Current Events in September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked with a significant drop in life expectancy around the world. 

Now, researchers from Cornell University have found that the pandemic may also be responsible for slowing the birth rate globally. 

“The bottom line is that there was a lot of variation across countries in the decline,” said researcher Seth Sanders. “We don’t address why, but we think a lot of it has to do with the degree of economic disruption, coupled with the degree of social support in the absence of employment.” 

Birth rates are on the decline

For the study, the researchers tracked monthly birth data from January 2016 through March 2021 from high-income countries around the world. They compared the birth rates each month with data from the U.N. Population Division’s World Population Prospects to better understand how the actual number of births stacked up against the projections. 

Ultimately, the researchers point to the COVID-19 pandemic to explain the drop in birth rates around the world. They explained that pandemics play a large role in population figures, including consumers’ decisions to get pregnant. 

Italy had the biggest drop in birth rate between 2016 and 2021, as the country experienced a 9.1% decline over the course of the study. Similarly, the birth rate dipped by more than 7% in the United States in that timeframe. Spain and Portugal experienced similar drops in birth rate as a result of the pandemic. 

However, the researchers also found that the birth rate in several countries in Northern Europe stayed the same between 2016 and 2021. The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, and Germany all saw no changes to their birth rates. 

“When compared to the large fall in southern Europe, the relative stability of [crude birth rates] in northern Europe points to the role of policies in support of families and employment in reducing any impact on births,” Sanders said.

A new study conducted by researchers from University College London explored the potential long-term effects associated with traumatic childhood experiences. 

According to their findings, experiencing neglect and abuse during childhood may be associated with an increased risk of premature death. 

“Our work shows the long-lasting consequences that specific types of child abuse and neglect can have,” said researcher Dr. Nina Rogers. “The findings are especially important because these early-life adversities are not uncommon, affecting millions of people in the U.K.” 

Risks of childhood trauma

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 9,300 people enrolled in the 1958 National Child Development Study. During the participants’ childhoods, their parents and teachers completed questionnaires about their home lives. Then, when the participants were in their mid-40s, they answered questions about childhood abuse. The researchers tracked the participants’ health outcomes over the next 13 years and monitored their mortality in that time. 

Ultimately, the researchers identified a link between trauma during childhood and an increased risk of early death. 

Overall, 11% of the participants experience psychological abuse by the age of 16 and 1.6% experienced sexual abuse; the risk of premature death was 1.4 times higher when children were neglected and 1.7 times higher when children were sexually abused. 

However, the researchers also found that other life circumstances were also associated with an early death. In this study, children from lower-income families were 1.9 times more likely to experience premature death. 

The researchers accounted for several factors in adult life that could contribute to an increased risk of early death, including obesity, mental health, and substance abuse. They learned that there was a link between childhood neglect and smoking as an adult, but no other associations were made. 

“This study is the first to disentangle the independent association between different kinds of childhood maltreatment and mortality in adulthood,” said researcher Dr. Snehal Pinto Pereira. “Importantly, very few studies have considered the long-term implications of experiencing neglect in childhood. I therefore think our finding that children who are neglected have a 43% higher risk of dying early in adulthood, highlights a critical component of child maltreatment where knowledge of long-term outcomes is particularly sparse.” 

The internet took on added importance with last year’s arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns. Over the last year, customers have had a chance to critically evaluate how their internet service provider (ISP) performed.

In its latest internet customer satisfaction survey, J.D. Power found two-thirds of customer satisfaction is driven by the quality and speed of the internet connection. The research firm said the pandemic has raised the bar in terms of expectations.

“The internet essentially became as or more important than other home utilities when the world nearly came to a halt in early 2020, and its importance has remained as businesses and schools have adjusted to new working environments,” said Ian Greenblatt, managing director at J.D. Power. “While overall satisfaction had been increasing since 2018, it has declined since last year, showing that as the necessity of internet service has increased, so have the expectations of customers.”

Results varied by region

J.D. Power broke down the results regionally. Verizon had the highest score in the East region — 758 out of 1,000 —followed by Xfinity, with a score of 725.

AT&T ranked highest in the North Central region, with a score of 732, followed by WOW!, with a score of 730. AT&T also ranked highest among customers in the South region, with a score of 753, followed by Xfinity, at 740.

Midcontinent was the top choice in the West region, with a score of 754, followed by AT&T, at 728.

Those results are roughly in line with how ConsumerAffairs reviewers rate the companies on a national scale. On a 5-star system, Verizon is rated at 3.9, AT&T is at 3.8, and Xfinity is at 3.7.

ConsumerAffairs reviewers weigh in

Nathan, of Georgetown, Kentucky, gave AT&T a 5-star rating last December, saying his family relied on its internet connection during the pandemic.

“We have several children that have been attending school remotely and have not overloaded the service yet,” Nathan wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. "Another benefit of having AT&T internet is complimentary HBO Max — a fantastic perk that really adds value and entertainment to the mix.”

