Current Events in October 2021

Butterball of Mount Olive, N.C., is recalling approximately 14,107 pounds of ground turkey.

The products may be contaminated with extraneous materials – specifically, pieces of blue plastic. There have been no confirmed reports of injuries.

The following items, produced on September 28, 2021, are being recalled:

• 2.5-lb. trays containing “farm to family BUTTERBALL all natural Ground Turkey” with the case code 50211271, a sell or freeze by date of 10/18/2021, and timestamps from 2123 through 2302 printed on the packaging.
• 3-lb. tray containing “Kroger GROUND TURKEY” with the case code 50211271, a sell or freeze by date of 10/17/2021, and timestamps from 2314 through 2351 printed on the packaging.

The recalled products, bearing the establishment number “EST. P-7345” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

What to do

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

Consumers with questions may contact Butterball at (800) 288-8372.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 44,694,149 (44,590,780)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 719,760 (717,158)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 239,341,545 (238,947,617)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,877,533 (4,869,812)‌

FDA panel to vote on boosters

People inoculated with the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are waiting to hear whether they should get a booster shot, and the answer will likely come by the end of the week. A panel of experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to vote today on Moderna’s vaccine and Friday on Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.

Moderna wants the FDA to authorize a booster that is half the dosage of the first two vaccine doses. In an initial statement on the application, the FDA didn’t take a position one way or the other, noting that some research suggests that a Moderna booster may not be necessary.

The FDA has authorized booster shots for people who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. It’s recommended for people aged 65 and older, people in certain occupations, and people with compromised immune systems.

COVID-19 was the second leading cause of death last month

It’s a grim statistic. In September, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reported that COVID-19 was the second-leading cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease and ahead of cancer.

The Foundation also reported that there were 90,000 deaths from the coronavirus from June through September among people who had not been vaccinated. 

"Most of these preventable deaths occurred in the last month, well after vaccines became available," the KFF said. "In September 2021 alone, approximately 49,000 deaths likely would have been averted if they had chosen to get vaccinated against COVID-19."

Family seeking flu shots were injected with COVID-19 vaccine instead

Joshua and Alexandria Price say they and their two young children were mistakenly given a COVID-19 vaccine last week when they went to a Walgreens Pharmacy in Evansville, Indiana. The children, ages four and five, received a full adult dose of the vaccine.

"When they called us and told us that they had made a mistake and had given us the wrong shot, I was just in shock," Alexandra Price told CNN. "All I could say to them was, 'What does this mean for my kids?'"

Price said the four-year-old began having flu-like symptoms before they got home. Medical experts say both kids should be fine, but they note that they should be monitored. Walgreens declined to comment, citing privacy concerns.

Around the nation

• New Jersey: New Jersey has joined the ranks of the most-vaccinated states. This week, state health officials reported that 75% of eligible residents have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. Only six other states have reached that threshold.

• Montana: The state may have a small population, but an increasing number of residents are getting COVID-19. As a result, health officials say hospitals are being overwhelmed with sick patients. The intensive care unit (ICU) at Billings Clinic is operating at 175% of capacity.

• Texas: A grand jury has indicted an Aubrey man on charges of threatening harm to a doctor because of her outspoken advocacy of COVID-19 vaccinations. The 51-year old man was arrested after the grand jury said he "knowingly and willingly transmitted in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another." The doctor who received the threat was not named.

• Arkansas: Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, continues to walk a political tightrope in a state where the GOP base is increasingly anti-vaccine. This week, he allowed two bills that let employees opt out of vaccine mandates to become laws without his signature, calling them “unnecessary” and “harmful to vaccination efforts.”

• Tennessee: The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners has adopted a policy allowing for disciplinary action against doctors who spread misinformation about COVID-19. Penalties include suspension and, in extreme cases, the revocation of medical licenses.

The U.S. government has warned consumers that they are in for a winter of sky-high heating bills. The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) winter forecast predicts that most household heating bills will be as much as 54% higher than last winter.

“As we have moved beyond what we expect to be the deepest part of the pandemic-related economic downturn, growth in energy demand has generally outpaced growth in supply,” said EIA Acting Administrator Steve Nalley. “These dynamics are raising energy prices around the world.”

