The meat products were packaged on Oct. 27 and Oct. 30, 2023 and were shipped nationwide with “PARKVIEW TURKEY POLSKA KIELBASA” and “USE BY APR 24 24” or “USE BY APR 27 24” printed on the package.

The recalled products will also have the establishment number “P-32009” printed on the package.

The recall was initiated after multiple consumer complaints of bone fragments in the turkey kielbasa. One minor oral injury has been reported due to the contamination.

The FSIS is urging anyone with the recalled products to throw them out or return them to the place of purchase.

Recall Alert Jan 5

Lead-tainted applesauce pouches also contained another possible toxic substance, FDA says

Recalls Jan 4

Nearly 50,000 massage guns recalled in US due to fire and burn hazards

BlendJet 2 Portable Blenders can overheat or catch fire, according to a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and their blender blades can break off during use.

There have been 329 reports of blades breaking during use to date, the CPSC said, as well as 17 additional reports of overheating or fires that resulted in about $150,000 of property damage claims. The company has also received 49 reports of minor burn injuries and one reported laceration injury.

The recall involves BlendJet 2 Portable Blenders sold in a variety of colors and designs. Serial numbers are printed on the bottom of the base along with “blendjet2” and “The Original Portable Blender.” Units where the first 4 digits of the serial number are between 5201-5542 and are subject to the recall must be identified through the use of the “Is my BlendJet 2 Recalled?” tool located at www.blendjet.com/safetyandrecall.

According to the CPSC, the recalled BlendJet Portable Blenders were sold at Costco, Walmart, Target and other stores nationwide and online at BlendJet.com from October 2020 through November 2023 for between $50 and $75.

Regulators urged consumers to stop using the recalled blenders immediately and contact BlendJet for a free base unit replacement. To receive the replacement part, customers will need to remove and cut up the base’s rubber seal and email or upload a photo using BlendJet’s website.

BlendJet said in a prepared statement that the recall impacts older Blender 2 blenders and that BlendJet 2 blenders now available for purchase through the company’s website and retail partners have updated components and are not subject to the recall.

“Out of an abundance of caution, our company updated the base of the BlendJet 2 to feature thicker blades and an improved electrical configuration,” BlendJet wrote in a Thursday release. “These updates were incorporated many months ago into all BlendJet 2 devices manufactured by the company.”

BlendJet 2 blenders with serial numbers that begin with numbers “5543” or higher are not under recall, the Benicia, California, company said. Consumers can also confirm whether or not their blender is under recall by furnishing product information on BlendJet’s website or contacting the company.

In addition the 4.8 million BlendJet 2 blenders under recall in the U.S., regulators say about 117,000 were sold in Canada.

In a letter posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website Thursday, Tesla acknowledged the affected doors can be unlocked during a crash, which could cause the door to unlatch and open, increasing the risk of injury.

Affected vehicles include Tesla Models S and X manufactured for model years 2021 through 2023. Tesla said it was not aware of any injuries as a result of the issue as of Dec. 14.

As a remedy, Tesla is releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be sent out Feb. 17.

Last week, Tesla announced a recall for nearly all its U.S. vehicles — some 2 million — due to concerns about the safety of its autopilot driver-assistance feature. A federal investigation found that its autosteer function may have led some drivers to abandon responsibility for the operation of their vehicles.

Read the full story at NBCNews.com here.

According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the fuel pump impeller used for in 2017-2020 Acura and Honda vehicles was improperly molded. This results in low-density impellers, which “can deform and interfere with the fuel pump body” over time, regulators said, leading to an inoperative fuel pump.

If the fuel pump module doesn’t work, the car’s engine may not start or can stall while driving, the NHTSA said, increasing crash and injury risks. Honda says it has not received any crash or injury reports related to this recall to date.

The automaker said Thursday that it will replace fuel pumps for all vehicles impacted by the recall at no cost in separate phases, with the first batch of owner notification letters going out in February.

“Countermeasure replacement parts are not available in sufficient quantities for all recalled vehicles at the time of this announcement, and American Honda intends to notify vehicle owners in stages,” Honda wrote.

Dealer notification was scheduled to kick off earlier this week, according to NHTSA documents.

Drivers can confirm if their specific vehicle is included in this recall using the NHTSA site and/or Honda and Acura’s recall lookup platforms. The models impacted are:

1. 2018-2020 Honda Accord

2. 2017-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid

3. 2018-2020 Honda Civic 4D

4. 2018-2020 Honda Civic 2D

5. 2018-2020 Honda Civic 5D

6. 2018-2020 Honda Civic Type R

7. 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV

8. 2018-2020 Honda CR-V

9. 2020-2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid

10. 2018-2019 Honda Fit

11. 2018-2020 Honda HR-V

12. 2018-2020 Acura ILX

13. 2019-2020 Honda Insight

14. 2018-2020 Acura MDX

15. 2018-2020 Acura MDX Hybrid

16. 2017-2020 Acura NSX

17. 2018-2020 Honda Odyssey

18. 2019-2020 Honda Passport

19. 2018-2020 Acura RDX

20. 2018-2020 Honda Ridgeline

21. 2018-2020 Acura RLX

22. 2018-2020 Acura TLX

Earlier this week, the NHTSA and Honda also announced a recall of more than 106,000 2020-2022 CR-V hybrid vehicles due to a missing fuse on the power circuit of exterior 12-Volt battery cables. This can cause the battery cable to short circuit or overheat during a crash, regulators said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday that the affected Honey BBQ-flavored boneless chicken bites had not yet led to any confirmed reports of injury or illness.

The product is manufactured by Arkansas-based Simmons Prepared Foods Inc. and distributed by Kraft Heinz.

The problem was discovered when Simmons reported to the USDA that clear, hard plastic had been found under the breading of some of the bites. In a release, Simmons said the plastic pieces were likely fragments from safety glasses.

For more on this story go to NBCNews.com.

The Food and Drug Administration disclosed the recall in a filing and said it began on Nov. 6. It encompasses 1,557 cases of 12-ounce cans of Sprite, 417 cases of Diet Coke, and 14 cases of Fanta Orange.

The FDA filing shows the recall started Nov. 6, and it was made by United Packers, based in Alabama.

Read the full story on NBC News.com here

A new report from the National Retail Federation said the industry had $112 billion in losses last year, mainly driven by shoplifting and retail theft.

KJ Singh, owner of JJ Liquors in Northeast D.C., told the News4 I-Team dealing with shoplifting is a daily challenge.

“Between $30 to $50 worth of merchandise every day,” he said.

That daily loss each day adds up to thousands of dollars every year.

Despite more than a dozen security cameras peering down on just about every inch of the floor in his store, thieves are still able to walk out the door undetected, he said.

“An eye of a person cannot look at 16 cameras at once,” Singh said.

Software looks for suspicious activity by shoppers

Human eyes might not be able to, but he’s counting on something else that could. Singh recently added a new level of high-tech security — artificial intelligence software developed by French company Veesion that plugs right into his 16 cameras.

The program looks for suspicious body activity from shoppers and records in real time, Veesion Sales Manager Pablo Blanco Poveda said.

“Every time someone takes an item from the store, if they put it inside the pocket, inside the trousers, inside the jacket, we send an alert so you can see that before they leave,” he said.

The News4 I-Team saw firsthand how it works with a producer agreeing to play the thief. Less than 30 seconds after he snatched a bottle of wine and put it in his coat, Singh got an alert on his phone. The message read “very suspicious activity” and provided a video clip of the producer caught in the act.

“You have the proof. So, when you go to stop someone, you are not going to do like, ‘Open your bag.’ No. You have proof; you show the video,” Poveda said.

According to Veesion, more than 350 stores in the U.S. are using the system. More than 30 are here in D.C., mostly smaller retailers.

But larger retailers also are beginning to incorporate AI to nab shoplifters.

“These are some really effective tools that can layer in on top of existing camera systems, existing camera technologies,” explained Khris Hamlin, with the Retail Industry Leaders Association, a trade association for major retail giants like Macy’s Target and Walmart.

According to the National Retail Federation survey, more than one third of respondents — 37% — said they’re researching technologies, including AI.

AI is not enough of a deterrent

While technology offers one layer of deterrent, it’s not enough, Hamlin said. Recently, the association launched the first of its kind national partnership to combat retail crime, bringing together leading retailers, law enforcement and district attorneys’ offices.

“Now you have this collaboration of different resources to be able to say, ‘How do we deal with this? How do we send that habitual offender to the correct side?’ Or, ‘How do we have a diversion program that gets it to a social service entity?’” explained Hamlin.

While a lot of business owners choose not to share their security measures, Singh wants everyone who shops in his store to know AI has an eye on them.

“We don’t need any trouble if you just don’t steal,” he said. “As long as customers know there’s somebody watching over them, they would never steal.”

Singh said since installing the technology, he’s confronted a number of shoplifters and was shocked to see some of them were his regulars.

“They were very surprised that they’ve been coming here for so long and nothing had really happened because we never bothered to look at them because they were regulars,” he said.

Reported by Susan Hogan, produced by Rick Yarborough, shot by Steve Jones and edited by Lance Ing.

Documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators say the company will send out a software update to fix the problems.

The recall comes after a two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into a series of crashes that happened while the Autopilot partially automated driving system was in use. Some were deadly.

The agency says its investigation found Autopilot’s method of making sure that drivers are paying attention can be inadequate and can lead to “foreseeable misuse of the system.”

The added controls and alerts will “further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility,” the documents said.

But safety experts said while the recall is a good step, it still makes the driver responsible and doesn’t fix the underlying problem that Tesla’s automated systems have trouble spotting and stopping for obstacles in their path.

