Current Events in October 2021

Nick’s Famous Bar-B-Q of Nashville, Tenn., is recalling approximately 3,140 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) smoked pork barbecue.

The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, but there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions

The following frozen item, produced on September 7-8, 2021, and packaged on September 8, 2021, is being recalled:

• 20-lb. boxes of “Nick’s FAMOUS Hickory Smoked Pork Bar-B-Q” with a case code of 23452 and a use by date of 09/2022.

The recalled product, bearing the establishment number “EST. 17863” inside the USDA mark of inspection, was distributed to several institutions, including school locations in North Carolina from a commercial sale, and was not part of food provided by the USDA for the National School Lunch Program.

What to do

Institutions that have these items in their freezers should discard or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact the firm by email at patrick.lewis@nicksfamousbarbq.com or rich.dupont@nicksfamousbarbq.com.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning consumers ahead of the holiday buying season that a rash of Amazon fakers are out in full force. According to the FTC’s new Data Spotlight, about 30% of consumers who have reported a business impersonator scam say the scammer pretended to be Amazon. 

The FTC says the typical ruse uses one of two approaches. In one version, an Amazon imposter offers to “refund” you for an unauthorized purchase but “accidentally” transfers more than promised. They then ask the consumer to send back the difference, but it’s all a farce.

“The scammer moves your own money from one of your bank accounts to the other (like your Savings to Checkings, or vice versa) to make it look like you were refunded,” explains Maria Mayo, an FTC Acting Associate Director in the Division of Consumer Response and Operations. “Any money you send back to ‘Amazon’ is your money (not an overpayment) — and as soon as you send it out of your account, it becomes theirs.” 

In another version, the scammer calls a consumer and tells them that hackers have gained access to their account. And, of course, the only way to supposedly protect the account is to buy gift cards and share the gift card number and PIN on the back. Once the consumer shares that information, they can kiss the money it cost to buy those gift cards goodbye. 

How to avoid an Amazon impersonator scam

Mayo offers three valuable tips that could come in handy if a consumer feels like they’re being pulled into something like the Amazon scam: 

• Never call back an unknown number. Use the information on Amazon’s website and not a number listed in an unexpected email or text.

• Don’t pay for anything with a gift card. Gift cards are for gifts. If anyone asks you to pay with a gift card -- or buy gift cards for anything other than a gift -- it’s a scam.

• Don’t give remote access to someone who contacts you unexpectedly. “This gives scammers easy access to your personal and financial information—like access to your bank accounts,” Mayo said.

Reporting Amazon scams

Amazon says it takes fraud, scamming, phishing, and spoofing attempts seriously. The company asks all consumers who receive any sort of communication that they think may not actually be from Amazon to report it immediately.

To report a phishing attempt or spoofed email or webpage, Amazon asks consumers to take these steps:

• Open a new email and attach the email you suspect is fake.

• For suspicious web pages, copy and paste the link into the email body.

• If you can't send the email as an attachment, forward it.

• Send the email to stop-spoofing@amazon.com

• Note: Amazon says sending the suspicious email as an attachment is the best way for the company to track it.

For any suspicious phone calls or text messages, Amazon suggests that consumers contact the FTC.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 45,157,284 (45,059,288)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 728,826 (726,439)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 241,824,120 (241,305,371)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,917,467 (4,909,653)‌

White House makes plans for vaccinating young children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet cleared the COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of five and 11, but the White House wants to be ready when and if the green light flashes. Administration officials say they plan to use schools, as well as pharmacies and doctor’s offices, as vaccination venues.

The FDA is already reviewing data submitted by Pfizer and BioNTech to determine if their vaccine is safe and effective for use by young children. The government has also procured enough small doses to begin inoculating children.

“Kids have different needs than adults and our operational planning is geared to meet those specific needs, including by offering vaccinations in settings that parents and kids are familiar with and trust,” said White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients.

FDA may consider making booster shots available for younger adults

The FDA is in the process of approving booster shots of all three COVID-19 vaccines for older Americans, but sources say the agency may be ready to lower the age for eligibility. 

CNN quotes a source within the FDA as saying the agency is considering making the booster shot available to people as young as 40. Health officials are concerned about the growing number of younger Americans who require hospital treatment for the virus.

