Current Events in September 2025

• The company will eliminate artificial FD&C colors from all foods and beverages by the second half of fiscal 2026 (March–August).

• Popular brands like Lance crackers, V8 Splash, Archway, Stella D’oro, Jay’s, O-Ke-Doke, and Tom’s will now use colors from natural sources.

• This move responds to growing consumer demand for simpler, recognizable ingredients.

The Campbell's Company, formerly Campbell’s Soup, is joining other food manufacturers, hopping on the “Make America Healthy Again” bandwagon, pledging to remove all FD&C artificial colors from its remaining products.

By the second half of its 2026 fiscal year – March through August – the company will no longer produce any foods or beverages containing artificial dyes.

What’s Changing

• Lance crackers and V8 Splash will switch to colors derived from natural sources such as annatto and purple carrot juice concentrate.

• Regional snack brands, including Jay’s, O-Ke-Doke, and Tom’s, will also make the transition.

• Cookie brands like Archway and Stella D’oro will phase out FD&C colors as well.

The company stressed that some of its products made the transition long ago. For example, Goldfish crackers have used plant-based colors for more than 15 years, with their signature red shade coming from beet juice concentrate and paprika extracted from sweet red peppers.

In a press release, Campbell’s said consumers are increasingly looking for foods made with fewer artificial additives and more recognizable ingredients. By transitioning fully to natural coloring sources, the company said it is responding to both consumer preferences and the broader regulatory landscape.

When will consumers see the change? As existing inventory clears, Campbell’s said products made with FD&C colors will disappear from store shelves. Shoppers will see the same beloved brands—just with colors sourced from nature instead of artificial dyes.

Industry trend

Other food manufacturers have also taken this step. In June, Kraft Heinz, one of America’s largest food and condiment companies, announced a new commitment to cleaner ingredients and consumer-focused innovation. 

It plans to immediately stop all new U.S. product launches containing artificial Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors. It has also pledged to completely eliminate them from its U.S. portfolio by the end of 2027.

In July, a coalition of dairy farmers and ice cream producers announced they would phase out all artificial food dyes from their products by 2026, citing research that show the move would be good for business.

"We're hearing our customers loud and clear," Lisa Varela, vice president of Product Innovation at Glacier Creamery, said at the time. "They want fun colors in their ice cream, but they want them to come from real sources, not chemicals."

• Nearly 1,800 workers freed from restrictions limiting job mobility

• Gateway Services barred from enforcing or creating new noncompetes

• Case signals Trump-Vance FTC’s focus on anticompetitive labor practices

The Federal Trade Commission has ordered Gateway Services, Inc., the country’s largest pet cremation company, and its subsidiary to stop enforcing noncompete agreements that bound nearly all of its employees, a move aimed at protecting worker mobility and wages.

In a complaint, the FTC alleged that Gateway’s noncompete clauses prohibited employees from working anywhere in the U.S. pet cremation industry for one year after leaving the company. The agreements, in place since 2019, applied to workers across the company’s operations, from executives to hourly laborers at its more than 100 facilities serving 17,000 veterinary clinics nationwide.

Under a proposed consent order, Gateway must immediately end enforcement of the agreements, notify workers that they are no longer bound by them, and refrain from imposing similar restrictions in the future, except in limited circumstances. The FTC said the action will free nearly 1,800 employees.

“The Commission will stand up for workers and ensure that they receive all the benefits that flow from robust competition between employers,” said Daniel Guarnera, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. He added that antitrust laws protect workers from being locked into jobs by unfair restrictions that block access to better pay or business opportunities.

Unfair labor practices

FTC officials said the action reflects the Trump-Vance administration’s emphasis on targeting unfair labor practices through its Joint Labor Task Force. “The Trump-Vance FTC will never stop fighting for American workers,” said Kelse Moen, deputy director of the Bureau of Competition.