The recall covers models Y, S, 3 and X produced between Oct. 5, 2012, and Dec. 7 of this year. The update was to be sent to certain affected vehicles on Tuesday, with the rest getting it later.

Shares of Tesla slid more than 3% Wednesday.

Autopilot includes features called Autosteer and Traffic Aware Cruise Control, with Autosteer intended for use on limited access freeways when it’s not operating with a more sophisticated feature called Autosteer on City Streets.

The software update will limit where Autosteer can be used. “If the driver attempts to engage Autosteer when conditions are not met for engagement, the feature will alert the driver it is unavailable through visual and audible alerts, and Autosteer will not engage,” the recall documents said.

Depending on a Tesla’s hardware, the added controls include “increasing prominence” of visual alerts, simplifying how Autosteer is turned on and off, additional checks on whether Autosteer is being used outside of controlled access roads and when approaching traffic control devices, “and eventual suspension from Autosteer use if the driver repeatedly fails to demonstrate continuous and sustained driving responsibility,” the documents say.

Recall documents say that agency investigators met with Tesla starting in October to explain “tentative conclusions” about the fixing the monitoring system. Tesla, it said, did not concur with the agency’s analysis but agreed to the recall on Dec. 5 in an effort to resolve the investigation.

Auto safety advocates for years have been calling for stronger regulation of the driver monitoring system, which mainly detects whether a driver’s hands are on the steering wheel. They have called for cameras to make sure a driver is paying attention, which are used by other automakers with similar systems.

In its statement Wednesday, NHTSA said the Tesla investigation remains open “as we monitor the efficacy of Tesla’s remedies and continue to work with the automaker to ensure the highest level of safety.”

Philip Koopman, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University who studies autonomous vehicle safety, called the software update a compromise that doesn’t address a lack of night vision cameras to watch drivers’ eyes, as well as Teslas failing to spot and stop for obstacles.

“The compromise is disappointing because it does not fix the problem that the older cars do not have adequate hardware for driver monitoring,” Koopman said.

Koopman and Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, contend that crashing into emergency vehicles is a safety defect that isn’t addressed. “It’s not digging at the root of what the investigation is looking at,” Brooks said. “It’s not answering the question of why are Teslas on Autopilot not detecting and responding to emergency activity?”

Koopman said NHTSA apparently decided that the software change was the most it could get from the company, “and the benefits of doing this now outweigh the costs of spending another year wrangling with Tesla.”

In its statement Wednesday, NHTSA said the investigation remains open “as we monitor the efficacy of Tesla’s remedies and continue to work with the automaker to ensure the highest level of safety.”

Autopilot can steer, accelerate and brake automatically in its lane, but is a driver-assist system and cannot drive itself despite its name. Independent tests have found that the monitoring system is easy to fool, so much that drivers have been caught while driving drunk or even sitting in the back seat.

In its defect report filed with the safety agency, Tesla said Autopilot’s controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse.”

A message was left early Wednesday seeking further comment from the Austin, Texas, company.

Tesla says on its website that Autopilot and a more sophisticated Full Self Driving system are meant to help drivers who have to be ready to intervene at all times. Full Self Driving is being tested by Tesla owners on public roads.

In a statement posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter, Tesla said safety is stronger when Autopilot is engaged.

NHTSA has dispatched investigators to 35 Tesla crashes since 2016 in which the agency suspects the vehicles were running on an automated system. At least 17 people have been killed.

The investigations are part of a larger probe by the NHTSA into multiple instances of Teslas using Autopilot crashing into emergency vehicles. NHTSA has become more aggressive in pursuing safety problems with Teslas, including a recall of Full Self Driving software.

In May, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose department includes NHTSA, said Tesla shouldn’t be calling the system Autopilot because it can’t drive itself.

Criminals recruit unsuspecting job seekers to help them move money that they got illegally through scams and human and drug trafficking.

“They’re enlisting people to help launder the funds from the illegal activity into the clean economy,” Special Agent Thomas Agree said.

If they’re asking to move money through bank accounts, cashier’s checks, virtual currency, prepaid debit cards or money service businesses, chances are it could be a money mule scheme, and the mule could get in trouble without knowing what’s happening.

“Acting as a money mule, even if you’re not aware that you’re committing a crime, is illegal, and it is punishable,” Agree said.

These are a few red flags a job opportunity may be a sham:

• “Employers” who use web-based email services, such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail or Outlook.
• If you’re asked to open a bank account in your own name or in the name of a company to receive and transfer money.
• If you’re asked to receive funds in your bank account and then “process” or “transfer” them through wire transfers, mail or money service business.
• If they let you keep a portion of the money transferred.

Criminals also target students or people on dating websites.

A good rule to live by is to always look up the company online, make sure it’s legitimate and research before sharing any personal information.

Anyone who thinks they’ve been acting as a money mule should stop all communication and report it to local police, the FBI said.

U.S. auto safety regulators say in documents posted Saturday that the recall covers 486 X3, X4 and X5 SUVs from the 2014 model year that are equipped with air bags made by Takata Corp. of Japan.

The recall raises questions about the safety of about 30 million Takata inflators that are under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most have not been recalled.

Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.

At least 26 people have been killed in the U.S. by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide including people in Malaysia and Australia. In addition, about 400 people have been injured.

Potential for a dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with at least 67 million Takata inflators involved. The U.S. government says many have not been repaired. About 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide. The exploding air bags sent Takata into bankruptcy.

Documents say the inflators in the BMWs have a moisture absorbing chemical called a dessicant that were not part of previous recalls.

BMW says in documents that in November, it was told of a complaint to NHTSA that the driver’s air bag in a 2014 X3 had ruptured. The automaker began investigating and hasn’t determined an exact cause. But preliminary information points to a manufacturing problem from Feb. 22, 2014 to March 7, 2014, the documents said.

The German automaker says in documents that it’s still investigating but it has not yet been able to inspect the X3 with the faulty air bag.

NHTSA records show a complaint saying that on Oct. 23, the inflator on a 2014 X3 exploded in Chicago, sending a large piece of metal into the driver’s lung. The driver also had chest and shoulder cuts that appeared to be caused by shrapnel, the complaint said. A surgeon removed a gold-colored disc from the driver’s lung, according to the complaint, which did not identify the driver.

NHTSA says Takata air bags with a dessicant are under investigation because they have the potential to explode and expel shrapnel. The investigation opened in 2021 covers more than 30 million inflators in over 200 models from 20 car and truck makers, including Honda, Stellantis, General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover, Daimler Vans, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Mazda, Karma, Fisker, Spartan Fire vehicles.

The agency decided in May of 2020 not to recall the inflators with the dessicant, but said it would monitor them.

“While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled dessicated inflators,” the agency said in a document opening the probe.

A spokeswoman for NHTSA said Saturday she would check into the status of the investigation. A message was left seeking comment from BMW.

In the BMW recall, dealers will replace the air bags at no cost to owners, who will be notified by letter starting Jan. 16.

The BMW recall comes after General Motors recalled nearly 900 vehicles in July with Takata inflators that have the dessicant. GM also blamed the problem on a manufacturing defect at Takata.

In a statement about the GM recall last summer, NHTSA said the agency did not have any data suggesting that other dessicated Takata inflators might rupture.

In 2022, the FBI received more than 7,000 reports related to online financial sextortion involving a minor, mostly boys.

“A lot of times they think they’re talking to a person their own age, maybe somebody who’s even interested in engaging in a relationship with them,” Special Agent Fernando Uribe said.

Scammers make fake profiles and target popular sites, apps, messaging platforms, or games where kids and teens meet and communicate. Once they win over their trust, they ask them to send explicit material.

“They will distribute that, or they will use those same images that were sent to them as a threat,” Uribe said.

Kids are then asked to send money or gift cards to avoid being exposed. They are often too ashamed to report the crime.
Parents can help prevent this from happening, the FBI says.

“They should have a sincere conversation with the minors in their lives about what is appropriate behavior online, and they should report that crime to the FBI if they know about it,” Uribe said. “They should teach children and minors to be very cautious when they’re speaking with people they don’t know in the real world online.”

Here are a few tips to help a victim:

• Contact your local police department and file a report.
• Report the predator’s account on the platform.
• Block the predator’s account, but do not delete the profile or messages, they can help law enforcement.
• Seek help from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to get the explicit images off the internet.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says cooperating or paying the scammers rarely stops the blackmail and harassment continues.

The FDA issued the alert for users of the Philips DreamStation 2, citing an increase in reports the device can overheat, causing smoke, fire and burns.

In June 2021, the company issued a recall for millions of its breathing devices over concerns the foam used in those machines could be toxic, break down and be inhaled by users. According to the FDA, the DreamStation 2 uses a different foam and was sent as a replacement device after that recall.

Between August and Nov. 15, Philips reported to the FDA more than 270 incidents of “thermal issues” with the DreamStation 2.

While the situation is developing, the problem may be related to an “electrical” or “mechanical malfunction” that has caused some of the machines to overheat, the FDA said.

In a statement, Philips said its “number one priority is patient safety and quality” and the devices can “continue to be used provided that the safety instructions … are followed.”

The FDA advises users to inspect and examine their machines for unusual smells or changes in appearance before and after each use, noting some of the issues may only arise when the machine is running. Be careful to pay attention before falling asleep, and unplug the machine if there are any unusual smells or sounds coming from the device.

According to notices published by Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last week, the pretensioners — which tighten seat belts in place upon impact — may be missing the rivet that secures the quick connector and wire plate. This means that passengers may not be properly restrained in a crash, regulators said.

The NHTSA credited the issue to an error made during assembly. More than 300,000 Accords and HR-Vs are potentially affected.

As of Nov. 16, Honda had received seven warranty claims, but no reports of injuries or deaths related to the faulty pretensioners, according to documents published by the NHTSA.

