Consumer News: Here are some phrases smishing scammers use to hook you

The national average price inched up again this week

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The nations average price of gasoline has risen 1.2 cents over the last week and stands at $2.88 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 12 million individual price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

• The national average is up 2.8 cents from a month ago and is 19.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

• The national average price of diesel rose 6.2 cents in the last week and stands at $3.686 per gallon.

Motorists are seeing gas prices edge higher as rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions add pressure to fuel markets heading into late winter.

According to GasBuddy, the national average price of gasoline climbed 1.2 cents over the past week to $2.88 per gallon. While prices are modestly higher than a month ago, they remain nearly 20 cents below where they stood at this time last year. Diesel prices posted a sharper increase, jumping 6.2 cents to $3.686 per gallon.

Average gasoline prices continue to drift higher as crude oil trades near its highest level since last summer, driven by mounting geopolitical risk premiums tied to escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in the companys weekly blog.

While there has been no direct disruption to energy infrastructure, markets are increasingly pricing in the possibility of a broader exchange that could threaten supply flows.

Other issues

De Haan noted that beyond geopolitical concerns, domestic supply issues are also contributing to upward price pressure. Refinery outages and disruptions along the Olympic Pipeline have tightened supply in parts of the Pacific Northwest, pushing prices higher in that region. With refinery maintenance season approaching, he warned that the national average could soon test the $3-per-gallon mark as seasonal supply constraints intensify.

Oil markets have been driven largely by renewed tensions in the Middle East, particularly concerns involving Iran and the potential for supply disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz a critical chokepoint for global crude shipments. That risk premium helped lift crude prices over the past week.

In early Monday trading, West Texas Intermediate crude rose 37 cents to $66.85 per barrel, up nearly $4 from the previous Mondays $62.98 settlement. Brent crude also climbed 32 cents to $72.08 per barrel, compared with $67.84 a week earlier.

Giovanni Staunovo, a commodities analyst at UBS, said oil is trading at a multi-month high, supported primarily by geopolitical tensions. New talks between the U.S. and Iran are scheduled later this week. Historically, he noted, risk premiums tend to fade if supply disruptions fail to materialize. Traders are also watching next Sundays OPEC+ Group of Eight meeting for potential policy signals.

Inventories tighten despite balanced supply picture

The latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed a mixed supply backdrop.

For the week ending February 13, U.S. crude oil inventories fell by 9.0 million barrels and now sit about 5% below the seasonal average. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve rose slightly, increasing by 200,000 barrels to 415.4 million barrels.

Gasoline inventories declined by 3.2 million barrels but remain roughly 3% above the five-year seasonal average. Distillate inventories, which include diesel, fell by 4.6 million barrels and are about 5% below the five-year average.

Refinery utilization increased 1.6 percentage points to 91.0%, while implied gasoline demand a proxy for retail demand rose by 448,000 barrels per day to 8.749 million barrels per day.

Despite relatively balanced global supply fundamentals, the drawdowns in crude and distillate stocks, combined with rising refinery maintenance, could limit near-term relief at the pump.

Regional price gaps persist

While the national average stands at $2.88 per gallon, prices vary widely across the country.

The most common price motorists encounter is $2.69 per gallon, down 10 cents from last week.

The median U.S. gas price is $2.75 per gallon, about 13 cents lower than the national average.

The top 10% of stations are charging an average of $4.36 per gallon, while the bottom 10% average just $2.29 per gallon.

Oklahoma ($2.29), Arkansas ($2.40), and Louisiana ($2.42) currently boast the lowest statewide averages. At the other end of the spectrum, California ($4.55), Hawaii ($4.31), and Washington ($4.23) have the highest prices.

Among weekly movers, Oregon saw the largest increase, with prices rising 17.2 cents, followed by Washington (+14.6 cents) and Minnesota (+13.3 cents). Michigan posted a notable decline of 12.4 cents, while Ohio rose 10.7 cents.

