Current Events in December 2024

You may associate formaldehyde with dissecting frogs in biology class, but the chemical can be found in countless consumer products. And an analysis by ProPublica contends that formaldehyde fumes pose an incremental lifetime cancer risk greater than one incidence of cancer in every million people.

Not only that, the research found that about 320 million people live in areas where that risk is at least 10 times higher. In other areas, the cancer risk from formaldehyde is even worse. 

While most people probably associate formaldehyde with preserving organic material, it can have many other uses. It’s used to bind particleboards in furniture and serves as an important building block in plastic.

There is no shortage of products using particleboard or plastic and, according to ProPublica, these products leak fumes into the air that people breath.

You may recall that flooring retail Lumber Liquidators first encountered financial problems when a 2015 report by CBS 60 Minutes revealed that flooring it imported from China had been soaked in formaldehyde. 

A federal safety report released the following year found that the flooring leaked enough formaldehyde fumes to irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Investigators concluded that it gave off enough gas to cause difficulty breathing in people with asthma.

It also found that breathing formaldehyde fumes also increased cancer risks by a small amount. However, the ProPublica report released this week says those risks may be significantly greater.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may be ready to act, but efforts have been slowed by opposition from industry groups. 

According to the National Institutes of Health, the relationship between cancer and exposure to formaldehyde has been investigated in seven case–control studies, five of which found elevated risks for overall exposure to formaldehyde or in higher exposure categories, including one in which the increase in risk was statistically significant.

As holiday travelers make plans to hit the road, the cost of gasoline will make those trips a little more pleasant. The national average gasoline price has dipped below $3 a gallon, hitting its lowest point since 2021.

GasBuddy reports the average gas priced dropped by at least three cents a gallon for an eighth straight week, starting the week at $2.97 a gallon. The national average is down 8.7 cents from a month ago and is 17.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has declined 2.3 cents in the last week and stands at $3.491 per gallon.

“The national average has finally fallen below $3 per gallon, and it couldn’t come at a better time for motorists with the holidays upon us. One would need to count over 1,300 days since we’ve seen the national average this low, with the affordability of gasoline at its lowest non-COVID level since 2015,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. 

DeHaan says nearly 110,000 gas stations in 35 states are selling fuel as less than $3 a gallon. 

“The good news is that we’ll likely continue to see additional downward pressure on gas prices, with the national average potentially falling another 10 to 15 cents by Christmas,” he added.

Gasoline prices normally fall when the economy shows signs of softening, but by all accounts, the U.S. economy remains fairly strong. GasBuddy says the current drop in gasoline prices is linked to lower oil prices.

OPEC’s production cuts have done little to raise oil prices, which are hovering just under $70 a barrel. Prices rose slightly at the start of the week, a move largely attributed to the uncertainty in the Middle East following the overthrow of the Syrian government.

Highest and lowest prices

To start the week, the cheapest gas prices are in Oklahoma, with a $2.51 statewide average price of regular. Texas has the second-cheapest gas, with a statewide average price of $2.59 a gallon. Mississippi is third-cheapest with an average price of $2.60 a gallon.

Hawaii has the most expensive gas with an average price of nearly $4.56 a gallon. California is second with an average price of $4.35 a gallon. Washington is third with an average price of $3.95 a gallon.

Atkinson Milling Company is recalling a variety of Hushpuppies due to an undeclared milk allergen. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products.

During an internal review of the label, the firm discovered that it did not have milk listed in the “ingredients” or “contains” sections. Upon this discovery, and out of an abundance of caution, the firm decided to report this labeling error to North Carolina Department of Agriculture and the Food & Drug Administration.

No illnesses have been reported to date. The affected products are listed below:

The products were distributed with the incorrect labeling up to December 2, 2024. The Sell By Date is located on the back of the package below the ingredient statement for the 2lb 8oz bags and embossed on the end of the bag for the 1lb bag.

These products were packaged in clear plastic and sold primarily in retail and wholesale stores in Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

“Atkinson’s takes allergies and food safety seriously,” the company said in a statement. “We are sorry for this oversight and will continue to make strides to prevent this from ever happening again. We are deeply appreciative of each and every one of our customers.”