For consumers impacted by this recall, dealers will inspect all cars and potentially replace the seat belt pretensioner assembly at no cost. Those who have already paid for these repairs at their own expense may also be eligible for reimbursement.

Honda estimates that less than 1% of the potentially affected vehicles will require a replacement. The vast majority are expected to be satisfied by an inspection alone, a Honda spokesperson told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Notification letters will be sent via mail to registered owners of the affected vehicles starting Jan. 8, 2024. Replacement parts should be available to dealers by the end of the month, the spokesperson said, but consumers can go to an authorized Honda dealer for the inspection now.

For more information about the recall, consumers can visit the NHTSA website and Honda’s and online recall pages.

The recall covers certain 2018 and 2019 Honda Pilot SUVs and Odyssey minivans and some 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline pickup trucks. Also affected are certain 2015 to 2020 Acura TLX cars and some 2016 to 2020 Acura MDX SUVs.

Honda says in documents posted Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that connecting rod bearings in the engine can wear and seize due to a manufacturing error, damaging the engines. The engines could run improperly or stall while being driven, increasing the risk of a fire, crash or injury.

The automaker says in documents that it has 1,450 warranty claims due to the problem but no reports of injuries.

Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the engines if needed. Owners will be notified by mail starting Jan. 2.

More: Recalls

Nov 8, 2023

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Sofia Produce, which operates under the brand name Trufresh, is recalling all sizes of fresh cantaloupes packaged in cardboard containers and sold between Oct. 16 and Oct. 23. 

The impacted cantaloupes were distributed to stores in Arizona, California, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida and outside the U.S. to Canada. 

No illnesses have been reported, according to the FDA.

The cantaloupe’s have their own PLU sticker on each fruit, with the word “Malichita” on the top half of the sticker and the number “4050” and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique” prominently displayed in white letters.

Consumers who purchased the cantaloupes should not eat or serve them, and are urged to throw them away or return them to their place of purchase.

The FDA described salmonella as “an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.” 

Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, stomach cramps, excessive vomiting and signs of dehydration. Symptoms can start six hours and up to six days after ingesting the bacteria.

In most cases, people recover without medical care after four to seven days. Some people – especially children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems – may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.

Every year, salmonella causes about 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States, according to the CDC.

They reached out to NBC4 Responds to say they were owed thousands of dollars and were worried they couldn’t pay their bills.

“I reached out to Susan because I am familiar with some of her reporting and being able to help people and consumers that are in need to get their money back from different organizations,” Jeremy McShan, choreographer of J.A.M. the Revue, said.

For 10 years, the cast of J.A.M. the Revue has been entertaining D.C.-area audiences with their love of song. Choreographer Jeremy McShan said their performances normally sell out.

“The show’s a fun party, so everybody comes in and has a good time singing along, the shows are super interactive and fun,” McShan said.

But the singers and dancers can’t move on with the next show due to unfinished business. The musical review’s ticket vendor hadn’t paid them since its last performance in December 2022.

“It’s $7,000, so it was a substantial amount of money,” McShan said.

That same ticket vendor also didn’t pay Rise Up Theater Company in Bethesda, that group says. They are owed $8,500 from their production in May at the Arena Stage, Scott Gustaveson, who runs the nonprofit, told News4.

“We can’t do anything for any future productions; it just grinds to a halt,” Gustaveson said. “No one would answer the phones, so we were really at a loss for how we were going to recoup those funds.”

Both Rise Up Theater and J.A.M. the Revue contracted with Brown Paper Tickets, a Seattle company that handles ticket sales for mostly small, nonprofit or community-based events. The company takes a cut of the proceeds and sends the remaining funds back to the event organizers.

“We had a reliable partner and they made everything very easy for us, and then all of a sudden, nothing,” Gustaveson said.

NBC4 learned that Washington state’s attorney general had sued Brown Paper Tickets in 2020 after receiving 1,200 complaints. That lawsuit alleged in part that the company was “failing to pay organizers for events that occurred, including those before COVID-19 shutdowns….”

In 2021, the company settled the lawsuit and was ordered to fully refund all the money it owed to organizers of past events.

This year, the AG’s office said it’s received an additional 489 new complaints from event organizers who said they haven’t been paid.

News4 Responds reached out to Brown Paper Tickets about McShan’s and Gustaveson’s complaints.

A spokesperson said the company is in the process of being acquired by Events.com. In August, Events.com launched The Secured Funds Program to guarantee that payments will be sent quickly after events end. This initiative helped support Brown Paper Tickets to pay over $36 million owed to event organizers dating back to January 2020.

As for McShan and Gustaveson, their organizations finally received their money and paid their bills. Now, the show can go on.

“Literally, just a couple of hours ago, we noticed that our bank account had suddenly had a deposit,” Gustaveson said.

“How much?” Hogan asked.

“$8,500,” he said.

“Feel good?” she asked.

“It feels great. It feels like such a relief,” he replied.

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The brands impacted include Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Wayne Feeds Dog Food, Eagle Mountain Pet Food and some Member’s Mark products.

The recall was initiated after at least seven cases of salmonella have been found to be linked to the brand’s dog food since Nov. 1, according to the CDC.

“People in this outbreak got sick from touching recalled dog food, touching things like dog bowls that contained the dog food, or touching the poop or saliva of dogs that were fed the dog food,” the CDC said. “Most of the sick people in this outbreak are infants. Take steps to handle dog food safely every day.”

The recalled products have best-by dates before Oct. 31, 2024, and have been produced at the company’s Mount Pleasant, Texas, facility.

The company says the recalled products were distributed to distributors and retailers throughout the United States.

The recall also impacts several bag sizes, including 5, 15, 16, 30, 40 and 50-pound bags

A full list of brands recalled can be found here.

The company’s latest announcement comes after several brands had already been recalled for possible salmonella contamination, including one lot of its Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Hi-Pro Plus and three lots of its Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula.

The recalled products were shipped to retailers nationwide. The CDC says to throw away the recalled products in a sealed trash bag and then place it in a sealed trash bin.

Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, diarrhea that is bloody, vomiting and dehydration, according to the CDC.

If you think you, your child or pet may have salmonella, contact your doctor or vet immediately.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story only referenced dog food. The recall has expanded to include some cat food.

The company said in documents posted by U.S. safety regulators on Wednesday that with the updated software, Cruise vehicles will remain stationary should a similar incident occur in the future.

The Oct. 2 crash prompted Cruise to suspend driverless operations nationwide after California regulators found that its cars posed a danger to public safety. The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the license for Cruise, which was transporting passengers without human drivers throughout San Francisco.

In the crash, another vehicle with a person behind the wheel struck a pedestrian, sending the person into the path of a Cruise autonomous vehicle. The Cruise initially stopped but still hit the person. But it then pulled to the right to get out of traffic, pulling the person about 20 feet (six meters) forward. The pedestrian was pinned under one of the Cruise vehicle’s tires and was critically injured.

Cruise says in documents posted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it already has updated software in test vehicles that are being supervised by human safety drivers. The driverless fleet will get the new software before resuming operations, the company says.

In a statement Wednesday, the GM unit said that it did the recall even though it determined that a similar crash with a risk of serious injury could happen again every 10 million to 100 million miles without the update.

“We strive to continually improve and to make these events even rarer,” the statement said. “As our software continues to improve, it is likely we will file additional recalls to inform both NHTSA and the public of updates to enhance safety across our fleet.”

Cruise said that after examining its system, it has decided to add a chief safety officer, hire a law firm to review its response to the Oct. 2 crash, appoint a third-party engineering firm to find the technical cause, and adopt companywide “pillars” to focus on safety and transparency.

Problems at Cruise could slow the deployment of fully autonomous vehicles that carry passengers without human drivers on board. It also could bring stronger federal regulation of the vehicles, which are carrying passengers in more cities nationwide.

NHTSA opened an investigation Oct. 16 into four reports that Cruise vehicles may not exercise proper caution around pedestrians. The reports, including two injuries, involved vehicles operating autonomously and “encroaching on pedestrians present in or entering roadways, including pedestrian crosswalks in the proximity of the intended travel path of the vehicles.” It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Oct. 2 crash was included in the probe.

In documents filed with NHTSA, Cruise said its automated driving system was designed in some cases to pull over and out of traffic to minimize safety risks and disruption after a crash, with the response dependent on the characteristics of the crash. But in certain circumstances such as a pedestrian positioned on the ground in the vehicle’s path, pulling over is not the desired response.

The Cruise system “inaccurately characterized the collision as a lateral collision and commanded the AV to attempt to pull over out of traffic, pulling the individual forward rather than remaining stationary,” the company said.

While the Department of Motor Vehicles didn’t elaborate on specific reasons for its suspension of Cruise’s license, the agency accused Cruise of misrepresenting safety information about the autonomous technology in its vehicles. The revocation followed a series of incidents that heightened concerns about the hazards and inconveniences caused by Cruise’s robotaxis.

The DMV and others have accused Cruise of not initially sharing all video footage of the accident, but the robotaxi operator pushed back — saying it disclosed the full video to state and federal officials.

General Motors Co., has ambitious goals for Cruise. The Detroit automaker had been expecting annual revenue of $1 billion from Cruise by 2025 — a big jump from the $106 million in revenue last year.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday it has received reports of seven illnesses in at least five states possibly linked to contaminated puree.

Two new companies, Schnucks Markets of St. Louis and Weis Markets of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, announced recalls of certain cinnamon applesauce products because they may contain high levels of lead. WanaBana of Coral Gables, Florida, previously recalled of all lots and expiration dates of its apple cinnamon fruit puree.

Eating the contaminated products could result in “acute toxicity,” FDA officials said. Parents and caregivers should not buy or serve the cinnamon applesauce products, which are sold through multiple retailers, including Amazon, Dollar Tree and at Schnucks and Eatwell Markets grocery stores.

