Consumer News: Optima Tax Relief suffers data breach

The bankruptcy only involves the brick-and-mortar part of the business

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The store operator ofEddie Bauer plans to close 174 brick-and-mortar stores across the U.S. and Canada after failing to find a buyer during bankruptcy proceedings.

• The closures follow a canceled auction for the companys store leases and come amid mounting debt and declining retail sales.

• The retail operators filing does not impact Eddie Bauers manufacturing, wholesale, or e-commerce operations, nor does it impact retail operations outside of the U.S. and Canada.

The store operator of outdoor apparel retailer Eddie Bauer is preparing to close 174 brick-and-mortar stores across North America after failing to secure a buyer during bankruptcy proceedings, according to court filings and company statements.

The closures come after a planned auction of the companys retail leases was canceled due to a lack of qualified bids, leaving liquidation as the most likely path forward for the retailers store operations.

The move affects approximately 150 stores in the United States and about two dozen in Canada. Closing sales are already underway in many locations, and most stores are expected to shut their doors by the end of April as the company winds down its physical retail business.

Filed for bankruptcy earlier this year

Eddie Bauers store operator filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year, citing declining sales, rising costs, and ongoing challenges facing traditional retail. The bankruptcy marks the third such filing for the brand in the past two decades.

The entity that operates Eddie Bauers retail locations licenses the brand from Authentic Brands Group, which owns the companys intellectual property. Because of that structure, the bankruptcy applies primarily to the brick-and-mortar retail business rather than the brand itself.

As a result, Eddie Bauer products are expected to remain available online and through wholesale distribution channels even after the stores close. The brands e-commerce and licensing operations are being transitioned to a new partner, Outdoor 5.

106 years old

Founded in Seattle in 1920, Eddie Bauer built a reputation for outdoor gear and apparel, including down jackets and equipment used by military and expedition teams. At its peak in the early 2000s, the company operated nearly 600 stores.

Retail analysts say the latest closures reflect broader pressures facing mall-based retailers, including shifts toward online shopping, high lease costs, and competition from newer outdoor apparel brands.

Customers with gift cards or loyalty points are being encouraged to redeem them soon as the company continues its liquidation process and prepares to exit physical retail.

The company has not announced plans to reopen stores under new ownership, though the Eddie Bauer brand itself is expected to continue operating through digital and licensing channels.

Researchers say the answer may surprise you

• Researchers are testing "smart underwear" sensors that track when people pass gaswhile also recording diet and daily habits.

• Early results show people average about 32 gas events per day, though the range varies widely.

• The goal is to better understand the gut microbiome and what actually counts as normal digestion.

Everyone does it. Whether you call it breaking wind, passing gas, or cutting the cheese, flatulence is a normal part of digestion.

However, heres something scientists still dont fully understand: how much gas is actually normal?

Researchers at the University of Maryland are now trying to answer that question with a nationwide study that uses what they call "smart underwear."

How the smart underwearworks

The study uses a small wearable sensor that clips onto participants underwear.

The quarter-sized device measures intestinal gas using electrochemical sensors that detect when gas is released.

Participants also track:

• What they eat
• Their daily habits
• Demographic information

Researchers hope the data will help identify why some people pass gas far more often than others.

A window into the gut microbiome

The study might sound like bathroom humor, but the science behind it is actually serious. Researchers are trying to better understand how the gut microbiome works.

Your digestive system is home to trillions of bacteria that help break down the food you eat. When those microbes digest things like fiber and certain carbohydrates, they naturally create gases such as hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide.

By tracking how often gas is released and comparing that with peoples diets and daily habits, scientists hope to uncover new clues about:

• Digestive health
• Food tolerance
• Gut bacteria behavior
• Early signs of gastrointestinal disorders

Scientists say the findings could eventually help doctors give patients more personalized dietary advice and identify digestive problems earlier.

Researchers expect early findings from the larger study within about a year.

Early results already surprised scientists

In a small early study of 19 adults, the sensor tracked how often people passed gas in a typical day.

The result: about 32 times per day on average.

This is more than double the number often cited in medical literature.

However, the range was enormous. In one example, two participants with nearly identical diets passed gas 175 times and 5 times in the same day.

Thousands of people have volunteered

The new nationwide project, called the Human Flatus Atlas study, originally aimed to enroll 800 participants. Instead, more than 3,000 people across the U.S. have already signed up.

If interested, you can join the study as well. You'll be asked for your name, email address, and a few questions to determine your eligibility.

According to the research team, participants have been surprisingly open about sharing stories about digestive issues and embarrassing moments caused by excessive gas.

Researchers say the interest likely comes from a simple question many people have asked themselves at some point: Is this normal?

One thing scientists already know

One thing scientists already know is gas varies wildly from person to person.

So, if youve ever wondered whether youre normal when it comes to flatulence, youre definitely not alone. Researchers say thousands of Americans are curious about the exact same thing.

But that was before the surge in gas prices, triggered by the Iran war

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Consumer prices rose 0.3% in February, slightly faster than Januarys 0.2% increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Shelter costs remained the biggest driver of monthly inflation, while food and energy prices also climbed.

• Annual inflation held steady at 2.4%, with food prices rising faster than the overall rate over the past year.

U.S. consumer prices ticked up in February as higher housing, food, and energy costs pushed inflation slightly higher for the month, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis in February, following a 0.2% increase in January. On an annual basis, consumer prices were 2.4% higher than a year earlier, the same rate reported for the 12 months ending in January.

But keep in mind, these numbers dont include any costs after the beginning of the Iran war. The March numbers could be significantly higher.

