Current Events in November 2021

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused many national retailers to suspend the practice of opening stores on Thanksgiving to get an early jump on Black Friday. This year, most are continuing to give store employees the day off.

Walmart, Target, Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Kohl's, Macy's, and JCPenney, have all announced that they will close their stores for the holiday while offering a full array of online deals. In years past, these stores kicked off their in-store Black Friday weekend sales on Thanksgiving Day.

Target has taken it one step farther, announcing that its stores will continue to be closed on Thanksgiving even after the pandemic is over. Ken Perkins, president of Retail Metrics, told USA Today he thinks most retailers will come to the same decision because it isn’t cost-effective to have stores open on the holiday.

“With all these online shopping opportunities, is it really necessary to open on Thanksgiving?” Perkins asked rhetorically. 

Some stores will be open

At the same time, consumers who decide they need to do some shopping before or after Thanksgiving dinner will find several options. In addition to convenience stores, a number of grocery store chains will be open with limited hours.

Drug store chains like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid plan to have Thanksgiving Day hours. Some of the other brick-and-mortar stores doing business on the holiday include Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, Big Lots, Dollar General, and Dollar Tree.

Most major retailers are already offering holiday shopping deals, both in-store and online. Target’s week-long deals include discounts on electronics, toys, kitchen appliances, vacuums, video games, apparel, and beauty products.

“We began offering holiday deals in October for those looking to shop early and we’re continuing to deliver big savings all season long, including Black Friday week,” said Christina Hennington, executive vice president and chief growth officer at Target. 

In fact, most national retailers got an early start on Black Friday-type deals. Walmart is continuing to run its Deals for Days promotion. Current offerings include AirPods Pro for $159.

Amazon’s deals include a lot of its own electronic products. For example, it’s offering the Echo Show 5 + Blink Mini Camera bundle for $50. On Friday the price drops to $45.

In a data breach alert published by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), GoDaddy reported that the private data of as many as 1.2 million of its customers was exposed by hackers who wormed their way into the company's Managed WordPress hosting ecosystem.

Unfortunately, GoDaddy was a little late in putting measures in place to curb the incident. The company told the SEC that it determined hackers first breached their systems on September 6, 2021, but that it didn’t take measures to block the hackers until November 17.

What happened

Demetrius Comes, GoDaddy’s Chief Information Security Officer, said the hack was pretty straightforward. Using a compromised password, the hackers accessed the provisioning system in GoDaddy’s code base for Managed WordPress. Managed WordPress hosting is something GoDaddy offers its clients -- sort of a jack of all trades platform where all the technical aspects of running a website are handled by GoDaddy, freeing the website owner from having to take care of those things.

When the company first spotted the hack, it immediately began an investigation with the assistance of an IT forensics firm. Comes said GoDaddy also contacted law enforcement. 

“Upon identifying this incident, we immediately blocked the unauthorized third party from our system. … Our investigation is ongoing,” Comes said. As to what the hackers had access to, he offered the following: 

• Up to 1.2 million active and inactive Managed WordPress customers had their email addresses and customer numbers exposed. The exposure of email addresses is serious because it presents a risk of phishing attacks.

• The original WordPress Admin password that was set at the time of provisioning was exposed. If those credentials were still in use, GoDaddy reset those passwords.

• For active customers, FTP and database usernames and passwords were exposed. GoDaddy says it reset both passwords.

• For a subset of active customers, the SSL private key was exposed. Comes said the company is in the process of issuing and installing new certificates for those customers.

Are you a GoDaddy customer?

Comes said the company is in the process of contacting everyone who was impacted directly by the hack. However, he stated that customers can also contact GoDaddy via its help center.

“We are sincerely sorry for this incident and the concern it causes for our customers. We, GoDaddy leadership and employees, take our responsibility to protect our customers’ data very seriously and never want to let them down,” Comes said in closing. “We will learn from this incident and are already taking steps to strengthen our provisioning system with additional layers of protection.”

A new study conducted by researchers from Swansea University explored how parents’ mental health can impact their children. According to the findings, children are more likely to experience mental health problems and not perform as well in school when parents struggle with depression. 