A number of Verizon reviewers criticized Verizon’s customer service, but for Cecelia, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Sayreville, New Jersey, Verizon seems to check all the boxes.

“Choices are limited in this area, and I've tried them all,” Cecelia told us. “So far, Verizon is much better overall — connectivity, reliability, service, and pricing.”

The price of gasoline remains high, but at least it isn’t moving higher. However, the price remains near the high for the year.

AAA’s daily price update shows the national average price of regular gasoline is $3.19 a gallon, the same as last Friday. It’s a dollar more than at this time last year.

The average price of premium gas is $3.81 a gallon, the same as it was a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.31 a gallon, a penny more than last week.

GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, reported this week that gasoline demand was 0.6% lower over the last seven days. In fact, he said it was 0.6% lower than the previous four Wednesdays.

Andrew Gross, a AAA spokesperson, notes back-to-back storms along the Gulf Coast slowed fuel production — a reason gas prices are not dropping during a period when demand traditionally falls.

“Hurricane Nicholas complicated and slowed the recovery from Ida, but the seasonal drop-off in demand helped mitigate price increases on the week,” Gross said. “We aren’t in the clear yet, though. We are only at the midpoint for hurricane season, and it has been an active one so far, with 17 named storms already. Motorists can expect price fluctuations into October.”

At the beginning of the week, about 23% of offshore Gulf of Mexico oil production remained offline. That’s contributed to the lowest stock level since the post-Hurricane Harvey period in 2017, according to AAA.

States with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to AAA:

• California ($4.39)

• Hawaii ($4.07)

• Nevada ($3.92)

• Washington ($3.86) 

• Utah ($3.75)

• Idaho ($3.75)

• Oregon ($3.74) 

• Alaska ($3.69) 

• Colorado ($3.56)  

• Wyoming ($3.54)

States with the cheapest gas

AAA reports these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Mississippi ($2.82)

• Texas ($2.82)

• Missouri ($2.85)

• Arkansas ($2.85)

• Oklahoma ($2.86)

• Alabama ($2.87)

• South Carolina ($2.90)

• Tennessee ($2.90)

• Louisiana ($2.90)

• Kansas ($2.92)

As we approach the November and December holidays, a report from Foodmarket says that retailers are encouraged that consumer demand for meat and poultry products will remain strong. On the flip side, labor shortages continue and supplies are forecast to tighten, which could lead to higher prices.

Hog heaven

Autumn is typically a strong season for hog producers. With October being National Pork Month, there’ll likely be special price promotions for consumers, and pork could become an attractive option over beef and chicken. In fact, pork prices have already declined from their summer peak -- by a whopping 21%.

“Notably, the average retail price for whole boneless pork loin this week is at a sizable discount to boneless skinless chicken breast, a competitive item with pork loins,” the report noted. “Pork loins this week average $2.70 per pound, compared to $3.58 per pound for chicken breast. The roast category averages $2.76 per pound, 9.2% below last year. Meanwhile, ribs, bacon, and pork chops continue to hold sizable premiums to year-ago levels.” 

How now, brown cow?

Across the field in the beef sector, cattle supplies are forecast to tighten in the coming months. While labor and supply shortages in the chicken market have made most of the headlines, beef producers have also felt a pinch from the pandemic. “Processing capacity is plagued with staffing shortages, mechanical issues, and recently — a plant fire at a JBS facility in Nebraska, making it increasingly difficult for feedlots to become current. While fed cattle prices continue to trek largely sideways, wholesale beef prices are softening post-Labor Day but remain elevated in record territory for this time of year,” the report said.

According to the latest Urner Barry survey, Choice beef carcass value was up 50% and Select was 41% higher over this time last year. The offshoot of that is that average retail prices for ground beef, roasts, and steaks were also up from a year ago.

And chicken?

The bird is still the word when it comes to the consumer’s pandemic-oriented meat of choice, and that factor alone has created a shortage — and a rise in prices — for chicken.

Urner Barry’s latest retail survey shows that retail prices for whole birds are up 8.7% from a year ago and average $1.87 per pound. Boneless skinless breasts are up 15.5% from 2020. If you’re a wing lover, be prepared to pay. Currently, the average for wings is $4.24 per pound, up a whopping 78.2% from last year. 

Will the shortage of available chicken meat get worse? It’s hard to say, but the current picture is pretty bleak. According to Foodmarket’s review of Department of Agriculture data, the agency reports that the availability of frozen chicken stocks at the end of August was down nearly 20% from 2020. "Total chicken stocks were the lowest since 2014 and breast meat lowest since 2016. Wing stocks lowest since 2009 with a small August gain. No wonder since prices are near record high," Bob Brown, a private analyst in Edmond, Oklahoma, told Foodmarket. 

A new study conducted by The Endocrine Society explored one of the benefits linked with practicing intermittent fasting. 

According to their report, eating all food and snacks within an eight- to 10-hour window can help reduce the risk of metabolic disease, including diabetes and heart disease. 

