Consumer Reports' May Issue: Tests Of Running Shoes, Peanut Butter, Home Alarms Among The Highlights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8 de abril de 2002

CONTACT:
Douglas Love (914) 378-2437 lovedo@consumer.org
Jennifer Shecter (914) 378-2402 shecje@consumer.org
Consumers Union

CONSUMER REPORTS' MAY ISSUE: TESTS OF RUNNING SHOES,
PEANUT BUTTER, HOME ALARMS AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS

Free on the Web (From the Home Page for one month):
· 50 Ways to Save Money
· Crib Safety
· Satellite Digital Radio
· Anatomy of a Running Shoe
· Home Alarm systems: "What you pay, what you get"
· Dishwashers: "Two ways to conserve water"

Permanently Free from Consumer Advice section:
· Pitfalls of health discount cards
· Crib Safety
· 50 Ways to Save Money

Permanently Free from HomeFront section:
· Airline service improvements

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PAGE 20

Sole Survivors: Consumer Reports tests running shoes
CR's findings are based on tests of 14 shoes from the seven leading manufacturers: Nike, Adidas, Asics Tiger, Brooks, New Balance, Reebok, and Saucony. Some of our findings fly counter to what you'd expect:

· Paying more than $100 does not necessarily get you a better shoe - Shoes priced $20 to $50 less outperformed their costlier brandmates in four out of seven tests.

· Complicated cushioning technologies are not inherently superior to simpler constructions

· Manufacturers may revamp models without changing their names significantly

· Fit is the most important criterion - and a very individual matter. Even the top-rated shoes didn't please
all the panelists who tried them

PAGE 24

Don't tell the kids: Peanut Butter is good for you
Whether creamy or crunchy, peanut butter needs considerable fat content for excellent or very good taste. Whenever manufacturers have tried to reduce the fat, we've noticed inevitable shortcomings in flavor and texture. Our latest tests show that they still haven't succeeded. Reduced-fat products were less peanutty, more gritty, and sweeter. The good news is that the fat that gives peanut butter its less-than-healthful reputation is low in trans fatty acids and is predominantly unsaturated. That's the kind of fat that doesn't raise blood-cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease. The better news is that you can reduce sodium and sugar and still have a very good peanut butter, our tests revealed. Thirty-three products were tested, with three CR Best Buys identified.

PAGE 56

Radio from space: A look at satellite digital radio
Satellite digital radio is the first major innovation in radio broadcasting since stereo was added to FM. Currently offered by two companies, XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, these subscription-based services broadcast a digital radio signal from satellites. (In March, XM began carrying CR's Report to Consumers broadcasts.) To receive the signal, you need a compatible audio system; most are designed primarily for in-car use, but some also let you receive satellite radio in the home. For drivers, there are three main advantages:

· The promise of high-quality sound with no static or other typical interference

· You can receive the signal virtually anywhere in the U.S.

· Each provider offers a diverse selection of programming
For now, XM is the only service available nationally. Sirius estimates that it will be available nationally by this summer. CR tested three types of XM units for this story.

PAGE 12

Alarm systems: What you pay, what you get
Results of a nationwide survey of nearly 900 Consumer Reports readers who experienced an actual or attempted break-in within the past five years point to alarms as your best defense against burglaries. Among the findings:

· Along with dogs, alarms were more effective than other measures at keeping out intruders. Dead-bolt locks also helped.

· Regardless of type, alarms linked to all windows and doors are more effective than those linked only to some entry points.

· Alarm owners who experienced a break-in reported significantly less property loss than did those without an alarm.

Alarms can be a pricey proposition, however. You can easily pay $3,000 for the hardware and installation, plus a monthly fee for the monitoring center that's linked to the alarm by phone and that dials the police once a break-in is verified. CR looks at what you get for the money, explains how to find an alarm installer, and provides 10 questions to ask a potential installer.

PAGE 28

A close-up view of 30 all-purpose models of binoculars
Tens of millions of bird-watchers find decent binoculars indispensable. So do hikers, hunters, boaters, and spectators of sports and the performing arts. For this report, CR focused mainly on 8-power models, a general-purpose choice. In very general terms, price and quality go hand-in-hand, our tests showed. Though basic optical designs have not changed, the quality of lenses, prisms, and coatings has improved. CR's lab tests showed that consumers can find similar performance and quality among all styles. To rate these binoculars, CR devised an eyechart-like test and had five testers with 20/20 or better eyesight evaluate every pair several times.

Also in this issue:

· Tests of 31 new dishwasher models

· Tests of more than three dozen gas, electric and cordless string trimmers

· Product Updates on MP3 players and lawn tractors

· Moist toilet paper

View Files Sorted By Office: Consumers Union OPI, New York - Washington DC Office
West Coast Regional Office - Southwest Regional Office - Consumer Policy Institute

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