Consumer News: Honda pays $632,500 fine over privacy violations, California says

Metallic kielbasa, infant formula, coconut yogurt lead the list today

Here aretop new U.S. food recall and outbreak alertsfor today:

Olympia Provisions Holiday Kielbasa Metal Foreign Material

• Product:Olympia Provisions Uncured Holiday Kielbasasausages (fully cooked).

• Hazard:Potentialmetal fragmentscontamination that could injure consumers.

• Affected states/retailers:Distributed nationwide includingCA, OR, WAand online sales.

• Illnesses/Injuries:No injuries reported so far.

• Full notice (USDA FSIS):https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/alerts(Food Safety and Inspection Service)

ByHeart Infant Formula Botulism Outbreak Recall Enforcement

• Product:ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula(voluntary recall ongoing).

• Hazard:Associated with amultistate infant botulism outbreaklinked to contamination.

• Affected states/retailers:Recalled formula was sold across many states; retailers includingWalmart, Target, Kroger, Albertsonswere warned for failing to remove products promptly.

• Illnesses/Injuries:Over50 infants hospitalizedin at least 19 states.

• Full notice (FDA/CDC reporting via FDA warning letter):https://www.cdc.gov/foodborne-outbreaks/outbreaks/index.html(AP News)

HEB Higher Harvest DairyFree Coconut Yogurt Undeclared Almond Allergen

• Product:Higher Harvest DairyFree Coconut Yogurt Strawberry5.3oz.

• Hazard:Containsalmonds not declared on the label, posing allergy risk.

• Affected states/retailers:Sold atHEB stores in Texas.

• Illnesses/Injuries:No reported reactions yet; allergic consumers at risk.

• Full notice (FDA recall listing):https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts(MySA)

Choceur Holiday Chocolate Bark Undeclared Pecans/Wheat Allergens

• Product:Silvestri Sweets Choceur Holiday Bark(various flavors).

• Hazard:Undeclared pecan and wheat allergensdue to packaging error.

• Affected states/retailers:Soldnationwide at Aldi stores.

• Illnesses/Injuries:No confirmed allergic reactions reported.

• Full notice (FDA recall listing):https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts(People.com)

Salad Dressings (Ventura Foods) Plastic Contamination

• Product:VariousVentura Foodssalad dressings (food service sizes).

• Hazard:Black plastic materialfound in ingredients used to make dressings.

• Affected states/retailers:Distributed toCostco, Publix, and other food service outletsacross ~27 states.

• Illnesses/Injuries:No injuries reported; potential physical hazard.

• Full notice (FDA recall listing):https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts(San Francisco Chronicle)

Celebration Herbals Senna Leaf Tea Salmonella Contamination

• Product:Celebration Herbals Senna Leaf Herbal Tea(24bag boxes).

• Hazard:PotentialSalmonellacontamination that can cause gastrointestinal illness.

• Affected states/retailers:Distributed inFL, IN, MA, MI, MS, NY, WI & Puerto Rico.

• Illnesses/Injuries:No confirmed illnesses reported yet; Salmonella can cause serious infection.

• Full notice (FDA recall listing):https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts(Good Housekeeping)

CDC Foodborne Outbreak Investigations Active Monitoring

• Outbreak type:MultipleCampylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella, Listeriamultistate investigations ongoing.

• Hazard:Illness outbreaks linked to various foods under active investigation.

• Affected states/retailers:Spread varies by pathogen; details on CDC site.

• Illnesses/Injuries:Varies by investigation; CDC posts case counts/outcome info.

• Full notice (CDC):https://www.cdc.gov/foodborne-outbreaks/outbreaks/index.html(CDC)

The quiet change thats costing (or saving) you a few cents

• With no national rule, stores are quietly making their own penny policies, often varying by location

• More fast-food, convenience, and travel stop chains are rounding cash totals to the nearest nickel when pennies arent available

• Big retailers and grocers are doing it too, often rounding in the customers favorbut they rarely spell it out

As pennies disappear from circulation, retailers are quietly adapting in different ways.