“People who are trying to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle should pay more attention to when they eat as well as what they eat,” said researcher Satchidananda Panda, Ph.D. “Time-restricted eating is an easy-to-follow and effective dietary strategy that requires less mental math than counting calories. Intermittent fasting can improve sleep and a person’s quality of life as well as reduce the risk of obesity.” 

Health benefits of intermittent fasting

The researchers analyzed prior studies, clinical data, and the science behind intermittent fasting to better understand the health benefits of time-restricted eating. 

Ultimately, they learned that sticking to an eight- to 10-hour window of eating all meals and snacks can be beneficial to a person's long-term metabolic health. They explained that eating in this way helps regulate hormone levels and gets the body’s internal clock back on track. 

In doing this, people are likely to reap the countless health benefits associated with intermittent fasting. The study showed that regularly following this method of eating can help to reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease. 

While it may not be an easy transition for consumers, the researchers explained that there are no dietary restrictions, and it can be a good way to be healthier long-term. 

“Eating at random times breaks the synchrony of our internal program and makes us prone to diseases,” said Dr. Panda. “Intermittent fasting is a lifestyle that anyone can adopt. It can help eliminate health disparities and lets everyone live a healthy and fulfilling life.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory explored some of the risks associated with poor ventilation. 

According to their findings, rooms that have poor circulation could be as much as six times more likely to expose consumers to harmful contaminants. 

“When everything’s well mixed, everybody’s exposed to the same conditions,” said researcher Woody Delp. “When it’s not well mixed, you can have, from a COVID perspective, potential hot spots. So, if there’s one infected individual in the room, instead of having their expelled breath fully dispersed and then properly diluted and removed by the HVAC system, another person sitting next to them or even across the room could get a high concentration of that infected person’s emitted viral aerosol.” 

The risks of poor ventilation

The researchers conducted a study using nine test dummies in Berkeley’s FLEXLAB to understand how ventilation plays a role in infection risk. In one trial, the dummies were arranged classroom-style, and in another trial, they were seated in a circle. The dummies were programmed to release heat, much in the way humans would when talking, and the researchers manipulated the controls in the room to determine how ventilation came into play. 

“With the FLEXLAB, we were able to control every aspect of the HVAC system, which is how we were able to iterate on so many different conditions for the two types of occupancy configurations,” said researcher Chelsea Preble. “We were also able to have temperature and air velocity measurements throughout the room in addition to our measurements of CO2. Those helped us verify and quantify the mixing problem.” 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that when heat is forced into rooms, it can often create issues with contaminants if the air isn’t mixing properly around the space. When the air is cool or neutral, respiratory emissions aren’t as likely to travel around the room. 

However, heat can become problematic, regardless of how far apart people are spaced out in the area. The researchers found that when there isn’t proper ventilation, forced heat can make people up to six times as likely to breathe in other respiratory droplets. This is concerning when thinking about the spread of infection. 

“We know the chain of events that it takes to get a person exposed, and it’s complicated and extraordinarily variable,” said Delp. “An infected person talking and breathing expels droplets and aerosols of various sizes. But even when some of those are inhaled by someone else, they may or may not get infected. 

“From others’ studies, we know that the quantity of viruses emitted by an individual infected person can vary widely,” he continued. “One person may expel millions more viruses than another infected person — and that varies over the course of an infection … And to top it off, the number of viruses that it takes to initiate an infection also likely varies between people and with the sizes of the aerosols that are inhaled. As indoor air quality scientists and engineers, our focus is on what can be done with ventilation, filtration, and air distribution to reduce risks even when all the details of the biology are not known.” 

Fall has just begun, but it’s not too early to think about winter and preparing for what are almost certainly to be sharply higher heating bills.

Over the last couple of months, natural gas prices have skyrocketed. According to the Wall Street Journal, natural gas prices have doubled in the last six months. Prices are up 17% so far this month.

Demand for gas is up, and supplies are down around the world. Demand is likely to increase even more when cold weather arrives and gas furnaces are back in operation. 

Consumers who heat their homes with gas may see their monthly bill move sharply higher, but the American Gas Association, an industry trade group, says gas is still cheaper than other heating fuels. It cites Department of Energy data showing the average costs of five residential energy resources for 2021, finding natural gas to be approximately one-third the cost of electricity.

Electricity costs also likely to rise

In fact, those heating their homes with electricity will also feel the effects of more expensive natural gas this winter. Most electricity generation plants are powered by gas. Industry analysts say the blisteringly hot summer increased natural gas demand to keep homes and businesses air-conditioned.

Currently, utilities pay $5 per 1 million British thermal units, or mmBtus. For consumers heating their homes with gas, that roughly translates into twice the cost of last winter’s heating bills. There’s no guarantee prices won’t go even higher.

“You could easily see it reach $6 and you could see it get to $8 to $10,” John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital, told CNBC earlier this month. “Any early-season cold weather outbreak will juice this thing.”

How to prepare

Consumers can prepare now for higher wintertime utility bills. A first line of defense is improving a house’s weatherproofing. Sealing window and door frames with caulk and adding weatherstripping may be the most affordable remedy, but it only goes so far.

