(NEW YORK) — Conagra Brands is recalling over 2.5 million pounds of canned meat and poultry after a packaging defect that might cause contamination was found, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Tuesday.
The problem was discovered when a Congra location in Iowa notified FSIS after someone saw spoiled and leaking cans with multiple production dates in a warehouse, the agency said.
“Subsequent investigation by the establishment determined that the cans subject to recall may have been damaged in a manner that is not readily apparent to consumers, which may allow foodborne pathogens to enter the cans,” FSIS said in a statement.
The goods were produced between Dec. 12, 2022, and Jan.13, and shipped to retail locations across the country. The affected products have the establishment number “P4247,” according to the agency.
Customers who have purchased these products are asked not to consume them and to either throw them out or return them to the place of purchase.
Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — Depending on where they live, owners of certain Hyundai and Kia models may have a hard time insuring their vehicles due to the cars’ high incidence of theft.
State Farm and Progressive are refusing to insure vehicles in certain states over the rising rate of theft, caused primarily by the absence of technology known as an engine immobilizer – a redundancy system that pairs a vehicle’s key fob to the car’s internal computer. When a drivers insert a key into some cars’ ignition, a chip in the key fob sends a signal to the vehicle, confirming that it is safe to start the engine. If the signal isn’t transmitted, the technology is supposed to “immobilize” the car: the engine won’t start and, in some cases, the steering wheel will lock itself in place.
Certain Hyundai and Kia models manufactured before the 2022 model year didn’t come with immobilizers. According to the Highway Loss and Data Institute, 96% of cars made between 2015 and 2019 had immobilizers as standard equipment, but only 26% of Hyundai and Kia vehicles had them.
Thieves have targeted lower-trim versions of certain Hyundai Motor Group vehicles, such as Hyundai’s Elantra and Santa Fe, and Kia’s Soul, Seltos and Forte vehicles, according to the HLDI..
In recent years, videos posted to social media have explained how to break into the cars and take them for joyrides. According to the videos, something as simple as a USB cable – often already stashed in the car – is all it takes for thieves to start the vehicle.
The thefts have arisen as the Hyundai Motor Group, which comprises Hyundai, Kia and the Genesis luxury brand, is coming off several years of critical and financial success. Kia’s electric SUV, the EV6, was named the North American Utility of the Year for 2023. The Genesis G90, a full-size luxury sedan designed to challenge the Mercedes Benz S-Class and the Lexus LS, recently notched Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award. The magazine also awarded Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 its SUV of the Year prize. According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, Hyundai Motors is the third largest automaker in the world in terms of vehicle production, behind only Toyota and Volkswagen.
State Farm calls the thefts a “serious problem” that affects the “entire auto insurance industry.” Progressive did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
In a statement, Hyundai and Kia both say they “regret” insurers’ decision and anticipate it will be temporary. Both companies also say they are working on a software update for affected vehicles, which they are planning to make available by the middle of this year. As of the 2022 model year, all Hyundai and Kia models come standard with engine immobilizers.
(NEW YORK) — The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday announced new citations at three more Amazon warehouses — in Aurora, Colorado; Nampa, Idaho; and Castleton, New York -. for failing to keep workers safe.
As part of the enforcement action, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration delivered hazard alert letters for exposing workers to ergonomic hazards.
OSHA cited Amazon for not providing safe workplaces in violation of the Occupational Safety and Heath Act’s “general duty clause.”
The inspections follow referrals from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York that led the agency to open inspections and find similar violations at other Amazon warehouse facilities in Florida, Illinois and New York in July 2022. OSHA later opened inspections in Aurora, Nampa and Castleton on Aug. 1, 2022.
At all six locations, OSHA investigators found Amazon exposed warehouse workers to a high risk of low back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders related to: the high frequency at which workers must lift packages and other items; heavy weight of items handled; employees awkwardly twisting, bending and extending while lifting items; and long hours.