What to do

Consumers who have purchased these affected products may return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company’s Consumer Department at 1-800-948-5707 Monday – Friday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm EST.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

The U.S. is falling behind globally in health progress. While life expectancy is expected to rise slightly from 78.3 years in 2022 to 80.4 years by 2050, the U.S. global ranking will drop from 49th to 66th, according to a study in The Lancet.

Healthy life expectancy rankings are also set to decline significantly. Key concerns include: 

• Rising obesity rates, which could affect over 260 million people by 2050, and
• A dramatic increase in drug-related deaths, forecasted to reach the highest rate worldwide.

Addressing major risk factors like obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure could save millions of lives but won’t significantly improve the U.S.'s global health standing without broader systemic changes, the study warns.

The study urges immediate action on health strategies and policies to prevent further declines in outcomes and their economic impact. Universal access to high-quality healthcare and investments in preventive care are emphasized as critical solutions.

About the study

The study draws on a detailed analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D.C., published in The Lancet. Researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) produced health estimates and forecasts (the most likely future) of life expectancy, mortality, and morbidity due to more than 350 diseases and injuries and 68 risks in the U.S. from 1990 to 2050.

U.S. life expectancy improvements slow, global ranking drops 

Life expectancy in the U.S. is forecast to increase from 78.3 years in 2022 to 79.9 years in 2035 and to 80.4 years in 2050 for all sexes combined. This modest increase lowers the country’s global ranking from 49th in 2022 to 66th in 2050 among the 204 countries and territories included in the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.

Nationally, mortality rates declined between 1990 and 2021 for many leading causes of death, most notably for heart disease, cancer, and stroke. That contributed to improvements in life expectancy.

Despite the progress the U.S. has made over the last three decades, the country is forecast to rank progressively lower than other nations globally in the average number of years a person can expect to live in good health. Known as healthy life expectancy (HLE) or health-adjusted life expectancy, its global ranking is forecast to drop from 80th in 2022 to 108th by 2050.

Women’s health in the U.S. is falling behind other peer countries faster than men’s. Female healthy life expextancy is forecasted to decline by 2050 in 20 states, including Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana. Only three states remain unchanged: Arizona, Idaho, and North Dakota.

“In spite of modest increases in life expectancy overall, our models forecast health improvements slowing down due to rising rates of obesity, which is a serious risk factor to many chronic diseases and forecasted to leap to levels never before seen,” said co-senior author Professor Christopher J.L. Murray, Director of IHME.

“The rise in obesity and overweight rates in the U.S., with IHME forecasting over 260 million people affected by 2050, signals a public health crisis of unimaginable scale.”  

Alarming forecasts in U.S. mortality rates and causes of death

The nation also faces other alarming trends. From 1990 to 2021, the U.S. recorded an 878% increase in the mortality rate (from 2.0 deaths to 19.5 deaths per 100,000) from drug use disorders, including from opioid use disorder, amphetamine use disorder, cocaine use disorder, and a group of other drug use disorders. The death rate is forecasted to climb another 34% between 2022 and 2050 (from 19.9 deaths to 26.7 deaths per 100,000).

That’s the highest drug use–related mortality rate in the world and more than twice as high as the second-highest country, which is Canada.

“The stark contrast that’s forecasted in the next 30 years comes after a concerted effort by federal, state, and local government agencies and health systems launched after the opioid crisis was declared a public health emergency in 2017. The opioid epidemic is far from over, and greater effectiveness and continued expansion of programs to prevent and treat drug use are still needed,” said lead author Professor Ali Mokdad from IHME.

Major risk factors, 12 million deaths

If major risk factors like obesity, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure were eliminated by 2050, 12.4 million deaths could be averted in the U.S. That said, if these risk factors were eliminated globally, the health gains wouldn’t be enough for the U.S. to improve its global ranking, and it would still fall behind some peer countries, the researchers said.

Some countries, like Canada, are so far ahead of the U.S. that U.S. would only catch up to Canada if these risks were totally eliminated in the U.S.

