Current Events in June 2021

Several studies have analyzed the ways that diet can impact consumers’ risk of heart disease. Researchers previously found that eating refined grains and fried foods can be detrimental to heart health. Now, experts from the American Heart Association say eating a lot of starchy snacks may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Instead, they recommend opting for fresher foods throughout the day. 

“People are increasingly concerned about what they eat as well as when they eat,” said researcher Ying Li, Ph.D. “Our team sought to better understand the effects different foods have when consumed at different meals.” 

Timing of fruits and vegetables is key for heart health

For the study, the researchers analyzed over a decade’s worth of data from more than 21,000 participants enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Over the course of the study, the participants reported exactly what they were eating for specific meals and snacks, and the researchers monitored their health outcomes. 

The study showed that eating starchy snacks — which includes foods like pretzels, crackers, or cereals — was linked with the poorest health and mortality outcomes. These snacks led to a 60% higher chance of heart disease-related death, regardless of when they were eaten. 

Conversely, eating vegetable-based meals at dinnertime was associated with the best health outcomes. This led to a 23% lower chance of heart disease-related death. 

The researchers explained that eating certain foods can have a significant impact on consumers’ heart health. For example, having more fruit around lunchtime was associated with a lower risk of heart disease-related death. However, having refined grains or cured meats around that time was linked with poorer heart health outcomes. The study also found that having a fruit-based snack after breakfast or a dairy-based snack after dinner were both positive influences on heart health. 

While diet remains an important component in consumers’ heart health, these findings highlight that the timing of dietary patterns is also a key piece of the puzzle. Moving forward, the researchers recommend that guidelines for healthy diets consider implementing this factor. 

“Our results revealed that the amount and the intake time of various types of foods are equally critical for maintaining optimal health,” said Dr. Li. “Future nutrition guidelines and interventional strategies could integrate optimal consumption times for foods across the day.” 

BMW of North America is recalling 4,511 of the following vehicles:

• Model year 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci),
• Model year 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and
• Model year 2000 323i, 328i stationwagons.

All vehicles are equipped with Takata Non-Azide Driver airbag Inflators (NADI).

The inflators were inspected, but not replaced under previous recalls.

Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing it to explode, or the airbag cushion to underinflate.

An inflator explosion during airbag deployment could result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated airbag may not properly protect the occupant. Both situations increase the risk of serious injury or death.

What to do

Dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator with a newly designed inflator free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 19, 2021.

Owners may contact BMW customer service at (800) 525-7417.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 17 model year 2020 GLB250s.

The front passenger airbag inflator and cushion may be improperly attached inside the air bag module, which could result in the air bag cushion tearing upon deployment.

An airbag that does not deploy properly in a crash can increase the risk of injury.

What to do

Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 27, 2021.

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

Interstate Food Products of Lakewood, Colo., is recalling Little Hatches Jalapeno Cream Cheese, Queso and Spicy Queso.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The following items, which come in a 13.5-oz., clear plastic package, sold in Whole Foods Rocky Mountain Region, and the Denver metro area for Natural Grocers, are being recalled:

• Little Hatches Jalapeno Cream Cheese stores, UPC code is 63818396147
• Little Hatches Queso dip UPC code 638183961496
• Little Hatches Spicy Queso dip UPC code 7051005091000

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (720) 626-9917, Monday thru Friday, 9:00 -- 3:00 (EDT) or by email at admin@littlehatches.com.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 33,567,044 (33,555,657)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 602,504 (602,143)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 179,261,894 ‌(178,‌881,598)‌

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 3,884,666 (3,875,176)‌

Researchers warn the Delta virus may be dominant in the U.S.

U.S. coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are all declining as vaccination numbers rise. But people who aren’t vaccinated are still at risk, and researchers say that risk may be increasing. In a new study, they say it’s likely that the Delta variant of the virus, first discovered in India, may account for a majority of U.S. cases by next month.

That’s a concern because the Delta variant spreads much more easily than the original strain of the virus. While people who have been vaccinated have a high level of protection, the variant has caused severe illness in the unvaccinated population, particularly among young people.

