The transformation will take place by the end of 2026

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• U.S. dairy farmers and ice cream producers have pledged to eliminate artificial dyes from their products by 2026.
  

• The shift responds to growing consumer demand for clean-label, naturally colored foods.
  

• Natural alternatives like beet juice, spirulina, and turmeric will replace synthetic dyes.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has won over another sector of the food industry to his campaign to make food healthier. This week, a coalition of dairy farmers and ice cream producers announced they will phase out all artificial food dyes from their products by 2026.

But Kennedy apparently had to apply little pressure. The initiative, spearheaded by the National Dairy Council and supported by more than 60 major ice cream brands and regional creameries, reflects rising consumer interest in natural ingredients and food transparency.

According to a 2024 Nielsen survey, over 72% of American shoppers reported actively avoiding synthetic food dyes, especially in products marketed to children.

"We're hearing our customers loud and clear," said Lisa Varela, vice president of Product Innovation at Glacier Creamery, one of the early adopters of the initiative. "They want fun colors in their ice cream, but they want them to come from real sources, not chemicals."

Natural color replacements

In place of synthetic dyes like Red 40 or Blue 1, producers will pivot to natural colorants such as beet juice, annatto, spirulina, butterfly pea flower, and turmeric. These plant-based alternatives not only offer vivid hues but are also generally considered safe and less likely to cause hyperactivity or allergic reactions.

The new standards were formalized through a voluntary certification program, Clean Cream, which will audit and verify compliance. Dairy cooperatives, such as PrairieGold and Sunland Farms, are also updating their supply chain practices to ensure no artificial dyes are used at any stage, including in feed additives that could transfer into milk.

Participating companies have agreed to complete reformulation by December 2026, with many pledging to roll out naturally colored products as early as spring 2025. Popular brands like MooRush, Arctic Farm, and SweetWhirl have already released limited-edition flavors showcasing their new dye-free approach.

Higher insurance rates and taxes are resulting in rising monthly payments

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Rising property taxes and insurance costs are driving up mortgage escrow payments, destabilizing what was once a fixed monthly cost.
  

• Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia see the steepest upticks in serious mortgage delinquencies, correlating with natural disaster impacts.
  

• Government-backed FHA and VA loans face significantly higher delinquency rates, especially in states with surging escrow costs.

For decades, owning a home in the United States meant achieving a critical milestone financial stability. At the heart of this dream was the fixed monthly mortgage, a predictable cost in an otherwise volatile economic landscape. But that promise is beginning to unravel.

New data from housing analytics firm Cotality reveal a troubling trend: serious mortgage delinquencies, defined as homeowners who are 90 days or more behind on payments, are on the rise for the first time in over three years. But this time, its not subprime lending or reckless borrowing to blame. Instead, it's the ballooning costs that come after a mortgage is signed: property taxes and homeowners' insurance.

Escrow costs are the new mortgage threat

In states like Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia, property taxes and insurance premiums have surged over the past five years. In Florida alone, escrow payments which cover taxes and insurance have jumped 62%. This figure mirrors the states 38 basis-point increase in serious delinquencies, placing it at the top of Cotalitys list.

While these three Southeastern states lead the pack, others like Nebraska, North Carolina, and Colorado are not far behind. The trend is clear: states with significant increases in escrow costs are also those with the steepest upticks in mortgage delinquencies.

Natural disasters are compounding the issue. In South Carolina, 14 insurers went under between 2020 and 2023, triggering a sharp rise in premiums. Georgia, meanwhile, has experienced a $700 average increase in property taxes over the same period. For homeowners already stretched thin, these mounting costs are proving untenable.

Government-backed loans

The financial pressure is not evenly distributed. FHA and VA loan recipients often first-time buyers or lower-income families are bearing the brunt of the crisis. These loans, though instrumental in expanding access to homeownership, leave borrowers with slimmer financial cushions.

According to Cotality, FHA loan holders are five times more likely to become seriously delinquent than those with conventional loans. VA loans fare slightly better but still exhibit delinquency rates 3.5 times higher. These borrowers are often the first to feel the impact of rising escrow costs, especially in disaster-prone areas where insurance premiums can spike overnight.

This trend calls into question the foundational belief that homeownership provides long-term financial stability. While mortgage interest rates may be locked in, taxes and insurance are not and theyre climbing rapidly.

Since 2019, national property tax bills have grown 15.4%. Insurance premiums, especially in regions prone to hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, are also surging. In states where both escrow costs and unemployment are rising such as Mississippi, which now holds the highest overall delinquency rate the situation is especially dire.

A new study reveals which fast-growing careers are immune to automation and still pay top dollar

• Health care and applied science careers dominate the list of top-paying, fast-growing jobs least likely to be replaced by AI.