“Children who live with a parent (mum or dad) who has depression are more likely to also develop depression and not achieve as well in school, compared to children who live with a parent with treated depression,” the researchers wrote. 

“Working with families and treating parental depression (in dads as well as mums) is likely to have long-term benefits for children’s mental health and educational attainment. This has never been more important than after lockdown and COVID, as depression is contagious too.” 

The family impact of depression

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from infants enrolled in the Secure Anonymized Information Linkage (SAIL) database who were born between 1987 and 2018. The team looked at the participants’ and parents’ medical records to determine the long-term impacts of mental health outcomes. 

The researchers learned that having a parent who was depressed was linked with two important risk factors: a higher risk of children developing depression and a higher risk of not meeting academic milestones. The study showed that young girls were more likely than young boys to develop depression based on their parents’ mental health outcomes. This risk remained high regardless of which parent was struggling with depression. 

From an academic standpoint, children were less likely to pass academic assessments at the end of elementary school when they lived with depressed parents. Moving forward, the team hopes these findings help identify families who may be in need of mental health resources that could greatly benefit both parents and children. 

“This finding suggests that working closely with families where depression (particularly chronic depression) is present in either parent and treating parental depression to remission is likely to have long-term benefits for children’s mental health and educational alignment,” the researchers wrote. 

Motorists traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday will encounter the highest fuel prices since Thanksgiving 2014. While prices appear to have stopped rising, they have not gone down significantly since the end of the summer driving season.

AAA reports that the national average price of regular gas is $3.40 a gallon, with the highest price being paid in California, at $4.70; the lowest average price comes in at $2.96 a gallon in Oklahoma. The average price of premium gas is holding steady at $4.03 a gallon, and the average price of diesel fuel is also stable at $3.64 a gallon.

On a positive note for drivers, oil prices began the week with a sharp decline. U.S. oil prices have been over $80 a barrel for several weeks, but they began the week with prices in the high 70s.

“The price of crude oil accounts for about 50% to 60% of what consumers pay at the pump, so a lower oil price should translate into better gasoline prices for drivers,” said Andrew Gross, AAA’s spokesperson. “But until global oil production ramps back up to pre-pandemic levels, this recent dip in the price of crude may only be temporary.” 

With millions of people driving to visit relatives this week, demand may put a dent in supply. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that U.S. gasoline supplies fell by 700,000 barrels last week. Meanwhile, AAA predicts that Thanksgiving week travel will return to pre-pandemic levels.

States with the most expensive gas

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

• California ($4.70)   

• Hawaii ($4.34)  

• Nevada ($3.98) 

• Washington ($3.88) 

• Oregon ($3.78) 

• Arizona ($3.74) 

• Alaska ($3.72) 

• Utah ($3.69)

• Idaho ($3.68)

• Pennsylvania ($3.60)

States with the cheapest gas

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

• Oklahoma ($2.96) 

• Texas ($3.01)  

• Arkansas ($3.03)  

• Mississippi ($3.06)

•  Kansas ($3.06)

• Missouri ($3.07) 

• Kentucky ($3.07)

•  South Carolina ($3.11)  

• Wisconsin ($3.11)

• Tennessee ($3.11)

Oregon Lox Company of Eugene, Ore., is recalling various brands of Wild Cold Smoked Keta Salmon Lox.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The list of the recalled products -- packaged in plastic, vacuum-sealed containers and shipped frozen on common carriers to Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington -- may be found here.

What to do

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

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (800) 233-1850, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PST).

Doosan Portable Power is recalling 734 model year 2019-2021 Doosan Portable Power Air Compressors and Mobile Generators.

The wheel lug nuts may not be tightened properly.

Improperly tightened lug nuts can cause a loss of trailer stability. It may also cause the tire to fall off, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Owners are advised to not tow their trailer until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will tighten the lug nuts free of charge.

The manufacturer has not yet provided a schedule for recall notification.