The complaint said Gateway’s noncompete agreements unfairly tilted bargaining power toward the company and hindered competition by discouraging the growth of rival businesses. The proposed order also restricts Gateway from banning former employees from soliciting customers, except those they directly served in their final year with the company.

• Total nonfarm payroll employment rose modestly in August by 22,000 jobs, showing little change since April.

• Health care and social assistance saw the strongest gains, with more than 47,000 combined jobs added.

• Job losses in the federal government, manufacturing, and mining sectors offset much of that growth.

It’s getting harder to find a job. The U.S. labor market showed little momentum in August, with total nonfarm payroll employment rising by just 22,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The unemployment rate remained at 4.3%, nearly unchanged from recent months, as the economy continued to display signs of a slowdown. August job creation was well below the census estimate of 75,000, suggesting a slowing job market.

Strongest sectors: Health care and social assistance

Health care once again proved to be the largest driver of job growth, adding 31,000 positions in August. Gains were spread across ambulatory health care services (+13,000), nursing and residential care facilities (+9,000), and hospitals (+9,000). 

While this was below the 12-month average monthly increase of 42,000, it still accounted for the bulk of August’s job creation.

Employment in social assistance also contributed to labor market strength, with 16,000 new jobs, all of them concentrated in individual and family services. Together, these sectors added nearly 50,000 jobs, helping to offset declines elsewhere.

Weakest sectors: Government, mining, and manufacturing

Federal government employment continued to slide, falling by 15,000 jobs in August. The sector has now lost 97,000 positions since January, marking one of the steepest contractions this year.

The mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector shed 6,000 jobs, reversing a year of relative stability.

Manufacturing also struggled, losing 12,000 jobs over the month and 78,000 since the start of the year. The steepest decline was seen in transportation equipment manufacturing, where a strike contributed to a loss of 15,000 jobs.

Key areas of the economy, including construction, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality, showed little change.

Overall, the August report shows a labor market in balance: health care and social services continue to grow steadily, but government, manufacturing, and energy extraction remain persistent drags on overall employment.

• Mortgage rates dipped to 6.50%, the lowest in nearly a year.

• Pending home sales rose 1.6% year over year, but affordability challenges persist.

• Median monthly housing payments fell to $2,593, the lowest level since January.

Mortgage rates continued their downward path this week. Freddie Mac reports its Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averages 6.50%.

“Mortgage rates continue to trend down, increasing optimism for new buyers and current owners alike,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “As rates continue to drop, the number of homeowners who have the opportunity to refinance is expanding. In fact, the share of market mortgage applications that were for a refinance reached nearly 47%, the highest since October.”

Current rates

• The 30-year FRM averaged 6.50% as of September 4, 2025, down from last week when it averaged 6.56%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.35%.

• The 15-year FRM averaged 5.60%, down from last week when it averaged 5.69%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.47%.

As rates continue to fall, house payments become a little more affordable for home buyers. A new report from real estate brokerage Redfin shows the median housing payment is down to $2,593, the lowest it’s been in January.

Lower payments are beginning to spur more activity. Pending home sales rose 1.6% from a year earlier, continuing several weeks of steady growth. 

However, the rebound is modest. Home-sale prices climbed 1.6% year over year during the four weeks ending August 31, keeping affordability pressures high. Despite the recent dip, monthly payments remain 5% higher than they were a year ago.

“Mortgage rates haven’t come down significantly enough to bring back a flood of buyers,” said Mariah O’Keefe, a Redfin Premier agent in Seattle. 

She noted that while well-priced single-family homes in desirable neighborhoods are selling quickly, condos, townhouses, and homes that aren’t move-in ready are lingering on the market. Sellers, however, are increasingly willing to negotiate as demand remains subdued.

The supply side of the market also plays a role in stabilizing prices. While total homes for sale are up 11.3% from last year, that’s the smallest increase in 18 months. New listings rose just 1.1% year over year, as some homeowners are choosing to stay put rather than risk selling in a market where buyers remain cautious. With inventory declining from its summer peak, upward price pressure remains.

• Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has warned that the U.S. economy faces mounting risks from debt, inflation, and geopolitical tensions.

• He cautions that America’s debt-fueled spending and rising interest rates could trigger a painful “debt crisis.”

• For everyday Americans, this could mean higher borrowing costs, weaker job markets, and lower investment returns.

For the last couple of years, billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, has been sounding alarms about the U.S. economy. In recent interviews and writings, the warnings have increased.

Dalio has cautioned that rising government debt, persistent inflation, and geopolitical rifts could converge into a “perfect storm” with significant consequences for both markets and ordinary households.

Dalio has repeatedly said that the U.S. government’s debt burden is becoming unsustainable. Federal debt has climbed above $34 trillion, and higher interest rates mean that servicing that debt is increasingly expensive. 

“We’re reaching a point where borrowing to finance deficits is no longer sustainable without consequences,” he warned. Higher borrowing costs, he added, could crowd out private investment and reduce overall economic growth.

Inflation and geopolitical strains

Despite some signs of easing inflation in 2025, Dalio cautioned that the threat remains. He pointed to global supply chain realignments, deglobalization, and geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, as long-term inflationary pressures. In his view, the world is moving into a more fragmented era, which could make goods and capital more expensive and less available.

In an interview with Fortune Magazine, Dalio said he is a lone voice warning about the economy because others are remaining silent, fearing retaliation. However, ConsumerAffairs found some others who have voiced similar concerns lately.

A recent Business Insider commentary spotlighted consensus among expert economists:

• Economist Ken Rogoff forecasts a debt crisis within four to five years due to rising rates and warns against complacency on the costs of debt.

• Historian Niall Ferguson points out that when debt interest approaches defense spending levels—as seen in fiscal year 2024—it signals growing financial vulnerability and waning investor confidence.

• A Wall Street Journal analysis warned that the U.S. deficit has ballooned toward $2 trillion, exceeding sustainable norms. Without structural reforms, its analysis concludes that markets may be compelled to react with higher yields and diminished demand for Treasuries, leading to higher mortgage rates.

Impact on average Americans

For everyday Americans, Dalio’s warnings, should they materialize, could translate into real-life concerns:

• Higher borrowing costs: Rising interest rates mean mortgages, car loans, and credit card debt are more expensive.

• Job market uncertainty: Slower growth could limit hiring and wage gains, putting pressure on household budgets.

• Weaker investment returns: Stocks and bonds may deliver lower returns in the coming years, challenging retirement savings and long-term financial planning.

• Potential policy shifts: To manage its debt, the government may consider higher taxes or changes to entitlement programs, both of which would directly affect households.

Dalio advised investors and households to diversify their assets, manage risk carefully, and avoid overexposure to debt. He has long argued that resilience—whether in personal finances, businesses, or national economies—comes from preparing for a range of scenarios, not just the most optimistic ones.

• Study finds PFAS treatment also cuts other toxic contaminants

• Reductions seen in cancer-linked byproducts, nitrates and heavy metals

• Smaller, rural communities lag behind in access to advanced systems

Water treatment systems designed to remove the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS may provide far greater public health benefits than previously recognized, according to new research from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

A peer-reviewed study published in ACS ES&T Water shows that technologies like granular activated carbon, ion exchange and reverse osmosis not only reduce PFAS levels but also cut other hazardous contaminants from drinking water, including cancer-causing disinfection byproducts (DBPs), agricultural nitrates and heavy metals such as arsenic and uranium.

“PFAS treatment isn’t just about ‘forever chemicals,’” said Sydney Evans, EWG senior science analyst and lead author of the study. “It’s also opening the door to improving water treatment across the board.”