Amazon warehouse workers experienced high rates of musculoskeletal disorders, OSHA said and proposed $46,875 in penalties for the violations at the Aurora, Nampa and Castleton facilities.
“Amazon’s operating methods are creating hazardous work conditions and processes, leading to serious worker injuries,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. “They need to take these injuries seriously and implement a company-wide strategy to protect their employees from these well-known and preventable hazards.”
In a statement issued Wednesday, Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, said: “Together with OSHA, the Civil Division of the SDNY is also investigating potential worker safety hazards at Amazon warehouses across the country, as well as possible fraudulent conduct designed to hide injuries from OSHA and others. “
“We take the safety and health of our employees very seriously, and we don’t believe the government’s allegations reflect the reality of safety at our sites. We’ve cooperated with the government through its investigation and have demonstrated how we work to mitigate risks and keep our people safe, and our publicly available data show we reduced injury rates in the U.S. nearly 15% between 2019 and 2021. We also know there will always be more to do, and we’ll continue working to get better every day,” Kelly Nantel, Amazon spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News.
Biase said the public can report workplace safety and injury-related issues at Amazon warehouses to the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s office.
“Anyone who has information about safety issues — including safety issues related to the pace of work — a failure to report injuries, or inadequate medical care at Amazon’s onsite first-aid center or at a clinic recommended by Amazon, can share that information with SDNY via the following link: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/webform/sdny-amazon-warehouse-investi…,” his statement continued.
In January, OSHA also cited Amazon for failing to furnish a place of employment free from recognized hazards that were causing serious physical harm to employees.
It was the second set of OSHA citations issued after referrals from federal prosecutors in New York who have been investigating workplace complaints.
(WASHINGTON) — The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it was raising its short-term borrowing rate another 0.25%, the central bank’s second consecutive decision to slow rate increases while extending an effort to cool the economy and dial back inflation.
The Fed has put forward a string of borrowing cost increases as it tries to slash price hikes by slowing the economy and choking off demand. The approach, however, risks tipping the U.S. economy into a recession and putting millions out of work.
The Fed’s decision comes weeks after a government report showed that inflation slowed in December, marking six consecutive months of easing price increases.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell vowed to continue the fight against inflation. While acknowledging that inflation has eased in recent months, he said inflation remains too high and interest rates will need to stay elevated to bring inflation down to normal levels.
“Without price stability, the economy doesn’t work for anyone,” Powell said. “We will need substantially more evidence to be confident inflation is on a sustained downward path.”
“We will stay the course until the job is done,” he added.
In a statement, the Federal Reserve said it remains “highly attentive to inflation risks,” adding that the benchmark interest rate would require “ongoing increases” to bring inflation down to normal levels.
At a meeting in December, the Fed raised its short-term borrowing rate a half-percentage point, pulling back from three consecutive 0.75% increases and signaling confidence that sky-high inflation could be brought down to normal levels.
The Fed matched economist expectations with the 0.25% rate hike on Wednesday.
Consumer prices rose 6.5% over the yearlong period ending in December, which amounts to a significant slowdown from a summer peak but remains more than triple the Fed’s target inflation rate of 2%.
The Fed is still “strongly committed to returning inflation to its 2% objective,” the central bank said in a statement on Wednesday.
Cooling inflation has spurred optimism that the U.S. economy may avert a recession. In a report on Monday, the International Monetary Fund projected that U.S. economic growth would slow this year but that the U.S. could still avoid a downturn.
Further, government data last week showed that the U.S. economy grew robustly at the end of last year, defying concerns about an imminent recession.
Still, most economists expect a recession later this year, as interest rate hikes weigh on the economy, according to a survey released by Bloomberg last week. Forecasters expect gross domestic product to fall over the second and third quarters of this year, the survey found.
Growing evidence suggests the Fed’s rate hikes have put the brakes on some economic activity.
