CONSUMER NEWS & ALERTS, April 25, 2005 processed meats and pancreatic cancer

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Consumer News & Alerts | April 25, 2005TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME ... But hold the hot dogs. The largest study to date confirms earlier studies showing a link between sausages and other processed meats and pancreatic cancer, the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. "Processed" meats include all hot dogs and other sausages, luncheon meats and bacon. The study also found red meat and pork raise the risk of pancreatic cancer, though not as drastically.What to eat? In terms of cancer risk, cholesterol, saturated fat and weight loss, the best choices are probably fish, poultry and pasta. Parents: This study is more urgently important to your kids than to you (because they have not yet spent 20 or 30 years eating carcinogens). If your children crave hot dogs, give 'em tofu pups. They taste OK and the kids won't know the difference. Diet of the Sphinx Who needs South Beach? The Sphinx itself has revealed the nutritional wisdom of the ages. Unfortunately, it did so in hieroglyphics. The Department of Agriculture hired Porter Novelli International, a P.R. and lobbying firm (one which, ahem, also represents lots of big agriculture and food interests), to come up with a new food pyramid. The company did so, keeping the interests of its other clients in mind. The result? The mysteries of healthful nutrition are locked somewhere inside the graphic. But where?The food pyramid scheme may not reveal much about nutrition but it tells us a lot about the way Washington works, or doesn't. All those bureaucrats who shuttle in and out each day like clockwork? It's a matter of pride with them that they don't actually do anything -- rather, they manage the efforts of the contractors to whom they outsource the government's essential chores, everything form launching space probes to patrolling Baghdad to coming up with goofy graphics. The result? Most of these firms are playing both sides of the street -- representing not only the government but also the industries it supposedly regulates. Pain Killers May Help Prevent Cancer Further proving that every drug has risks and benefits, a study finds that COX-2 drugs like Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra may help reduce the risk of colon and oral cancers. The downside is that they can cause heart attacks and strokes. Deciding what to do about chronic pain should be done only in close consultation with a top-flight physician.Another Malpractice Study A P.R. agency arranged for individuals in white coats, ostensibly physicians, to demonstrate outside the U.S. Capitol last week, agitating for an end to malpractice suits. We didn't see anyone checking medical credentials but, more importantly, yet another study finds what previous studies have found: there's no direct correlation between malpractice lawsuits and doctors' insurance premiums. Objection! The FDA is taking a hard line on direct-to-consumer drug advertising. The latest targets of its wrath: Zertec and Levitra. Ads for the allergy and erectile malfunction potions, respectively, are out of line, the agency said.Flu Fears Can you really imagine that Washington is ready to effectively protect Americans in the event of a worldwide flu pandemic? If so, it's worth reviewing a report that finds vaccine and treatment shortfalls, gaps in containment strategies, limited plans for how to keep the public informed and inadequate review of state plans for quality and feasibility. Other than that, no problem. MAYTAG COMES CLEAN The company has agreed to settle a consumer class action suit involving its Neptune washing machines. More than two million consumers will be eligible for repair reimbursements, replacement costs up to $500 or washing machine purchase certificates up to $1000. Those who contend class actions invariably produce measly $2 movie-rental coupons should take note.YOUR NEXT CAR: MADE IN CHINA? Martha Stewart candles, bicycles, appliances, clothing ... just about everything seems to be made in China these days, and it may not be long before our cars are made there. DaimlerChrysler is looking at building cars in China for export to the U.S. Sound far-fetched? Honda, perhaps the world's most successful automaker, is already doing it. Detroit Starting to Rust The last few quarters have been disastrous for American automakers, especially General Motors. For years, GM's market share has been declining as it turned out one boring car after another; now the finance numbers have caught up with the sales numbers. Ford and the Chrysler Division aren't far beyond. Most embarrassing is GM's failure to see that record gas prices are beaching its Hummers, Suburbans, Escalades and other whales. SUV Deaths Up American automakers have at least one ascending line on the charts: the SUV rollover death toll. Despite a lot of glib blather about safety improvements, the fatality rate is up 6.9 percent. Hey, Easy Riders! Motorcycle deaths are up for the seventh straight year and the victims aren't all 20-something males. A moronic number of 60ish men are buying Harley hogs, gettin' out on that highway and seeing themselves as born to be wild. Guys, it's a little late in life for this foolishness. Try Pilates instead. You start out on the floor so it's hard to get hurt. Feds Probe GM Pick Ups ... Again The Silverado is the target of a federal investigation into tailgate failures that could lead to the second recall of the vehicle in less than a year. Jury Awards $43 Million in Flaming Lincoln Case An Illinois man was killed, his wife horribly burned in a fire after their Lincoln exploded into flames after being rear-ended. This will sound familiar to many police officers, who fear for their lives every time they pull onto the shoulder in their police-model Crown Vics. North Dakota Limits Black Boxes You don't hear much about North Dakota so we were glad to see it take the lead in limiting insurance companies' use of information from the "black boxes" that are now built into many new cars. Motorists often don't realize their car may wind up testifying against them, so to speak, if things go awry. (Your editor's favorite North Dakota town is Minot, known as "The Magic City" because, so we're told, things just happen like magic there). The Green Party Traffic engineers are those rotten people who make traffic lights turn red. Now they've produced a study that says the lights should be green more often. All that's needed, say the traffic engineers, is more money for -- what else? -- traffic engineering.VERIZON WILL OFFER NAKED