“The rapid decline of the U.S. in global rankings from 2022 to 2050 rings the alarm for immediate action. The U.S. must change course and find new and better health strategies and policies that slow down the decline in future health outcomes,” said co-senior author Dr. Stein Emil Vollset, Affiliate Professor from IHME.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sending over $72 million in refunds to Fortnite players who were unfairly charged by Epic Games.

This is part of a settlement where Epic Games agreed to pay $245 million after the FTC accused the company of using tricks, called "dark patterns," to make unwanted purchases easy.

Epic also allowed children to make unauthorized charges without parental approval and blocked some users from accessing content when they disputed charges.

The FTC found that Fortnite's confusing button setup caused accidental charges. Players could be charged by pressing a single button while the game was loading, waking from sleep mode, or previewing an item.

The FTC is now sending out 629,344 payments, half through PayPal and half as checks. Payments average about $114. PayPal recipients should redeem their money within 30 days, and checks should be cashed within 90 days.

For questions about payments, consumers can contact Rust Consulting, Inc., at 1-833-915-0880 or email admin@fortniterefund.com. Additional information and a claim form for eligible consumers are available at www.ftc.gov/fortnite. The FTC warns people not to pay or share account information to receive a refund.

Walmart’s holiday plans started rolling out in September, and now the retailer is preparing consumers for any last-minute necessities. 

Walmart has officially announced its cutoff dates for shipping gifts – and shopping for gifts. 

As consumers get ready to mark their calendars for these deadlines, Walmart is also sharing news on even more holiday deals. In the final two weeks leading up to Christmas, shoppers will have the chance to save in nearly every category as part of Walmart’s “Last-Minute Gifting” sales event. 

Deadlings for gifting

So, how much time exactly do consumers have if they want to shop at Walmart or have a gift shipped in time for the holidays? Here’s a look at Walmart’s deadlines: 

• Order by 12:30 p.m. local time on December 23 for delivery on December 25 – This is the first year that shoppers have the option to ship gifts with next-day or two-day shipping from Walmart. 

• Order by 4:00 p.m. local time on December 24 for Express Delivery – Walmart Express Delivery can get your gift delivered in 30 minutes. The retailer is also offering Walmart+ members one free Express Delivery through December 31. 

• Order by 12:00 p.m. local time on December 24 for in-store same-day pickup and delivery – Same-day pickup and delivery is always an option for shoppers, and Walmart stores will allow this option through 4:00 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve. 

"We're proud of the progress we've made this year in our supply chain transformation," said David Guggina, executive vice president of supply chain operations, Walmart U.S. “We’re ensuring customers can count on Walmart having the items they want, when they want them, no matter when they choose to shop this holiday season.”

Opportunities to save on gifts

Walmart is also offering shoppers more opportunities to save on gifts this holiday season. From December 9-24, consumers can shop Walmart’s “Last-Minute Gifts” sales event, which features discounts on toys, clothes, electronics, tech, home, beauty, and more. 

Some of the sales that are active now include: 

• JBL Tune Beam – True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds: $39 (save $40)

• Cate & Chloe Sophia 18K White Gold-Plated Halo Necklace: $14.99 

• Joyspun Women’s and Women’s Plus Super Minky Fleece Long Sleep Top with Pajama Pants, 2-Piece Set: $10 (special buy)

• Paw Patrol, Marshall’s Firetruck with Figure: $5 (save $4.97)

• Project Cloud 100% Genuine Suede Snow Boots: $47.90 (save $17.09)

• LeapFrog Tad’s Fridge Phonics: $15 (save $13.67)

• Piezano Pizza Oven: $94.99 (save $40.55)

• Dakota Fleece Women’s and Girls’ Smiley Cozy Comfort Slippers: $9 (special buy)

• Ultimate Sports Bounce House, 4-in-1, 8’ x 10’: $299 (save $100)

• Nutribullet Blender Combo: $59 (special buy)

• L’Ange Hair Le Duo Titanium Flat Iron Hair Straightener: $62.30 (save $56.70)

• Squishmallows Official Cam Bean Bag Chair: $49.88 (save $4.90)

• Ozark Trail Glide Mountain Bike, 24” Wheels, 8 Speed: $148 (save $50)

• Flashforge 3D Printer: $189 (save $110)

• Perricone MD High Potency Classics Face Finishing & Firming Moisturizer: $17.50 (save $7.50)

• L.O.L. Surprise Magic Flyers: Sky Starling – Hand Guided Flying Doll: $19 (save $4.99)

The sale is running both online and in stores, and shoppers have through Christmas Eve, December 24, to get these special offers. 