Natural gas prices have risen the most, doubling in the first six months of 2021 and rising 17% in September. According to the EIA, nearly half of U.S. homes use natural gas, but the rest won’t escape higher heating bills. The cost of propane is expected to be 54% higher this winter, and heating oil costs may be 43% more than last winter.

The cost of electric heat is expected to rise only 6%. However, most electric utilities are powered by natural gas and may be affected by higher costs for that fuel.

Colder than normal winter

Making matters worse, the U.S. could be in for a harsh winter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects a slightly colder winter this year when compared to last year. The EIA expects those colder temperatures to increase U.S. energy consumption for heating this winter.

While the U.S. will have to contend with higher prices, China and parts of Europe are dealing with an energy shortage that is affecting prices on world markets. Much of the problem can be traced to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in consumer behavior.

“The higher global and domestic energy prices that are resulting from economies beginning to grow again are going to translate into larger household bills for energy this winter,” Nalley said.

How to prepare

Consumers should probably prepare now for higher wintertime utility bills. Replacement windows are a big investment, but they could result in more reasonable heating bills. In January, Rod, of Easton, Pa., told us he had just installed new windows from Renewal, by Andersen.

“In short, experience this winter, house feels warmer,” Rod wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “No actual data yet based on heating bills but am confident that the data will support the perception.”

A less expensive measure 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.

It may be time to unpack those gloves and sweaters.

A new study conducted by researchers from Penn State explored just how long consumers may be dealing with COVID-19-related symptoms. 

According to their findings, “long COVID,” or experiencing symptoms related to the virus long-term, affects more than half of all patients. They explained that it’s not uncommon for COVID-19 survivors to experience physical and psychological symptoms for up to six months after recovery. 

“These findings confirm what many health care workers and COVID-19 survivors have been claiming, namely, that adverse health effects from COVID-19 can linger,” said researcher Vernon Chinchilli. “Although previous studies have examined the prevalence of long COVID symptoms among patients, this study examined a larger population, including people in high-, middle-, and low-income countries, and examined many more symptoms. Therefore, we believe our findings are quite robust given the available data.” 

How common is long COVID?

For the study, the researchers analyzed nearly 60 earlier reports that included information on over 250,000 people who were infected with COVID-19 between December 2019, and March 2021. They tracked the participants’ health outcomes at three junctures: one month after infection, two to five months post-infection, and six or more months after infection. 

Ultimately, experiencing coronavirus-related symptoms for more than six months after infection was common in half of all the participants involved in the study. The researchers identified several serious side effects as a result of a COVID-19 infection, including lung abnormalities, digestive issues, neurological concerns, skin conditions, mobility issues, cardiovascular issues, and disruption to general well-being. 

COVID-19 attacks the immune system

While it remains unclear why these symptoms persist for so long after infection, the researchers explored several potential links. For starters, they explained that the virus may lead to a serious attack on the immune system. They also noted that the virus can stay alive in the nervous system, which may be the cause of many of the neurological symptoms. Additionally, when COVID-19 antibodies produce autoantibodies, these cells can attack the body’s tissues rather than the virus. 

“Our study was not designed to confirm COVID-19 as the sole cause of these symptoms,” said researcher Dr. Paddy Ssentongo. “It is plausible that symptoms reported by patients in some of the studies examined were due to some other causes.” 

The researchers hope these findings highlight the long-term impact that COVID-19 has on those who become infected. In order to keep consumers safe and healthy long-term, they say the goal for public health officials should be prioritizing infection prevention. 

“The burden of poor health in COVID-19 survivors is overwhelming,” Dr. Ssentongo said. “Among these are the mental health disorders. One’s battle with COVID doesn’t end with recovery from the acute infection. Vaccination is our best ally to prevent getting sick from COVID-19 and to reduce the chance of long-COVID even in the presence of a breakthrough infection.” 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to know why Tesla failed to initiate a recall when it sent the automobile’s owners a safety-related software update in September. Tesla’s reason for updating the car’s software was a direct response to an issue created by the vehicle’s tendency to hit vehicles that have flashing lights or are near scenes with flares, road cones, and illuminated arrow boards.