With oil hovering at multi-month highs and refinery maintenance season approaching, analysts say drivers should be prepared for the possibility of further incremental increases in the weeks ahead.

A consumer complaint led to the recall

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Rosina Food Products recalls 9,462 pounds of frozen meatballs over possible metal contamination.

• Affected Bremer Family Size Italian Style Meatballs were sold at Aldi stores nationwide.

• No injuries have been reported, but consumers are urged not to eat the product.

Rosina Food Products, Inc., is recalling approximately 9,462 pounds of ready-to-eat frozen meatball products that may be contaminated with metal fragments, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The recall involves fully cooked frozen Bremer Family Size Italian Style Meatballs produced on July 30, 2025. The affected items were sold in 32-ounce printed poly film bags labeled as containing about 64 meatballs per package.

The packages bear a BEST BY date of Oct. 30, 2026, along with timestamps between 17:08 and 18:20 printed on the back of the label.

The recalled products display establishment number EST. 4286B inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were distributed to Aldi supermarket locations nationwide and have a 15-month shelf life.

Consumer complaint triggered the recall

The issue came to light after FSIS received a consumer complaint reporting metal fragments found in the meatballs. There have been no confirmed reports of injuries associated with the product. However, officials advise anyone concerned about a possible injury to contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS expressed concern that some of the recalled meatballs may still be in consumers refrigerators or freezers. Shoppers who purchased the product are urged not to consume it and to either discard it or return it to the place of purchase.

The agency said it routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to ensure that companies notify customers and remove affected products from commerce. Retail distribution lists will be posted on the FSIS website as they become available.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Rosina Food Products customer service line at 1-888-767-4621 or by email at CService@rosina.com.

Consumers with food safety questions may call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email MPHotline@usda.gov. Food safety concerns can also be reported through the USDAs Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System, available online 24 hours a day.

Researchers found clinical signs of addiction linked to engineered foods among people in their 50s to 80s

• A national survey found that many adults ages 5080 meet clinical criteria for addiction-like responses to ultra-processed foods.

• Middle-aged women, especially those in Generation X, show notably higher rates than older age groups.

• The study used a standardized addiction screening tool and linked addictive eating patterns to health, weight perception, and social isolation.

Most of us know that ultra-processed foods arent exactly healthy.

But a new study from the University of Michigan suggests that these products can capture our attention in ways that look strikingly similar to addiction. Rather than nicotine or alcohol, the substance in this case is the highly rewarding mix of salt, sugar, and fat that many of these foods are built around.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Addiction, the research zeroes in on adults aged 50 to 80 a group now transitioning from middle age into older adulthood. These are people who, as children and young adults in the 1970s through the early 2000s, grew up amid the explosion of ultra-processed foods in the American food landscape.

We hope this study fills a gap in knowledge about addiction to ultraprocessed foods among older adults, as measured by a well-studied and standardized scale, researcher Lucy Loch said in a news release.

Todays older adults were in a key developmental period when our nations food environment changed. With other research showing clear links between consumption of these foods and risk of chronic disease and premature death, its important to study addiction to ultraprocessed foods in this age group.

The study

The researcher team didnt just ask people how often they ate fries or soda they used a clinical screening tool adapted from substance use diagnostics called the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0.

More than 2,000 Americans between ages 50 and 80 completed this scale through the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. Thats a nationally representative survey that tracks health trends among older adults.

Participants were asked about real behaviors and experiences linked to addiction-like patterns: intense cravings, repeated unsuccessful attempts to cut back, withdrawal-like symptoms when trying to eat less, and even avoiding social settings due to fear of overeating. These arent casual habits, but the kinds of questions clinicians use when thinking about substance dependence.

What the findings show

The results paint a nuanced picture. Overall, a significant share of adults in the 50-80 age range showed patterns that meet clinical criteria for addiction to ultra-processed foods.

But the rates werent uniform: women in their 50s and early 60s the core of Generation X had the highest prevalence, with about 21% meeting addiction criteria, compared with about 10% of men in the same age group.