As shocking as the cold-blooded murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was, the reaction of many on social media may have been equally as shocking. Any expressions of sympathy were largely overshadowed by the torrent of hate directed at health benefit providers.

This is not exactly a new phenomenon. In the 1997 movie “As Good as it Gets,” Helen Hunt played a low-income single mother of a son with chronic health problems. When a doctor tells her that a simple allergy test that her health plan refused to cover might show the cause, she unleashes a torrent of expletives directed at her HMO. 

In nearly every case, no matter where the film was being shown, the audience erupted in cheers.

But to be fair, there are two major players entangled in this issue. There are the health insurance companies and there are healthcare providers, whose bills are covered by the benefit plans.

The role of providers

Thomas Kluz, managing director of Venture Lab, which invests in healthcare, believes hospitals and providers bear a lot of responsibility for high premiums and limited coverage.

“Medical service providers determine prices for medical services, and those prices have a big impact on the rates that insurers must pay,” Kluz told ConsumerAffairs. “According to RAND Corporation’s hospital price transparency study, hospital prices for privately insured patients for the same procedures are, on average, twice to three times as much as Medicare rates for the same services.”

And therein may lie one of the big issues. A growing number of patients are covered by Medicare and Medicaid, government health insurance programs that generally pay less. Everyone else is covered by private health insurance.

“Health systems and other provider organizations are in a difficult position because they generally lose money on the growing part of their patient populations that are covered by Medicare and Medicaid, so they must cover these losses with commercially insured patients to remain financially viable,” said Web Golinkin, former CEO at FastMed.

“In addition, their labor costs have risen significantly since and partially because of, COVID, which has further squeezed their operating surpluses and in some cases produced losses.”

The profit motive

Which begs the question: should companies providing sometimes critical life and death services have to show a profit and be accountable to Wall Street? UnitedHealthcare is not only a profitable company, it earns billions of dollars in profit per quarter, which bolsters its stock price.

Jack Glasker, of Affordable Healthcare Solutions in Westfield, N.J., says some people find the idea of for-profit healthcare repulsive, while many others hate the idea of a government “single payer” system.

“Unfortunately though, the cost of major medical care has absolutely skyrocketed,” Glasker told us. “The reasons are multitudinous, including but certainly not limited to for-profit health insurance. The growing complexity of the system runs contrary to the motives of for-profit health insurance. That's primarily the reason for the angst many people seem to share.”

So, as medical costs rise and health insurance premiums rise and cover fewer services, patients often are left to fend for themselves. That led Holden Karau to co-found a company with the descriptive name Fight Health Insurance.

“I started the company after experiencing a lot of health insurance denials personally,” Karau told ConsumerAffairs.

With a background in artificial intelligence and machine learning, Karau developed tools to help patients develop effective appeals of their denied claims.

“We work by taking the patient's denial and asking them some questions and generating an appeal with an in-house large language model,” Karau said. “I would say in regard to the social media response, I’ve seen so much hurt and frustration from denials, including life-saving procedures and medications, I can understand why some folks turn to humor to cope.

Food recalls are a big topic in the U.S. lately, with constant updates on items being pulled from shelves. However, the data show that the number of recalls this year is about the same as last year.

The real difference is how easily we hear about them now. In the 1970s, one or two of the three major TV networks might have reported on a recall. Today, social media, grocery apps, and news websites spread the news instantly.

This year the alarm bells have been more active than usual because there was so much recall activity around Thanksgiving, when people are focused on food and family gatherings, making them more susceptible to fears about food safety. 