Owners may contact Doosan customer service at (800) 633-5206, Option #3.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 47,773,956 (47,623,460)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 771,513 (770,880)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 257,896,250 (256,835,906)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 5,155,288 (5,139,223)‌

2021 death toll higher than 2020

With another month to go in the year, the death toll from COVID-19 in 2021 has exceeded deaths in 2020, before there was an available vaccine. Over the weekend, the COVID-19 Tracking Project at Johns Hopkins University put the number of U.S. deaths since the pandemic began at 770,800.

Health officials point to the rapid spread of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates in some states and communities as factors that increased the death toll. Most recently, serious cases and deaths have increased in northern states -- even in states with high vaccination rates. Epidemiologists say the medical community failed to persuade enough Americans to get vaccinated. 

“Heading into this year, we knew what we needed to do, but it was a failure of getting it done,” Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious-diseases specialist at Stanford University, told the Wall Street Journal.

Disney pauses vaccine mandate

An Orlando TV station reports that Disney World has told employees that it is putting its vaccination mandate on hold. Previously, the theme park and resort had set a deadline for employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The station reports that Nick Caturano, who runs the website GoofyVaccine.com, confirmed that employees received an internal memo notifying them that the mandate is being suspended for the time being.

"We all want to go back to a sense of normalcy,” Caturano told the station. “We all hoped the vaccine would do the trick. And it seemed like it was starting to work but people are getting the COVID. To separate them it doesn't make sense."

Pfizer reports complete protection for kids

Pfizer and BioNTech, makers of one of the three vaccines being used in the U.S., have announced that their vaccine was 100% effective in preventing infections in 12- to 15-year-olds. They say no child got sick during a period of seven days to four months after getting the second shot.

The new report is part of a more extensive analysis of a Phase 3 trial conducted among 2,228 participants. The companies plan to use the data to bolster their application to extend their license to vaccinate children in that age group.

“These are the first and only disclosed longer-term data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine in individuals 12 to 15 years of age,” Ugur Sahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, said in a statement. “The growing body of data we have compiled from clinical trials and real-world surveillance to date strengthen the base of evidence supporting the strong efficacy and favorable safety profile of our Covid-19 vaccine across adolescent and adult populations.”

Around the nation

• Arizona: Brian Argo of Scottsdale has been reunited with his family after spending weeks in a coma and 41 days on a ventilator. At one point, doctors gave Argo only a 5% chance of surviving COVID-19.

• Oregon: Howard Breidenbach of Myrtle Creek said he never took the coronavirus seriously until he was infected with the virus. After 100 days in the hospital and the loss of his business, Breidenbach admits that he was wrong and has urged other skeptics to get the shot.

• New Jersey: State health officials are dealing with another rise in COVID-19 cases despite a high vaccination rate, and they now worry about what the Thanksgiving holiday may bring. On Sunday, the state health department reported another 1,482 COVID-19 cases and four confirmed deaths as the statewide rate of transmission continued to increase.

• Louisiana: The state health department has proposed a vaccination mandate that would require children to get the shot as a requirement for attending school. The rule would affect all elementary and secondary schools, kindergartens, colleges, universities, proprietary schools, vocation schools, and licensed daycare centers. 

• Alaska: For a while, Alaska led the nation in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people. Now it leads in a more positive category. State health officials say about 51% of vaccinated Alaskans age 65 and older have received a dose of the COVID-19 booster, which puts the state ahead of the national average.

Things are back in order now, but scores of Tesla drivers had a rough start to their weekend. Electrek reported that a failure within a Tesla mobile app left hundreds of drivers around the world locked out of their Tesla vehicles on Friday. Electrek said the outage came after Tesla pushed a new update to its mobile app.

Why does a mobile app have the power to create so much havoc? It’s because owners often rely on their phones to perform several vehicle functions, including unlocking the car. Tesla CEO Elon Musk was upfront about the disruption. He addressed the error on Twitter on Friday, saying that the issue was a “500 server error” to connect their Tesla Model 3 on the iOS (Apple) app. 

Outages of Tesla’s systems are relatively isolated, but Electrek reports that there have been some significant examples in the not-so-distant past. Back in September 2020, there was a complete outage of Tesla’s customer-facing servers and its internal system for several hours.