NHTSA had earlier initiated a separate probe into Tesla Autopilot over possible safety defects. The agency cited crash data suggesting that the system may have difficulty seeking parked emergency vehicles. However, Autoweek reports that after the NHTSA launched that investigation, the automaker admitted that its Autopilot driver-assist system can now detect emergency lights and slow down the vehicle -- but only at night.

A procedural move?

The NHTSA’s complaint appears to be more procedural than anything. 

“As Tesla is aware, the Safety Act imposes an obligation on manufacturers of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment to initiate a recall by notifying NHTSA when they determine vehicles or equipment they produced contain defects related to motor vehicle safety or do not comply with an applicable motor vehicle safety standard,” the agency’s letter reads.

“This recall notice must be filed with NHTSA no more than five working days after the manufacturer knew or should have known of the safety defect or noncompliance. … Any manufacturer issuing an over-the-air update that mitigates a defect that poses an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety is required to timely file an accompanying recall notice to NHTSA.”

The NHTSA says it still wants more information

Whether it’s procedural or not, the agency says it needs Tesla to provide certain documentation it may have surrounding the software update so that NHTSA staff can “evaluate the alleged defect.” The list of things the agency is asking for includes: 

• A chronology of events, internal investigations, and studies that led to Tesla’s deployment of the Emergency Light Detection Update. 

• A complete list and description of field incidents or other events that motivated the release of the update.

• Any measures to extend this capability more broadly throughout Tesla’s fleet.

• The reasoning for instances where a vehicle cannot accept the update.

Do you own a Tesla?

If you’re a Tesla owner who has not yet installed the company’s latest update, you would be wise to research Tesla’s software update procedures and ask questions if you have concerns.

Consumers who want to know if their particular Tesla model is part of any safety recall can easily find out by putting in their car’s Vehicle Identification Number on Tesla’s website. Owners can also sign up for Tesla’s emails, which include information on things like service updates and recalls.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, experts were speculating that telehealth services would become the new way consumers received medical care. Since the start of the pandemic, that prediction has largely come true at a much faster pace than many people expected. 

Now, researchers from the American Psychiatric Association have found that telehealth services specifically geared towards addiction treatment have also increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Telehealth may allow patients to more easily begin and stay in addiction treatment, which has been a longstanding challenge,” said researcher Tami L. Mark, Ph.D. “However, research is needed to confirm this benefit. As providers pivot to telehealth models -- offering both telehealth and in-person treatment -- they need information to help target telehealth to the most appropriate services and patients.” 

Maintaining addiction treatment virtually

There were two components to the study. The first part analyzed data from eight studies that compared the efficacy of in-person and virtual addiction treatments. The second part of the study involved evaluating survey responses from addiction specialists about telehealth treatments, including the benefits of conducting treatment virtually and what the experience is like for patients. 

In the data analysis, the researchers learned that conducting addiction treatment virtually was effective. However, in-person treatments ultimately led to more long-term success. When looking at important factors, like patient satisfaction, substance use, and treatment retention, virtual treatments weren’t as successful as in-person offerings. 

The survey responses from addiction specialists produced similar results. The participants agreed that telehealth services were better utilized in one-on-one counseling as opposed to group settings. However, the group was split in terms of overall efficacy of virtual addiction treatments. 

The specialists explained that while there are benefits to conducting treatment virtually, the platform makes it difficult to connect with patients in the same way that they would in person. They said being face-to-face allows specialists to better connect with their patients and keep them on track with treatment. 

While telehealth services have allowed more patients to stay active in their treatment during the pandemic, more work needs to be done to better understand the impact of these virtual services. 

“This research underscores the importance of offering telehealth for addiction treatment and the dramatic need to conduct more empirical work to test out the concerns regarding telehealth articulated by agency staff and on surveys,” said researcher Dr. Lisa Dixon. 

Specialized Bicycle Components of Morgan Hill, Calif., is recalling about 6,900 Specialized Tarmac SL7 bicycles and framesets.

The bicycle’s fork steerer tube can crack or break after a harsh impact, such as hitting a deep pothole or other stressful events. This can pose fall and injury hazards.

The company has received two reports of the bicycle’s steerer tube breaking after a harsh frontal impact. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Specialized Tarmac SL7 bicycles and framesets. “Tarmac” is written on the back of the bicycle’s seat tube. There is an integrated (hidden) cable routing through the bicycle’s headset.

