Truck And Bus Drivers Banned From Text Messaging When Behind The Wheel
A new federal law prohibits truck and bus drivers from sending or reading text messages while driving.
Month: January 2010
Radiation safeguards said to lag amid advances in technology
In a front-page story, the New York Times (1/27, A1, Bogdanich) reports that advances in radiation technology have “created new avenues for error in software and operation.” Accident reports show that “many of these mistakes could have been caught had basic checking protocols been followed.” In fact, a review of the radiotherapy unit at … Read more
Eat With Care — Health Experts Question Diet Claims Made by Fast Food Chains
More fast food companies are providing reduced-calorie choices these days. However, some things are just too good to be true… The New York Times (1/28, Ellin) reports that many fast food companies “have jumped on the reduced-calorie bandwagon” recently, although Taco Bell “is one of the few to promote their low-fat offerings so widely.” … Read more
Toyota suspends US sales of recalled models
Have you seen the news? Toyota took the extraordinary step Tuesday of suspending the manufacture and sale of eight of its most popular models because of an unresolved issue over defective accelerators. The Japanese automaker told its dealers to temporarily stop selling the RAV4, Highlander and Sequoia sport-utility vehicles; Corolla, Camry and Avalon cars; … Read more
Toyota still making vehicles with recalled throttles
USA Today (1/26, Healey, Woodyard) reports, “Toyota says it still is making cars and trucks with potentially sticking accelerator-pedal assemblies that triggered a recall last Thursday of 2.3 million Toyota-brand cars and trucks. The automaker, reeling from its second throttle-related recall in three months, previously had said it continues to sell the vehicles and … Read more
NYTimes urges “wise consumers” to avoid BPA
This is about a product found in many types of plastics, including those used in baby bottles. The New York Times (1/21, A38) editorializes, “The Food and Drug Administration has raised its level of concern over the safety of bisphenol-A, or BPA, an industrial chemical found in baby bottles and the linings of canned … Read more
Toyota issues new recall for 2.3 Million Vehicles
If you’ve bought a Toyota between 2005 and 2010, you’ll want to read this! ABC World News (1/21, lead story, 3:10, Sawyer) reported, “Breaking news this evening. Toyota is recalling 2.3 million cars and trucks tonight, trying to tackle the frightening problem of cars suddenly speeding out of control.” The CBS Evening News (1/21, … Read more
CPSC considers requiring crib-makers to provide incentives to customers during recalls.
Bloomberg News (1/21, Drajem) reported, “U.S. regulators are considering requiring crib makers to provide customers with refunds and other monetary incentives when the companies’ products are recalled. Recalls of dangerous cribs, which typically involve free kits to repair flaws in the product, have failed to get a full response rate from parents, Consumer Product Safety … Read more
CPSC announces crib recall affecting 635K Units
n a story appearing on at least 177 news websites, the AP (1/19) reported, “A Barbados-based company on Tuesday recalled about 635,000 cribs sold by Kmart, Sears, Wal-Mart and other stores after the death of a 6-month-old boy and multiple reports of injuries.
FDA warns dog treats may be contaminated with salmonella
If you have a dog, keep this in mind when you go to the grocery store. ML The AP (1/15) reports, “Consumers should not use certain beef dog treats distributed by Merrick Pet Care because the pet food might be contaminated with salmonella, health authorities warned on Thursday.” Although “no illnesses linked to” Merrick … Read more