Among the older segment (ages 6580), these percentages dropped to roughly 12% for women and about 4% for men.

The study also found links between addiction-like eating and how people saw their own weight and health: those who felt overweight, or who reported poorer mental or physical health, were more likely to meet the criteria. And adults who reported feeling socially isolated were several times more likely to show addiction-like patterns than those who didnt.

Researchers emphasize that this isnt about moral failure or willpower. Instead, it suggests that engineered foods can have powerful effects on behavior effects that echo patterns seen in other kinds of addiction and that exposure early in life may make a difference.

These findings raise urgent questions about whether there are critical developmental windows when exposure to ultraprocessed foods is especially risky for addiction vulnerability, researcher Ashley Gearhardt said in the news release. Children and adolescents today consume even higher proportions of calories from ultraprocessed foods than todays middle-aged adults did in their youth.

If current trends continue, future generations may show even higher rates of ultraprocessed food addiction later in life. Just as with other substances, intervening early may be essential to reducing long-term addiction risk across the lifespan.

Driving drowsy can lead to serious risks on the road

• A significant share of U.S. adults about 41% report feeling so sleepy while driving that it affected safe driving.

• Men are more likely than women to report drowsy driving, and adults aged 3544 show the highest incidence.

• The data come from a nationally representative online survey of 2,007 adults conducted in June 2025.

Ever felt your eyes get heavy on the drive home? Youre far from alone.

New results from a 2025 survey commissioned by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reveal that a large portion of Americans admit to driving while so tired that it reduced their ability to drive safely and thats more than just an uncomfortable nod.

The term drowsy driving might conjure up images of someone struggling to keep their head up on a long road trip, but the new data show that its a widespread experience across everyday drivers in the U.S. These moments of sleepiness behind the wheel are not just annoying theyre a safety risk worth taking seriously.

Drowsy driving is a serious health and safety risk, and like drunk driving, it is completely avoidable, researcher Dr. Andrea Matsumura said in a news release. Driving while drowsy can reduce alertness and decrease reaction times to put drivers, their passengers, and everyone on the road in danger.

The survey

This snapshot of how often Americans battle sleepiness behind the wheel comes from an online survey of 2,007 adults across the United States. The research was carried out by Atomik Research in early June 2025, and the sample was designed to reflect the broader U.S. adult population within a margin of error of about 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

Participants were asked a straightforward question: have you ever felt so sleepy while driving that it affected your ability to drive safely? From there, answers were broken down by gender and age group to get a clearer picture of who is most likely to experience drowsiness on the road.

What the numbers say

Overall, about 41 percent of U.S. adults reported that yes theyve felt too sleepy to drive safely at some point. Thats a pretty notable chunk of drivers.

When you look closer, the difference between genders stands out: half of men said theyd experienced drowsy driving, compared with about one-third of women.

Age also seems to play a role. Adults between 35 and 44 years old reported the highest incidence (47%), followed closely by those aged 4554 (46%). Younger adults (1824) and older drivers (65+) reported lower rates, but not negligible ones even among the oldest group surveyed, nearly 28% admitted to feeling too sleepy to drive safely.

These findings dont just signal that drowsy driving happens they point to a pattern of widespread sleepiness behind the wheel that many drivers may be overlooking. Putting enough sleep on the priority list could be a simple, effective way to make roads safer for everyone.

The fine print behind free birthday rewards

• Nearly all birthday freebies require a rewards account, your birthday saved in your profile, and email/app notifications turned on.

• Many brands require you to join days (sometimes weeks) before your birthday month, and some require at least one purchase in the past year.

• Prioritize true no-purchase birthday freebies first, then use purchase-required offers only if they fit into spending you were already planning.

Birthday freebies are still very real in 2026. However, theyre no longer walk in, show your ID, and get free stuff anymore.

Most brands have moved their birthday freebie behind these walls:

• A rewards account
• A birthday listed in your profile
• Push notifications / email turned on
• Sometimes a you have to buy something once a year rule

But if you do it right, you can stack a pretty awesome free birthday week: coffee, dessert, a burger, beauty gifts, and a few surprise offers.