Children and others who have consumed the products should be tested for possible lead poisoning, the agency said.

The investigation began in North Carolina, where health officials are looking into reports of four children with elevated blood levels linked to the WanaBana product. State health officials analyzed multiple lots of the product and detected “extremely high” concentrations of lead. The FDA confirmed the results.

The FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation Network is leading the investigation in cooperation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health officials.

Lead is toxic to people of all ages, but can be especially harmful to children. Most children have no obvious symptoms, so it’s important that kids who are exposed get tested to check levels of lead in their blood. Short-term exposure to lead can result in symptoms that include headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and anemia, the FDA said.

Heavy metals like lead can get into food products from soil, air, water or industrial processes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Lead exposure can seriously harm children’s health, causing damage to the brain and nervous system and slowed growth and development. There is no known safe level of lead exposure, the AAP said.

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Children who have eaten WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches should be tested for possible lead poisoning, the agency said.

Four children in North Carolina were found to have high levels of lead in their blood linked to the puree products, health officials said. State health officials analyzed multiple lots of the product and detected “extremely high” concentrations of lead. The FDA confirmed the results and said they could lead to “acute toxicity.”

WanaBana, which is based in Coral Gables, Fla., has recalled all lot codes and expiration dates of the snack products, which are sold nationally, including at Sam’s Club and Dollar Tree and on Amazon.

Lead is toxic to people of all ages, but it can be especially harmful to children. Most children have no obvious symptoms, so it’s important that kids who are exposed get tested to check levels of lead in their blood. Short-term exposure to lead can result in symptoms that include headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and anemia, the FDA said.

Heavy metals like lead can get into food products from soil, air, water or industrial processes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Lead exposure can seriously harm children’s health, causing damage to the brain and nervous system and slowed growth and development. There is no known safe level of lead exposure, the AAP said.

The recalled pressure cookers, sold under the brand Insignia, have incorrect volume markings on their inner pots that can cause consumers to overfill them. As a result, hot food and liquids can be ejected from the device when it’s vented or opened, according to a Thursday notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

To date, Best Buy has received 31 incident reports of the cookers’ contents being expelled under pressure, including 17 reports of burn injuries — some of which were second-degree and severe burns.

The 930,000 Insignia Multi-Function Pressure Cookers and inner pots — which were sold separately as replacements — under recall were sold at Best Buy stores nationwide, as well as online on Best Buy’s website and Amazon from October 2017 through June of this year.

Consumers can identify the recalled pressure cookers and inner pots, with six- and eight-quart capacity, by their model numbers. The name Insignia appears on the front of each unit and on its permanent label.

Those owning the recalled devices should stop using them immediately, the CPSC said. Consumers can contact Best Buy for a free replacement of the inner pot and floating locking valve.

Recalls Oct 19, 2023

Polaris recalls off-road vehicle models due to brake issue causing crash hazard

Recalls Oct 19, 2023

Fisher-Price recalls over 20,000 ‘Thomas & Friends' toy trains due to choking hazard

Best Buy, which is based in Richfield, Minnesota, will not provide refunds or replacements for pressure cookers returned in stores, according to a notice on the company’s website. To receive a replacement kit, impacted consumers must register online. Only consumers who own the recalled pressure cooker — not just the inner pot — are eligible.

“Nothing is more important to us than our customers’ safety,” Best Buy said Friday, adding that the company is also contacting customers who purchased the now-recalled products directly.

An improperly routed brake line can result in brake loss during vehicle operation, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Three reported incidents experienced a loss of brakes, one of which resulted in the ROV hitting a large rock. No injuries have been reported.

This recall includes certain VINs of Model Year 2023 RZR PRO XP and PRO XP 4 and Model Year 2024 RZR XP and XP 4 vehicles. The recalled models include two- and four-seat configurations that were sold in the colors black, graphite, gray, red and white. 

About 2,500 of the recalled ROVs were sold domestically, in addition to another 170 in Canada, between January and August of this year at authorized Polaris dealers. Prices ranged from $21,000 to $37,000.

Consumers are instructed to immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact a Polaris dealer to schedule a free inspection and repair. If the brake routing is incorrect, Polaris will repair the unit at no cost.

Two specific models — the “Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Troublesome Truck & Crates” and the “Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Troublesome Truck & Paint” — were recalled by the toy company on Thursday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.

The recall came after one report of a plastic connector, which allows the train to be attached to other vehicles, becoming loose and detaching from the product. No injuries have been reported due to the recalled toys.

There were roughly 21,000 units of the recalled toys sold nationwide from February 2022 through August 2023. They were available for purchase online at websites such as Amazon.com and at stores like Barnes & Noble for around $17.

Consumers are instructed to immediately stop using the toys. Their model numbers of HBJ89 (“Troublesome Truck & Crates”) and HBJ90 (“Troublesome Truck & Paint”) can be found on the bottom of the trains.

Those who purchased the recalled toys can receive a full refund from Fisher-Price by going to www.service.mattel.com and clicking on “Recalls & Safety Alerts” to start the return process.

The recall comes after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem after getting two complaints that repairs didn’t work in two previous recalls this year and in 2022.

Affected are certain Explorers from the 2020 through 2022 model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted Friday that the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt can fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will replace a bushing and the rear axle bolt. They also will inspect the rear axle cover for damage near the bolt hole and replace the cover if damage is found. Owners will be notified by letter starting Monday, Nov. 6.

Ford said in documents that it knows of 396 reports of rear axle bolt failures, and fewer than 5% caused loss of power or let vehicles roll while they were in park. The company says it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries.

NHTSA opened its investigation in June after getting complaints alleging loss of power due to failure of rear axle bolts even though the Explorers had received repairs under the previous recalls.

Ford’s remedy was to update software that automatically applied the parking brake to keep the vehicles from rolling away. But the agency said in documents that there was no remedy addressing the failed axle bolt.

Ford said Friday that it was replacing axle bolts under service campaigns before the latest recall.

The recent college graduate began looking for an apartment online while still living in Southern California, creating a post on Facebook Marketplace advertising what he needed.

Quickly, he heard from a prospective landlord looking for a tenant for her apartment in Northeast D.C. He said he was familiar with the building from a prior trip to D.C., but because he wasn’t able to see it in person, he was encouraged when the landlord sent a video walking him through its alleged interiors.

“It looked like a perfect fit. It had everything that I needed,” Barillas said.

But before proceeding, the landlord said, she wanted a reference. And Barillas, in an effort to do his due diligence, too, said he researched her name – allegedly Victoria White — and found it matched with social media profiles. Next, the landlord sent him a rental agreement from an attorney, whose name and bar information was included.

“I made sure that the lawyer was legit. I searched their name up, and it came back to a real law firm,” he said.

Thinking he did everything right, Barillas signed a lease and wired around $2,000 to secure the apartment, only for the landlord to ignore his messages when he flew out to D.C. A day later, the person sent a message saying there was a problem with the apartment and it wasn’t yet ready.

“At that point, I was like, I feel like I am getting scammed right now,” he said.

Barillas said once in the District, he checked out the building in person and realized that, while the address was correct, the apartment number that he thought was his didn’t exist. He called the attorney on his rental agreement.

“And they said, ‘Oh, sweetie, this is a scam,’” he said.

His experience is part of what the D.C. Office of Attorney General has described as an uptick in rental fraud complaints this year. The issue is a perennial problem, but Emily Barth, assistant attorney general with the Office of Consumer Protection, said her office saw a surge of complaints over the summer of scams targeting college students, short-term renters and people moving to the District from out of the area.

“We’ve been seeing consumer losses anywhere from $500 for an application fee to upwards of $1,000 to $5,000 for security deposit fraud,” she said.

According to the FBI, consumers lost nearly $397 million last year in real estate related fraud, a crime the bureau indicates exploded during the pandemic. According to the FBI’s 2022 Internet Crime Report, the bureau received more than 11,700 complaints, though it doesn’t specify how many were due to rental fraud versus other types of real estate-related crimes.

Barth said rental schemes can take different forms.

In some, scammers steal photos from real listings and advertise them with their contact information. Some use phantom rentals which use photos of a property that is not located at the advertised address. And they may also steal the name of a real person or company — such as a real estate agent, property management company or attorney — to make the scam seem legit.

In Barillas’ case, the landlord may have been a fake, but the attorney she claimed to use isn’t. Miriam Davidson, who practices law in New York, told the I-Team she has no idea how her name got caught up in this scheme.

She said she and her legal assistant have fielded more than a dozen calls from victims of someone or people using the name “Victoria White” since 2019.

“I had numerous people crying on the phone because they handed over money,” said Ericka Pombo, Davidson’s legal assistant.

“Once the money is gone, it is just gone, because most of the scammers ask for the money to be sent in a non-refundable way,” Barth said, such as by wiring money or using cash apps like Zelle.

Their office advises people pay with personal check or credit card to provide some measure of protection, should something go awry.

Barillas said, in hindsight, he was the ideal candidate to be scammed, since he was unable to see the apartment in person before moving to the area. Thankfully, he eventually found a place to rent and said there’s no substitute for picking up the phone and meeting face-to-face first.

“What helped me out this time was being able to see the place in person, knowing that the people I’m meeting are real,” he said.

Tips for avoiding rental scams online:

1. Don’t send money without seeing the property first, whether in person, through a friend or by asking the landlord to walk you through the unit via FaceTime or Skype.
2. Google the address of the unit to see if a different person’s name is associated with the address. If applicable, call the property management company associated with the address and ask to speak with a supervisor to confirm whether the unit is for rent. Also check online to see if that address is connected to reports of fraud.
3. In D.C., search to see if the landlord is licensed to do business in the District. You can search for their name on the D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection’s SCOUT database.
4. Pay application fees or security deposits with personal check or credit card, which give greater protection than paying through wire or cash apps. Of note, security deposits by law cannot cost more than one month’s rent in D.C. by law.