DSL No, don't cover your children's eyes, this is telcobabble for what might more properly be called stand-alone DSL -- meaning that you could buy a DSL line from the phone company without also having to have a POTS (plain old telephone service) account. Then, you could use your DSL line to get Internet telephone service (VOIP). Verizon has put some limits on its new policy but it's a consumer-friendly move for which the company should get at least a brief round of applause.911 Issue Becoming an Emergency Meanwhile, VOIP providers have to come up with a way to provide reliable emergency 911 service to their rs. At the moment, the Bell companies have tied the VOIP providers in knots by, on the one hand, lambasting them for not providing enhanced 911 service while, on the other, dragging their feet on bringing the VOIP companies into the system, which is largely controlled by the Bells. In plain English: Before you get rid of your old-fashioned telephone line, ask yourself if you are ready to give up enhanced 911 -- which lets emergency dispatchers see the address you're calling from so they can get the trucks rolling even if you're unable to speak coherently. Don't sell this short. Any dispatcher can tell you endless tales of otherwise intelligent people who can't think of their own address when an emergency hits them.Anything That Moves Governments have an irresistible urge to levy taxes, especially on things that cost the government nothing. Look at cell phones. The tax on cell phones is as much as 20 percent in some states. The Internet is a tempting target but so far it has been protected by Congress. A bill recently introduced in Congress would make that protection permanent and would forever -- or at least until the next session of Congress -- prohibit any taxes on Internet services.INK FROM DELL In its relentless quest to dominate every sector of the computer domain, Dell has waded into the printer business. It's not so much the printers that bring a gleam to Dell's eye, it's the profit margin on those inkjet and laser cartridges. We've been testing a Dell laser printer for nearly a year and have no beefs with it but those who must get their inkjet cartridges from Dell aren't so sanguine.Not a Swell Picture Dell is also getting into digital cameras in a big way. This produces all the usual Dell-style complaints -- discount disputes, billing mix-ups, delivery foul-ups and so forth. Alienware No, this doesn't refer to software from Mars. It's a high-end computer company that sells to gamers and computer enthusiasts who want the fastest and most powerful laptop available. They pay top dollar, but sadly many don't get the top-end product they expect. BEST WAY TO MEET ALIENS You can find just about anyone on the Web but Karen had to go to eHarmony.com to find an alien. Trouble is, she was looking for an Earthling. Then there's Jennifer of Long Beach, who spent $8,290 to join something called Together. Now she's no longer together with her money but other than that, her situation is pretty much status quo.Then there's Match.com, which should perhaps be called Renew.com since its primary skill seems to be automatically renewing memberships.CAR-SECURED LOANS TRAP THE UNWARY The latest predatory lending scheme invites cash-strapped consumers to put their cars up as collateral so they can borrow a few hundred dollars until payday. Borrowers often find themselves "rolling over" these loans repeatedly -- paying huge amounts in interest and fees while barely touching the principal. In many cases, the lender repossesses the car after the borrower has made substantial payments. That can be devastating because a car is often the borrower's largest asset and his or her only way to get to work. A new report outlines how the scam operatesAMERICANS NOT SKILLFUL SAVERS A study finds that many American consumers lack basic skills in wringing the most value from each dollar. On the other hand, Morgan Stanley knows how to make a buck or two. The firm will pay $41.5 million to settle two class action lawsuits charging that mutual funds owned by the brokerage firm defrauded investors by overvaluing their assets. Ameritrade Fumbles Files Back-up tape with more than 200,000 clients' data is missing, not stolen, brokerage firm says.ASSORTED SCAMS & OUTRAGES• Illinois Sues Cambridge Credit Counseling State charges Cambridge customers paid excessive fees, received substandard service and remained mired in debt and deception.• Health Discount Cards Consumers thought they were buying health insurance, Illinois charges in a lawsuit.• Model Searches Most advance-fee model searches do nothing but drain parents' money, NY Consumer Protection Board warns.• West Virginia Sues Bill Collector Out-of-state collectors can't harrass WV residents, attorney general declares.• Ohio Steamed Over Hot Tubs Company didn't deliver on promises, charged for work not performed, Buckeyes charge.• Florida Kitchen Cabinet Scam Attorney general wins refunds for wronged consumers.• Texas Sues Water Company Overcharged consumers can expect refunds.RECALLS • Volkswagen Golf Fuel line problem.• Oberle Meat Products Listeria scare.• Don Pedro's Sausage Ditto.• Royal Seating Children’s Chairs They can collapse.• 27-inch Sharp TV Fire hazard.• Salmonella Cases Linked to Frozen Chicken Entrees• Martha Stewart Flowerpot Candles Fire hazard.• California International Trading Pacifiers, Electronic Toys Choking hazard for infants.ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER Consumer News & Alerts is published by ConsumerAffairs.Com Inc., which is solely responsible for its content. You are on the list either because you asked to be or because you filed a consumer report at our site. See removal instructions below. The editor is James R. Hood. You can reach him through our Contact Form. This is a private form exclusively for readers of our newsletter. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATIONClick here to enter a new subscription. To cancel your subscription, at the very bottom of this newsletter. You will be automatically "d." Getting duplicate copies? Click on the link at the very bottom of the duplicate. Your duplicate subscription will be cancelled. The information provided in this newsletter and on our Web site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace or substitute for sound legal advice from a qualified attorney. The newsletter and Web site may be considered advertising under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and other states and localities. You should not make legal hiring decisions based upon promotional materials. 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