Heres the full playbook, with redemption steps, gotchas, and pro tips.

Your 5-minute setup (do this before your birthday month)

1. Create a Birthday Freebies email folder

Most birthday reward offers arrive by email (even when theyre also in the companys app).

2. Add your birthday to every profile now

Some programs actually require it to be saved to your profile before your birthday month (Ulta explicitly calls that out as people have abused it).

3. Make one tiny activation purchase at places that require activity

Some programs require at least one transaction in the last 12 months to get your birthday freebie. This is where many people miss out.

I recommend making one small purchase, but only if you were planning on buying something. It doesnt make sense to spend money to get a freebie, unless you were planning on buying something anyways.

Here are the best birthday freebies in 2026 that are totally worth the effort:

Starbucks Free birthday item

What you get: Youll get a Birthday Reward that you can redeem in-store at participating locations. The freebie is any sized handcrafted beverage or food item of your choice.

How to redeem:

• Be a Starbucks Rewards member.
• Your birthday reward appears in-app.
• Redeem at participating Starbucks stores.

If youre an entry-level Starbucks Rewards member (Green), youll have to redeem the freebie on your actual birthday. Gold members get seven days, and Reserve members get 30 days to use their birthday reward.

Gotchas to know:

You have to make at least one Star-earning purchase prior to your birthday each year to qualify.

Exclusions include any multi-serve food or beverage item (think a tray of pastries or their 96-ounce Coffee Traveler), any drinks with alcohol, and merchandise/packaged coffee.

Also, you must join their rewards program at least seven days prior to your birthday.

Pro tip: If youre the type who always orders a basic drink, use your birthday reward on your most overpriced, loaded custom drink or premium food item that still qualifies.

Sephora Free birthday gift

What you get: A free Beauty Insider birthday gift set during your birthday month.

The gift sets typically include two to threepopular name brand items. Brands include Tower 28, Glossier, dae, and Dr. Dennis Gross.

How to redeem:

• Join Beauty Insider.
• Redeem any time during your birthday month, or twoweeks prior or after.
• Online redemption generally requires a $25+ purchase (Sephora states this on the birthday gift page).

Gotchas:

Sephora specifically says, While supplies last, and they mean it. The popular gift sets go quickly.

Pro tip: If you want the gift without spending $25 online, go in-store early in your birthday month. Online is definitely convenient, but its also where the minimum-spend rule takes the free out of the equation.

Ulta Free birthday gift

What you get: A free birthday gift during your birthday month. Youll claim it using a coupon code that theyll email you or you can find it on the Ulta app.

They give you a choice of five to six free birthday gifts to pick from, which you can find here.

Youll also get 2x reward points during your birthday month, along with a $10 off coupon for Diamond and Platinum members.

How to redeem:

• Join the Ulta Rewards program.
• Make sure your birthday is in your profile before your birthday month.
• During your birthday month, choose a gift and use the coupon code at checkout.

Gotchas:

• Ulta reserves the right to change/terminate the birthday gift benefit and change the gifts offered.

Pro tip: Dont wait until the last few days of your birthday month. These gifts can go out of stock fast, and then youre stuck with the least exciting option.

Red Robin Free birthday burger

This is one of the best real meal birthday rewards left, but it has some strings attached.

What you get: Every Royalty member gets a free birthday milkshake, but if you spend just $10 during the year, that milkshake turns into a free Gourmet, Tavern, or Veggie burger.

How to redeem (the practical version):

• Join Red Robin Royalty.
• Make sure your birthday month/year is in your profile.
• Spend at least $10 at RR in the year (Red Robins terms say you must buy something once per year and it must happen before the end of the month prior to your birthday month).
• Redeem during your birthday month.

Gotchas:

• Minimum purchase of $4.99 applies for the Birthday Burger Offer and you must dine-in.
• If you dont activate with a visit before your birthday month, you might not qualify.