• Experts say jobs that rely on human skills like empathy, judgment, and critical thinking are proving the most AI-resistant.

• Job seekers can use AI as a tool to enhance their searchbut human qualities still matter most in landing and succeeding in these roles.

While there are several benefits associated with artificial intelligence (AI), some consumers may have fears surrounding the technology especially as it pertains to the job market.

To help ease some of those fears, Resume Genius put together a list of the top 10 highest-paying, fastest-growing jobs that AI wont replace.

ConsumerAffairs also interviewed career expert Eva Chan to get the latest on how AI is impacting the job market, how job seekers can use AI to their advantage, and more.

The list

Researchers at Resume Genius created the list by identifying roles with a median annual salary of at least $49,500, a projected job growth rate of over 10% during the decade, and an automation risk below 50%, based on a specialized risk calculator.

Heres a look at the list:

1. Computer and information research scientist

• Median salary: $149,910

• Estimated job growth: 26%

• AI job takeover risk: 31%

2. Physician assistant

• Median salary: $133,260

• Estimated job growth: 28%

• AI job takeover risk: 0%

3. Nurse practitioner

• Median salary: $132,050

• Estimated job growth: 40%

• AI job takeover risk: 0%

4. Veterinarian

• Median salary: $125,510

• Estimated job growth: 19%

• AI job takeover risk: 7%

5. Medical and health services manager

• Median salary: $117,960

• Estimated job growth: 29%

• AI job takeover risk: 16%

6. Speech-language pathologist

• Median salary: $95,410

• Estimated job growth: 18%

• AI job takeover risk: 9%

7. Operations research analyst

• Median salary: $91,290

• Estimated job growth: 23%

• AI job takeover risk: 42%

8. Epidemiologist

• Median salary: $83,980

• Estimated job growth: 19%

• AI job takeover risk: 7%

9. Logistician

• Median salary: $80,880

• Estimated job growth: 19%

• AI job takeover risk: 38%

10. Wind turbine technician

• Median salary: $62,580

• Estimated job growth: 60%

• AI job takeover risk: 39%

How is AI affecting the job market?

According to Chan, AI is changing the job market in visible and subtle ways.

Its automating certain tasks, especially in roles where the work follows a set routine, she said. Were already seeing fewer openings in areas like data entry, payroll, and basic customer support as more of that work gets handled by software. These jobs still matter, but the number of people companies hire for them is declining.

Were also seeing something else: jobs that rely on human presence, care, and judgment are growing. According to our research at Resume Genius, the fastest-growing roles in the next decade arent in coding or automation. Theyre in health care and applied science, which are fields that require critical thinking, people skills, and decision-making in real time.

Using AI to your advantage

If youre on the job hunt, there are ways to utilize AI to your advantage.

AI can take a lot of the friction out of the job search, Chan explained. Its great for getting unstuck or acting as an assistant by helping you polish a resume, suggest better phrasing, or match your experience to a job description. You can also use it to prep for interviews or keep track of where youve applied.

However, despite the benefits, Chan encourages job seekers to keep humanity at the center of their job hunt.

The strongest applications still feel human, she said. Use AI to help you start a draft or check your formatting, then make sure youre adding context and personality that show why youre a good fit for the role. A thoughtful application will always stand out, especially in industries like health care where soft skills like empathy and clear communication are critical to the work.

Looking to the future

Despite the ways that AI is changing things, Chan believes there are still opportunities for job seekers now and in the future.

One encouraging trend is that many of the careers showing long-term stability are also the kinds of work that feel meaningful to many people, she said. Jobs involving health care, science, and technical problem-solving usually give people the chance to keep learning and taking on more responsibility over time.

As you gain experience, the work itself can shift. You might handle more complex cases, use new tools, or work on bigger projects. That kind of growth is part of why these roles stay valuable, even as technology changes. AI might speed things up, but its not replacing real human thinking anytime soon. If youre staying curious and building skills that are useful across different tools or teams, youre in a good spot.

Ford led automakers with more than 3.3 million recalls

• Vehicle recalls in the U.S. more than doubled in Q2 2025, hitting the highest quarterly total in over a year.

• Ford led all automakers with over 3.3 million vehicles recalled across 49 safety campaigns.

• Nearly 95% of vehicles recalled involved defects posing a risk of crash or injury, with back-over prevention systems topping the list.

U.S. drivers are facing a surge of vehicle safety recalls as summer travel season begins, with more than 7.3 million vehicles recalled between April and June, according to BizzyCars Q2 2025 Recall Report. The figure represents the highest quarterly total in over a year and more than double the volume recorded in Q1.

This spike in recalls comes just as families are preparing for summer travel, said Ryan Maher, CEO of BizzyCar. Most of these issues involve serious safety risks, so its critical that drivers schedule repairs without delay.