If the FDA decides younger people should receive the booster shot, the proposal would then go to a committee of experts advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the agency’s director making the final decision.

Sex of baby can determine how pregnant women respond to infection

When pregnant women get COVID-19, they react in different ways. Now, two new studies suggest that the sex of the baby the woman is carrying can play a role in how she fares against the virus.

The studies appearing in Science Translational Medicine found that pregnant women generally produce a lot of antibodies when they are infected with the virus. But the sex of the child appears to determine just how many antibodies.

The researchers conclude that women who are pregnant with a female child have a more robust antibody response than those carrying a male child. The researchers think their findings could shed light on why men generally have more severe cases of the virus than women.

Around the nation

• California: City employees in Los Angeles may get additional time to show that they have been vaccinated. City officials have offered a plan to postpone the city’s vaccination mandate deadline until next month, as long as unvaccinated employees get tested twice a week.

• Virginia: Public health officials in Richmond say they are working now to secure vaccine supplies for young children, even though vaccinations haven’t been approved for five- to 11-year-olds. The officials say they are concerned that the smaller doses intended for children may go quickly and be hard to obtain.

• Missouri: Missouri, once an epicenter of COVID-19 cases, continues to see dramatic declines in positive test results. The state’s seven-day rolling average for COVID-19 cases has dropped below 800 for the first time in over three months, health officials report.

• New York: The NBA’s Brooklyn Nets have started the season without star Kyrie Irving, who has refused to be vaccinated. The NBA doesn’t have a vaccination mandate for players, but New York does, meaning Irving can’t play when the Nets are at home. The team has also benched the star for away games.

• Michigan: A cat from Ingham County is the first pet in Michigan to have a confirmed case of COVID-19, apparently catching the virus from its owner. “Given the other reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 being found in pets throughout the world, this detection is not unexpected,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland. 

Cybercriminals are still using the COVID-19 pandemic to scam consumers out of their money, according to recent research from cybercrime intelligence provider Intel 471. While fake COVID-19 vaccine certificates aren't exactly a new con, the researchers found that it continues to multiply and grow. 

The firm says hackers are continuing to create counterfeit paper versions of the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccination card. Some bad actors are also copying the digital and paper versions of the European Union’s vaccine passport. 

Researchers say they found one actor who was hawking several advertisements for fake vaccination cards that falsely claim the available vaccines are “poisonous” and “trying to destroy mankind.”

Advertisements for vaccine

Some scammers are even trying to sell actual vaccine doses -- or at least what they purport to be actual vaccine doses.

Intel 471 found one advertisement that claimed to be able to send potential buyers numerous different vaccines currently on the market: AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer. Once a buyer is caught in that snare, they’re routed to visit a particular website set up for sales that can steal their information. Much worse is the potential health ramification.

“[These actors] undermine the pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to distribute the vaccine, putting people in danger since they have very little recourse to determine if the vaccines are legitimate,” Intel 471 said.

They’ll stop at nothing

Cybercrime is up 600% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the researchers say that trend is likely to continue for as long as the pandemic stays relevant.

“The schemes show that threat actors are monetizing the fear and misinformation in order to stimulate the market for fake COVID certificates. This presents a danger to people because they very likely have never purchased anything illicit, whether it's on the cybercrime underground or on other social media platforms,” Greg Otto, Researcher at Intel 471, told ConsumerAffairs.

“There is an extreme ‘buyer beware’ here because prospective customers are dealing with criminals who look to rip people off, not to mention the litany of laws that someone could run afoul of if a purchase actually results in an exchange of the actual advertised ‘products.’" 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken steps to make hearing aids available to consumers without a prescription. The agency said the move is in line with President Biden’s executive order to promote competition in the U.S. economy.

“Reducing health care costs for everyone in America is a top priority,” said Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Today’s move by FDA takes us one step closer to the goal of making hearing aids more accessible and affordable for the tens of millions of people who experience mild to moderate hearing loss.”

To start the process, the FDA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking. During that process, stakeholders can make comments on the proposal. As it would be a major change affecting both manufacturers and medical providers, it’s likely to draw a large number of comments.

