Healthy happy you.
Netflix just announced that they're cancelling their second $1 million prize amid privacy concerns. The contest was a successor to the company's first algorithm-improvement competition, which lasted three years. The current contest came under fire when a lawsuit claimed the first competition violated privacy laws. A woman sued Netflix in December for invasion of privacy, saying they disclosed Read more
Could the breakfast staple, Cheerios, be classified as a drug? That's what the Food and Drug Administration is claiming, based on the product's labeling that it's "clinically proven to help lower cholesterol." On May 5, the FDA sent a warning letter to General Mills, the maker of Cheerios, charging that the cereal's cholesterol-lowering health claims violate federal law. It stated: Based on Read more
We've all seen the ads on TV and in magazines that promise rapid weight loss and immediate results, but most of these claims are false. It's definitely hard to decipher the good from the bad but here are a few trigger statements that should raise a warning flag for the product you're about to spend money on: "Lose weight without diet or exercise!" Achieving a healthy weight takes work. Take a Read more
This morning I woke up to news of the changing face of children's television programming - or at least children's television commercial programming. A group of 11 food companies - including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and Kellogg's - have announced voluntary limits in marketing towards children. This move is seen as a pre-emptive measure so that the Federal Trade Commission - who is holding a hearing Read more
Have you seen these ads? Well you won't be seeing them for much longer. The promotional arm of the dairy industry has been asked by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to curtail the ad campaign since research doesn't support the claim. It is not much of a surprise that the initial research backing this claim was partially funded by the dairy industry. The ads suggest that three servings of Read more
Consumers have a tendency of falling for the next big health gimmick. Save your money on health duds with these Business Insider tips. No matter how many times we're told otherwise, Americans' obsession with get-healthy-quick schemes will likely never die. Too bad most of these fads aren't worth their weight in salt — or your hard-earned dollars. We've put together a list of some of the worst Read more
If you owe credit-card debt, educate yourself with these pointers from Kiplinger about how the whole collections process works and what your rights are. Year after year, debt collection complaints rank among the most-common consumer grievances the Federal Trade Commission receives. In fact, reports of deceptive debt-collection tactics were the second-most common complaint (after identity theft) Read more
The FTC just handed down its first ruling on smartphone apps and beauty, unanimously agreeing that the designers behind two programs, AcneApp and Acne Pwner, should be fined for claiming that their apps could actually help clear acne. Both claimed to use blue and red light to improve skin, suppositions that are unsubstantiated in the research. The agreement, according to the FTC site, will be Read more
The holiday season is here and millions of Americans are heading out to tackle their last-minute shopping lists. Though doing the lions share of your shopping online can save you time, there are many dangers lurking out there on the Internet, especially where there are credit cards involved. One recent Internet phishing scam involves Apple fans, and a so-called "Christmas Awards" program. This Read more
Internet safety starts at home, and while you may have a hacker-proof password, keep your firewall locked and loaded, and otherwise stay diligent to online scams, the truth is — sometimes spam, phishing, and fraudulent activity can slip through the cracks. If you suspect you've received illegal spam or phishing emails, or think you may be a victim of Internet fraud (by shopping online, or Read more