Ford tops the charts

Ford Motor Company led all manufacturers this quarter, recalling over 3.3 million vehicles across 49 separate campaigns, accounting for nearly half of all vehicles affected. General Motors and Honda followed as the next most-affected automakers.

Notably, 94.6% of all vehicles recalled in Q2 involved defects posing a risk of crash or injury if left unaddressed. Among the most significant issues:

• Back-over prevention systems, impacting 2.59 million vehicles.

• Engine and engine cooling problems, affecting 1.14 million vehicles.

• Service brakes, hydraulic issues, involving 775,000 vehicles.

The severity of the safety concerns prompted authorities to issue three Do Not Drive warnings and three Park Outside advisories, underscoring the urgent nature of many of these defects.

Remote repairs growing, but physical fixes still needed

While technology is making some recall fixes more convenient, traditional repairs remain essential. BizzyCar reports that over one million vehicles this quarter were eligible for Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates rather than a dealership visit.

However, OTA fixes still represent only 14.7% of all recalls since early 2022, highlighting that most safety repairs still require in-person service, particularly for critical systems like steering, brakes, and seats.

OTA updates offer convenience, but they also eliminate critical dealership touchpoints, Maher noted. Many safety fixes still depend on trained technicians and certified parts. Dealerships remain the front line of recall completion.

Stay safe this summer

Drivers are urged to check their vehicle identification number (VIN) on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website or contact their dealership to see if their vehicle is under recall.

With millions of vehicles affected, prompt action could help prevent accidents or injuries on the road.

Consumers have been paying as much as 261% for loans in the Ocean State

• Rhode Island was the only New England state that still allowed the high-interest loans, which are generally regarded as predatory.
• The action capped 15 years of effort by consumer groups.
• Borrowers commonly get trapped in an endless cycle of debt that far exceeds the original cost of the loan.

After a long struggle almost fifteen years after legislation was first introduced Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has signed into law a bill that will prohibit payday lenders from charging annual percentage rates (APRs) higher than 36%.

The law will take effect on January 1st, 2027. The typical rate for a payday loan in the state has been 261% APR, according toresearchfrom the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL).

Thanks to the dedication of Rhode Island lawmakers and advocates, the Ocean State will no longer have payday loan sharks. This law will prevent payday lenders from draining millions of dollars in fees annually and instead keep that money in the pockets of Rhode Islanders who really need it,saidCRL Policy Counsel Monica Burks.

While the laws effective start date is way too far from now, these predatory lenders will hopefully see the writing on the wall and stop their usury sooner. We are pleased to see Rhode Island become the 21st state, alongside the District of Columbia, to stop payday loans from trapping people in debt, Burks said.

Gov. McKee, a Democrat, had endorsed the measure. "Payday borrowers are much more than a data point - they are Rhode Islanders who need a few hundred dollars to pay for an unexpected car repair or medical bill. Rhode Island cannot continue to allow these lenders to prey upon our working residents with exorbitant interest rates and fees," he said in a March 2025 letter submitted to a state legislative committee studying the legislation.

Consumers forced the issue after years of inaction, with protests and legislative pressure.

"Rhode Island is the only state in New England that allows this form of predatory lending, charging outrageously high interest rates that suck the life out of our communities, suck the life out of people who are already living in poverty, primarily people of color," said Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser with the RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty, at a recent protest outside a payday loan office.

Lobbyists not happy

Not everyone is happy with the new law.William Murphy, the former House Speaker who now works as a lobbyist for Purpose Financial Inc., parent company of Advance America, said the measure would bring economic harm to Rhode Island.

Passage of this legislation will cause Advance Americas employees to lose their jobs and health coverage that they and their families depend on, Murphy said in an emailto the Rhode Island Current newspaper.

The state will now have eight additional vacant storefronts. Importantly, thousands of Rhode Islanders will lose much needed immediate access to credit and the ability to make their own personal financial choice. There are no equal alternatives for people in Rhode Island.

In 2022, the most recent data available, Rhode Island borrowers paid an estimated $2.8 million on interest and fees associated with payday loans, based on the $28.2 million of money borrowed across 80,650 loans, according to arecent CRLreport.

Long cycles of debt

Payday loans have been shown to pull people into long cycles of repeat reborrowing that pull them deep into debt. Research from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) shows that four out of every five payday loans are reborrowed within two weeks.

Polling consistently shows a strong majority of Republican, Democratic, and independent voters support strong interest rate caps, as shownin several state ballot initiatives, including in Nebraska, where in 2020 a cap was enacted with support from over 80% of voters.

The 21 states, alongside D.C., with strong interest rate caps that stop the payday loan debt trap are: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.