This story was reported by Susan Hogan, produced by Katie Leslie, shot by Jeff Piper and edited by Steve Jones.

The warning comes six months after a 7-year-old girl in New York choked to death when a Cocco Candy Rolling Candy ball dislodged and became trapped in her throat, according the CPSC.

Cocco Candy Rolling Candy Recall

Cocco Candy, of Turkey, and KGR Distribution Corp., of Passaic, N.J., announced the recall of about 145,800 Cocco Candy Rolling Candy in various flavors, including Sour Strawberry, Sour Tutti Frutti and Sour Cola. 

The recalled candies were sold nationwide and online from May 2022 through March 2023 for about $2.50.

Consumers should stop using the recalled rolling candy, take it away from children and contact the company to receive a refund. KGR can be reached at 888-802-8823 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET or online at www.kgrcandies.com.

Slime Licker Sour Rolling Liquid Candies recalled

In another notice, the CPSC announced Candy Dynamics of Carmel, Indiana, is recalling 70 million Slime Licker Sour Rolling Liquid Candy over a similar choking hazard.

Like the Cocco candies, these recalled products also dispense flavored liquid from a tube through a rolling ball, which can detach into a child’s mouth, posing a choking hazard. Candy Dynamics received two reports of the rolling ball detaching from the container, but no injuries were reported.

The recalled candy comes in 2- and 3-ounce plastic bottle containers and were sold at Walmart, Five Below and other stores nationwide, and online at amazon.com and CandyDynamics.com from June 2015 through July 2023 for between $2 and $4.

The candies were available in blue, red, green and pink packaging with “toxic waste” and “mega toxic waste” written on the front label.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Slime Licker Sour Rolling Liquid Candy, take it away from children and contact Candy Dynamics for a full refund of any product that still has candy in it. For more information on Candy Dynamics’ refund visit their recall page here.

A new FAFSA form will be unveiled for the 2024-25 school year. As part of the FAFSA overhaul, the federal government is also expanding eligibility for federal aid. 

There will be a new start date. FAFSA for the 2024-25 school year will not open until sometime in December or possibly early January. That’s just for the 2024-25 school year, because the Department of Education needs more time finalizing the form.

Everyone who needs to put information into FAFSA will need to create a student aid account to get an FSA ID, including parents.

If parents are divorced, the parent who provides the most financial support for the student will need to complete the FAFSA form, regardless of whom the student lives with.

Having multiple students enrolled in college will no longer factor into the calculation of financial aid, meaning the amount of aid may be less. 

However, schools can adjust financial aid offers at their discretion, considering the financial burden of having many students in school.

Because of the later start date, some colleges are extending their FAFSA priority filing date, but many are still saying March, meaning students will have a shorter window to get the application filled out. 

student loans Sep 30, 2023

The FAFSA won't open on Oct. 1 this year—here's when you'll be able to apply for student financial aid

news Aug 28, 2023

The new FAFSA: Changes to college financial aid application are ‘tectonic,' says expert

“So that means you’ve got January and February,” said Tessie Wilson of College Access Fairfax. The FAFSA ID may take as much as three days to verify, so we’re telling people do that step now so if there are any problems, you’re ready to go and look at that list of information that you have to have for the FAFSA and have it on hand the second that FAFSA opens. Those are the steps people can take to be ready when it opens.”

Some colleges may require sending information directly to them while they wait for the FAFSA application, so monitor emails constantly for updates. 

Find all of the changes here.

The recall details that a “wire connection” in the air fryer can “overheat, posing fire and burn hazards,” according to CPSC.

Secura has received nine reports of the air fryers “catching fire, burning and smoking” but no injuries or damage have been reported

“At Secura, we prioritize the safety of our customers,” the company said in a statement. “In partnership with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada, we are voluntarily recalling specific date codes of our TXG-DS16 (SAF-53) and SAF-53D (TXG-DT16E) air fryers. This recall includes only TXG-DS16 (SAF-53) with date codes 1903 and 1904, and SAF-53D (TXG-DT16E) with date code 1901.”

The description notes that the recalled units are black with silver accents.

Secura encourages customers who purchased these products online at thesecura.com and Amazon.com from May 2019 through October 2020 to immediately discontinue use.

To get a refund or replace the unit, it is advised to contact Secura for an Amazon gift card in the amount of $45 or a free replacement of choice on the company’s site.

Users must provide their contact information and submit photos of the recalled unit. Photos must include the unit’s power cord cut off and must display the product’s date code located on the button.

Secura is also contacting all known buyers.

Recall Alert Oct 4, 2023

Biomic Sciences recalls sinus sprays due to microbial contamination

Recalls Oct 4, 2023

Stellantis recalls nearly 273,000 Ram trucks because rear view camera image may not show on screen

After a crash in August 2022, Stefanny Fernandez took her 2020 Acura, which sustained minimal damage, to Auto Body Dimensions in Gaithersburg, Maryland, for a job she thought would take just a few weeks.

“It was 10 months,” she told News4.

Fixing the exterior damage took just a few weeks, but in the crash, her seat belt locked up. When that happens in some Acuras and Hondas, the seat belt tensioner no longer retracts or pulls down, so the repair shop had to order a new one. The parts for that are on backorder. 

“Seat belts, airbag control modules are almost impossible to get,” Auto Body Dimensions manager Abdi Barre said.

And while waiting for the parts, Barre can’t legally let a customer take their car home while they wait if it’s a safety issue.

“So, we cannot release that car,” he said. “We’re stuck with the car. I mean, we have two Acuras here, both MDXs, different years, different belts, different colors, same result.”

Meanwhile, customers like Fernandez rack up rental car bills.

“It was $3,000,” she said.

That amount was after the insurance company stopped picking up the tab in March. Fernandez said they told her the repairs were taking too long.

“It’s not my fault; it’s not my problem,” she said. “My issue, that there is a backorder on a part, and I get it. It’s not their fault, either. I should not be penalized for it.”

Fernandez reached out to American Honda, the parent company of Acura, for assistance with her rental, but according to her, it said it wasn’t responsible for paying for car rentals and she should work with the insurance company.

In a statement to News4, American Honda said it is “working to resolve all replacement part backorders as soon as possible” and it regrets “any inconvenience” its customers are experiencing. 

The company went on to say, “Since each delayed replacement part may face different supply challenges, [we] they recommend working directly with local authorized Acura and Honda dealers to ensure that appropriate priority is placed on critical part orders.” 

“I never heard of anything, anything like this before in my life,” Fernandez said.

After a lot of emails back and forth with the other driver’s insurance company, it did eventually agree to reimburse her for the remaining rental costs.

According to Auto Body Dimensions, this part shortage is only impacting Acuras and Hondas, but there are part shortages across the board.

So, if a mechanic can’t find a part, call around to other shops and dealerships. Ask if they can source parts from other places or use parts from other manufacturers. Local salvage yards are another resource.

The Virginia-based company said that it was recalling the products after testing by the Food and Drug Administration found they contained microbial contamination, identified as Microbacterium sp., Fictibacillus sp., Bacillus sp., (primarily B. malikii), and Paenibacillus sp.

According to an FDA release, these microorganisms are generally non-pathogenic. However, they do pose a risk to anyone who recently underwent nasal or sinus surgery, according to the FDA, which says “there is a reasonable probability that the use of the affected product could potentially result in severe or life-threatening adverse events such as bacteremia or fungemia, invasive bacterial or fungal rhinosinusitis, or disseminated fungal infection.”

The affected batches were distributed between July 2017 and September of this year.

Customers should stop using the product and either discard it or take a photo of the lot number on the bottom of the bottle before discarding it and provide that to Biomic Sciences to arrange a refund. The company can be contacted by phone at 844-715-0113 or by email at sinusrecall@intelligenceofnature.com.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program by filling out this form online. Customers can also download or request the form over the phone at 800-332-1088, and then send the completed form to the address on the form.

For more information on the affected products see the full FDA release here.

The recall announced Tuesday by U.S. safety regulators covers certain Ram 1500 pickup trucks and some Ram 3500 chassis cabs from the 2022 and 2023 model years. Also covered are 2022 through 2024 Ram 2500 trucks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a rear view display without an image reduces a driver’s view and increases the risk of a crash.

Dealers will update the radio software at no cost to owners, who will be notified by letter starting Nov. 17.

The 300,000 now-recalled skateboards, manufactured by the California-based Future Motion, can stop balancing a rider if the boards’ limits are exceeded — which risks serious crashes, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

Future Motion has received dozens of incident reports involving these skateboards, the CPSC said Friday — including four deaths between 2019 and 2021 and serious injuries like paralysis, traumatic brain injury, fractures and ligament damage.

The deaths resulted from head trauma, the CPSC added. In at least three of the reports, the riders were not wearing helmets. Future Motion and the CPSC encourage all riders to wear personal protective equipment while riding.

People who own an impacted Onewheel skateboard should stop using it immediately, regulators said. The recall impacts all Onewheel electric skateboards — including Onewheel, Onewheel+, Onewheel+ XR, Onewheel Pint, Onewheel Pint X and Onewheel GT — sold online and through independent retailers from January 2014 through September of this year.

To address the crash hazard, a new safety alert feature called “haptic buzz” will be available through a firmware update for Onewheel GT, Pint X, Pint and XR boards in the coming weeks, Future Motion’s Onewheel team said. Riders can check their board’s eligibility and learn more about installing the update with Onewheel’s app on Future Motion’s website.

