Consumer alert!

Bankruptcy filings among senior citizens are way up, apparently due to rising health care costs, according to a new study.

Recalls of consumer products were up 22 percent during the first half of this year, compared to a year ago, spurring more calls for reform of consumer product safety laws.
For more information about the issue, click here.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is warning consumers not to eat raw jalapeno peppers unless they are grown locally, due to a continuing federal investigation of a nationwide salmonella outbreak. Cooked or pickled jalapeno peppers are safe to eat.
“This is one of the most complex foodborne illness investigations we
have encountered in a long time. Trying to determine an exact source of the original outbreak strain is similar to trying to find a tiny needle in a very large haystack,” said Katherine Fedder, MDA’s Food and Dairy Division Director. “I would encourage consumers to purchase locally grown produce whenever possible if there is any concern relative
to food origin.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it found one jalapeno pepper sample is a positive genetic match with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak strain. The sample was obtained during an FDA inspection at a produce distribution center in McAllen, Texas. The pepper was grown on a farm in Mexico. The produce distribution center, Agricola Zaragoza, voluntarily recalled jalapeno peppers the company has distributed since June 30, 2008.
The consumer advisory remains in effect for vulnerable populations (infants, the elderly, and immune-compromised people), who should avoid eating raw serrano peppers as the investigation continues.
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections particularly in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
For more information, visit FDA’s Web site.

HealthyCar.org has an online Car Seat Guide, a searchable database that lists the amount of toxic chemicals in certain brands and types of child car seats.
The Web site also provides recommendations on how to ensure that some of the toxicity doesn’t affect car occupants.

Michigan’s Automobile and Home Insurance Consumer Advocate Butch Hollowell has launched a Web site, to provide consumers with information on automobile and home insurance rates.
Hollowell also said his office’s major objectives include a plan to revisit how insurance affordability is defined in Michigan, and a No Fine Print Initiative, which seeks to reform the way insurance policies are written so consumers can clearly understand what is covered and what is excluded.
The Web site also features an “e-Feedback” section allows citizens to comment on issues like credit scoring, and an “ABCs of No Fault” section that explains the basics of No Fault insurance in understandable terms.
Mr. Hollowell said a recent national safety study by the Allstate Insurance Company ranked Michigan’s drivers as some of the safest in the United States.
“The Allstate report stands in stark contrast to Michigan’s high auto insurance rates,” Mr. Hollowell said. “Michigan drivers are doing a good job, yet our rates are sky high. As advocate, I am taking the consumer’s side in examining the nature of the system we have in Michigan to determine why rates are unaffordable.”
As insurance advocate, Mr. Hollowell will meet with citizens, consumer groups, experts, and insurance industry representatives in developing recommendations for needed reforms.
He also said he would work to educate consumers on how to protect themselves against predatory or illegal insurance practices and coordinate advocacy and educational efforts with non-governmental consumer advocacy entities and other organizations.

Portable gasoline cans sold next year will be required to have a child-resistant cap, under a new law meant to reduce the incidence of burning accidents.
Details may be found here.