Part of the confusion among shoppers is theres no national policy and no official list of whos doing what. This means rounding is rolling out store by store, chain by chain, and sometimes even location by location.

In practice, that means a McDonalds in one city may round your change to the nearest nickel, while the one across town still hands you exact coins.

Fast-food, convenience stores, travel stops, and even major grocers are starting to round cash transactions when pennies arent available.

Here are the places where its already happening and how it could affect you.

Fast-food chains

McDonalds

Mickey Ds confirmed its rounding cash payments to the nearest 5 at many locations because of the penny shortage.

Only applies to cash; card/app totals still go to the exact cent.

Taco Bell

Many Taco Bell locations have posted signs saying that, when pennies arent available, cash change will be rounded up or down to the nearest 5.

Wendys

Wendys has also started rounding for cash orders.

Corporate guidance is to round down where possible, to keep it in the customers favor.

Burger King

Industry reporting says some Burger King locations are rounding up or down on cash change as pennies disappear.

GoTo Foods brands (Auntie Annes, Cinnabon, Jamba)

Their parent company is telling franchisees to round to the nearest nickel, ideally in the customers favor, when they cant make exact penny change.

Convenience & travel stops

Sheetz

Sheetz put up signs asking customers to pay cashless when possible and consider rounding up purchases because of the penny shortage.

Reporting says Sheetz may round cash totals to the nearest nickel in customers favor at some locations and is also doing round-up charity donations.

Loves Travel Stops

Loves says penny shortages are hitting a number of its stores; in those locations Loves is rounding cash purchases in favor of the customer (i.e., frequently rounding down).

Kwik Trip

Kwik Trip confirmed it is always rounding down on cash transactions where pennies arent available to avoid running afoul of cash discrimination laws.

Estimates this rounding-down policy will cost the chain about $3 million a year.

Grocers / big retail

Kroger

A Houston shopper spotted a penny rounding line on a Kroger receipt, and the company confirmed its adjusting how it handles cash when pennies arent available.

Kroger told local media its still accepting pennies and assessing the impact of the mints decision; details suggest rounding is already showing up at least in some Texas stores.

ShopRite

The folks at ShopRite actually have a page on their website dedicated to this change with their official policy. It breaks down like this:

• If the change due ends in 1 or 2 cents, round down to the nearest nickel.
• If the change due ends in 3 or 4 cents, round up to the nearest nickel.
• If the change due ends in 6 or 7 cents, round down to the nearest nickel.
• If the change due ends in 8 or 9 cents, round up to the nearest dime.

Many of the nations largest retailers

A survey by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) of 25 major chains (members include Academy, H-E-B, Home Depot, Target, etc.) found:

• Over 1000+ locations per chain are already out of pennies in some cases.
• About two-thirds of the big retailers named are now rounding cash transactions in the customers favor when they dont have pennies in the till.
• They dont list every company by name, but its clear this is happening across big-box, grocery, and specialty stores, and not limited to just fast food.

Steering problems, air bags, wheelchair restraint failures highlight the week's recall derby

Its another busy week for vehicle recalls, with safety issues ranging from air bags and steering problems to wheelchair restraint failures affecting buses, vans, and passenger vehicles. Heres a rundown of the latest recalls filed with federal safety regulators.