U.S. health officials agree. At a briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, warned that the Delta variant is “currently the greatest threat in the U.S. to our attempt to eliminate COVID-19.” 

July 4 vaccination goal probably not attainable

With less than two weeks to go, the White House has conceded the inevitable. The nation will not achieve President Biden’s goal of vaccinating 70% of the adult population by the Independence Day holiday, although it will come close.

White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeffrey Zients said age appears to be a factor. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a high vaccination rate among older people. Zients says that after age 30, the numbers aren’t as good.

“The reality is, many younger Americans have felt like COVID-19 is not something that impacts them and have been less eager to get the shot,” he said.

U.S. agents reportedly have seized unapproved treatment drugs

Federal agents have seized unapproved and counterfeit versions of the COVID-19 treatment drug remdesivir, breaking up what appears to be a highly sophisticated smuggling ring.

The Wall Street Journal quotes sources as saying the drugs were apparently produced in Bangladesh and India and then shipped to the U.S., where smugglers picked them up and moved them across the border to Mexico, apparently for distribution there.

According to the Journal, the Mexican market for the illicit drug is huge. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have reportedly captured more than 100 shipments.

Around the nation

• Texas: More than 150 employees at Houston Methodist Hospital have been fired or have resigned because they refused to accept the hospital’s requirement that all employees be vaccinated. Some nurses had sued the hospital over the policy, but the judge dismissed the case earlier this month.

• Massachusetts: State health officials report that they reached their goal this week of vaccinating more than 4 million residents. “This is thanks to the hard work of health care workers and vaccine clinic volunteers, and to the people of Massachusetts for getting vaccinated,” said Gov. Charlie Baker.

• Virginia: Cases of the virus continue to slow in the state, and health officials attribute that to a high vaccination rate. Seventy percent of Virginians aged 18 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 60.5% are fully vaccinated.

• Indiana: Eight students at Indiana University have filed suit against the university, challenging its requirement for all students returning in the fall to be vaccinated. The suit is asking a judge at the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis to prevent the school from enforcing the policy, saying it is in violation of the 14th Amendment and state law.

• Oregon: Gov. Kate Brown set a 70% vaccination rate as the threshold for lifting all COVID-19 restrictions. With that goal still in the distance, the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association is calling on the governor to reopen the state on June 30, regardless of how many people have been vaccinated.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says airline passengers are still acting up and that it will be levying more fines for bad behavior. The agency is proposing $124,500 in civil penalties against eight unruly airline passengers, ranging from $9,000 to $22,000 in fines for each person. The incidents allegedly included interfering with flight attendants, assaulting flight crew, drinking alcohol brought aboard planes, and refusing to wear face masks.

The new enforcement actions are part of the FAA’s zero-tolerance policy that targets disruptive and dangerous behavior by passengers. Since the first of the year, troublemaking fliers have chalked up more than 3,000 violations and $563,800 in proposed fines.

Things have gotten so bad that Airlines for America, an industry trade organization, has asked U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to step in so that cases involving unruly passengers can be prosecuted more quickly.

Masks are still required

The FAA’s announcement comes less than a month after a flurry of incidents cost a Southwest Airlines flight attendant two front teeth. While there were no dental emergencies this time, there were punches thrown by a Southwest Airlines passenger. The passenger wound up being forcibly removed from the plane and charged with assault by Dallas police, and their stunt earned them a $21,000 fine. 

Six of the eight instances -- including the aforementioned -- involved face coverings: ignoring instructions to wear a face mask, refusing to put one on, throwing a mask at an airline representative, etc. 

These situations might be linked to mixed messages regarding face masks that people are getting from retail stores, restaurants, and state/local governments. However, the bottom line remains that anyone traveling on public transportation is required to wear a mask. 

The requirements for masking up may be amended at some point, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are shoulder-to-shoulder in enforcing the mandate for now. 

DOT officials say anyone who is planning to use public transportation and has a question about face masks should save themselves some time, trouble, and a potentially hefty fine by asking about current mask mandates via email. The address to submit questions is TransitMaskUp@dot.gov.