“Many hearing aids can be expensive,” the FDA said in a press release. “The rule aims to facilitate innovation and increase competition by lowering the barriers to entry for new hearing aid manufacturers.”

Under the FDA’s proposal, consumers would be able to purchase hearing aids in more traditional brick-and-mortar retail stores or online rather than doctors’ offices or specialty retail outlets. The FDA predicts prices would eventually fall, giving consumers both greater choice and lower prices. That would be a great relief to consumers like Phillip from Wheelersburg, Ohio, who pointed out just how expensive these products can be.

“These are the most expensive hearing aids I have ever priced,” Phillip wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review of Belltone. “After some discounts and a good sales pitch they came in at $7900.00 for a pair.”

Industry response

The American Academy of Audiology, which represents the medical practitioners who currently prescribe hearing aids, said the proposal has been in the works for some time. Both Republicans and Democrats supported a bill that became law in 2017 that directed the FDA to create a new category of hearing aids that could be sold over the counter.

“The Academy has established a subject matter expert (SME) workgroup to review the proposed rule and new guidance,” the group said in a statement. “The workgroup will prepare comments for board review, and the Academy will submit comments to the FDA on behalf of the organization.”

The FDA estimates that about 15% of adults in the U.S. have some difficulty hearing. But the agency says only about 20% of that group use a hearing aid. 

The agency said it believes the rule change would reduce the “barriers to use, including cost, access, social stigma related to hearing loss, perceived value of the devices or certain state and federal regulations.”

ConsumerAffairs has collected thousands of verified consumer reviews of the top hearing aid brands.

It may be a holiday season like no other in recent memory, according to a new study by Oracle.

The 2020 holiday season was different because COVID-19 concerns limited large family gatherings. This year, the game-changer is an expected shortage of products and delays in shipping them.

The Oracle study suggests that consumers are already making plans to meet the challenges. The researchers found that 52% of Americans have already started holiday shopping or plan to shop earlier than usual. 

In what should be good news for retailers, 20% of respondents say they plan to order more gifts this year in case some are delayed or canceled. Millennials are the most likely demographic group to order backup gifts.

Another big year for gift cards

Gift card sales, which have been increasing every year, will likely make a big leap this year. Thirty-four percent of people in the study said they plan to give more gift cards this holiday season. Among baby boomers, the percentage rises to 58%.

"As we see in the news, the supply chain challenges are a global reality,” said Mike Webster, senior vice president, and general manager, Oracle Retail. “Regardless, consumers will still measure retailers on their ability to deliver on their wish lists this holiday season." 

William, of The Villages, Fla., was frustrated with JCPenny when he ordered a sheet set in two parts, but he said the company couldn’t send the matching pillowcases because of a supply shortage.

“JCP refuses to waive an $8 shipping fee for the no-longer useful sheet set that will come without the matching pillowcases,” William wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “As a result, I will be refusing a $200 order that included a half dozen items.”

‘Accountability the name of the game’

This year, Webster says retailers will be held accountable by shoppers who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing holiday season last year.

"Accountability will be the name of the game,” he said. “Retailers must have clear visibility into their inventory, a realistic timeline for the fulfillment, and a plan to communicate clearly throughout the order and delivery processes. Through transparency and execution, retailers can earn trust with their customers and build the potential for future loyalty."

The supply chain issue has grown more severe since the end of the summer. Twenty-eight percent of consumers in the study admitted to being concerned that the products they want will be more expensive due to scarcity and 27% are worried that the products they want won't be available.

Delivery concerns are also mounting, and perhaps with good reason. The study found evidence that the nation’s overburdened delivery system is likely to face increased demands over the holiday season.

Seventy-two percent of respondents said they will have gifts delivered to their homes rather than shopping in a brick-and-mortar store. Twenty-two percent are already worried that the items they order won’t arrive in time.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California San Diego explored one of the most common questions about e-cigarettes: do they help you quit smoking? 

According to their findings, the popular smoking devices aren’t associated with helping smokers quit traditional cigarettes. In fact, using e-cigarettes was linked with a higher risk of going back to regular cigarettes within one year of quitting. 