Of course, it didn't help that names like Boar's Head and McDonald's were involved in some of the recalls. 

Recalls actually down a bit

But despite all the clamor, government statistics show that recalls this year are actually a little bit down from last year, at least for now. 

Between them, the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have recorded 270 food and beverage recalls, withdrawals and alerts, according to the Washington Post. Keep in mind, though, that the numbers aren't tabulated daily, so the final year-end figures will differ.

Psychologist David Levari of Brown University points out that people tend to overestimate risks, especially ones they don’t encounter often.

“People tend to worry about those, sometimes more than car crashes, even though car crashes are much more common,” Levari said. “Airplane crashes can make more news, and they stick out in people’s memory,” he told the Post. 

While having instant access to information is useful, it’s important not to let it cause unnecessary worry.

The political limbo affecting the U.S. right now doesn't help either. The incoming Trump Administration is promising to slice regulatory agencies, including those that regulate food.

That may be encouraging to those who think cleaning house will make the agencies more efficient but it may be discouraging who we'll be worse off with fewer experts watching the food industry. 

Inflation-weary Americans are prioritizing where they spend their money, and increasingly, it’s not for a new car. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports the average number of new car sales, on a four-year rolling average, has fallen to 15.5 million, down from 17.7 million in 2019.

That trend has increased the age of cars currently on the road. According to Statista, passenger cars and light trucks in the United States had an average age of 12.6 years in 2024. That’s a slight increase from 12.5 years in 2023. 

Consumers who can drive their cars longer stand to benefit financially. If their car has been paid for years earlier, the owner saves several thousand dollars a year by not making car payments. 

They also may benefit from lower insurance costs. In many cases, it costs less to insure a 12-year-old car than a new one.

In a change from the past, today’s vehicles can last well over 100,000 miles, if well-maintained. But the older a vehicle gets, those maintenance needs tend to rise. And so do the costs.

Rising maintenance costs

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the cost of vehicle maintenance and repair rose 1.1% from September to October and is up 5.8% over the last 12 months.

While regular maintenance is important to keep older vehicles running, the Wall Street Journal reports there is anecdotal evidence that inflation is weighing on consumers’ maintenance schedules.

The Journal notes that the stock price of Monro, a chain of tire stores, fell by 12% when it revealed that same-store sales had fallen this year. People were still buying tires, the company said, but they were trading down to cheaper ones.

The stock price of Genuine Parts, the parent company of Napa, suffered a 20% decline in September when the company reported a steep drop in sales to retail customers.

Consumers are buying older used cars

In July, automotive website iSeeCars released a study showing Americans are not only keeping their vehicles longer, they’re buying older cars and trucks to begin with. While they’re saving money, the study shows they’re not saving as much as in the past.

The market share of the purchase of cars 10 years old or older has increased by 30% since 2014. Despite their increased market share, the price of older cars has gone up by 60% since 2014.

Older sedans, wagons, and hatchbacks make up 16 of the 20 vehicles with the biggest growth in older car market share, the study found.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. housing market has been out of balance, with demand outstripping the supply of single-family homes. The pandemic, with its remote work opportunities, just made it worse.

This year, housing inventory finally started to improve, but even with millions of baby boomers downsizing, the homes that are expected to sell in the next few years, in what real estate marketplace Zillow calls a “silver tsunami,” won’t help that much because these homes aren’t where young families want to be.

Zillow data show that in 2022, there were approximately 20.9 million empty-nest households nationwide. These households consist of residents aged 55 or older who have lived in the same home for over a decade, have no children at home, and possess at least two extra bedrooms. 

This figure contrasts sharply with the 8.1 million families living with nonrelatives who likely need their own space.

According to Zillow researchers, the issue lies in the geographic distribution of these empty-nest homes. They are predominantly located in less expensive markets, which are not the preferred destinations for young workers. 

Pittsburgh has the most empty-next homes

Among the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, Pittsburgh leads with the highest share of empty-nest households at 22%, followed by Buffalo and Cleveland at 20%, Detroit and St. Louis at 19%, and New Orleans at 18%. 