A lot of energy is lost through glass, so replacing older, single-pane windows with new, double-pane windows will reduce the flow of expensive heat to the great outdoors. Replacement windows are expensive, but the cost could easily be offset by keeping utility bills in check.

Todd, of Valrico, Florida, tells us he replaced all of his home’s windows with NewSouth replacement windows and noticed the difference.

“I have cut my utility bill by 25% to 30%,” Todd wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “My biggest savings happen during the warmest months of the year! That's big in Florida!”

ConsumerAffairs has collected thousands of verified reviews of window replacement companies.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 42,553,299 (42,416,012)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 681,259 (678,522)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 230,242,861 (229,665,913)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,721,803 (4,711.253)‌

FDA clears Pfizer booster for those 65 and older

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given its approval to Pfizer’s booster shot. The boosters are authorized for people age 65 and older who received their last vaccination at least six months ago.

In issuing the clearance, the FDA made some exceptions to the age requirements. Vaccinated adults with underlying health conditions can also get the booster. It will also be provided to health care workers, teachers, grocery store employees, prison inmates, and people living in homeless shelters.

Originally, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed boosters for the entire population. But in a meeting last week an FDA advisory committee proposed the shot only for at-risk Americans, saying the evidence did not support its wider distribution.

Vaccination pace continues to slow

A wave of new COVID-19 cases across the country has done nothing to increase vaccinations. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the current rate at which people are getting vaccinated is the slowest since July.

More than 312,000 people started the vaccination process by getting their first shot during the last week. The CDC data shows that's a decline of 7% from the previous week and a 35% decline over the last 30 days.

"We are bracing ourselves for an awfully busy winter ahead," Dr. Megan Ranney, associate dean of the School of Public Health at Brown University, told CNN.

Florida lifts still more COVID-19 restrictions

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made his views on pandemic mandates well known. Through executive orders, he has banned school districts from requiring children and teachers to wear masks.

Early in the vaccine rollout, he signed legislation banning businesses from requiring proof of vaccination. Taking it one step further, this week his newly appointed surgeon general announced that children who are exposed to someone who tests positive, but who don’t have symptoms, will no longer be required to quarantine before returning to the classroom.

"Quarantining healthy students is incredibly damaging for their educational advancement," DeSantis said at a news conference. "It's also disruptive for families. We are going to be following a symptoms-based approach."

Around the nation

• Colorado: Colorado has one of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates in the nation, and state officials want to keep it that way. Gov. Jared Polis said the state has purchased 2 million rapid antigen tests, which deliver results in 15 minutes, and will provide them at no charge to state residents.

• Massachusetts: State health officials say there have been 30,000 “breakthrough” cases of the virus among fully vaccinated people, but most had minor symptoms. Officials say the 217 reported deaths among nearly 4.8 million fully vaccinated people represent a rate of just 0.005%.

• Tennessee: Overall COVID-19 numbers improved this week, but health officials point to one area of concern: Cases among children continue to be elevated, especially among those not yet eligible for vaccinations. Tennessee remains among the top states in terms of the most cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days.

• Utah: To take some of the stress off overburdened hospitals, state health officials have opened the Utah Department of Health Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Center in Murray. The deployable medical center will treat patients early in the disease and can see as many as 50 patients a day.

• Illinois: Illinois’ COVID-19 numbers are looking better every day, and part of that is due to improvements in Chicago. The city’s positivity rate is down to 3%, with average daily cases down 8% since last week and hospital admissions down 50%. “We really are looking like we’re coming down the other side of this,” Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady told the Chicago Sun-Times.

After months of competition for homes that drove prices to record highs, many buyers took a break last month. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports existing home sales declined 2% in August from July and were 1.5% lower than in August 2020.

Even so, sales remain higher than before the pandemic. So do prices. The median home sale price in August was $356,700, up 14.9% from August 2020. NAR says prices were up in every region of the country and caused many would-be buyers to pause their search.

"Sales slipped a bit in August as prices rose nationwide," said Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist. "Although there was a decline in home purchases, potential buyers are out and about searching, but much more measured about their financial limits, and simply waiting for more inventory."

Inventory has been a major impediment to the housing market over the last several years. People are remaining in their homes longer than in years past and builders have slowed construction activity in the face of rising costs.

According to NAR, the total housing inventory at the end of August was just 1.29 million units, down 1.5% from July's supply and down 13.4% from one year ago. Unsold inventory is at a 2.6-month supply at the current sales pace, unchanged from July but down from three months in August 2020.

Yun says record-high prices make for an unbalanced housing market but that price inflation would slow considerably if there were more homes for sale. But unless there is a steep decline in demand or homebuilders get busy, that’s unlikely to happen in the short run.

Not as much demand for second homes

In a separate report, real estate broker Redfin said demand for second homes fell sharply in August, declining nearly 20% from August 2020. The company attributes the drop to last summer’s surge in second home purchases.