“Specialized” or “SWORKS” are printed on the bicycle’s downtube.

The bikes and framesets, manufactured in China, were sold at authorized Specialized Bicycle Components retailers nationwide from July 2020, through August 2021, for between $3,300 and $15,000.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycles and contact Specialized Bicycle Components for a free inspection and repair.

Consumers may contact authorized Specialized retailers or Specialized Bicycle Components toll-free at (877) 808-8154 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (MT) Monday through Friday, by email at ridercare@specialized.com, or online at www.specialized.com. Consumers can click on “Safety Notifications” at the bottom of the retailer's page for more information.

Volvo Car USA is recalling nine model year 2021 S90Ls, and model year 2020-2021 XC60s & XC90s.

An improperly welded rotor and shaft may separate within the integrated brake system.

Separation of the rotor and shaft may cause a reduction in braking assistance and a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace the hydraulic unit free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 12, 2021.

Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at (800) 458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10120.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 44,590,780 (44,505,919)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 717,158 (714,808)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 238,947,617 (238,540,011)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,869,812 (4,862,317)‌

FDA is withdrawing hand sanitizer guidelines

Hand sanitizer was hard to find early in the pandemic, causing some alcohol distillers to shift into hand sanitizer production under guidelines issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With demand for these products now much lower, the FDA is withdrawing that authority effective Dec. 31.

The guidance was issued in March 2020, to manufacturers that were not drug companies. The FDA said it was a temporary measure to meet a public health emergency.

At the end of December, companies producing hand sanitizer under that guidance must stop making the products. Hand sanitizers manufactured before or on December 31, 2021, and produced under the temporary guidelines, must no longer be sold to wholesalers or retailers by March 31, 2022.

Judge: United can’t place unvaccinated employees on unpaid leave

A federal judge in Texas has placed limits on United Airlines’ enforcement of its vaccination mandate. The judge ruled the airline may not place unvaccinated employees on unpaid leave.

The judge also placed a temporary restraining order on the airline, barring it from rejecting late requests for religious or medical exemptions.

United was the first U.S. airline to impose a COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Six employees filed suit in federal court, arguing unpaid leave is not a reasonable accommodation.

Poll suggests Americans are not that divided on COVID-19

Despite headlines about emotional encounters at school board and town hall meetings, a new poll shows that Americans are not all that divided over COVID-19 and the response to the pandemic.

It’s true that conflict exists as the pandemic and the various remedies to combat it have become politicized, but a Yahoo News/YouGov poll found that just 15% of Americans say they will not get vaccinated, down from 19% in August. 

Just 17% said they “never” wore a mask during the previous week. And just 16% said they believed that face coverings are “not effective at all” in preventing the spread of the virus.

Around the nation

• New York: A federal judge has ruled that New York must accept religious exemptions to its vaccination mandate for hospital employees. The ruling temporarily blocks the state and employers from enforcing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate against medical workers who have a legitimate religious exemption.

• Massachusetts: Members of the National Guard have been enlisted to help schools across the state conduct COVID-19 tests. Gov. Charlie Baker has directed about 200 members of the guard to help schools and another 250 personnel to help correctional facilities deal with staff shortages.

• Florida: The state health department has fined Leon County $3.5 million, saying it violated the state’s ban on vaccination passports. Leon County reportedly fired 14 employees who did not provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 by the stated deadline.

• Ohio: A new state law took effect today limiting how schools can issue vaccination requirements. The new law prohibits public schools and colleges from requiring students and employees to get any COVID-19 vaccine that has not received full FDA approval. 

• Oregon: Alex Castro of Portland just may have set the world’s record for the length of time battling COVID-19. Diagnosed just before the first vaccine was available, Castro spent 299 days at Providence Portland Medical Center, at times fighting for his life, before being released this week.

Last week, all eyes were on the U.S. Senate as Capitol Hill struggled with chaos over raising the debt ceiling. This week, it’s the U.S. House of Representatives. 