These cities, except for New Orleans, are already among the top markets with affordable homes and have a lower proportion of household heads under the age of 44.

At the same time, cities like San Jose, Austin, and Denver, which attract a significant number of millennials and Gen Zers, are among the most expensive in the nation. These areas have a smaller share of empty-nest households than the national average, exacerbating the housing affordability challenge. 

The high demand in these coastal job centers means that an influx of homes from older owners, often referred to as a silver tsunami, would have a limited impact on easing affordability pressures.

The problem with new construction

Zillow's research suggests the key to resolving the housing shortage lies in building more homes. But markets with severe housing shortages often face stringent land-use restrictions, which hinder new construction and make it more expensive. 

Promoting denser construction and removing barriers to homeownership, such as providing credit assistance, down payment help, and closing cost support, could improve access to housing, researchers say.

"Even if we did see a 'silver tsunami,' a look at the map tells me it wouldn't really move the needle in terms of solving our housing affordability crunch," said Orphe Divounguy, Zillow’s senior economist. "These empty-nest households are concentrated in more affordable markets, where housing is already more accessible — not in the expensive coastal job centers where young workers are moving and where more homes are most desperately needed."

A wave of baby boomer home sales probably won’t resolve the housing shortage because Zillow data show these homes aren’t where the jobs are.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Performant Recovery, Inc. today for illegal student loan debt collection practices.

It said Performant delayed borrowers' loan rehabilitation processes, adding unnecessary fees and costing borrowers thousands of dollars. The CFPB ordered the company to pay a $700,000 fine and banned it from collecting or servicing any student loans.

“Performant concocted a scheme to juice their profits by delaying student borrowers their rightful relief,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “The CFPB is holding Performant accountable for its unlawful debt collection practices that cost borrowers thousands of dollars.”

Performant, a debt collection company, delayed loan rehabilitations intentionally, the CFPB allegeed. Borrowers who acted within 65 days of default could avoid extra fees, but Performant slowed the process to ensure borrowers incurred collection costs, benefiting the company.

Performant used tactics like forcing borrowers to use slower methods, such as mailing forms, to delay the process further.

The CFPB found Performant’s actions caused borrowers to lose financial benefits, like avoiding fees, restoring student aid eligibility, and clearing defaults from credit reports. Performant’s practices were deemed unfair and abusive under federal law.

The order stops Performant from handling student loan debt and requires it to pay a $700,000 penalty to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made an official order to start testing all samples of raw milk as bird flu continues to impact farms across the country. 

The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, began in March of this year, and after recent issues with raw milk in California, this order will hopefully prevent more cases of infection. The USDA is working to identify which herds are responsible for the spread of the virus, and this new National Milk Testing Strategy is designed to do just that. 

“Since the first HPAI detection in livestock, USDA has collaborated with our federal, state and industry partners to swiftly and diligently identify affected herds and respond accordingly. This new milk testing strategy will build on those steps to date and will provide a roadmap for states to protect the health of their dairy herds,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. 

“Among many outcomes, this will give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide.”

What does the order entail?

The USDA’s order includes three primary requirements for all raw milk samples: 

• Raw milk samples must be submitted to the USDA from any entity responsible for a dairy farm, bulk milk transporter, bulk milk transfer station, or dairy processing facility that sends or holds milk intended for pasteurization. 

• Farmers who have animals that have become infected with bird flu must provide any and all epidemiological information to allow government agencies to conduct contract tracing and disease surveillance. 

• Private labs and vets must report any positive tests that come from raw milk samples to the USDA. 

“This testing strategy is a critical part of our ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of individuals and communities nationwide,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. 

“Our primary responsibility at HHS is to protect public health and the safety of the food supply, and we continue to work closely with USDA and all stakeholders on continued testing for H5N1 in retail milk and dairy samples from across the country to ensure the safety of the commercial pasteurized milk supply. We will continue this work with USDA for as long and as far as necessary.”

Current orders from the USDA require all dairy cows moving across state lines to be tested for infection. This mandate will remain in effect as this new order also goes into effect.  

The USDA plans to start implementing this new order the week of December 16 in California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.