"The pandemic isn't over, but the desire to escape isn't as intense as it was before,” said Taylor Marr, Redfin's lead economist. "People are increasingly returning to life as normal, with kids going back to school and cities coming to life again. The housing market as a whole is still booming, just not as strongly as it was in the second half of 2020.”

Marr says competition, migration, and home-sales growth have all slowed in the last 12 months.

No one has pinned the disruptor tag on Roku, but its newest effort to give users free access to live TV has to be concerning to cable systems and larger streaming aggregators and is likely to be a magnet to even more consumers looking to cut the cord.

On Wednesday, in an email to users, Roku inched a little closer to the others by announcing “easy, instant access to more than 200 free, always on Live TV channels.” 

Finding its place 

The company may not get the ink that Disney+, Peacock, or Hulu get, but it’s quietly grown its audience to be worthy of some attention.

As of June 2021, Roku had a total of nearly 55 million monthly active users in the U.S. — a high-water mark and double the number of users it had in 2019, possibly caused by the millions of remote-clicking consumers who left cable and satellite for other pastures. 

A lot of those additional users likely came from deals Roku has in place with JVC, Philips, RCA and others to be part of their smart TV’s interface. But, like a knight on a chessboard, Roku’s real magic may be that it’s free and able to move into positions others can’t — or haven’t — yet. Plus, it has deals in place with major streamers like NBCUniversal’s Peacock that let it offer Peacock as both a free (ad-supported) channel and premium (paid-for) channel. However, Roku and YouTube squared off recently over YouTube TV being part of Roku’s channel line-up, but both sides say they're trying to work things out to the viewer's benefit.

Roku devices start at around $30. Once a consumer purchases one, everything is free— short of content providers think is special enough to charge for. Nscreenmedia went as far as calling Roku the “new pay TV.” “They can even let Roku manage all their channel subscriptions through The Roku Channel and pay a single bill for it all if they want. A Roku box is pay TV for the next generation.”

What’s in the upgrade

When ConsumerAffairs looked at its new program guide, it looked just like the channel guide on a typical cable network. Clean, compact, and easy to read. 

Yes, there’s a number of services — many niche’y — that aren’t on the tip of the viewer’s tongue, such as Cheddar News and Newsy for the newshound; FUBU Sports Network, PAC-12 channel, and ACC Digital for the sports junkie; and something for cinema fans courtesy of the Samuel Goldwyn Classics channel and Cinevault. But, for brand-sensitive consumers, Roku also has deals in place for ABC News Live, NBC News Now, AccuWeather, Hallmark Movies & More, and This Old House.

Is Roku’s move the best thing since sliced bread? Jared Newman of CordCutterWeekly gave Roku’s move some applause but held back from calling it a complete game changer.

“It's a nice feature, but I still wish they'd integrate with live TV streaming sources other than themselves, akin to how Amazon's Fire TV guide works,” he told ConsumerAffairs.

Viewers must like what they see

At the end of the day, the only things that count in the content streaming arena are eyeballs and customer satisfaction. Roku seems to be getting both.

According to Statista, Roku users spend close to four hours daily on the service. While ConsumerAffairs didn’t find a perfect apples-to-apples survey comparing Roku to the rest of the field — Netflix, Hulu, and others — a recent Nielsen survey showed those streaming platforms trailing behind Roku.

On ConsumerAffairs, reviewers give Roku 3.9 out of 5 stars — the same as Hulu and within spitting distance of Netflix's 4.1 stars.

“Roku TV has been the best thing ever,” wrote Jamie of Arkansas in their review. “I’m able to add channels and apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, IMDb and so many others. I use my Roku every single day. It’s so easy to use. It is so much better than TiVo. And I really loved my TiVo.”

Nonetheless, when it comes to customer service, Roku might have some work to do. Examining ConsumerAffairs reader reviews of Roku further, we found everything from Veronica of California’s anguish — “I tried to contact customer service, but they said they no longer provide customer support for the Roku Express” — to Seth from Colorado’s claim of “Absolutely horrendous customer service.” Seth said, “buyer beware… Any transaction you do through Roku will potentially cost you and they will run you around in circles with no chance of a refund! Fortunately, this lesson didn't cost us more.”

Fratelli Beretta USA of Mount Olive, N.J. is recalling approximately 862,000 pounds of uncured antipasto meat.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella Infantis and/or Salmonella Typhimurium.

The Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health partners to investigate a multistate outbreak of 36 Salmonella Typhimurium and Infantis illnesses in 17 states.

Some ill people reported eating Fratelli Beretta brand uncured antipasto before they got sick.

The following ready-to-eat product, produced from February 28, 2021, through August 15, 2021, is being recalled:

• 24-oz. trays containing two 12-oz packages of “Fratelli Beretta UNCURED ANTIPASTO PROSCIUTTO, SOPPRESSATA, MILANO SALAMI & COPPA” with best by dates of AUG 27 21 through FEB 11 22 and UPC code 073541305316.