“Our findings suggest that individuals who quit smoking and switched to e-cigarettes or other tobacco products actually increased their risk of a relapse back to smoking over the next year by 8.5 percentage points compared to those who quit using all tobacco products,” said researcher John P. Pierce, Ph.D. “Quitting is the most important thing a smoker can do to improve their health, but the evidence indicates that switching to e-cigarettes made it less likely, not more likely, to stay off cigarettes.” 

Not a long-term solution

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 14,000 people enrolled in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study between 2013 and 2015. The researchers followed the participants’ smoking habits over the course of two years to determine any trends related to e-cigarettes and quitting smoking. 

“Our goal in this study was to assess whether recent former smokers who had switched to e-cigarettes or another tobacco product were less likely to relapse to cigarette smoking compared to those who remained tobacco free,” explained researcher Karen Messer, Ph.D. 

After the first year of the study, the researchers learned that roughly 9.5% of the participants quit smoking; however, more than 37% of them picked up a tobacco habit again, and nearly 23% opted for e-cigarettes. 

By the second year, the study showed that using e-cigarettes complicated the participants’ efforts to quit smoking. Compared to participants who gave up smoking, those who transitioned into using e-cigarettes were 8.5% more likely to go back to using traditional cigarettes. 

Making more attempts at quitting

Though e-cigarettes may make it harder for smokers to avoid tobacco products long-term, the researchers also found that participants who opted for e-cigarettes were also more likely to continue trying to quit smoking. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that more work is done in this area to better understand what role e-cigarettes play in consumers’ long-term efforts to quit smoking. 

“This is the first study to take a deep look at whether switching to a less harmful nicotine source can be maintained over time without relapsing to cigarette smoking,” said Dr. Pierce. “If switching to e-cigarettes was a viable way to quit cigarette smoking, then those who switched to e-cigarettes should have much lower relapse rates to cigarette smoking. We found no evidence to this.” 

While much of the workforce has shifted online over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto explored a tricky part of the online interview process. 

According to their findings, the stress and anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have made the virtual interview even more harrowing for some applicants. 

“Even before the pandemic, interview anxiety was a concern for many applicants,” said researcher Julie McCarthy. “With COVID, it’s a multiple whammy because the competition for jobs has increased and exacerbated the issues around anxiety in interviews.” 

Understanding pandemic anxiety

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, McCarthy and her team were researching how interview anxiety affects consumers. They decided to include questions about the pandemic into their questionnaires and evaluated the responses from over 8,000 people who applied for jobs between April 2020, and August 2020. 

The researchers learned that pandemic-related anxiety impacted how the candidates performed in their interviews. It also affected how they felt about the interview process and the companies where they were interviewing. 

Participants who expressed a lot of worry about the pandemic weren’t likely to do as well during their interviews as those who weren’t as anxious. The researchers found that job candidates who lived in places with the highest cases of COVID-19 were typically the most nervous about the virus. 

Practice makes perfect

While nerves are natural in high-pressure situations like job interviews, it’s important for consumers to feel confident and as relaxed as possible. The researchers’ biggest piece of advice: practice. 

“Get yourself used to the video camera,” said McCarthy. “Conduct a mock interview with someone in your network whom you trust. It’s also important to build your pre-interview confidence levels by thinking about what skills you have to offer and what it is that excites you about working for that company.” 

The researchers worry that additional stress may weed out candidates who are really good fits for their roles but ultimately lose out on the job because of their interview performance. To help consumers feel more comfortable, the team recommends that employers put themselves in the shoes of the people they’re interviewing and tweak the system. 

“To be strategic and maximize benefits for the organization, organizations really want to be thinking about how the platform looks from the applicant’s perspective,” McCarthy said. “If it’s elevating their anxiety levels unnecessarily, then it may be artificially reducing their performance when that candidate could be an amazing individual on the job. 

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 8,411 model year 2022 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles.

The Engine Control Unit (ECU) software may falsely detect an error and shut down the hybrid system, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will update the ECU software free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 20, 2021.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TB07/21TA07.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 228,297 model year 2020-2021 Explorers, and Lincoln Corsairs & Aviators with 360-degree cameras.

The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.

A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will update the Image Processing Module (IPMB) software free of charge.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S44.

That Southwest Airlines initiative to put unvaccinated workers on unpaid leave come December? Consider that plan scrapped -- for now.