Frustration continues to mount for Tesla owners

Musk probably can’t wait for 2021 to be done and over with it. Just this year, his company has had to face seat and brake issues, a recall of 130,000 cars because of touchscreen problems, and autopilot systems running amok.

Even though its 2021 score in the J.D. Power 2020 Initial Quality Survey moved it out of the dead last position among automakers, consumers still claim that Tesla’s customer service is lacking.

“I have had my Tesla Model S Performance now for over a year (15,000 miles) and it has been the worst experience that I have ever had in my 40 plus years of having cars,” Matthew of San Marino, Calif., wrote in a recent ConsumerAffairs review. 

“From taking delivery of the car to this moment has been so stressful and it is impossible to get anyone to help in customer service. The car was not available to pick up when I went to pick it up. They had emailed me and told me it was. This happened twice. The manager of the Burbank Service Center was rude and did not want to be bothered listening or helping me.”

Apple is offering a free repair to its customers after discovering that a “very small” percentage of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro devices may have sound issues stemming from a component that “might fail.” 

There are a handful of important caveats that the company requires for affected devices to qualify for the fix. They include:

1. The problem exists only on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.

2. The program covers affected iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro devices for 2 years after the first retail sale of the unit. That “retail” caveat could be a sticking point, so make sure you have documentation of when the device was purchased.

3. The phones must have been manufactured between October 2020, and April 2021. ConsumerAffairs found these details on how you can determine your device’s manufacturing date.

The company noted that repairing a phone through this program does not extend the standard warranty coverage of the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro.

What to look for and how to get service

Apple says the most evident factor that the phone may be eligible for a repair is if it doesn’t emit sound from the receiver when a user makes or receives calls. If that’s the case, then an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will service the device free of charge. 

If the iPhone owner doesn’t live close to an Apple Store or a service provider, they can call Apple Support to arrange to mail in the phone. As part of the process, the service provider will check the iPhone to make sure that it’s fully eligible for this program.

Apple asks that users back up their phones to iCloud or their computer before bringing or sending it in for a repair. If a backup is not performed, there is no guarantee that the device’s data will be preserved.

Apple says if someone’s iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro has any damage that impairs the ability to complete the repair -- such as a cracked screen -- then that issue will need to be resolved prior to the service. In some cases, there may be a cost associated with the additional repair.

Drug store chain CVS Health has announced a new strategy that calls for it to reduce its footprint, closing 900 stores in the next three years. The company did not disclose which stores would be closed.

CVS said it is changing its strategy to better align with evolving consumer needs. The shift will also result in new store formats “to drive higher engagement with consumers.” In the future, there will be three different models of CVS stores.

Some will be dedicated to offering primary care services through walk-in clinics. There will also be an enhanced version of HealthHUB locations, featuring products and services designed for everyday health and wellness needs.

Finally, there will be the traditional CVS Pharmacy locations that current customers are familiar with. These stores will provide a range of health services like prescriptions, health, wellness, personal care, and other retail offerings.

"Our retail stores are fundamental to our strategy and who we are as a company," said Karen Lynch, CEO of CVS Health. "We remain focused on the competitive advantage provided by our presence in thousands of communities across the country, which complements our rapidly expanding digital presence."

Evaluating changes

CVS said it has been evaluating changes in population, consumer buying patterns, and future health needs to ensure it has the right kinds of stores in the right locations for consumers. The announced changes coincide with a recent increase in 1-star reviews from consumers posting comments at ConsumerAffairs, many of which complain about service at pharmacies.

Marlene, of Brooklyn, N.Y., says she is a health care provider and thinks her local CVS store is taking on more than it is able to handle.

“Try calling in patient’s blood pressure prescription all day… 2 days back to back…CVS Linden… Keep holding forever and no pharmacist came to the phone. I have to hang up,” Marlene wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “If you want to act like Urgent care, a clinic or a hospital… You have to take on Labor!!!”