The recalled product, bearing establishment number “EST. 7543B” printed on the packaging next to the best by date, was shipped to retail locations nationwide.

What to do

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

Consumers with questions may contact the firm at (866) 918-8738.

So, about that new Apple iPhone 13 … is it worth its salt? Apparently, millions of Americans think it probably is. According to the personal finance website WalletHub’s new 2021 iPhone Survey, 29% of Americans plan to buy the newest model. But are consumers going headlong into purchasing one without considering all the variations in cost? 

Crunching the numbers

To find out how consumers could get a better deal on the iPhone 13, WalletHub created a calculator to crunch those numbers and found that people can save $933 - $1,935 over two years just by picking the right plan. Its findings include:

• Going with a no-contract individual plan from Visible is the best way to get the new iPhone, beating plans from all three major carriers, if the calculator’s correct.

• If you’re willing to keep your old phone, you could wind up saving even more. According to WalletHub, an individual consumer can save up to $1,720 and families can save up to $2,723 going this route.

• Staying one generation back can cut the financial burden, too.

“Upgrading your phone every year used to be more important when the changes between models were significant, but now the differences are much smaller, so getting an older phone is worthwhile,” WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez told ConsumerAffairs.

“Buying a phone that’s a generation behind can cut your price in half while giving you almost as good of a user experience as the latest version. Other ways to save money include buying used, good-condition phones or looking for carrier discounts.”

Protecting your iPhone investment

The new iPhone isn’t cheap, but what tricked-out phones are these days? When someone buys a new phone, it’s commonplace for the salesperson to offer an extended warranty — in Apple’s case, AppleCare.

For the iPhone, AppleCare+ extends your warranty coverage from one year to two and phone and chat support from 90 days to the full two years as well. But is it worth it?

For the lucky ones who never have a problem with their phone, an extended warranty might be throwing good money after bad, but that’s really a crapshoot. According to a recent survey by Allstate Protection Plans, 140 million Americans have damaged a smartphone at some point in their lives, with 87 million having a mishap in the past 12 months. An earlier study from AT&T found that Americans damage two smartphone screens every single second. Whew.

For the unlucky ones, buying AppleCare is worth the investment, but it may come with unexpected fees. Take Stacy of Marlinton, West Virginia, for example. “My son broke his device and my cell phone plan includes AppleCare. I was happy to hear this as I was unaware it was included in my plan,” she wrote in a review of the protection plan on ConsumerAffairs. 

“I was transferred to Apple Care to get my son's device taken care of. And a replacement on the way. This all happened a week before Christmas. They set everything up and told me I would get an email for payment. I assumed I would have to pay a deductible of some sort and was prepared for that. When I opened the email it said that in order to process the claim I would have to pay $500!! Part of that being a deposit to make sure that the old device was returned.”

Whether it’s a new phone or a new computer, extended warranties for electronics gear are probably worth considering. For iPhones, Macworld has produced a thorough review of what’s covered and what’s not. In addition, ConsumerAffairs has also created a guide to extended warranties for all electronics, not just iPhones.

With autumn approaching, Americans are preparing to spend more time indoors, especially as the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread. Not surprisingly, some will consider doing some interior painting to brighten up their living spaces.

At the same time, some paint manufacturers are freshening up their paint palette with new shades and colors for the fall. 

Which brand of interior paint is the best? If you ask ConsumerAffairs reviewers, it’s a pretty close race. There isn’t a lot separating the top five brands reviewed on our site.

Behr

In our 5-star rating system, Behr is the top-rated brand, with a 4.8 average rating. Matt, of Cincinnati, calls himself “a customer for life.” He repainted his kids' bedrooms with different shades of Behr paint.

“I chose Behr paint over the competitors because of the reviews and massive color choice,” he wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “Markings on the kids walls were a breeze to erase and clean. To this day it still looks like the rooms were painted yesterday.”

Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams is close behind, earning a 4.7-star average rating from ConsumerAffairs reviewers. Andrea, of Vallejo, California, is one of them and selected Sherwin-Williams to repaint the walls of a 1936 bungalow she purchased 10 ago.

“The paints I used, both flat and semi-gloss were excellent,” she wrote in her post. “Coverage was one coat over darker walls that were not flat and smooth like drywall. I was able to coordinate colors that complimented the architecture of that era.”

Benjamin Moore

ConsumerAffairs reviewers give Benjamin Moore an overall 4.6-star rating. George, of Miami, says he and his wife have lived in the same house for about 40 years, and he tries to repaint it every five to seven years.

“I can honestly say that even though we have tried different brands of paint the most durable and color fast has always proven to be Benjamin Moore products,” George told us.

Valspar

Valspar and Glidden each have overall review ratings of 4.5 stars. Both have devoted fans.

Erin, of Pembroke, Massachusetts, said she picked Valspar to paint her entryway because it had just the color she wanted. She said the paint’s durability was a bonus.