Major Recalls This Week

• Great Dane Trailers Lift Gate May Fail
  Affected vehicle: 20242025 Great Dane Champion trailers.
  Recall ID 25V848
• Daimler Trucks / Thomas Built Buses Wheelchair Restraint May Not Lock
  Affects multiple Thomas Built school bus models from model years 20252027.
  Recall ID 25V849 | Recall ID 25V850
• Blue Bird Wheelchair Safety Issues
  Includes restraint retractors that may not lock and wheelchair lifts missing support braces on certain 20252027 school and transit buses.
  Recall ID 25V851 | Recall ID 25V852
• Motor Coach Industries Incorrect Front Door Glass
  Decades-old motorcoach models may have incorrect glazing material that fails to meet safety standards.
  Recall ID 25V853
• Volkswagen Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy
  Affects 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan SUVs.
  Recall ID 25V854
• Lucid Side Air Bags May Deploy Incorrectly
  Seat covers may interfere with air bag deployment in the 2026 Lucid Gravity.
  Recall ID 25V855
• General Motors Passenger Air Bag Deployment Issue
  Impacts 20242026 GMC Canyon pickups.
  Recall ID 25V856
• BMW Unintended Steering Wheel Movement
  Affects 20252026 BMW X3 vehicles.
  Recall ID 25V857
• Honda Power Loss and Brake Problems
  Includes the 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV and 20162020 Acura ILX sedans.
  Recall ID 25V858 | Recall ID 25V859
• Ford Multiple Safety Defects
  Issues include loss of drive power, unsecured seat belt retractors, rollaway risk, and axle shaft failures across E-Transit vans, Escape, Corsair, F-150 Lightning, Maverick, Mach-E, and Super Duty trucks.
  25V860 | 25V862 | 25V863 | 25V866
• Mercedes-Benz Seat Belt and Power Loss Issues
  Certain 20252026 GLE and AMG E 53 models may have incorrect seat belts or damaged wiring harnesses.
  25V864 | 25V865
• Kia Blank Instrument Panel Screen
  Affects 20232025 Sportage and Sportage PHEV models.
  Recall ID 25V874
• Wheelchair Accessibility Recalls (Multiple Manufacturers)
  Rollx Vans, Vantage Mobility, Diamond Coach, Gillig, and International Motors report restraint retractors that may not lock across vans, buses, and converted vehicles.
  25V861 | 25V868 | 25V870 | 25V876 | 25V877 | 25V879 | 25V880
• Ram Trucks Disabled Air Bag and Seat Belt Pretensioner
  Affects 2025 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks.
  Recall ID 25V882

What Drivers Should Do

To find out if your specific vehicle is part of a recall, enter your license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN) into the NHTSA recall lookup tool. If your vehicle has an unrepaired recall, contact your local dealership to schedule a free repair.

Staying on top of recalls can help prevent injuries, breakdowns, and costly damage down the road.

But not every state will follow the same rules, creating confusion

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• New state-level restrictions on what SNAP benefits can buy are set to begin in 2026, with some states banning items like soda, candy, energy drinks, and other unhealthy foods.
• Expanded work requirements and funding shifts from the federal government to states are expected to reduce overall participation and increase administrative burdens, with many grocery retailers uncertain how these changes will affect demand and compliance.
• Retailers and supply chains are scrambling to update point-of-sale and EBT systems, train staff, and adjust inventories as confusion grows over implementation timelines and product eligibility rules.

Major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) set to take effect in 2026 are stirring confusion across the grocery industry, as both retailers and benefit recipients prepare for a patchwork of new rules that could reshape how millions of Americans shop for food.

Beginning next year, at least a dozen states have received permission from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement waivers that restrict the purchase of certain foods and beverages with SNAP benefits. Items such as sugary drinks, candy, energy drinks, and other products deemed non-nutritious are being excluded from eligibility a departure from long-standing SNAP policy that allowed recipients to use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards on essentially all food items not explicitly prohibited.

The states lists of banned items differ, and implementation dates vary, leading to substantial uncertainty. For example, Floridas restrictions are scheduled to begin as early as January 1, 2026, while Texas, Indiana, and others have staggered later start dates.

Potential confusion

Critics including food retailers and consumer advocates warn that a product accepted in one store might be declined just a few miles away, depending on state rules and where the scanner is located.

Retailers are particularly vocal about the operational hurdles. Grocery chains and independent markets must update point-of-sale software to recognize state-specific SNAP restrictions, retrain cashiers, and revise inventory plans to avoid repeated declines at checkout.