CNBC reports that the airline has shelved its plan to put unvaccinated employees on unpaid leave if they have applied for -- but not yet received -- a medical or religious exemption. The policy was originally intended to begin in December.

In a memo to Southwest workers, executives Steve Goldberg and Julie Weber confirmed that employees will be able to continue working if their request for an exemption hasn’t been approved by Dec. 8. As part of the revised stance, these workers will still need to follow mask and distancing guidelines until their request has been reviewed. The company is still giving employees until Nov. 24 to complete their vaccinations or apply for an exemption. 

“This is a change from what was previously communicated. Initially, we communicated that these Employees would be put on unpaid leave and that is no longer the case,” Goldberg and Weber told employees.

Will other airlines follow suit?

Southwest’s move is an about-face from last week when President Biden issued an executive order that requires businesses with more than 100 employees to impose vaccination mandates for everyone who doesn’t have a medical or religious reason. That order became a problem for Southwest and American because they are both headquartered in Texas. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott previously issued an order forbidding businesses from requiring proof of vaccination.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker reportedly met with labor union leaders last Thursday to review vaccine exemptions. CNBC reports that the airline’s management has “indicated that, unlike the approach taken by United, they were exploring accommodations that would allow employees to continue to work. … They failed to offer any specifics as to what such accommodations might look like at that time.”

As of now, United Airlines’ vaccination mandate has not been modified. However, that could change. On Friday, a Federal District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order against United on behalf of a group of its employees. TheStreet reports that the restraining order prevents the airline from not approving any requests based on religious or medical accommodations due to timeliness. 

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 45,059,288 (44,937,514)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 726,439 (722,744)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 241,305,371 (240,805,141)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,909,653 (4,901,012)‌

FDA may allow ‘mix-and-match’ booster shots

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will reportedly approve a policy allowing someone vaccinated with one brand of vaccine to receive a booster of another. The Wall Street Journal cites sources who say the approval could come this week.

Some studies have suggested that mixing the vaccines is not only safe but highly effective, producing more antibodies than if the same vaccine is used for a booster. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is the only one approved for boosters.

Late last week, an FDA advisory committee recommended both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines be used for booster shots. The FDA is expected to formally adopt the recommendations this week.

Southwest Airlines shifts position on vaccine mandate

In an abrupt about-face, Southwest Airlines will not put unvaccinated staff on unpaid leave if they have applied for, but not yet received, a medical or religious exemption. The federal deadline for implementing the vaccine mandate begins next month.

As a U.S. government contractor, Southwest is subject to the vaccination mandate issued by the Biden administration, which is stricter than requirements for most private businesses. Federal contractors can’t give unvaccinated staff the option of regular COVID-19 testing.

It’s not known how many Southwest employees have refused to be vaccinated. The union representing Southwest pilots has tried, unsuccessfully, to block the vaccination mandate or to find alternatives such as frequent tests.

Seniors in no rush to get a booster

People aged 65 and older were quick to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they were eligible. Data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that they haven’t been nearly as eager to get a booster shot.

The CDC reports that only about 15% of seniors have received a booster, even though people 65 and older make up about half of the people who have received a booster so far.

The low numbers among seniors may be explained by the fact that only the Pfizer vaccine has been cleared by the FDA for booster shots. The FDA has recommended booster shots for people who are the most vulnerable to COVID-19, including those 65 and older, those at high risk of severe disease, and those engaged in high-risk occupations.

Washington State fires unvaccinated football coach

Washington State University has fired head football coach Nick Rolovich because he refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The firing coincided with the state’s vaccination mandate deadline for state employees.

“This is a disheartening day for our football program,” said Washington State University Athletic Director Pat Chun. “Our priority has been and will continue to be the health and well-being of the young men on our team.”

Rolovich earned an annual salary of more than $3 million, making him the highest-paid state employee in Washington. Four unvaccinated assistant coaches were also fired.

Around the nation

• New York: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has revealed plans to offer New Yorkers booster shots of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, in preparation for approval from the FDA. An FDA advisory committee recommended approval of both vaccines last week, but the government’s health agencies have not yet granted formal approval.

• Nevada: Gov. Steve Sisolak says the state has approved a $30 million contract for a monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 that increases a patient’s antibody response. The drug is intended for COVID-19 patients who have a high risk of getting seriously ill.