“One coat was all it took to look amazing and give my entryway to my house and garage a simple, fairly inexpensive, bright new look!” Erin wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “So far the paint has held up extremely well considering six children and three dogs are constantly in and out both of those doors!!!”

Glidden

Armando, of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, said he has been using Glidden paint for a long time. He admits he has tried other paints but finds he always goes back to Glidden.

“My uncle was a professional painter and told me, for side jobs and personal work, he use Glidden over Sherwin Williams,” Armando wrote in a post. “That stuck in my head. I'm now 54 and still use Glidden whenever possible. Price, selection and job results.”

Paint may also do more than brighten up a room. Last week researchers at Purdue University reported they have developed the world's whitest paint — paint so reflective that it may eventually eliminate the need for air conditioning. 

The paint reportedly reflects 98.1% of solar radiation, at the same time emitting infrared heat. Because the paint absorbs less heat from the sun than it emits, a surface coated with this paint is cooled below the surrounding temperature without consuming power, the researchers said. The paint has earned a Guinness World Records title for whitest paint.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 42,416,012 (42,294,019)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 678,522 (676,347)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 229,665,913 (229,222,879)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,711.253 (4,702,936)‌

‘Breakthrough’ cases becoming more common

Data show being vaccinated greatly reduces the chances of getting COVID-19, but the variants of the virus, particularly the Delta variant, have resulted in an increasing number of “breakthrough cases” of vaccinated people being infected.

But there’s good news. Most of these breakthrough cases produce only mild symptoms — and no symptoms at all in some cases. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) correctly notes that severe illness and death are “rare,” state-level data show that milder breakthrough cases are on the rise and may keep rising.

“It’s likely that everybody will probably get infected with COVID-19 [at some point] because it’s an endemic respiratory virus,” Amesh Adalja, a doctor and infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Roll Call. “The goal is to make sure that at that time, that infection occurs after you’ve been vaccinated so it’s mild.” 

Legal experts suggest vaccination mandates will stand up in court

The U.S. government and large private employers have issued vaccination mandates for employees, producing threats of lawsuits from people who refused to be vaccinated against the virus. But many legal experts say the law may back the employers.

In one case, it already has. In June, a federal judge ruled in favor of Methodist Hospital in Houston after more than 100 of its employees sued to overturn the vaccination mandate. The judge ruled the mandate did not violate anyone’s rights or amount to coercion. 

That may not stop future lawsuits. Anti-vaccination groups have said their legal challenges will be based on a claim that mandates to be vaccinated violate the right to bodily integrity under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. Employers counter that it is simply a requirement for employment. 

WHO study finds Delta may be changing symptoms

From the beginning of the pandemic, health experts told health care providers to watch for a certain set of symptoms. COVID-19 was likely to be present if a patient had a dry cough, a fever, a loss of smell or taste, or fatigue.

With the rapid spread of the Delta variant, a study by the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized a new set of common symptoms. It said the virus among the vaccinated population now causes headaches, a runny nose, sneezing, or loss of smell.

For the unvaccinated, the study found the most common Delta variant symptoms are headache, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and a persistent cough.

Around the nation

• Florida: The COVID-19 news is slightly better in Florida this week. Federal health officials released the latest data, showing 6,904 new COVID-19 cases on Monday and 6,297 new cases on Sunday. It’s the first time the state’s case count has been below 7,000 on consecutive days since mid-July.

• New Jersey: The pandemic-related worker shortage isn’t just hitting fast-food restaurants. Many independent restaurants in the state report employees are hard to find. "These people find other jobs like Uber and GrubHub," restaurant owner Ralph Magliocchetti told WABC-TV. "They work whenever they want. They don't have to punch in or punch out."

• Kentucky: The family of a 29-year old woman who died this month from COVID-19 says “misinformation killed her.” Samantha Wendell of Grand Rivers, Kentucky, was engaged to be married this month. In a Facebook post, her cousin said she wasn’t vaccinated because she feared infertility. There is no evidence any vaccines cause infertility.

• Nevada: The epicenter of outbreaks in the state has always been Las Vegas and Clark County, and health officials say an improvement there in recent days has brought down numbers for the entire state. Hospitalizations have declined in Clark County but remain elevated in rural counties.

• Oregon: About 24,000 state employees represented by the Service Employees International Union will have an extra six weeks to become fully vaccinated. The union has negotiated an extension to Gov. Kate Brown’s mandate that all state employees be vaccinated by October 18.

An arrangement between American Airlines and JetBlue has raised the ire of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Together with Attorneys General in six states and the District of Columbia, a lawsuit was filed on Tuesday to block an unprecedented series of agreements for the creation of the “Northeast Alliance.” In that partnership proposal, the two airlines would consolidate their operations in Boston and New York City. 

As you can imagine, that’s a pretty healthy combination. However, the DOJ felt not only would eliminate healthy competition in those cities, but will also harm travelers across the U.S. by greatly diminishing JetBlue’s incentive to compete with American in other markets , “further consolidating an already highly concentrated industry.”