Home sales fell for the 11th consecutive month in December, reaching their lowest rate since November 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Meanwhile, U.S. retail sales fell in December, ending the typically busy holiday shopping season with a whimper. Year-over-year retail sales dropped by about 1% last month, extending a nearly identical fall in November.
So far, however, the labor market has proven resilient, buoying the hopes of policymakers seeking to cool prices without causing significant job losses.
In December, employers added 233,000 jobs and wages grew a strong 4.6% compared to a year earlier.
(WASHINGTON) — The Federal Reserve is set to announce on Wednesday whether it will impose another interest rate hike, the central bank’s latest move in a months-long fight that has eased inflation but risks plunging the U.S. into a recession.
The Fed has put forward a string of borrowing cost increases as it tries to slash price hikes by slowing the economy and choking off demand. The approach, however, risks tipping the U.S. economy into a downturn and putting millions out of work.
At a meeting in December, the Fed raised its short-term borrowing rate a half-percentage point, pulling back from three consecutive 0.75% increases and signaling confidence that sky-high inflation could be brought down to normal levels.
Economists expect the Fed to continue softening its approach with a 0.25% rate hike on Wednesday.
The decision comes weeks after a government report showed that inflation slowed in December, marking six consecutive months of easing price increases.
Consumer prices rose 6.5% over the year-long period ending in December, which amounts to a significant slowdown from a summer peak but remains more than triple the Fed’s target inflation rate of 2%.
Cooling inflation has spurred optimism that the U.S. economy may avert a recession. In a report on Monday, the International Monetary Fund projected that U.S. economic growth would slow this year but that the U.S. could still avoid a downturn.
Further, government data last week showed that the U.S. economy grew robustly at the end of last year, defying concerns about an imminent recession.
Still, most economists expect a recession later this year, as interest rate hikes weigh on the economy, according to a survey released by Bloomberg last week. Forecasters expect gross domestic product to fall over the second and third quarters of this year, the survey found.
Growing evidence suggests the Fed’s rate hikes have put the brakes on some economic activity.
Home sales fell for the 11th consecutive month in December, reaching their lowest rate since November 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Meanwhile, U.S. retail sales fell in December, ending the typically busy holiday shopping season with a whimper. Year-over-year retail sales dropped by about 1% last month, extending a nearly identical fall in November.
So far, however, the labor market has proven resilient, buoying the hopes of policymakers seeking to cool prices without causing significant job losses.
In December, employers added 233,000 jobs and wages grew a strong 4.6% compared to a year earlier.
(NEW YORK) — Two travelers claim United Airlines lost their wheelchairs after taking a flight with the carrier earlier this week.
Karah Behrend and Ryan Major were returning from a wheelchair rugby tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, and both said they checked their wheelchairs just before boarding the plane on Sunday, expecting them to be placed in the cargo area.
When the plane arrived in Houston, Behrend said United employees informed them they could not locate the wheelchairs.
“They had been scanned into the system as placed on the plane, but they never actually were placed on the plane,” Behrend told ABC News.
Behrend said she did not want to move from the plane until her chair was located. She said United workers offered to take her to a hotel, but she refused since she would not be able to get around without her wheelchair. Behrend said a United worker then said the police could come and transport her to a hospital until they figured out what to do.
“I was like, absolutely not, you’re not gonna punish me for something that you did. Like at this point you’re holding me hostage,” Behrend said.
Major told ABC News he waited on the jetway for more than 40 minutes while workers tried to locate his wheelchair.
The athletes were also traveling with their rugby wheelchairs and were able to use them during their connection in Houston, but Behrend said they are not intended for such use.
“I had a three-hour layover and those rugby chairs, if we’re in there for a good amount of time, can cause health issues like autonomic dysreflexia, pressure sores that lead to life-threatening infections,” Behrend said. “And on top of that, I wouldn’t have been able to transfer in or out of that chair independently to go to the bathroom. So, I would have pretty much been reduced to an infant at that point.”