• Texas: A bill that would bar any entity in Texas from imposing a vaccination mandate appears to lack the votes to pass the Texas State Senate. Gov. Greg Abbott supports the bill, but opponents call it “anti-business,” suggesting it would trigger a number of discrimination lawsuits.

• Alaska: Hospitals in Alaska continue to be filled with COVID-19 patients, as the state has seen no letup in new cases of the virus. Doctors say they are now being forced to ration care, limiting resources to patients who have the best chance of survival. “It’s terrible that I’m living through this because I’ve never seen more people die in my career,” Dr. Jeremy Gitomer of Anchorage told CNBC.

• Illinois: Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he is not ready to lift the state’s indoor mask mandate. Though the state's test positivity rate is down to 2.5%, Pritzker said he is concerned that rising COVID-19 cases in adjoining states could put Illinois residents at risk.

With the holidays less than six weeks away, U.S. mail carriers and package delivery companies are getting out in front with their recommendations for consumers who want their gifts to arrive on time.

Overall, things are pretty much the same as 2020’s holiday schedule for UPS and FedEx, but the USPS has moved its first-class and priority mail ship-by dates up by a day. 

Shipping breakdown by carrier

USPS: If you’re taking the U.S. Postal Service route, here’s what you need to know. The USPS recommends that anyone who wants to have their package delivered on time for Christmas Day via ground service should ship it by Dec. 15. For those who don’t hit that cutoff date, they can still use first-class mail, which gives them until Dec. 17 to send their package. The deadline for priority mail is Dec. 18, and the deadline for priority mail express is Dec. 23. For international and military shipping, the USPS also provides a list of shipping dates here.

While the USPS doesn’t make specific reference to Hanukkah or Kwanzaa mailing date suggestions, shipping two weeks in front of those holidays is likely a safe bet. The agency also reminds consumers that mailing rates have changed and that they should be prepared to spend more than they have in the past. 

Another consideration that consumers should take into account is that slowdowns at USPS may have an additional impact. ConsumerAffairs reviewers like Henry from Waterbury, Conn., have already been impacted by slower service times.

“I sent my package on July 7th 2021 and I was promised delivery on July/12th/2021,” he wrote. “I have tried to call but I can't get to someone. I went to service center in Waterbury and they gave a number to call Hartford consumer center. I called the number, every time I call no one answers, the recording asks for your number and name and promise to call you back in 24 hours. I have called for 12 days and every time the system will ask you for name and number and no one has ever called me back. My documents had personal information and now I don't know what to do.”

UPS: UPS says consumers will want to schedule their packaged delivery by Monday, Dec. 20, to get it by December 24. For those who miss that cut-off, there are other, more expensive, options. Those include:

• Dec. 21: UPS 3 Day Select

• Dec. 22: UPS 2nd Day Air

• Dec. 23: UPS Next Day Air

A complete list of UPS shipping dates and services is available here.

FedEx: FedEx says the last day to get a package out for Christmas is Dec. 15 if you’re going the ground shipping route. For the less expensive ground economy packages, consumers will need to ship the package by Dec. 9. 

FedEx can still deliver packages for those who wait until the last minute, but it will charge a higher rate. A full list of FedEx shipping dates and available services is available here.

Be careful of order confirmation scams

The Postal Service reminds consumers that scammers have recently been using the order confirmation scam. If you receive a text message from a number you don’t recognize saying you need to confirm a delivery by clicking on a link, the USPS says you should stop right there. The scam — called “smishing” — starts with the pretense that it’s from Walmart, Costco, Target, or Amazon and that you need to confirm a recent purchase you supposedly made. 

“Customers are required to either register online, or initiate a text message, and provide a tracking number. USPS will not send customers text messages or emails without a customer first requesting the service with a tracking number, and it will NOT contain a link,” the agency said. “So, if you did not initiate the tracking request for a specific package directly from USPS and it contains a link: don’t click the link!”

Tesla, General Motors, and Ford have grabbed all the electric vehicle (EV) headlines lately, but Toyota is staking out its claim to a piece of the action.

The Japanese automaker has announced an investment of approximately $3.4 billion in U.S. production of EV batteries between now and 2030. The funds will be used to develop and localize the production of batteries to power EVs.