Meanwhile, original Onewheel and Onewheel+ boards are not eligible for the firmware update. Eligible riders can arrange to receive a prorated refund in the form of $100 in store credit after disposing of the product, the CPSC and Future Motion’s Onewheel team said.

“You should not use Onewheels that are not updated or that are not eligible for the firmware update,” the Onewheel team wrote on its website, while also urging all riders to wear helmets and other protective gear. “Rider safety is our top priority and is critical to the long-term success of the sport.

Prior to last week’s announcement, the CPSC warned consumers to stop using Onewheel electric skateboards back in November — similarly pointing to the reports of death and serious injuries. At the time, the CPSC said, Future Motion “refused to agree to an acceptable recall of the product.”

In its online announcement, Future Motion’s Onewheel team said that recall update was “the culmination of months of work with the CPSC.”

Correction (Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 1 p.m. ET): An earlier version of this story misstated the name of the recalled product in the headline. The recalled skateboard is called Onewheel by Future Motion.

The self-balancing skateboards, manufactured by the brand Future Motion, have also led to injuries including “traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, upper-body fractures, lower-body fractures and ligament damage,” according to the CPSC.

“The skateboards can stop balancing the rider if the boards’ limits are exceeded, posing a crash hazard that can result in serious injury or death,” the agency said in its announcement.

The four deaths resulted from head trauma, according to the CPSC, which added that in at least three of the incidents, the riders weren’t wearing helmets.

Read the full story on NBCNews.com here.

Eagle Produce LLC is voluntarily recalling of 6,456 cases of whole cantaloupes under the sticker brand “Kandy.”

The recall is in response to tests conducted by the FDA at one of Eagle’s distribution centers, the agency said in a news release.

The recalled cantaloupes were distributed between Sept. 5 and Sept. 16 in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington D.C., and sold in various retail supermarkets.

The cantaloupes subject to the recall include:

No other products or lot code dates are affected by this recall. The company is cooperating with the FDA regarding this recall.

There have been no reported illnesses attributed to the recalled items as of Sept. 27, 2023 and the recall is being issued out of an abundance of caution.

Symptoms of salmonella infection include fever, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. However, many people who become ill recover without medical care and are not tested for salmonella poisoning.

The children’s book distributor noted that plastic binding rings can detach from books, creating a choking hazard to young kids, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The recall involves seven board books under the Rainbow Road Board Books, which are sold individually as well as in a set of four.

There are two reported incidents of plastic rings detaching in the United States and one in Australia. There are been no reported injuries.

The recalled books and its ISBN numbers, printed on the book’s back, are as follows:

Customers who purchased these particular books from March 2022 through August 2023 are encouraged to immediately stop usage and to contact Make Believe Ideas to receive a refund in the form of a gift card. Customers can register online for the refund here.

The recalls cover multiple car and SUV models from the 2010 through 2019 model years including Hyundai’s Santa Fe SUV and Kia’s Sorrento SUV.

Documents posted Wednesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say the anti-lock brake control module can leak fluid and cause an electrical short, which can touch off a fire while the vehicles are parked or being driven.

The automakers are advising owners to park outdoors and away from structures until repairs are done.

Dealers will replace the anti-lock brake fuse at no cost to owners. Kia says in documents that it will send notification letters to owners starting Nov. 14. For Hyundai the date is Nov. 21.

Hyundai reported 21 fires in the affected vehicles in the U.S., and another 22 “thermal incidents” including smoke, burning and melting of parts, the documents say. Kia reported 10 fires and melting incidents.

Hyundai said in a statement that owners can continue to drive the vehicles and that no crashes or injuries have been reported. The automaker said it was doing the recall to ensure safety of its customers.

The company said an O-ring in the antilock brake motor shaft can lose sealing strength over time due to the presence of moisture, dirt and dissolved metals in the brake fluid, causing leaks. The new fuse limits the operating current of the brake module, the statement said.

In a statement, Kia said an engine compartment fire could happen in the area of the brake control unit due to an electrical short that results in excessive current. The statement says the exact cause of the short circuit is unknown and that there have been no crashes or injuries.

Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, questioned why the companies aren’t fixing the leak problem and why they are waiting so long to send letters to owners.

The remedy is replacing one fuse with another, but brake fluid can still leak, potentially causing a safety problem, Brooks said.

“Why not fix the problem?” he asked. “What you’re not doing here is fixing the O-ring and the leak that’s causing the problem in the first place. You’re combatting a symptom or part of the problem without actually fixing the underlying design issue.”

Brooks also questioned why NHTSA is allowing the companies to only replace a fuse, and why owners aren’t being sent interim letters immediately warning them of a serious problem. “You would think that you should be notifying those owners right now that they shouldn’t be parking in their garages or their house could catch fire,” he said.

Statements from both companies don’t address why the fluid leaks aren’t being repaired or why it will take about two months to notify owners by letter. Spokespeople for both companies said they would check into the questions.

NHTSA said that under the federal motor vehicle safety act, automakers can choose the remedy to fix a defect. The agency said it will monitor the effectiveness of the repairs and open an investigation if warranted.

In addition, automakers have 60 days to notify owners of recalled vehicles by letter, but often the mailings can happen sooner, the agency said.

NHTSA also issued a statement Wednesday warning owners to park the vehicles outdoors until repairs are made.

Affected Kia models include:

• 2010 through 2019 Borrego
• 2014 to 2016 Cadenza
• 2010 through 2013 Forte, Forte Koup and Sportage
• 2015 to 2018 K900
• 2011 to 2015 Optima
• 2011 to 2013 Optima Hybrid and Sou
• 2012 to 2017 Rio
• 2011 to 2014 Sorento
• 2010 to 2011 Rondo

Hyundai models covered by the recall include:

• 2011 to 2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, and Sonata Hybrid
• 2012 to 2015 Accent, Azera, and Veloster
• 2013 to 2015 Elantra Coupe and Santa Fe
• 2014 to 2015 Equus
• 2010 to 2012 Veracruz
• 2010 to 2013 Tucson
• 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell
• 2013 Santa Fe Sport

Owners can go to www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and key in their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their vehicle is affected.

Hyundai and Kia have been plagued by fire problems since 2015. The Center for Auto Safety successfully petitioned U.S. regulators to seek recalls in 2018 and says on its website that the automakers have recalled more than 9.2 million vehicles for fires and engine problems, not including the recalls announced Wednesday. More than two dozen of the recalls involved over 20 models from the 2006 through 2021 model years.

In addition, NHTSA is investigating 3 million vehicles made by the automakers from the 2011 through 2016 model years. NHTSA says it’s received 161 complaints of engine fires, some of which occurred in vehicles that had already been recalled.

In June 2018, NHTSA said it had received owner complaints of more than 3,100 fires, 103 injuries and one death. Hyundai and Kia were fined by NHTSA in 2020 for moving too slowly to recall vehicles that were prone to engine failures.

The impacted mattresses exclusively sold at the megastore include the Novaform ComfortGrande 14-inch and Novaform DreamAway 8-inch. The agency said the mattresses could have been exposed to water during manufacturing, increasing the risk of mold development.

Of 541 reports of mold on the mattresses, no injuries have been reported.

The mattresses at risk were manufactured at FXI’s San Bernardino, Calif., facility and sold at Costco stores in the Northwest United States, San Francisco/Bay Area and on Costco’s website.

It is said the ComfortGrande mattress has a blue base with "Novaform" printed in white letters, and the DreamAway mattress has a gray base with "Novaform" printed in white letters.

FXI encourages customers who purchased these mattresses between Jan. 2, 2023, and April 28, 2023, to immediately discontinue use and contact FXI.

Information about the manufacturing date and location can be seen on a tag attached to the mattress.

Customers will be credited a full refund or a free replacement mattress including free delivery of the new mattress. Pickup and disposal of the recalled mattress are also being offered.

Costco is also contacting known purchasers directly.

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Collegiate Sealers & Paving owner Richard Cornicello said that man hired his company to seal four driveways at homes he claimed to own in Fairfax County. They agreed on a price for the work, and the man paid Cornicello a deposit and said he would return to pay the rest when the jobs were complete.

But that customer didn’t actually own any of those homes. He posed as a driveway sealer himself and convinced the real homeowners to have their driveways repaved. When the job was done, he showed up to collect the money before Cornicello’s company could send the bill – and charged them “an exorbitant amount of money,” Cornicello said.

After 35 years in business, with more than 100,000 driveways paved, Cornicello said he’s never seen anything like it.

Cornicello figured out the scam when one of the actual homeowners tried to pay his crew as it was finishing the driveway. The amount of cash they offered was almost double the cost of the job.

Cornicello’s crew asked why the homeowner was handing over so much, and the unsuspecting homeowner explained that was the price they were quoted from the guy who knocked on their door and offered paving services on behalf of Collegiate Sealers & Paving.

“You spend years building up your reputation and someone basically steals that from you, you know, to make money,” Cornicello said.

The man was caught on surveillance video. News4 is not showing his face because he hasn’t been charged yet.

“We’re still seeking to identify the person who’s perpetrated these crimes,” Fairfax County police Sgt. Jacob Pierce said.

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While this case involved a legitimate business getting wrapped into the con, in most paving scams, homeowners are the victims of a fraudster requiring payment upfront for a deal too good to be true, Pierce said.

“So, they’re giving them quotes for work on repaving a new driveway and then they’re asking for money up front, and a lot of times those clients are not getting that money back, or they’re not even seeing the fruits of any kind of labor whatsoever,” he said.

“It’s frustrating for me,” Cornicello said. “I feel bad for the customers when, you know, anyone gets ripped off.”

He said he hopes the paving impostor gets caught soon, before doing any more damage.

How to avoid becoming a victim of home contractor scams

Police advise homeowners not to be so quick to agree to a deal at the door.