Space X’s satellite internet service, Starlink, could be providing high-speed internet to users in every country before the end of this year, Reuters reported. 

At a web conference on Tuesday, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell said the company could offer global coverage as soon as September once all 1,800 satellites reach their operational orbit. That will be contingent on securing regulatory approvals. 

"We've successfully deployed 1,800 or so satellites, and once all those satellites reach their operational orbit we will have continuous global coverage so that should be like [the] September timeframe," Shotwell said, speaking as part of the virtual Macquarie Technology Summit.

The launch will follow a beta testing program through which SpaceX generated significant interest. The company offered interested consumers the option to pay a $99 deposit in exchange for the promise of coverage sometime this year or next. 

"We've got almost 100,000 users. Half a million people want to be users, but we need the electronic piece part situation to settle down so that we can actually build the user terminals for the folks that want the service," Shotwell said.

Last December, SpaceX received $885 million in grant funding from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to bring its satellite broadband service to consumers in 35 U.S. states. Starlink internet is currently available as a beta service in only a handful of countries, including the U.S., the U.K., and Canada. 

Bitcoin’s wild ride has taken another up and down day. After dipping below $30,000, the digital coin surged 18% to $33,918 by early Wednesday afternoon.

The below-$30k dip had to have investors holding on dear life. At one point in the cryptocurrency’s tumble, it briefly erased all of the gains it made so far this year.

Bitcoin wasn’t the only digital currency taking off in various directions. According to Coinbase, Ethereum went from $1,823 to $2,045 in four hours before climbing back up to $2,021.28.

What’s behind crypto’s constant roller coaster ride?

What is causing cryptocurrencies to plunge and then bounce back? These assets are known for their fickleness, but that’s not much of a definitive answer. One cause might be coming from China, where authorities have been tightening the screws on bitcoin mining, the process used to certify transactions and produce new bitcoins. 

Another possible reason is also China-based. Earlier this week, the People’s Bank of China said it was advising financial institutions to stop providing services related to cryptocurrency activities such as using cryptocurrency to pay for a purchase made online.

Yet another rationale is that investors have become increasingly ill at ease about Bitcoin’s environmental impact, especially after Tesla CEO Elon Musk flipped his company’s stance on accepting Bitcoin as a way to pay for a Tesla vehicle. When he made his decision, Musk said he was concerned about Bitcoin’s large energy consumption -- a concern that the Central Bank first warned about in 2018 and a point that Ethereum is trying to take advantage of.

When ConsumerAffairs put that question to Shidan Gouran, the founder of Gulf Pearl and one of the earliest blockchain investors, he had affirmed that these sudden rises and falls are all part of cryptocurrencies’ natural volatility.

“Bitcoin has always been an extremely volatile asset with unprecedented fluctuations, in very short periods of time, throughout its history. It’s an asset that is driven completely by sentiment with no real fundamentals,” Gouran commented.

Gouran also agreed on the possible impact from China and Musk.

“There are a number of confounding factors for the current dip. Some of these are the news that China is cracking down further on cryptocurrency mining which has clearly caused some loss of confidence in the retail Chinese cryptocurrency markets, Elon Musk's tweets regarding Bitcoin’s environmental impact, and less talked about, the fact that the Federal Reserve has unexpectedly announced its intention for interest rate hikes in less than three years,” he told ConsumerAffairs.

And, then, there’s … El Salvador?

Gouran then pointed to a development that’s completely off most crypto investors’ radar.

“From a consumer perspective, the biggest news of the last few weeks hasn't been the price fluctuations of bitcoin but that a nation, El Salvador, has adopted bitcoin as a legal tender currency and, in fact, mandated that all businesses must allow bitcoin payments,” Gouran said.

El Salvador may not be known for groundbreaking moves, but Gouran says what the country is doing could be a turning point when it comes to cryptocurrency at the consumer level.

“Their choice of using the second layer, peer to peer ‘Lightning Network’ is also notable as it brings the transaction scalability found in traditional payments rails to bitcoin. A solution like lightning is crucial to making bitcoin suitable as a form of currency for use by consumers versus being an area of speculation for investors and gamblers,” he stated.