As part of its new strategy, CVS said it plans to reduce store density in certain locations. To accomplish that, it will shutter 300 locations a year for three years. Employees at closed stores will be offered roles in other locations or different opportunities as part of its overall workforce strategy.

As consumers are well aware, the price of everything has been going up significantly. But a new survey suggests that the cost of health insurance might be an exception.

A ValuePenguin analysis of health plans available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) found that Americans will spend an average of $541 per month, or $6,492 for the year, on health insurance in 2022. That’s just 0.67% more than this year’s average premium.

However, there may be fairly significant variations depending on the state and the type of coverage the plan provides.

“For states with larger rate increases, insurers cite an overall jump in health care costs, including prescription drug prices, as drivers," said Robin Townsend, a health insurance specialist at ValuePenguin. "Other factors mentioned by insurers include the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with an increase in vaccine administration and the impact of the Delta variant prompting higher rates in 2022."

Five states will pay significantly more

According to the analysis, West Virginia, South Dakota, Wyoming, Vermont, and Louisiana residents will pay the highest health insurance premiums next year. Premiums in those states will range anywhere from 35% to 54% above the national average.

At the same time, people in Georgia, New Hampshire, Maryland, Minnesota, and Colorado will enjoy the lowest health insurance premiums in 2022. Premiums for these states’ residents will range from 25% to 43% below the national average.

South Dakota, West Virginia, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas will experience the biggest jump in health insurance costs next year. ACA plans in those states will rise anywhere from 13% to 23%.

Three states may see lower premiums

Three states -- Georgia, South Carolina, and Nebraska -- will see health insurance costs actually go down next year. Plans will be anywhere from 11% to 41% cheaper next year.

Among the different plans, the survey found that the Platinum tier of health insurance plans will produce the biggest savings in 2022; those costs are expected to fall by a little over 4%. Bronze tier plans are projected to increase in cost by as much as 3%.

The ValuePenguin analysts looked at the thousands of plans available from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). However, private employer-sponsored plans were not included in the analysis. Neither was Medicare for those 65 and older. When the CMS makes the premium adjustment for 2022, it will be deducted from recipients’ Social Security payments, which are increasing next year by 5.9%.

A new study conducted by researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum explored some of the most effective ways for parents to get toddlers to better handle having to wait. According to their findings, toddlers’ temperaments are an important consideration when it comes to picking the right distraction.  

“In the present study, toddlers chose a distraction strategy (active vs. calm) matching their temperamental activity level,” the researchers wrote. “This finding suggests that it could be helpful to give toddlers a choice of toys with different activity levels to help them regulate themselves when they are expected to handle a mildly distressing situation on their own.” 

Teaching toddlers emotional regulation

For the study, the researchers had nearly 100 two-year-old toddlers and their parents participate in a series of experiments that tested the children’s ability to wait.

In the first trial, the toddlers were told to wait three minutes for a small piece of candy. They were given two different toys to help them pass the time before they received their prize. One of the options was a lawnmower toy, which was considered more active; the other was a set of cups, which the researchers said was more calming. 

Ultimately, the team saw a direct correlation between the children’s temperament and how they chose to use their waiting time. 

“We observed that children who were described by their parents as rather calm tended to occupy themselves by playing calmly, such as stacking the cups, and the toddlers who were characterized by their parents as rather active tended to play in an active manner, such as running around with the lawn mower and thus managed to regulate their negative feelings well,” said researcher Joanna Schoppmann. 

How parents can be role models

In the second trial, the researchers were interested in understanding how parents can support their toddlers when it comes time to wait for things. Again, the children were waiting for three minutes for a small piece of candy. But this time, one group had the researchers demonstrate different ways that they could entertain themselves while they waited. A second group played for the entirety of the three minutes with no mention of waiting. 

While this trial showed no relationship between the toddlers’ temperaments and how they distracted themselves, the researchers learned that parents can serve as models for easing their toddlers into waiting. When the children in the experiment saw other adults playing or distracting themselves, they were more likely to do the same -- in any capacity -- during the three minutes. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope this work can help parents better manage their toddlers so they can learn how to control themselves when having to wait for something. 