Major said United held his connecting flight to New Orleans for about 40 minutes during the incident.
“When I got to the plane, my seat was all in the back, and I could clearly see that the passengers had frustrating faces,” Major said. “So, it’s humiliating that this whole process has left me embarrassed, humiliated and felt like it’s my fault that they were late.”
Behrend returned home to Phoenix later that day. Both their wheelchairs were not returned until Monday night.
In a statement to ABC News, United said: “Our top priority is to provide a safe and comfortable journey for all our customers, especially those who require additional assistance or the use of a wheelchair. We understand that special items like wheelchairs are essential for customers traveling with them. In this case, we have returned both wheelchairs and apologized to both customers. We continue to work with our airport teams to improve our operations in order to deliver these items to our customers in the timely manner they expect from us.”
Behrend said in the future she’ll be placing smart trackers in her adaptive equipment.
“I’ll be personally tracking it all,” Behrend said.
“The wheelchair is like my legs for getting around, like my independence, and then for them to take my wheelchair, that’s a part of my independence that’s been taken away,” Major said. “And I can’t get around without my chair safely and with and without self-confidence.”
More than one in every 100 wheelchairs and scooters transported in the aircraft cargo compartment of domestic flights is damaged, delayed or lost, according to data from the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Of the more than 530,000 wheelchairs and scooters transported by airlines in 2021, 7,329 were mishandled — up from the 3,464 mishandled the year prior, according to the DOT.
(NEW YORK) — Valentine’s Day celebrations just got sweeter with four new doughnuts at Krispy Kreme.
The new heart-shaped doughnuts, which hit menus Tuesday, are made with real Hershey’s milk chocolate and Hershey’s kisses, and are perfect to share with friends or loved ones during Cupid’s busiest season.
Krispy Kreme’s Valentine’s Day Dozen comes in a custom red and pink “Choc-Full-of-Love” box with a heart-shaped cutout to showcase a glimpse of the chocolate sweet treats inside.
Check out the details for each of the specialty flavors below:
First up, the Hershey’s I Pick You doughnut, filled with cream and dipped in Hershey’s chocolate icing, decorated with a buttercream and an icing rose.
The Hershey’s Double Chocolate Kiss doughnut is made with milk chocolate filling, dipped in Hershey’s chocolate icing and covered in mini milk chocolate kisses.
The Hershey’s Strawberry Dream is made with Hershey’s strawberry flavored cream and dipped in a red icing, covered in white chocolate chips and a blend of heart sprinkles.
Finally, the Hershey’s Chocolate Chip Caramel Kreme doughnut is filled with cream, dipped in Hershey’s caramel icing and covered in Hershey’s chocolate icing drizzles, semi-sweet chips and a heart sprinkle blend.
The limited-edition confections are available for pickup or delivery via Krispy Kreme’s app and website.
(NEW YORK) — The moment many sneaker fans have been patiently waiting for has arrived.
Nike and Tiffany & Co. have partnered to create a “Legendary Pair” of the Air Force 1 1837 shoes inspired by the jewelry brand’s sterling silver accessories collection.
Slated to officially release on March 7, the sneakers feature the classic Air Force design in black with suede, as well as Nike’s signature Swoosh in Tiffany Blue and co-branded silver details.
Both companies initially teased the upcoming pair in a Tiffany Blue Nike shoe box, and later revealed a video showing a 360 view of the latest launch.
The highly anticipated shoe serves as a part of a continued celebration of the Air Force 1’s 40th anniversary.
In addition to the sneakers, which will retail for $400, there are also several sterling silver accessories including a whistle pendant, shoehorn, shoe brush and dubraes ranging from $250 to $475.
“When they said ‘just do it’ we listened,” both labels captioned an Instagram post featuring a carousel of accessory images.
While many people were excited to see what both brands came up with, some were a bit underwhelmed with the design.
“I was hoping for white high tops with a Tiffany blue check,” one Instagrammer said.