At a meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, health experts said there’s a “likely association” between a rare heart inflammatory condition in adolescents and young adults following COVID-19 vaccination. 

The meeting was planned earlier this month after vaccine safety monitoring systems showed that a small portion of vaccinated people experienced a condition called myocarditis. The CDC said the systems revealed a higher-than-expected number of cases of heart inflammation after the second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. 

CDC officials said at the meeting that there have been more than 1,200 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis in 16- to 24- year-olds after receiving either Pfizer’s or Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. 

Occurs most often in younger men

Most cases occurred in men under 30, and most happened within a week of receiving the second shot. Symptoms, which include chest pain and shortness of breath, tended to be mild and usually cropped up a few days after the second dose. Of those who developed the condition, nearly 80% made a full recovery.

“Clinical presentation of myocarditis cases following vaccination has been distinct, occurring most often within one week after dose 2, with chest pain as the most common presentation,” one of the presentations said. 

The CDC said it’s still gathering more data in order to fully understand the potential risks and to determine whether there may be any long-term problems associated with the cases.

Researchers say the possible link between some COVID-19 vaccines and heart inflammation should be studied and monitored. However, there's no reason for parents or teenagers to avoid vaccination. 

Overall, more than 310 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines have been administered in the U.S. and there have only been roughly 1,200 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis.

"It's an uncommon phenomenon," said Dr. James de Lemos, a professor of medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "They don't change the overall dynamic.” 

No identifiable tuna DNA was found in any of the samples of Subway’s tuna sandwiches, according to a New York Times analysis. 

The publication said it bought "60 inches' worth of Subway tuna sandwiches" from three different Subway locations in Los Angeles, froze the tuna, and sent it to a commercial lab. A test was conducted to see if the tuna came from any of five different tuna species. 

A month later, the lab informed the Times that it hadn’t found traces of any of the species in Subway’s tuna. 

"No amplifiable tuna DNA was present in the sample and so we obtained no amplification products from the DNA,” the lab said in a note. “Therefore, we cannot identify the species."

A spokesperson for the lab told the Times that there are two possible reasons for the results.

“There’s two conclusions,” the spokesperson said. “One, it’s so heavily processed that whatever we could pull out, we couldn’t make an identification. Or we got some and there’s just nothing there that’s tuna.”

Subway dismisses claims

Earlier this year, the sandwich chain was hit with a class-action lawsuit alleging that its tuna sandwich is not actually made of tuna. The plaintiffs alleged in a complaint filed in January that Subway claims to sell sustainably caught skipjack and yellowfin tuna but was instead selling “anything less than healthy stocks.”

Subway has been “selling and continuing to sell some mixture that is deceptively and dishonestly being passed off as in line with their representations to purchasers but are not actually compliant,” the suit states.

Subway dismissed claims about its tuna and has called the lawsuit meritless.

"These claims are meritless," a Subway representative said in a statement to Insider in January. "Tuna is one of our most popular sandwiches. Our restaurants receive 100% wild-caught tuna, mix it with mayonnaise, and serve on a freshly made sandwich to our guests."

"Subway will vigorously defend itself against these and any other baseless efforts to mischaracterize and tarnish the high-quality products that Subway and its franchisees provide to their customers," the official added.

Earlier this year, Subway centered its website advertising around its “100% real wild-caught tuna” and offered a 15% discount on foot-long tuna subs under the promo code “ITSREAL”.

With dwindling selections and fewer dealer incentives, consumers spent more to purchase a new car in May. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) estimates that the average transaction price (ATP) for a new car or light truck was $41,263, a $2,125 increase over May 2020.

It was also nearly $500 more than consumers paid for a new car or truck in April. Consumers purchased more trucks and cars with higher trim levels, helping to boost the ATP.

"Last month's average transaction price-performance highlights an all-time high in year-over-year growth for the month of May," said Kayla Reynolds, industry intelligence analyst at Cox Automotive. "Many manufacturers reported year-over-year gains in average transaction prices. The largest increase came from Mitsubishi, up 12% from this time last year."

