with low credit scores saw an increase by an average of 78 points in six months.

‘Financial wellness foundation’

"Given the economic uncertainty of the past year, we believe it's more important than ever to help our clients build a strong financial wellness foundation," said Mitch Kime, Key BAnk’s head of Consumer Lending and Payments. "The Key Secured Credit Card is just one of the many tools we make available to ensure that clients can see bright financial futures and stay on the path toward their personal financial achievements, starting with sound credit."

The “graduates” may now trade in their secured credit cards for unsecured cards. The deposit they made a year ago is returned when they do so. As long as the cardholders continue to pay their bills on time, their credit scores will continue to rise.

Key Bank’s report is in line with other data showing consumers did a better-than-expected job of managing credit during the pandemic. The predicted wave of credit card defaults never materialized. In fact, consumers’ credit card debt did not go up as the pandemic swept the country.

Serious delinquencies remain low

A recent TransUnion report found that consumers are performing well more than a year after the pandemic began, as serious delinquency rates remain lower. At the same time, new credit card accounts have risen from their COVID-19 lows.

As unemployment rose to double-digit levels last year, most lenders tightened their standards when issuing personal loans and credit cards. That caused consumers to reduce their spending. 

“Consumers and lenders alike took more prudent measures with their credit use,” Matt Komos, vice president of research and consulting at TransUnion, said last month. “Buoyed by government stimulus programs, many consumers used their benefits to remain current on accounts.”

Other reports have shown credit card holders are not only paying on time but paying down balances at a record pace. Capital One reported that half of the credit card balances on its books at the beginning of March were paid off completely by the end of the month.