One component of the plan is the establishment of a new company that will partner with Toyota Tsusho to build a new plant in the U.S. that will employ about 1,750 people. Production could start in 2025.

"Toyota's commitment to electrification is about achieving long-term sustainability for the environment, American jobs, and consumers," said Ted Ogawa, the CEO of Toyota Motor North America. "This investment will help usher in more affordable electrified vehicles for U.S. consumers, significantly reduce carbon emissions, and importantly, create even more American jobs tied to the future of mobility."

Toyota continues to invest in electric vehicles

Toyota is no newcomer to EVs. To date, the automaker has turned out 18.7 million EVs worldwide and 4.5 million in the U.S. While electrified vehicles already account for nearly 25% of Toyota's U.S. sales volume, that number is expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2030.

Toyota produced an EV version of its popular SUV, the RAV4, until it was discontinued in 2014. The first generation of the RAV4 EV was sold to consumers in California. The second generation was limited to fleet sales within the U.S.

Toyota also pioneered the hybrid engine, introducing the Toyota Prius in 1997. The electric motor that is recharged by a small gasoline engine while being driven circumvents the range limitations of all-electric vehicles and has proven popular with consumers.

Jolanda, of Sioux Falls, S.D., bought her Prius because of Toyota’s reputation and believes the car has saved her money over the last five years.

“The amount of money that you save on gas alone definitely justifies the slightly higher price point,” Jolanda wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “And for me, that was really important. Although it can obviously fluctuate a bit on driving habits, amount of miles driven, etc., the fuel efficiency is really good.”

Toyota isn’t the only carmaker investing in EV technology. Stellantis -- the parent company of Jeep, Dodge, and Ram -- is partnering with LG to produce lithium-ion battery cells and modules. The plant will be in the U.S. at a yet-to-be-determined location. It will produce batteries to power U.S-built EVs beginning in 2024.

Homes are still in short supply and prices remain high, but the U.S. housing market in the first three quarters of 2021 is beginning to return to normal patterns, according to a report from real estate broker RE/MAX.

In 2020, the pandemic sent millions of apartment dwellers in search of more space. Working from home allowed millions of people to live far from the office. As a result, demand for single-family homes surged. Buyers often engaged in bidding wars, pushing a home’s sale price far above its asking price. According to RE/MAX, the intensity among buyers has been “exhausting,” but it slowed a bit as the third quarter came to an end.

Second-most active September

September home sales were down 7.0% from August's total, and the median sales price declined 1.1% to $329,000. Typically, the declines are larger as summer gives way to fall.

"This was the second-most active September for sales in 14 years, trailing only 2020, which was an outlier in many ways," said Nick Bailey, President, RE/MAX, LLC. "Plus, the expected seasonal drop in sales from August to September was half of what it usually is, indicating that buyers and sellers are still very much on the move.”

Research shows that many buyers have moved far beyond commuting distance to the office, complicating employers’ plans to reopen workplaces. The Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Index shows that small cities have attracted millions of people since the start of the pandemic.

In the third quarter, Elkhart, Ind., was the number one destination for Americans choosing to live in a small city. It was followed by Rapid City, S.D., Topeka, Kan., Raleigh, N.C., and Jefferson City, Mo. Vacation destinations also attracted new full-time residents.

“There’s a lot of flux in the housing market because of the flexibility people have,” Ben Ayers, senior economist at Nationwide Insurance, told the Journal. “We’ve seen huge demand for homes in suburban and exurban areas, as many people decided they want to move out from the center cores.”

Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said the top-ranked markets in the third quarter had faster-growing populations and more shopping interest from shoppers outside their metro areas than the market as a whole. 

A new study conducted by researchers from Oregon State University explored some of the risks associated with certain kinds of sunscreens. 

Their work showed that sunscreens that contain zinc oxide may not be consumers’ best bet for long days in the sun. They learned that after two hours, these sunscreens may start losing effectiveness and become toxic. 

“Sunscreens are important consumer products that help to reduce UV exposures and thus skin cancer, but we do not know if the use of some sunscreen formulations may have unintended toxicity because of interactions between some ingredients and UV light,” said researcher Robyn Tanguay. “And sunscreens containing inorganic compounds like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, that block UV rays, are being marketed more and more heavily as safe alternatives to the organic small-molecule compounds that absorb the rays.” 