Nothing Bundt Cakes Free Bundtlet

What you get: Youll get a free individual Bundtlet bundt cake (about 4 wide) as a birthday reward.

How to redeem:

• Just join the Bundtastic Rewards program.
• Redeem seven days before or after your birthday.

Gotchas:

• You can only redeem one reward redemption per order (so dont expect to stack a bunch of offers in one checkout).

Pro tip: Because Nothing Bundt Cakes birthday freebie doesnt require a purchase, and gives you a generous 14-day redemption window, use it as your true no-spend birthday treat.

Baskin-Robbins Free birthday scoop

What you get: Even though Baskin-Robbins has made some change to their rewards program, they confirmed that you still get a free scoop on your birthday.

How to redeem:

• Create an account in the BR App or online and complete your profile.
• Birthday rewards are automatically added to your account in the BR App on your birthday.

Gotchas:

• Plan to sign-up at least a couple weeks before your birthday month. If you wait to sign-up until right before your birthday, it probably wont trigger the free scoop promotion in your account.

Pro tip: Screenshot the coupon in the app before you get in line for your free scoop of ice cream. Some stores have spotty reception, and this avoids the I swear its in my app moment.

IHOP Free birthday pancakes

What you get: IHOP says youll receive five PanCoins to redeem for a full stack of pancakes on your birthday.

How to redeem:

• Join IHOP Rewards.
• Add your birthday to your account.
• Get five PanCoins on your birthday to redeem for pancakes.
• Use those coins to get a free Full Stack of Original Buttermilk pancakes.

Gotchas:

• This is points-based, so youre redeeming a currency (PanCoins) rather than getting an automatic free stack voucher. Not a big deal, you just have to know how it works.
• The PanCoins will be added to your account on the first day of your birthday month.
• This means you must be a Rewards member by that day to get your free pancakes.

Pro tip: If youre doing a birthday freebie run, IHOP is a good morning anchor because its an actual meal, not just sugar. And there is no minimum purchase required when you get your free stack.

Jersey Mikes Free birthday sub

What you get: Jersey Mikes says you can enjoy a free birthday sub with the purchase of a regular sub in the past year. If youre like me and like their subs, this is a no-brainer.

How to redeem:

• Join MyMikes (email club / account)
• Make at least one qualifying purchase in the past year.
• Receive your 72 Shore Points on your birthday.
• 72 Shore Points is what you need to get a free regular-sized sub, sub bowl, or wrap.
• You can then redeem those 72 points at any time; you do not have to use them on, or near, your birthday.

Gotcha:

That purchase in the past year requirement is the entire game and what you have to remember.

Pro tip: This is an easy one to activate once a year. Go split a regular sub with someone and youve basically bought next years birthday lunch.

Chipotle A 'birthday reward'does exist

What you get: Chipotle confirms that there is indeed a Birthday Reward, but they also are tight-lipped about what it is.

All they say is that youll, Get a surprise on us. But from scanning several Reddit threads, it appearsyoull usually get free guacamole or a free drink.

How to redeem (general):

• Join Chipotle Rewards.
• Make sure your birthday is saved to your profile.
• Watch the app for the loaded reward near your birthday.

Gotchas:

• Chipotles birthday reward is intentionally described as a surprise, so it can vary from month to month.
• Also, be sure to keep your account active as Chipotlesays points can expire after 180 days of inactivity (so dont create an account and ignore it for months).

Pro tip: Chipotle is one of those apps where being active tends to unlock better promos over time. Even if you only go once every couple of months, always scan your app at checkout.

A quick 'best of the best'cheat list (if you only do six)

If you want the biggest payoff for the least effort, consider these six:

• Starbucks (high value, easy)
• Ulta (free gift + strong beauty value)
• Red Robin (best meal freebie if you activate)
• Jersey Mike's (high value, use whenever)
• Nothing Bundt Cakes (flexible window)
• Baskin-Robbins or IHOP (pick your vibe: ice cream or pancakes)