Mitsubishi is known as one of the more affordable automotive brands, offering a line of compact sedans that are easy on the wallet. In May, consumers purchased more Outlander and Outlander PHEV vehicles, which are Mitsubishi's highest-priced vehicles.

Non-luxury vehicles got more expensive

The rise in automotive spending was not limited to luxury cars. KBB notes that non-luxury cars saw bigger price gains than luxury models.

Standard full-size SUVs and pickup trucks also contributed to the growth among non-luxury segments. The third and fourth highest-priced models within the segment include the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, which carry an average ATP of $77,031 and $79,695, respectively. Both of those prices are substantially above the industry and segment average.

At the same time, consumers paid less for electric vehicles (EV) than they did a year ago. The ATP for EVs fell 10.8% from 12 months earlier but was slightly higher than April’s average cost. The minivan segment saw the largest overall price gain last month. Its ATP increased by nearly $6,000 over May 2020, and was 2.3% higher than in April 2021.

Fewer sales, higher profits

The vehicle shortage is working in car dealers’ favor. Cox Automotive reports dealer profits will likely end the second quarter at record highs.

“The price pressure index in Q2 dropped to a record low, meaning a majority of dealers are feeling little pressure to lower prices,” the company said in its latest update. “Inventory, on the other hand, continues to be a major concern.”

Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathon Smoke says many of May’s automotive sales trends have carried over into this month. He says June’s sales activity appears to be at pre-pandemic levels.

Electric scooters have gained popularity in recent years, but that has also meant an uptick in related injuries. 

Researchers from the Henry Ford Health System found that not only are e-scooter injuries becoming more common, but the rate of head and neck injuries is rising at a much faster rate. The team hopes these findings encourage more consumers to adopt safety precautions when boarding an e-scooter. 

“Since e-scooters became a popular form of transportation in major cities, the number of injuries jumped significantly because they’ve become more available to more people,” said researcher Dr. Kathleen Yaremchuk. 

The rise of e-scooter injuries 

For the study, the researchers analyzed e-scooter-related injury data reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission over the course of more than 10 years. The study showed that there were more than 100,000 injuries recorded during that time.

E-scooters have become very popular because they’re convenient and aren’t that expensive. However, those benefits have also led to more injuries since more people are trying them out without taking proper precautions. Ultimately, head and neck injuries comprised nearly 30% of all e-scooter injuries; internal organ damage, lacerations, and abrasions topped the list of the most common head and neck issues. 

“As a physician, I would recommend that people who use this mode of transportation wear a helmet and apply the same approach as when driving a car,” said researcher Dr. Samantha Tam. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that consumers use e-scooters more cautiously. Paying close attention to potential hazards like lampposts or street signs and wearing helmets can reduce the number of e-scooter-related injuries and help keep consumers safe during rides. 

“We hope our findings will help educate users of rideshare e-scooters about the potential for serious head and neck injuries and the safety precautions they should take,” said Dr. Yaremchuk.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at Davis explored how consumers’ diets may impact inflammation throughout the body. 

Their findings showed that moving away from a traditional Western diet, which includes a lot of processed foods, and following a more balanced diet can improve joint and skin inflammation. 

“Earlier studies have shown that Western diet, characterized by its high sugar and fat content, can lead to significant skin inflammation and psoriasis flares,” said researcher Sam T. Hwang. “Despite having powerful anti-inflammatory drugs for the skin condition, our study indicates that simple changes in diet may also have significant effects on psoriasis.”  

How diet affects the body’s inflammatory response

For the study, the researchers conducted a diet-based experiment on a group of mice. The team was focused primarily on the IL-23 protein, which is associated with inflammatory properties. In the first part of the study, all of the mice were fed a Western diet for six weeks and then induced with the IL-23 protein. One group of mice was then switched to a healthier diet while another group stayed on the Western diet for another four weeks. 

The researchers learned that switching from a Western diet to a healthier diet led to less skin and joint inflammation in the mice. While the mice that received a more balanced diet after six weeks did initially experience flare-ups with both psoriasis and joint pain, making the switch to healthier food helped alleviate those symptoms over time. 