“Just slowing down, gathering their contact information, maybe, and then just doing a little bit of basic homework that anybody could do with a computer and a search engine,” Pierce said.

When someone comes to the door offering to sell a service or business, ask to see their solicitor’s license; most cities and counties in the D.C. area require one. If they don’t have one, shut the door. 

To keep solicitors from knocking, put a sign in the doorway prohibiting them.

If the deal sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a sales pitch or a con. 

If someone leaves a flyer at the door, before calling the number, vet the company.

On Sept. 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture shared the news in a bulletin on its website. According to the federal agency, the recall will affect approximately 58,281 pounds of ground beef products. American Foods Group, based in Wisconsin, discovered that a sample batch of beef tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The products were produced on Aug. 14, 2023, and sent to Georgia, Michigan and Ohio wholesalers. 

American Foods Group, LLC — which does business as Green Bay Dressed Beef — did not respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment.

The USDA says there have been no confirmed reports of reactions related to the consumption of the products being recalled.

What products are being recalled?

Products that are being recalled have establishment numbers inside the USDA mark of inspection, which read “EST. 18076.” 

The products being recalled come in the form of 10-pound plastic tubes or chub packs, typically used to pack meat materials like sausages and hamburgers.

The following products are subject to recall

• “90050 BEEF FINE GROUND 81/19” with lot code D123226026.
• “20473 BEEF HALAL FINE GROUND 73/27” with lot code D123226027.
• “20105 BEEF FINE GROUND 73/27” with lot code D123226027.

What to do if you have a product that was recalled

The USDA instructs distributors and other customers who have purchased impacted products to throw them out or return them to vendors.

Consumers with questions can contact the American Foods Group LLC’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications at 1-800-829-2838 or email at info@americanfoodsgroup.com. 

They can also call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, which is toll-free at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or email MPHotline@usda.gov for questions.

Roughly 3,000 Americans die annually from foodborne diseases, according to the CDC

The CDC approximates that foodborne disease cause illness in nearly 1 in 6 (48 million) Americans every year and that 3,000 die.

The public agency says E. coli (STEC) O157 causes an estimated 2,138 hospitalizations in the United States each year. It is included among the top five pathogens to cause hospitalizations in addition to Norovirus, salmonella, Campylobacter spp and Toxoplasma gondii.

What is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, different strains of E. coli can cause disease by producing Shiga toxin, a biological poison. The bacteria that make Shiga toxins are called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

The CDC notes that seniors and very young children are more likely to develop severe illness from an STEC infection. On average, people who have consumed STECs can become sick for three to four days and as long as eight days. According to the USDA’s announcement regarding the Sept. 15 raw beef recall, people infected with STEC O103 will often experience vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

Who was the child that died from E. coli?

Riley Detwiler died from a particular strain of E. coli poisoning in February 1993 when he was 16 months old.

Riley contracted the bacteria while at his daycare after interacting with another child who had consumed hamburgers.

On the 30th anniversary of his death, his father, Darin Detwiler, penned an essay for TODAY.com detailing his fight to combat and raise awareness of foodborne disease.

What happens if you get E. coli in you?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Escherichia coli (E. coli) typically exists in the intestines of people and animals and works to help digest food. However, things can get murky when different strains begin to produce toxins.

Different strains of E. coli can cause non-bloody and bloody diarrhea, vomiting and stomach aches and cramps, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Is E. coli contagious?

E. coli is a highly contagious bacteria. According to the Mayo Clinic, E. coli can spread from person to person, especially when people fail to wash their hands. It can also spread from contaminated water and food.

Seniors, younger children and people with weakened immune systems have an increased chance of becoming ill after consuming the bacteria, the Mayo Clinic says.

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These phony jobs are often masked as high-paying remote positions such as personal assistants, teaching assistants or customer service representatives, according to Rosario Mendez, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission.

Though these jobs appear to be legitimate, the scammers require sensitive information to complete their applications, such as Social Security or bank account numbers.

“With your Social Security number, your address, your phone number, all of those details, they can steal your identity,” Mendez said. “And they can use that information to commit other scams and frauds.”

How to protect against phony job ads before applying

• Visit the official company website and apply there instead.
• Google search the company along with words like “scam,” “review” or “complaint.”
• If they send a check and ask for some of the money, it’s a scam.

If a job ad appears to be a scam, report it to the job site platform so it can be investigated and possibly taken down.

The agency shared pictures of the completed tunnel on social media. It was designed to reduce recurring flooding on Mt. Olivet Road NE and Rhode Island Avenue and improve water quality in the Anacostia River, DC Water said.

The announcement comes a month after 10 dogs died when floodwaters rose and burst into a nearby doggy daycare facility.

DC Water also constructed new inlets on Rhode Island Avenue under the overpass that will allow a large amount of stormwater to flow directly into the tunnel.

The tunnel is five miles long with a diameter of 23 feet and a depth of 100 feet. It will provide 90 million gallons of storage for floodwater and sewage overflows to the Anacostia River, according to DC Water.

The agency added that said the tunnel is designed for a 15-year storm. It will not prevent all flooding from intense storms, but will lessen their impact.

The project has been in the works since 2017, and once construction began, the earliest DC Water had hoped to put the tunnel in service was by March of this year. But several factors, including the pandemic and supply chain issues, slowed things down.

Gordon Chaffin, who recorded video of the area flooding in 2020 and has lived in the neighborhood for 10 years, said the tunnel has been a long-time coming.

“I’m thankful. The investments that the boundary tunnel represents are extremely important. The thing that I want to change is that we need to make these investments quicker and more proactively,” Chaffin said.

​Now he’s hopeful the neighborhood will get a much needed break.

“It’s scary when you feel like going out in the rain, as you sometimes have to do, can be a dangerous thing, whether you’re on a bike, walking or driving. It’s not fun,” he said.

After the tunnel, the water will flow to a new wet weather treatment facility called Blue Plains, DC Water said.

The agency previously said the area’s recurring flood problem is caused in part by the District’s aging infrastructure, and that the project may help fix it.

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“I’m right here. I’m living,” said Elise.

Her mom told the News4 I-Team she found out her daughter had been declared dead after receiving denial letters for medical benefits.

“Medical insurance was denied. I had dental benefits were denied. We got life insurance telling me she’s dead,” said Melissa Allen. 

She says the Department of Social Services told her to contact Medicaid, which told her to contact the Social Security Administration.

“I just thought it was an error, human error that could be fixed quickly,” Allen said. “But I was wrong.”

The I-Team found others have sadly been down a similar road. In early 2022, the I-Team reported on an Arlington man who was trying to dig out of a mess.  

Darby Nye was declared deceased after some kind of mistake led the Social Security Administration to alert other government agencies that he was dead. That created a devastating domino effect on his health insurance, credit cards, even impacting Nye’s pension.

Although the agency couldn’t tell him how it happened, after several months the problem seemed to be corrected. But a year later, Nye is still listed as deceased “as far as the IRS is concerned,” he said.

Over the summer, the Internal Revenue Service informed him about a potential problem with his tax return. According to their records, the “primary taxpayer on the tax return was deceased.” 

Unfortunately, what’s happening with Nye and Elise isn’t a fluke. According to attorney Joseph McClelland, this happens on almost a daily basis.

“The impact is the worst impact you can have on your credit report,” said McClelland.

He’s made a career out of helping people restore their “alive” status with the government. He says mistakes, even typos, can happen in many places, either with credit bureaus, lenders or the Social Security Administration. 

When mistakes happen at the SSA, that’s when the real trouble begins. When someone dies, they’re added to the Death Master File, a database used to start terminating benefit payments and report the death to other government agencies.  

 The I-Team found no one is really tracking exactly how often this happens, but a 2019 Social Security advisory report says 7,000 to 12,000 people are mistakenly declared dead each year. In a statement, the Social Security Administration said:

“Approximately 2.9 million deaths are reported to the Social Security Administration each year, and our records are highly accurate. Of these millions of death reports we receive each year, less than one-third of 1 percent are subsequently corrected. Deaths are reported to Social Security primarily from the states, but also from family members, funeral homes and financial institutions. If a person suspects that they have been incorrectly listed as deceased on their Social Security record, they should contact their local Social Security office as soon as possible. They can locate their nearest Social Security office at https://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/. They should be prepared to send at least one piece of current (not expired) original form of identification. Part of the process of correcting records includes ensuring all current and past due benefits are paid. Social Security takes immediate action to correct our records and we can provide a letter that the error has been corrected that can be shared with other organizations.”  

Both Nye and Elise are still working to convince the government they’re not dead. But both tell the I-Team it hasn’t been easy. 

“I want somebody to call me, email me or fix it, and then call me or email me or send me something in writing documentation stating that my daughter is alive and well,” Elise’s mom said.

Reported by Susan Hogan, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Jeff Piper.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the news Saturday after Hillshire Brands reported customer complaints of bone fragments in the 14 ounce package of “Hillshire Farm smoked sausage made with pork, beef, turkey.”

The recalled products have the establishment number “EST. 756A” on the front of the package and a use by date of Nov. 11, 2023. The recalled products were shipped to retail stores in California, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

There has been one reported oral injury due to the products.

Anyone in possession of the recalled products are urged to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

The recall involves several models of the Boon Flair highchairs manufactured before September 2016, and all Boon Flair Elite highchairs, according to a recall notice published Thursday.

The agency said the bolts used to secure the seat of these highchairs to the pedestal base can become loose and detached from the seat, posing a fall hazard.

There have been 34 reports of the chair separating from the base, including 24 falls, with 11 of those resulting in injuries.

The Boon Flair chairs were made in a variety of colors and sold between January 2008 and February 2017 for about $380, while the Boon Flair Elite high chairs were sold from 2008 to 2009 for between $230 and $250.