On Tuesday, the House voted to raise the debt ceiling by $480 billion and sent the bill to President Biden for his sign-off. With that, House officials also set themselves up for another tug of war over how much the nation can borrow to keep the proverbial lights on, people employed, and mortgage rates reasonable. 

Biden had already warned Congress that there would be dire consequences if it didn’t raise the debt ceiling, saying the U.S. would face "a self-inflicted wound that takes our economy over a cliff.”

The legislation the House passed gives the government some breathing space, but not much. The new bill allows the U.S. to pay its bills through early December. At that juncture, we can expect another -- and far more critical -- round in this match. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has already said Republicans will not sign off on future legislation to avoid a government default.

Think of the debt ceiling like it's a limit on a credit card

Not only does the possibility of an economic default raise potential issues for the country as a whole, but it also hits Americans where it can hurt the most -- in the pocketbook. 

If a default triggers a global recession, as Treasury Department officials think it might, things like 401(k)s and other investments would likely take a tumble. So could Social Security, Medicare, military salaries, and tax refunds -- essentially any form of income that comes from the federal government. 

Sarah Foster of Bankrate says consumers can wrap their heads more easily around this situation if they think of the debt ceiling as if it were the credit limit on a credit card. However, unlike what happens when you use up your credit card’s “debt ceiling,” Congress isn’t cut off from spending once it reaches that limit. “Lawmakers can keep committing to new spending, after which the debt ceiling isn’t automatically raised,” Foster said.

“It has failed miserably,” says Mark Hamrick, Bankrate senior economic analyst and Washington bureau chief, referring to the debt ceiling. “It is akin to having me promise to pay you dollars, and then raise the threat of failing — or fail — to make good on that without funds.”

With cord-cutting picking up speed, cable TV providers normally do everything they can -- short of slashing rates -- to keep their customers. One recent offer by Spectrum raised more than a few eyebrows.

David Lazarus, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, reports that he heard from a reader who said he received a very unusual letter from the cable company. Steve Schklair told Lazarus that it had been months since he had been a Spectrum customer, and when he canceled the service the company said he still owed it money, which he disputed.

Schklair said the letter stated that Spectrum would forgive the disputed debt and quit reporting it to credit agencies if Schklair would resume his Spectrum service. He said the letter noted that a good credit score was important to a successful financial life.

“Maybe it's just me, but that has a Sopranos-like ring of ‘You've made a nice life for yourself. Be a shame if something happened to it,’” Lazarus wrote.

Spectrum confirms the letter is real

The Times contacted Spectrum and confirmed the authenticity of the letter. A spokesperson told Lazarus that the company was simply offering the former customer “an opportunity to reconnect.”

We decided to check ConsumerAffairs reviews to see if we could find similar examples. We didn’t, although several reviewers complained about Spectrum’s billing/cancelation policies. Kris of Wylie, Texas told us she canceled her service and was told there would be no additional charges because she owned her own equipment.

“A week later I receive a bill from Spectrum for $130.00,” Kris wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “What??? They charged me not only for a month of service I canceled and my equipment!”

Kathleen of Arlington, Texas, told us that Spectrum charged her $70 for a premium service she says she did not order. 

“They said it was ordered from my remote but I live alone, I'm a flight attendant and was out of town the entire month,” she wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “They said they would remove it (from her credit report) but I would still have to pay since it was ordered from my remote control!”

In fairness, it should be noted that Spectrum has an average ConsumerAffairs review rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, comparable to other major cable companies. Lazarus notes that most subscription-based businesses go the extra mile to keep existing customers on board, usually with discounts and other incentives.

“I've never before seen a pitch that so blatantly threatens harm unless you come around,” he concluded.

Unhappy Chick-fil-A customers have filed a class action lawsuit against the chain, claiming that the food chain’s vow of only charging customers a flat, low-priced delivery charge is an empty promise. 

The plaintiffs claim that Chick-fil-A “deceives consumers into making online food purchases they otherwise would not make” and “gains an unfair upper hand on competitors that fairly disclose their true delivery charges.”

The complaint tries to make the point that Chick-fil-A promised its customers low-price delivery -- usually $2.99 or $3.99. But they say that promise was only made to make Chick-Fil-A delivery appealing for consumers in a crowded food delivery marketplace. The group claims the chain’s food prices on its website and app are 25% to 30% higher than in-store prices -- adding $1.10 to, say, a chicken sandwich for delivery. 