“There is a clear link between the skin inflammation and changes in the gut microbiome due to food intake,” said Hwang. “The bacterial balance in the gut disrupted shortly after starting a Western diet, and worsened psoriatic skin and joint inflammation.” 

These findings are important because they highlight that there are health concerns associated with eating foods that have high amounts of fat and sugar. The researchers hope that consumers take these findings into consideration and think about how they can make their diets healthier to reduce inflammation. 

“It was quite surprising that a simple diet modification of less sugar and fat may have significant effects on psoriasis,” said researcher Zhenrui Shi. “These findings reveal that patients with psoriatic skin and joint disease should consider changing to a healthier dietary pattern.” 

King's Command Foods of Kent, Wash., is recalling approximately 20,025 pounds of fully cooked, not shelf stable meat and poultry meatballs and pork patties.

The products contain egg, milk and/or wheat, allergens not declared on the label.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following items, produced on January 08, 2021, January 15, 2021, and March 03, 2021, are being recalled:

• 10-lb. bulk-packed cases containing "3.75 oz RIB SHAPED PORK PATTIES WITH BBQ SAUCE" with code 2549616/72314 and "USE BY 3/2/2022," that contain undeclared wheat which is not represented on the label.
• 15-lb. bulk-packed cases containing "3.0 oz RIB SHAPED PORK PATTIES WITH BBQ SAUCE" with code 72314 and "USE BY 3/2/2022", that contain undeclared wheat which is not represented on the label.
• 15-lb. bulk-packed cases containing "0.50oz SWEDISH MEATBALLS" with code 72148 and "USE BY 1/7/2022", containing undeclared egg which is not represented on the label.
• 14-lb. bulk-packed cases containing "0.50oz SWEDISH MEATBALLS WITH SAUCE" with code 72147 and "USE BY 1/7/2022", containing undeclared egg which is not represented on the label.
• 10-lb. bulk-packed cases containing "0.5 OZ CHICKEN AND BEEF MEATBALLS" with code 72180 and "USE BY 1/7/2022", containing undeclared milk which is not represented on the label.
• 10-lb. bulk-packed cases containing "0.50 oz MEATBALLS" with code 01380 displayed beneath the barcode and "USE BY 1/14/2022," containing undeclared egg and milk which is not represented on the label.
• 10-lb. bulk-packed cases containing ".5 oz HOMESTYLE MEATBALLS" with code 00133 and "USE BY 1/7/2022," containing undeclared milk which is not represented on the label.
• 20-lb. bulk-packed cases containing ".5 OZ ITALIAN STYLE MEATBALLS" with code 72182 and "USE BY 3/2/2022," containing undeclared egg which is not represented on the label.

The recalled products, bearing establishment number "EST. M1515A" inside the USDA mark of inspection, were distributed for food service use in California, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact King's Command Foods at (800)-829-2838.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 16 model year 2020 GLB250s.

The side curtain airbags may not deploy properly in a crash.

Airbags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.

What to do

Dealers will replace the side curtain air bags free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 27, 2021.

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

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 33,555,657 ‌(33,542,425)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 602,143 ‌(601,825‌)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 178,‌881,598 ‌(178,572,940)‌

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 3,875,176 (3,‌868,089)‌ ‌

Officials stress the importance of vaccinations

If you are fully vaccinated, you’re probably feeling a sense of freedom. You don’t have to wear a mask at the supermarket, and you may be enjoying more social gatherings with vaccinated friends.

Health experts say you have little chance of getting infected with the coronavirus, but they are increasingly concerned about those who aren’t vaccinated. So far this month, there have been spikes in hospitalizations in areas of the country where the vaccination rate is lagging.

The Washington State Department of Health has issued a report finding that “vaccination is clearly protecting people from severe COVID-19 illness, as demonstrated by the very different hospital admission trends we are seeing in unvaccinated populations.” As of early June, estimated admission rates among unvaccinated people between the ages of 45 and 64 continued to increase, despite declining new cases among people in that age range.