Another echoed and questioned, “Can we get them in white with the blue? Or even better Tiffany blue and white swoosh? That way it matches the ribbon on the Tiffany box?!”
Others took to Twitter to voice their opinions, arguing that the designers should have taken a nod from a previous collaboration Tiffany & Co. rolled out with Fendi.
For those who do want to get their hands on the Nike & Tiffany Co. Air Force 1 1837 collaboration next month, items will be available at two Tiffany & Co. New York City locations: the Tiffany Flagship Next Door and Tiffany & Co. SoHo. Items will also be available globally via Nike’s SNKRS app and at select Nike partner retail stores in North America.
(NEW YORK) — Sam Bankman-Fried’s bond guarantors should be named publicly, a federal judge ruled Monday after news organizations objected to the names being redacted.
Bankman-Fried was released on a $250 million personal recognizance bond co-signed by his parents and two other non-parental sureties.
The judge agreed with news organizations who argued the public interest weighed in favor of allowing the two names to be released. Bankman-Fried argued there was a risk of physical threats to the parties if their names were exposed.
“If the names of the non-parental sureties are disclosed, it is reasonable to assume that those individuals will become subject to publicity that they would prefer not to attract,” Judge Lewis Kaplan said. “But that alone does not do the trick.”
The judge’s decision comes as prosecutors pushed again on Monday for a ban on Sam Bankman-Fried reaching out to potential witnesses
Kaplan stayed his order until Feb. 7 to allow for an appeal.
Bankman-Fried was charged with fraud and conspiracy following the collapse of the crypto platform he founded, FTX.
Prosecutors asked the judge to modify the conditions of the bond and order Bankman-Fried not to contact or communicate with current or former FTX or Alameda employees and not to use any encrypted messaging apps.
(NEW YORK) — Johnson & Johnson cannot use bankruptcy court to resolve civil lawsuits that claim its iconic baby powder caused cancer, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.
The opinion foiled Johnson & Johnson’s plan to shift onto a new entity, LTL Management LLC, some 38,000 lawsuits that alleged the talc in Johnson’s Baby Powder has caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
LTL Management filed for chapter 11 protection in hopes of resolving the claims that have already cost Johnson & Johnson $1 billion.
The pursuit of bankruptcy protection by LTL Management does not meet the bankruptcy code’s intended purpose, since LTL Management is not in financial distress, the court opinion said.
“Good intentions— such as to protect the J&J brand or comprehensively resolve litigation—do not suffice alone,” the opinion added.
Johnson & Johnson, which maintains its baby powder is safe and does not cause cancer, said it would challenge the ruling.
“LTL Management LLC initiated this process in good faith and our objective has always been to equitably resolve claims related to the Company’s cosmetic talc litigation,” the company said in a statement.
“Today’s ruling does not reflect the facts established during the Bankruptcy Court’s trial regarding the appropriateness of LTL’s formation and filing, nor the Company’s intention to efficiently resolve the cosmetic talc litigation for the benefit of all parties, including current and future claimants,” the company added.
Critics had urged the court to reject the legal maneuver fearing it could prompt other big companies to avoid bringing mass tort lawsuits before juries.
Brian Glasser, an attorney at Bailey & Glasser and trial counsel to the Official Committee of Talc Claimants in the Johnson & Johnson bankruptcy, welcomed the court ruling.
“J&J has no special right to put talc victims in a bankruptcy box. It now has to face these claims in front of juries around the nation,” Glasser said in a statement.
Talc, a mineral used in a host of cosmetic products, forms under similar environmental conditions as asbestos, causing the two to occasionally mix in mines.
In 2019, Johnson & Johnson recalled a shipment of baby powder when a sample tested positive for a trace amount of asbestos, the Food and Drug Administration said. Sales of the talc-based product ended in North America the following year.
The company announced last year that it would stop using talc in its baby powder worldwide in 2023. The ingredient would be replaced with cornstarch, the company said.