That markup makes "Chick-fil-A's promise of a low-cost delivery patently false,” the lawsuit alleges. “In fact, Chick-fil-A imposes hidden delivery charges on its customers in addition to the low ‘Delivery Fee’ represented in its app and on its website.”

To its credit, Chick-Fil-A does note that its menu prices for delivery are higher than at restaurants and that “additional fees may apply.” However, that clarification is an asterisk in small type at the bottom of the ordering webpage.

Chick-Fil-A is not alone in delivery price markup 

In a market study conducted by Gordon Haskett Research Advisors, researchers found that Chick-fil-A isn’t the only food chain marking up the price of its food when consumers go the delivery route. Starbucks, Chipotle, McDonald's, and others keep it hush, but list menu prices are 15.3% higher on average for delivery orders compared to pick-up orders, according to the Haskett analysis.

Who’s the worst? Chick-fil-A indeed had the highest delivery pricing premium of the 25 chains analyzed by Gordon Haskett, with menu prices that are 29.8% higher for delivery compared to pick-up. At Starbucks, delivery menu prices are 20.3% higher than pick-up; they were 19.6% higher at McDonald's. 

Restaurants say they’re just trying to stay afloat

The whole restaurant delivery situation is becoming complex. When the pandemic set in, consumers fell in love with food delivery mostly because of convenience and safety. At that point, third-party companies like DoorDash, GrubHub, and UberEats came to the rescue. 

That was good for everyone at first; but as restaurants saw how much delivery services were eating into their profits, chains had little choice but to try to make up that lost revenue.

Laying things out from a consumer’s perspective, the Haskett team broke down just how much a restaurant chain is likely to earn from a pick-up order versus a delivery order. In laying out a real-life example, analyst Jeff Farmer ran the numbers on a $20 Chipotle order using a delivery commission of 15%. 

Farmer estimated that once you take the cost of food, labor, and other variables out of the equation, Chipotle’s net profit on a $20 in-store or pick-up order is $4.10. If you subtract a 15% delivery fee,  Chipotle ekes out just $1.10 on a $20 order. Farmer notes that if Chipotle used a delivery provider that charged a $6 commission — which is in the 30% range typical of Grubhub or UberEats — it would actually lose $1.90 on a $20 order. 

For a Chipotle delivery order to net the restaurant as much money as a pick-up order would, Chipotle would have to raise menu prices by 15%, according to Gordon Haskett's model. That would mean a $9 burrito would cost $10.35 on the delivery menu. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has, for the first time, authorized the marketing of three nicotine vaping products.

The products, technically known as “electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products,” were developed by the R.J. Reynolds (RJR) Vaping Company. They are specifically designed to help people using traditional tobacco products to stop smoking.

Under the order, RJR is granted permission to market its Vuse Solo closed ENDS device and accompanying tobacco-flavored e-liquid pods, Vuse Replacement Cartridge Original 4.8% G1, and Vuse Replacement Cartridge Original 4.8% G2. The FDA said the tobacco company subsidiary submitted data that showed the products would be useful in reducing the number of cigarette smokers.

“The manufacturer’s data demonstrates its tobacco-flavored products could benefit addicted adult smokers who switch to these products – either completely or with a significant reduction in cigarette consumption – by reducing their exposure to harmful chemicals,” said Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. 

Targeting young people

Critics of vaping products, including former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, have warned that their use by teenagers and young adults who don’t smoke cigarettes can lead to a new generation of people who are addicted to nicotine. Zeller makes clear that the approved products are to only be used to wean smokers off tobacco.

“We must remain vigilant with this authorization and we will monitor the marketing of the products, including whether the company fails to comply with any regulatory requirements or if credible evidence emerges of significant use by individuals who did not previously use a tobacco product, including youth,” Zeller said. “We will take action as appropriate, including withdrawing the authorization.”

In the past, the FDA has cracked down on vaping products that it determined were being marketed to young people by using fruit flavors. The agency said vaping products designed as a smoking cessation aid must be tobacco flavored.

The FDA said it granted approval to the RJR products because it determined that “study participants who used only the authorized products were exposed to fewer harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) from aerosols compared to users of combusted cigarettes.”