“Millions of consumers across America rely on air travel every day for work, to visit family, or to take vacations. Fair competition is essential to ensuring they can fly affordably and safely,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

“In an industry where just four airlines control more than 80% of domestic air travel, American Airlines’ ‘alliance’ with JetBlue is, in fact, an unprecedented maneuver to further consolidate the industry. It would result in higher fares, fewer choices, and lower quality service if allowed to continue. The complaint filed today demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to ensuring economic opportunity and fairness by protecting consumers and competition.”

Good thing or bad thing for the traveler?

When the alliance was originally announced, both JetBlue and American were excited about the possibilities. From its podium, American said the partnership gave the air traveler a larger schedule of flights, frequent flyer cooperation, and a “seamless” travel experience.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) seemed favorable, too, and the partnership was actually approved by the Transportation Department just weeks before the Trump administration left office.

“Could American build up operations in Boston and New York without JetBlue’s help, leading to more competition? Sure, in theory, but you really think American’s management was going to be able to execute well on that? Like, have they been following the airline for the past decade?,” postured OneMileAtATime’s Ben Schlappig.

“I think a vast majority of frequent flyers would agree that reciprocal mileage earning and redemption opportunities, as well as reciprocal elite perks, benefit consumers,” Schlappig said, laying out consumer-facing pluses like giving American a better chance at competing in the New York area and working together on scheduling to make their networks more complementary.

“If you ask me, these kinds of partnerships are the sweet spots, compared to a merger — consumers get upside, but you still have a distinct competitor in the market,” he said.

Air travel, severely restrained during the early months of the pandemic, resumed over the spring and summer as more people received COVID-19 vaccinations. But acute labor shortages throughout airport facilities have made air travel more challenging.

The latest J.D. Power North American Airport Customer Satisfaction Survey found travelers’ complaints are on the rise. In nearly every case, consumers cite the lack of employees at gift shops, restaurants, and rental car counters in the airports.

Michael Taylor, travel intelligence lead at J.D. Power, says customer satisfaction with airports was very high in the midst of the pandemic. Most airports were far from crowded, and traveling seemed easier.

“Ultimately, the data conveys changing expectations among travelers,” Taylor said. “Early in the pandemic, passengers were satisfied with any shop or restaurant being open, but they now expect full service at the airport.”

Labor shortages appear to be the main driver of decreased satisfaction. An analysis of ConsumerAffairs reviews of rental car agencies at airports showed a common theme — the agencies were often shorthanded.

Long waits at the rental car counter

Mary, of Mishawaka, Indiana, encountered just such a situation when she reserved a car at Thrifty Car Rental at Boston’s Logan Airport earlier this month.

“When I arrived to pick up the car, the line was very long which was no problem because it is at a busy airport,” Mary wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “However, after waiting in line for more than 30 minutes, I finally was checked in and received the paperwork to go and get the car. “When I arrived at the garage to pick up the car, the line was out the door but there was no one there working.”

Many consumers reviewing other car rental agencies at other U.S. airports cite a similar experience. The J.D. Power survey found airport businesses, such as food, beverage, and retail services, are the keys to a good airport experience, just as much as a good airline experience.

In the latest survey,  Miami International and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International scored highest in the factor for food, beverage, and retail in their respective segments. 

The survey noted the labor shortage throughout North America has resulted in several airport dining and retail locations closing, a situation that J.D. Power says has disproportionally affected medium-sized airports.

A new study conducted by researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine explored the likelihood of consumers developing an allergic reaction to the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. 

According to the findings, reactions to these types of vaccines are rare. When consumers do experience reactions, they’re usually mild. 

“It’s nice to know these reactions are manageable,” said Dr. Kari Nadeau, an author of the study, published in JAMA Network Open. “Having an allergic reaction to these new vaccines is uncommon, and if it does happen, there’s a way to manage it.” 

Understanding allergic reactions

For the study, the researchers analyzed medical records of 22 individuals (20 women) who experienced possible allergic reactions and were among recipients of the first 39,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines given to health care providers at Stanford. The 22 recipients had symptoms within three hours of receiving the shot, but only 17 met diagnostic criteria for an allergic reaction. Three received epinephrine, and all 22 fully recovered. Fifteen of the 22 had documented histories of previous allergic reactions.

In follow-up testing on 11 of the individuals, the researchers concluded they were likely reacting negatively to polyethylene glycol (PEG), one of the inert ingredients in both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. PEG is used as a stabilizer in household products, medications and cosmetics; the authors suggest that because women use these products more often, they possibly have more sensitivity to PEG.

The allergic reactions experienced by the vaccine recipients weren't severe, suggesting that recipients who do get symptoms such as hives, swelling or shortness of breath can still get the second dose, as long as it's under medical supervision, according to the researchers.

The researchers hope that consumers’ biggest takeaway is that the active ingredients in the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines aren’t likely to be linked with allergic reactions. 

“What’s important is what we didn’t find, as much as what we did find,” Dr. Nadeau said. “It does not seem that mRNA itself causes the allergic reactions.”