A new study explored how extreme heat may have a significant impact on consumers’ heart health. Experts explained that heatwaves, especially as they occur more often due to global warming, are likely to increase the risk for cardiovascular concerns. 

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently reported that global temperatures are rising at a greater rate than previously projected, and that the number of extreme heat days will significantly increase across most land regions,” said researcher Daniel Gagnon, Ph.D. “Although we don’t yet fully understand the reasons, people with cardiovascular disease are at greater risk of hospitalizations and death during extreme heat events.” 

Rising temperatures affect heart health

To better understand how extreme temperatures can impact consumers’ long-term heart health,  the researchers analyzed several earlier studies that evaluated the same topic.

Ultimately, the researchers learned that persistent exposure to high temperatures puts additional stress on consumers’ cardiovascular systems. The study showed that there was a higher mortality risk due to heart failure, heart disease, stroke, and blood clots. Those health concerns were even greater for those with existing heart conditions.

To help lower the risk of long-term health concerns, the researchers encourage consumers to focus on staying properly hydrated and keeping cool when the weather gets warm. While not all consumers have access to air conditioning at home, some ways to stay cool include soaking feet in cool water, getting an electric fan, and wetting the skin with cold compresses. 

“Cardiovascular health professionals need to be aware of the negative consequences of extreme heat on cardiovascular health,” said Dr. Gagnon. “A better awareness and understanding of the cardiovascular consequences of extreme heat, and of the measures to take to prevent and mitigate adverse events, will help us all assess the risk and optimize the care of patients exposed to an increasingly warm climate.” 

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 23 model year 2021 GLE 350s, GLE 580s, GLS 450s, GLS 580s, AMG GLE 53s, AMG GLE 63 Ss, and AMG GLS 63 Ss.

The rear window may be insufficiently bonded to the tailgate, which could allow the rear glass to detach.

Detached rear glass can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace the rear window free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on December 21, 2021.

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

Gold Canyon Meat Company of Phoenix, Ariz., is recalling approximately 6,876 pounds of raw ground beef patties.

The products may be contaminated with extraneous materials -- specifically, pieces of hard, white plastic.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following items, produced on October 21, 2021, with lot code “29421,” are being recalled:

• 11.25-lb. boxes containing vacuum-packed, single-stacked Gold Canyon Meat CO “BEEF CHUCK PATTY, GROUND 6 OUNCE GOURMET PRIME” with item number “4512991” on the label.
• 12-lb. boxes containing vacuum-packed, single-stacked Gold Canyon Meat CO “BEEF CHUCK PATTY, GROUND 2X1 GOURMET USDA PRIME” with item number “4757111” on the label.
• 12-lb. boxes containing vacuum-packed, single-stacked Gold Canyon Meat CO “BEEF CHUCK PATTIE, GROUND SLIDER ANGUS 6X1” with item number “3752811” on the label.
• 12-lb. boxes containing vacuum-packed, single-stacked Gold Canyon Meat CO “BEEF CHUCK PATTIE, GROUND 6OZ 6 WIDE CEDAR RIVER NATURAL USDA CHOICE” with item number “3138361” on the label.
• 12-lb. boxes containing vacuum-packed, single-stacked Gold Canyon Meat CO “BEEF CHUCK PATTIE, GROUND 8Z CEDAR RIVER NATURAL USDA CHOICE” with item number “3962551” on the label.
• 12.25-lb. boxes containing vacuum-packed, single-stacked Gold Canyon Meat CO “BEEF CHUCK PATTY, GROUND ANGUS 7Z CRYO 2-6LB SLEEVES” with item number “3942041” on the label.
• 12.25-lb. boxes containing vacuum-packed, single-stacked Gold Canyon Meat CO “BEEF CHUCK PATTY, GROUND ANGUS 7Z” with item number “3926911” on the label.

The recalled products, bearing the establishment number “EST. 6239” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to restaurants in Arizona and California.

What to do

The recalled products should not be consumed. Instead, they should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact the firm at (480) 564-6047 or by email at Sandy_Kelly@ShamrockFoods.com.