http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/ 2008-07-10T10:36:51-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler//005835.html With gas prices topping $4 a gallon, you don’t need more of your hard-earned money being kept from you. But when you pay at the pump with a debit card, that’s exactly what’s happening.

]]> mitcka 2008-07-10T10:36:51-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/money/004594.html Bank of America has given new meaning to "A little knowledge can be a powerful thing." For fun, let's parse its new ad campaign, designed to save us all money by some how avoiding all the high fees that Bank of America itself charges.

]]> money mitcka 2007-06-06T15:07:54-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/product_safety/004584.html When family members or friends back over a child, or a child is killed in the family car's power window, imagine the horror. Oprah today profiles one such family tragedy, in order to draw attention to the problem and support for a Congressional solution.

]]> product safety mitcka 2007-05-31T18:54:07-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/other_issues/004451.html With widespread support from Americans tired of forking over $30, $40, $50 dollars each time they pull up to a gas station, lawmakers last week reached a deal to increase fuel efficiency standards.

]]> other issues mitcka 2007-05-06T16:45:33-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/health_care/003678.html Merck released a portion of the study on the drug Arcoxia. It's a reminder of the power drug companies have to manage the news when they pay for the clinical trials.

]]> health care Rob Schneider 2006-08-24T13:08:23-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/food_safety/003641.html On the mad cow front, it looks like the Department of Agriculture (USDA) had an unusual attack of common sense yesterday. This is not typical for USDA. Earlier in the week, USDA had announced that they were going to reduce testing for mad cow disease (also called BSE) by 90% (a "don't look, don't find" approach).

]]> food safety michaelhansen 2006-08-01T14:47:58-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/other_issues/003623.html Lawmakers across the country launched a tool last month to block emails sent through campaign websites. They are treating your emails like spam. How could this possibly be good for democracy?

]]> other issues mitcka 2006-07-24T12:05:35-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/food_safety/003598.html Still the Canadian authorities assure the public that this proves that their feed ban, instituted five years before this cow was born, is effective (!!!!!).

]]> food safety Jean 2006-07-11T16:18:48-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/health_care/003558.html The NY Times raises more questions about the role of drug company money making its way into tax-exempt charities typically set up to promote patient education or research.

]]> health care Rob Schneider 2006-06-28T10:47:26-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/health_care/003482.html Dr. Marcia Angell, who wrote "The Truth About Drug Companies," has written an essay in the NY Review of Books that looks at the major books that have appeared over the last couple of years examining the failure of the prescription drug marketplace.

]]> health care Rob Schneider 2006-05-24T09:43:47-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/health_care/003474.html Last week, experts announced that new data from Vioxx' maker, Merck, indicated that increases in possible stroke and heart attacks may occur as early as four weeks on the drug, instead of 18 months as previous studies have shown.

]]> health care Rob Schneider 2006-05-22T13:35:30-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/health_care/003450.html In a letter to doctors, GlaxoSmithKline announced that its antidepressant Paxil may increase suicide attempts in young adults. This is likely welcome news for the many activists who have been working to strenghten oversight and warn the public about such dangers.

]]> health care Rob Schneider 2006-05-12T14:20:34-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/food_safety/003421.html Will USDA keep the organic label truthful? Proposed agency rules could allow synthetic substances – including over 500 food contact substances -- to be used in organic processed foods without public review and approval. Comments were due on May 12.

]]> food safety ayusra 2006-05-05T16:17:24-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/health_care/003400.html The NY Times reports that Pfizer is starting up print ads for Celebrex after more than a year.

]]> health care Rob Schneider 2006-04-29T18:39:13-06:00 http://www.consumersunion.org/scribbler/health_care/003371.html Just one year after the FDA issued a warning about heart risks associated with the drug Celebrex -- and on the same day another jury made a big award against Merck for the drug Vioxx -- Pfizer announces sales of Celebrex are up 19 percent.

]]> health care Rob Schneider 2006-04-21T15:34:16-06:00