Its just a classic government operation where theyve thrown this out there, and well-meaning though they may be, its caused mass confusion, and its making some retailers question whether theyre going to stay with the program or not, Joe Lackey, president of the Indiana Grocery and Convenience Store Association, told Politico.

Work requirements

Complicating matters further are broader reforms tied to the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, passed in 2025, which expands work requirements for SNAP recipients and shifts a greater share of administrative costs to state governments.

Advocates for the grocery industry fear these changes could shrink the pool of SNAP shoppers over time, particularly among able-bodied adults now required to complete 80 hours of work or training per month to remain eligible a significant expansion of previous work-related mandates.

Industry groups say the combined effect of new eligibility standards, nutritional restrictions, and state-by-state variation could depress sales in categories traditionally buoyed by SNAP purchases, such as snacks and beverages, and complicate planning for manufacturers and distributors.

Meanwhile, independent grocers that rely heavily on SNAP dollars to drive traffic in low-income communities worry they may see declines in customer loyalty if benefits are harder to use or if shoppers switch to stores in neighboring states with looser rules.

Advocates for the policy changes argue that steering SNAP dollars toward more nutritious foods could improve public health outcomes and reduce long-term healthcare costs. But until uniform guidance and robust technology systems are in place nationwide, retailers and families alike are bracing for a bumpy transition that could reverberate throughout the grocery supply chain in 2026 and beyond.

A Zillow report shows nearly 70% of buyers fail to compare rates

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Nearly sevenin 10 mortgage shoppers submit only one application.

• A buyer can save $1,100 a year by reducing their mortgage rate 50 basis points when they purchase a typical U.S. home.

• A savings of this size would have made 22,000 more homes on the market affordable for a median-income U.S. household.

If youre buying a house, you look at more than one home before making a decision, right? When it comes to selecting a mortgage, it also pays to consider more than one financing offer, but a new report from Zillow found most buyers dont.

Nearly seven in 10 home buyers apply with just one mortgage lender, according to Zillows Consumer Housing Trends Report. That shortcut can be expensive, potentially adding tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a home over the life of a loan.

Mortgage rates vary more than many buyers realize. Even a difference of half a percentage point can significantly change a monthly payment and a buyers long-term financial picture.

On a typical U.S. home priced around $360,000, a buyer with a 6.24% 30-year fixed mortgage (the November average) would pay about $2,345 a month. At 5.74%, a rate commonly seen by shoppers who compare multiple lenders, that payment drops to $2,253.

Thats roughly $1,100 a year in savings money that stays in the buyers pocket instead of going to interest.

An increase in affordability

In fact, Zillow estimates that those savings would have made 22,000 more homes nationwide affordable to a median-income household in November alone.

Rate shopping matters everywhere, but it can be a game changer in higher-cost markets.

• In San Jose, a lower rate could save a buyer about $4,750 a year.

• Buyers in six other major metros could save more than $2,000 annually.

• In Dallas, rate shopping would have brought more than 1,200 additional listings within reach of a typical buyers budget the most of any metro in the country.

For buyers struggling with affordability, that difference can mean the difference between settling and finding the right home.

Why rates vary so much

Many shoppers assume mortgage rates are essentially the same everywhere. Theyre not.

Lenders weigh credit scores, income, loan types, and market conditions differently. Past research shows just how wide the gap can be:

• A Zillow analysis found spreads of 90 to 130 basis points between the best and worst offers for similar borrowers.

• A more recent Freddie Mac study found rates can shift 50 basis points in either direction depending on the lender.

In other words, the same buyer can receive very different offers simply by asking.

While a lower interest rate usually means a lower monthly payment, experts caution buyers to look beyond the headline number. Loans with lower rates may come with:

• Higher closing costs

• Larger down payment requirements

• Other fees that offset the savings

The key is to compare the entire loan package, not just the interest rate.