Research also showed the products getting the FDA seal of approval are “significantly less toxic than combusted cigarettes” based on available data comparisons and results of nonclinical studies.

In the end, the FDA concluded that the potential benefit to smokers who switch completely or significantly reduce their cigarette use would outweigh the risk to youth, as long as steps are taken to limit sales to adult smokers.

Many consumers try to steer clear of processed foods by opting for whole-grain options when trying to make healthier choices. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from Chalmers University of Technology found that rye is better than wheat when it comes to choosing the best grain for weight loss.  

“The results were clear -- the participants who received rye products lost more weight overall, and their levels of body fat decreased compared to those who received wheat products,” said researcher Kia Nøhr Iversen. “As we continue to look for the exact reasons why, our advice is to choose the rye bread instead of the sifted wheat bread.” 

Making healthier choices

The researchers had over 240 overweight men and women, ranging in age from 30 to 70, involved in the study. For 12 weeks, the participants were eating the same quantities of either whole grain rye or refined wheat products. They also received dietary advice from a nutritionist and underwent evaluations twice over the course of the study. 

Ultimately, all of the participants lost weight by the end of the study. However, those who ate rye products lost more weight and more body fat than those who ate the wheat products; weight loss was more than one kilogram higher for the group who ate rye products. 

The researchers believe rye was better for weight loss because products with this type of grain tend to help keep consumers more full. That’s because there are higher levels of fiber in whole grain rye products that help moderate appetite. 

Every person’s body is different

While rye grain was linked to greater weight loss overall, the researchers found that there was a big disparity among the participants in each group when it came to how their bodies reacted to either rye or wheat. They say this could be because of the differences in gut bacteria among all of the participants, but the team plans to do more work to better understand why these disparities exist. 

“Although we saw an overall difference in weight loss between the rye and the wheat group, there was also very large variation within those groups,” said researcher Rikard Landberg. “Increasing our understanding of why different people respond differently to the same foods can pave the way for more specifically tailored diets based on individual needs. We are currently investigating whether certain specific bacteria in the intestine might be the explanation behind why some people lost more weight than others who were also on the rye diet.” 

Several recent studies have pointed to the mental health benefits associated with following a healthy diet. Now, researchers from Penn State found a specific food that could help lower the risk of depression: mushrooms. 

“Mushrooms are the highest dietary source of the amino acid ergothioneine -- an anti-inflammatory which cannot be synthesized by humans,” said researcher Djibril Ba. “Having high levels of this may lower the risk of oxidative stress, which could also reduce the symptoms of depression.” 

The link between diet and mental health

For the first part of the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 24,000 adults enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 through 2016. The participants recorded everything they ate for two days and then completed Patient Health Questionnaires to assess their depression risk. 

Ultimately, there was a clear link between participants who regularly ate mushrooms and those who were at the lowest risk of depression; however, eating larger quantities of mushrooms wasn’t associated with significantly better mental health outcomes. 

The team took into account several factors, including overall diet, socio-demographics, medical history, and medications, but the findings still held up: mushrooms were found to have protective mental health benefits. Going forward, the team would like to further investigate what types of mushrooms are associated with the greatest mental health benefits.

“The study adds to the growing list of possible health benefits of eating mushrooms,” said researcher Joshua Muscat. 

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 95,515 model year 2017 Tucson and Sonata Hybrids.

The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage.

A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect the engine and replace it if bearing damage is found. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 12, 2021.

Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at (855) 371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 209.

Espi’s Sausage and Tocino Co., of Seattle, Wash., is recalling approximately 2,048 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat chicken and pork hot dogs.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following frozen ready-to-eat item, produced on May 19, 2021, is being recalled:

• 12-oz vacuum-packed plastic packages containing “Argentina MIGHTY MEATY CHICKEN AND PORK HOTDOG JUMBO” and SELL BY 051922.

The recalled product, bearing the establishment number “EST. P-17524” inside the USDA mark of inspection, was shipped to a distributor in California and further distributed to retail locations.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should not consume it. Instead, they are advised to discard it or return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact Espi's Sausage and Tocino Co., at (206) 722-3365 or by email at espisfood@yahoo.com.