Toxic after only two hours

To better understand the impact of zinc oxide-based sunscreens, the researchers conducted an experiment on zebrafish. The team created five mixtures that contained the active ingredients in sunscreen and other creams that contain varying amounts of zinc oxide. Then they exposed the mixtures to UV light and observed them for changes. 

The researchers observed the biggest differences in sun protection and overall safety when the zebrafish were given sunscreens that contained zinc oxide in any amount. The researchers found that the ingredient was harmful after only two hours of sun exposure. When sunscreen becomes toxic to the skin, it makes consumers more vulnerable to light exposure. This can ultimately increase the risk of sunburn, blisters, or sun poisoning. 

“The zinc-oxide-induced photodegradation products caused significant increases in defects to the zebrafish we used to test toxicity. That suggests zinc oxide particles are leading to degradants whose introduction to aquatic ecosystems is environmentally hazardous,” said Claudia Santillan. 

While many consumers have started to use mineral-based sunscreens because of the ingredient lists, the researchers explained that any type of sunscreen that contains zinc oxide can pose a risk to consumers’ skin health. 

“The findings would surprise many consumers who are misled by ‘nano free’ labels on mineral-based sunscreens that imply the sunscreens are safe just because they don’t contain those smaller particles,” Tanguay said. “Any size of metal oxide particle can have reactive surface sites, whether it is less than 100 nanometers or not. More important than size is the metal identity, its crystal structure, and any surface coatings.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Houston Methodist Hospital explored the health risks associated with cardiovascular disease and the flu. 

According to their findings, consumers who have heart disease also have a higher risk of developing complications related to the flu if they become infected. To help prevent severe health outcomes, the team recommends that consumers with cardiovascular disease (CVD) get the flu shot. 

“It seems that younger Americans with high-risk conditions have not gotten the same memo that their older counterparts have received about the importance of getting the influenza vaccine,” said researcher Dr. Priyanka Bhugra. “That’s dangerous, considering people with heart conditions are particularly vulnerable to influenza-related heart complications, whether they’ve reached retirement age or not.” 

Health risks for cardiovascular disease patients

The researchers analyzed recent studies that explored the link between heart disease and the flu. They also looked into current rates of vaccination among cardiovascular disease patients of all ages. Ultimately, they found that heart disease is associated with an increased risk of health complications related to the flu. 

The data showed that the influenza virus was associated with a nearly 12% risk of a cardiovascular event, including a heart attack or stroke. This was true in two of the studies, which included information on more than 430,000 patients. 

The risk of a heart attack was even higher for CVD patients when they were admitted into the hospital with the flu, as was the risk of needing intensive care treatment. 

The flu shot can help

Because of the serious risks associated with CVD patients being infected with the flu, the researchers encourage these consumers to stay up-to-date on their yearly flu shots. 

While the flu shot benefits all consumers, the researchers say it is associated with significantly better health outcomes for consumers with CVD. There was a 37% lower risk of hospitalization, a more than 80% lower risk of being admitted into the ICU, and a less than 3% risk of a cardiovascular event. When patients were hospitalized, having the flu shot protected against serious health risks. 

Moving forward, the team hopes that CVD patients consult with their doctors about the best ways to stay healthy and protected against the influenza virus. While the flu shot plays an important role in that, following a healthy diet, taking the proper medication, and maintaining an exercise routine can also be important for long-term health. 

Greenhead Lobster Products of Bucksport, Maine, is recalling 5,749 pounds of frozen cooked lobster meat.

The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported to date.

A list of the recalled products, which were distributed nationwide through wholesale distributors, may be found here.

What to do

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

Consumers with questions may call the company at (207) 367-0950 from 8:00 am, to 4:00 pm (EST).

Ford Motor Company is recalling 126,033 model year 2011-2013 Explorers that were originally sold, or are currently registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The vehicles may be equipped with a cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) replacement part that could seize and cause a fracture in the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect affected vehicles for the presence of a CABJ. If a CABJ of any design is found, the dealer will inspect its tightness and replace the CABJ, knuckle, and/or toe link -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 1, 2021.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S43.