Medicaid enrollment rose sharply during the pandemic

Enrollment in government health programs, such as Medicaid, surged during the pandemic, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). The report shows that more than 80 million people have health coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  

Nearly 9.9 million individuals, a 13.9% increase, enrolled in coverage between February 2020, the month before the public health emergency was declared, and January 2021.

"Medicaid and CHIP serve as a much-needed lifeline for millions of people throughout this country. The increase we are seeing is exactly how Medicaid works: the program steps in to support people and their families when times are tough,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.

Birthdays linked to COVID-19 spread

Researchers at Harvard Medical School and the RAND Corporation have completed a study that draws a link between birthday gatherings and spikes in COVID-19 infections. Their work focuses on infections reported during peak months of the pandemic.

The study found that in counties with high rates of COVID-19, households with recent birthdays were 30% more likely to have a COVID-19 diagnosis when compared to households with no birthdays. The analysis is based on data from health insurance claims. 

“These gatherings are an important part of the social fabric that holds together families and society as a whole,” said study senior author Anupam Jena, a Harvard professor. “However, as we show, in high-risk areas they can also expose households to COVID-19 infections.” 

Around the nation

• Missouri: Hospitalizations have suddenly spiked in Springfield. CoxHealth, a hospital operator, is reporting a six-fold increase in admissions in recent days. "I think it is the Delta variant and there is a lot of kindling with low vaccination rates, so it's spreading very rapidly," Steve Edwards, CEO of CoxHealth, told CNN. "Almost all of our cases are unvaccinated people that, in my opinion, have put themselves in harm's way during this pandemic."

• Michigan: COVID-19 restrictions requiring masks and social distancing expired today. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she lifted the statewide restrictions in advance of the July 1 effective date because the state had made such rapid progress in curtailing the virus.

• Florida: State residents drawing unemployment may get one more extra payment of $300 a week. The state has ended the program early, and the final payments are being made this week. Participation in the program will officially end on Saturday.

• Illinois: The University of Illinois has joined the group of colleges and universities around the nation that will require on-campus students this fall to be vaccinated. University officials say students who can’t be vaccinated must follow strict COVID-19 protocols.

• Colorado: In an effort to boost the state’s vaccination rate, officials will make cold calls to residents to urge them to roll up their sleeves. Officials say their efforts do not violate the state’s “Do Not Call” regulations.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) faces strong opposition to its money-saving proposal that would slow some first-class mail and make it more expensive.

The attorneys general of 20 states and the District of Columbia have filed a statement of position with the Postal Regulatory Commission that seeks to block the changes from going into effect, threatening to go to court if necessary.

In March, USPS Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy proposed changing the current standard for first-class mail delivery, giving USPS more time to deliver it. He said the plan, along with an increase in first-class postage, would head off a $160 billion deficit over the next 10 years. 

"The need for the U.S. Postal Service to transform to meet the needs of our customers is long overdue," DeJoy said at the time. "Our plan calls for growth and investments, as well as targeted cost reductions and other strategies that will enable us to operate in a precise and efficient manner to meet future challenges, as we put the Postal Service on a path for financial sustainability and service excellence."

Disruptive to government functions

But the state officials, joined by leaders from New York City and San Francisco, said the plan would disrupt state government functions and urged the commission to reject the plan.

USPS currently has a goal of delivering first-class mail between one to three days. That would change to one to five days for 39% of first-class mail, a change the state officials found unacceptable.

“For nearly a year now, we have had to fight the United States Postal Service tooth and nail to fulfill its mission and provide timely delivery of mail, medications, paychecks, ballots, and other essentials to Americans across the nation,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “Now, instead of fixing the problems that remain delinquent a year later, Postmaster General DeJoy wants to lead the USPS in making further service cuts that would only result in more delays.”

The position statement called on the commission to require the postal service instead to focus its efforts on “correcting the mistakes” of the previous year that delayed mail delivery during the especially busy holiday season of 2020. 

The states and cities said the proposed changes would be felt with negative effects in up to 96% of U.S. ZIP codes. 

“The Postal Regulatory Commission should reject these changes and direct the USPS to take action to resume USPS service to what it once was,” the officials said. “If they don’t, we will not hesitate to use every tool at our disposal to hold the USPS accountable.”