The recalled chairs were sold nationwide at Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Toys ‘R’ Us and other stores, and online on Amazon.com, Target.com, Walmart.com and BedBathAndBeyond.com.

The affected models are: the Boon Flair B701 (blue/white), B702 (white/orange), B703 (pink/white), B704 (green/white), B706 (white/orange), B707 (white/blue), B708 (red/white), B709 (red/white), B716 (green/white), B717 (white/orange), B718 (white/blue), B731 (white/orange), B10147 (gray/green), B11068 (white/no pad), B11069 (gray/no pad), B11401 (white/gray). The recalled Boon Flair Elite model is the B751 (white/orange).

Consumers should stop using the recalled highchairs immediately and contact Tomy, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, at 866-725-4407 or online at https://recall.tomy.com for a free repair kit. Consumers will receive a set of bolts and split and flat washers to repair the recalled highchair.

CPSC Also Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using iCraves Infant High Chairs 

The CPSC also issued a warning Thursday for consumers to stop using iCraves infant highchairs because of entrapment, fall, and suffocation hazards.

The agency said the products, sold by the U.K.-based company Brosishop, do not meet federal safety standards for highchairs. The chairs were also marketed for infant sleep, but fail to meet requirements under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act because they have an incline angle greater than 10 degrees, posing a suffocation risk.

CPSC has attempted to contact Brosishop to recall the highchairs, but the company hasn’t responded to multiple requests.

The chairs and their packaging also lack required tracking labels that provide certain information, such as the date of manufacture and manufacturer contact information.

The highchairs were available in peach pink, green, purple, and blue and sold online at www.icraves.com for about $260. However, the website is no longer operational. The chairs’ packaging contains the name “Bestbaby” and model BS-806. The rest of the labeling on the chairs are written in Mandarin. 

“CPSC urges consumers to stop using the highchairs immediately, disassemble the seat from the frame, cut the padding and dispose of all the parts separately,” the agency warned in its notice.

The recall covers the Optima midsize car from 2016 through 2018, Optima hybrids and plug-ins from 2017 and 2018, and the Rio small car from 2016 and 2017.

Kia says in documents posted Thursday by U.S. safety regulators that the trunk latch base can crack, and may not open from the inside. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a person inside the trunk could become trapped.

Dealers will replace part of the trunk latch base. Owners will be notified by letter starting Oct. 19.

Trader Joe’s said the supplier of their Texas Tamale Company Gourmet Black Bean Tamales (UPC# 717725000580) called for the recall after learning some of the tamales may contain undeclared milk.

Trader Joe’s said the affected tamales have a Best Before date of June 19, 2025, and are marked with Lot Code 17023.

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The seven other states where the tamales were sold were Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

Trader Joe’s said no illnesses have been reported and all potentially affected product has been removed from store shelves.

The grocer asks that anyone who purchased the tamales throw them away and not eat them, or return them to the store for a refund.

Customers with questions may contact Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at 626-599-3817 or email them here.

Past Trader Joe’s Recalls 

On July 21, the grocery store chain announced a pair of recalls: “Trader Joe’s Almond Windmill Cookies,” with “sell by” dates of Oct.19 through 21, and “Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies,” with “sell by” dates of Oct. 17 through 21, due to concerns of rocks contamination. 

On July 27, Trader Joe’s announced they recalled their Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup (SKU# 68470) with the “Use By” dates of 07/18/23 through 09/15/23 due to the product possibly containing insects. 

On July 28, Trader Joe’s announced they recalled their Fully Cooked Falafel (SKU# 93935) due to it possibly containing rocks. 

On August 17, Trader Joe’s said they were alerted by their supplier that their Multigrain Crackers with Sunflower and Flax Seeds (SKU# 76156) may possibly contain metal. The recalled product has the Best If Used By dates 03/01/24 – 03/05/24. 

Retailers might use bots, artificial intelligence or even pay other users to leave deceiving positive reviews in their product listings, experts say.   

That’s something customers should know, since reviews are an essential part of many people’s online shopping habits. Nearly 43% of people in the U.S. report that positive customer reviews have a big influence on their purchasing decisions, according to a recent survey.

But for some, those well-reviewed products do not deliver the quality the listing promised.

“I don’t trust reviews anymore. In my personal experience the reviews that I had relied on in selecting a medical provider were fake,” said Kay Dean, who founded fakereviewwatch.com, a website that tracks false online reviews. 

Red flags like too many positive reviews being posted the same day might be a sign of behind-the-scenes manipulation, says Samantha Gordon, deals editor for Consumer Reports.

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One of the places where people often find fake reviews is Amazon. Despite the company’s efforts to curb fake reviews, up to 42% of reviews on Amazon might be not real, according to research by Fakespot.com. 

“Anyone is allowed to leave reviews on Amazon, even if they didn’t buy the product. So, look for reviews that have the Verified Purchase tag. This means that the reviewer actually bought the product,” Gordon said. 

Wording and exaggerated claims made by too many users might be a good indicator of fishy reviews.

Sites like Fakespot use large language algorithms to evaluate the chances of a certain review being fake. 

“The public has been deceived, and it’s a huge problem because consumer experiences are not matching those reviews,” Dean said. 

Amid rising concerns about online vendors increasing their use of this strategy, the FCC has proposed a new rule that would prohibit the creation, purchase, sale, or distribution of false customer reviews. The commission has not yet approved the rule. 

A notice published Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration says the recalled products impacted include Not-Ready-To Eat Individually Quick Frozen Super Sweet Cut Corn and Mixed Vegetables in 12 oz. to 32 oz. retail bags.

The affected products were sold nationwide under the Kroger, Food Lion and Signature Select brand names. See the full list of affected below:

Listeria is a deadly bacteria that causes symptoms like fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. Symptoms usually start one to four weeks after eating contaminated food, but can start as soon as the same day. It can be treated with antibiotics, but it is especially dangerous to pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, according to the CDC.

Persons who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about eating the contaminated food, the CDC says.

To date, there have been no actual consumer reports of human illness associated with this products, according to the FDA’s notice. The recall was issued after a customer’s tested the sweet cut corn and received a positive result from a third-party lab.

Consumers are urged to immediately return the products to the store where they were purchased for a full refund.

For the fourth time in a month, popular grocery store chain Trader Joe’s has recalled a product, this time due to it possibly containing metal. 

In a letter that was sent to customers on Thursday, Trader Joe’s said they were alerted by their supplier that their Multigrain Crackers with Sunflower and Flax Seeds (SKU# 76156) may possibly contain metal. The recalled product has the Best If Used By dates 03/01/24 – 03/05/24. 

No injuries have been reported in connection to the recall and all potentially impacted products have been removed from sale and destroyed, according to Trader Joe’s. 

Anyone who may have purchased or received any donations of Multigrain Crackers with Sunflower and Flax Seeds should not eat them. Instead, get rid of the product or return it to Trader Joe’s for a full refund. 

Anyone with questions about the recall can contact Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at 626-599-3817 on Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time. You can also email Trader Joe’s.

This is the fourth Trader Joe’s recall in the past month. 

Past Trader Joe’s Recalls 

On July 21, the grocery store chain announced they recalled “Trader Joe’s Almond Windmill Cookies,” with “sell by” dates of Oct.19 through 21, and “Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies,” with “sell by” dates of Oct. 17 through 21, due to concerns of rocks contamination. 

On July 27, Trader Joe’s announced they recalled their Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup (SKU# 68470) with the “Use By” dates of 07/18/23 through 09/15/23 due to the product possibly containing insects. 

Finally, on July 28, Trader Joe’s announced they recalled their Fully Cooked Falafel (SKU# 93935) due to it possibly containing rocks. 

The recall impacts 42 models of dehumidifiers sold under five brand names: Kenmore, GE, SoleusAir, Norpole and Seabreeze. These products, all manufactured by the Zhuhai, China-based Gree Electric Appliances, were sold from January 2011 to February 2014 at major retailers nationwide — including Walmart, Home Depot and Sam’s Club, among others.

According to the CPSC, the now-recalled dehumidifiers can overheat, smoke and catch fire. Gree has received reports of at least 23 fires, 688 overheating incidents and $168,000 in property damage from the recalled products.

Consumers are instructed to unplug and immediately stop using the dehumidifiers — and contact Gree for a refund.

The recalled dehumidifiers can be identified by their brand, model number and capacity, which is all listed on the CPSC’s notice. The products are white, beige, gray or black plastic — sold in various sizes for between $110 and $400.

The Associated Press reached out to Gree for comment on Thursday.

This isn’t the first time that Gree-manufactured dehumidifiers have been recalled for fire and burn risks. On Wednesday, the CPSC also warned consumers of a previous and separate recall impacting Gree dehumidifiers sold from January 2005 through January 2014 under a handful of brands: Danby, De’Longhi, Fedders, Fellini, Frigidaire, GE, Gree, Kenmore, Norpole, Premiere, Seabreeze, SoleusAir and SuperClima.

That recall was first announced in 2013, expanded in 2014 and most recently reannounced in 2016. To date, more than 2,000 overheating incidents and 450 fires have been reported — resulting in $19 million in property damage and four deaths “potentially associated with Gree dehumidifiers,” the CPSC said Wednesday, pointing to 2016 and 2022 fatal house fires in Ohio, Iowa and Missouri.

Gree and its Hong Kong subsidiary agreed to pay $91 million in 2021 for failing to tell U.S. regulators that the devices could overheat and could catch fire. The firms entered into an agreement to avoid criminal prosecution, the U.S. attorney’s office said at the time — noting they would also provide restitution to victims for fire damage caused by the dehumidifiers.

In April 2023, Gree’s U.S. subsidiary, Gree USA, was also sentenced to pay a $500,000 criminal fine and restitution payments as part of this resolution.