A potential game-changer

The study analyzed data from 19 U.S. utilities and the Environmental Protection Agency’s national monitoring program. Researchers found that installing advanced PFAS treatment led to a 42% drop in trihalomethanes and a 50% reduction in haloacetic acids, both carcinogenic byproducts of water disinfection.

“These kinds of reductions caused by PFAS filters are a game changer for public health, especially since where there are PFAS, there are always other chemicals, too,” said EWG analyst Varun Subramaniam.

Environmental injustice

Despite the health benefits, access to advanced filtration remains uneven. Only 7% of very small water systems, serving fewer than 500 people, use the technology, compared with 28% of the largest utilities.

“This is a textbook case of environmental injustice,” Subramaniam said. “The communities least able to afford advanced filtration often face the highest health risks.”

EWG researchers urged policymakers to address inequities by boosting federal and state funding for small, under-resourced water systems.

Regulatory setbacks

The findings come amid controversy over the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent moves to weaken limits on PFAS in drinking water and delay compliance deadlines, less than a year after new standards were finalized. Critics say the rollbacks could prolong harmful exposures, particularly in communities without access to advanced treatment.

“This study exposes a dangerous blind spot in federal water policy,” said Melanie Benesh, EWG’s vice president of government affairs. “Communities wouldn’t just filter out PFAS, they’d be eliminating multiple toxic chemicals at the same time.”

EWG also flagged gaps in national monitoring, arguing that inconsistent reporting prevents regulators from tracking co-occurring contaminants and evaluating treatment effectiveness.

Health risks of PFAS exposure

PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment and can accumulate in the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected PFAS in the blood of 99% of Americans, including newborns.

Exposure has been linked to suppressed immune function, reduced vaccine effectiveness, cancer risks and developmental harms.

“Advanced PFAS water treatment is a turning point,” Evans said. “When we fix one problem, we can solve several others. The opportunity to protect public health at scale is too big to ignore.”

• Florida plans to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates, a first in the U.S., aiming to boost parental rights and medical choice.

• Experts and pediatricians warn of potential risks, citing past evidence showing how vaccines help prevent outbreaks.

• Current exemption rates are already above the national average, signaling rising hesitancy among families.

Florida just announced a major shift: the state intends to do away with all childhood vaccine requirements for schools and daycares — potentially becoming the first in the nation to do so. 

This change is being framed by officials as a win for parental rights and informed medical decisions. However, experts — including those from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — are sounding an alarm, saying this could reverse hard-won public health gains.

“When everyone in a school is vaccinated, it’s harder for diseases to spread, and easier for everyone to keep the fun and learning going,” AAP President Susan J. Kressly, M.D., FAAP said in a news release. 

“When children are sick and miss school, parents also miss work, which not only impacts those families, but also the local economy. We are concerned that today's announcement … will put children in Florida public schools at higher risk for getting sick, and have ripple effects across their community."

The strategy behind the decision

According to state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, current vaccine mandates are "immoral" and infringe upon personal choice. 

While no timeline has been set, the plan is dual-tracked: the Health Department can drop some rules directly, but others will require legislative approval. 

Governor DeSantis backs the move and has launched a “Make America Healthy Again” commission to promote medical freedom, prioritize parental rights in health decisions, and reshape public health guidelines.

What do the numbers and pros say? 

Even before this move, Florida had a higher rate of vaccine exemptions among kindergartners — about 5.1% — compared to the 3.6% national average. 

Groups like the AMA (American Medical Association) say scrapping mandates reverses decades of progress in preventing serious childhood illnesses.

“The American Medical Association strongly opposes Florida’s plan to end all vaccine mandates, including those required for school attendance,” AMA Trustee Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD, said in a statement. 

“This unprecedented rollback would undermine decades of public health progress and place children and communities at increased risk for diseases such as measles, mumps, polio, and chickenpox resulting in serious illness, disability, and even death. While there is still time, we urge Florida to reconsider this change to help prevent a rise of infectious disease outbreaks that put health and lives at risk.”