The cost of shelter

Housing costs continued to play the biggest role in the monthly increase. The shelter index rose 0.2% in February, making it the largest contributor to the overall rise in prices.

Food prices also moved higher during the month. The food index increased 0.4%, with prices for groceries (food at home) rising 0.4%, and restaurant prices (food away from home) climbing 0.3%.

Energy costs increased as well, with the energy index rising 0.6% in February.

Excluding the often-volatile food and energy categories, so-called core inflation rose 0.2% in February. Several categories recorded price increases, including medical care, apparel, household furnishings and operations, airline fares, and education.

Where prices went down

Some categories saw declines. Prices for communication services, used cars and trucks, motor vehicle insurance, and personal care were among the notable indexes that fell during the month.

Over the past year, price changes varied widely across categories. While overall inflation was 2.4%, the food index rose 3.1% over the last 12 months, outpacing the overall rate. The energy index increased 0.5% year over year, while the core index (excluding food and energy) rose 2.5%.

The data suggest inflation remains relatively stable compared with recent months, though essential household costs such as food and housing continue to contribute significantly to consumer expenses.

The shellfish may be tainted with Norovirus

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• FDA warns restaurants and retailers in nine states not to serve or sell certain Manila clams harvested in Washington state due to possible norovirus contamination.

• Consumers in Washington are urged not to eat specific raw oysters harvested from the same area during the same time period.

• The shellfish are linked to a norovirus-like illness outbreak, according to federal and Washington state health officials.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning restaurants, retailers, and consumers about potentially contaminated shellfish harvested in Washington state that may be linked to a norovirus outbreak.

The advisory covers certain raw oysters harvested by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and Manila clams harvested by the Lummi Indian Business Council, both taken from the Drayton Harbor harvest area in Washington between February13 and March 3, 2026.

According to the FDA, the products may be contaminated with norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes gastrointestinal illness.

The oysters were distributed within Washington state, while the Manila clams were sent to restaurants and food retailers in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Oregon, and Washington, and may have reached additional states.

Recall tied to illness outbreak

The alert follows a March 4 notice from the Washington Department of Health, which informed federal officials about a recall of certain shellstock raw, live molluscan shellfish such as oysters and clams after reports of a norovirus-like illness associated with raw oyster consumption.

The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to sell or serve the affected shellfish and to dispose of them or coordinate destruction with their distributors.

Consumers are also being urged not to eat the oysters or clams if they may have purchased them.

Symptoms can appear quickly

Norovirus is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness. Infection typically develops 12 to 48 hours after exposure.

Common symptoms include:

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Nausea

• Stomach pain

Other symptoms may include fever, headache, and body aches.

Most people recover within one to three days, but the illness can lead to dehydration, particularly in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

What restaurants should do

The FDA recommends that restaurants and food retailers:

• Stop serving or selling the recalled oysters and clams.

• Dispose of the products or contact distributors to arrange for destruction.

• Thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces and utensils that may have come into contact with the shellfish.

• Wash hands with soap and warm water after handling potentially contaminated products.

Food businesses that sold the shellfish in bulk should also sanitize containers used to store the products to prevent cross-contamination.

What consumers should do

Consumers who may have eaten the affected shellfish and develop symptoms of illness should contact a health care provider and report their symptoms to their local health department.

The FDA said it is continuing to monitor the investigation and will provide updates as more information becomes available about the distribution of the shellfish.

The shellfish may be tainted with Norovirus

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• FDA warns restaurants and retailers in nine states not to serve or sell certain Manila clams harvested in Washington state due to possible norovirus contamination.

• Consumers in Washington are urged not to eat specific raw oysters harvested from the same area during the same time period.

• The shellfish are linked to a norovirus-like illness outbreak, according to federal and Washington state health officials.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning restaurants, retailers and consumers about potentially contaminated shellfish harvested in Washington state that may be linked to a norovirus outbreak.

The advisory covers certain raw oysters harvested by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and Manila clams harvested by the Lummi Indian Business Council, both taken from the Drayton Harbor harvest area in Washington between Feb. 13 and March 3, 2026.

According to the FDA, the products may be contaminated with norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes gastrointestinal illness.

The oysters were distributed within Washington state, while the Manila clams were sent to restaurants and food retailers in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington, and may have reached additional states.

Recall tied to illness outbreak

The alert follows a March 4 notice from the Washington Department of Health, which informed federal officials about a recall of certain shellstock raw, live molluscan shellfish such as oysters and clams after reports of a norovirus-like illness associated with raw oyster consumption.

The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to sell or serve the affected shellfish and to dispose of them or coordinate destruction with their distributors.

Consumers are also being urged not to eat the oysters or clams if they may have purchased them.

Symptoms can appear quickly

Norovirus is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness. Infection typically develops 12 to 48 hours after exposure.

Common symptoms include:

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Nausea

• Stomach pain

Other symptoms may include fever, headache and body aches.

Most people recover within one to three days, but the illness can lead to dehydration, particularly in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

What restaurants should do

The FDA recommends that restaurants and food retailers:

• Stop serving or selling the recalled oysters and clams.

• Dispose of the products or contact distributors to arrange for destruction.

• Thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces and utensils that may have come into contact with the shellfish.

• Wash hands with soap and warm water after handling potentially contaminated products.

Food businesses that sold the shellfish in bulk should also sanitize containers used to store the products to prevent cross-contamination.

What consumers should do

Consumers who may have eaten the affected shellfish and develop symptoms of illness should contact a healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local health department.

The FDA said it is continuing to monitor the investigation and will provide updates as more information becomes available about the distribution of the shellfish.