A deadly play kitchen hazard, malfunctioning multi-tools, and a flammable mattress top this weeks consumer product recalls.

KidKraft Farm to Table Play Kitchen

• Hazard: Hooks pose strangulation risk to children; one child tragically died in 2023.

• Units Affected: About 192,000

• Remedy: Free replacement hooks

• Sold At: Amazon, Walmart, KidKraft.com (20182025)

• Contact: kidkraft.com/pages/recall or 800-882-0234

Leatherman Charge Plus & Charge Plus TTi Multi-Tools

• Hazard: Knife blade may not fully retract, posing laceration risk

• Units Affected: About 17,000

• Remedy: Free repair

• Sold At: Leatherman.com, REI, Amazon (Jul 2024Mar 2025)

• Contact: leatherman.com/pages/charge-recall or 800-847-8665

Tegu Magnetic Floating Stackers

• Hazard: Loose magnets pose serious ingestion danger to children

• Units Affected: 22,850 in U.S. (plus ~2,000 in Canada/Mexico)

• Remedy: Free replacement

• Sold At: Amazon, toy stores (Aug 2018Apr 2025)

• Contact: tegu.com/pages/recall or 877-834-8869

Cosco 2-Step Kitchen Stepper

• Hazard: Safety bar can detach or break, causing fall injuries

• Units Affected: About 302,000

• Remedy: Free repair kit

• Sold At: Home Depot, Target, Lowes, Amazon (Feb 2021Jul 2025)

• Contact: coscoproducts.com or 888-628-3778

IKEA 365+ VRDEFULL Garlic Press

• Hazard: Small metal pieces can break off, causing laceration or ingestion hazard

• Units Affected: About 43,830

• Remedy: Full refund (no receipt required)

• Sold At: IKEA stores & online (MarMay 2025)

• Contact: ikea.com/us/en/customer-service/product-support/recalls or 888-966-4532

Amazon Basics Eurotop Mattresses

• Hazard: Fails to meet flammability standardsfire risk

• Units Affected: About 2,700

• Remedy: Full refund after photo verification

• Sold At: Amazon (Jan 2023Jun 2024)

• Contact: amazoneurotoprecall.expertinquiry.com or 800-913-4350

RIDGID Framing Nailers (21 and 30)

• Hazard: Malfunctioning trigger can fire unintentionally, causing laceration danger

• Units Affected: About 64,000

• Remedy: Free software repair

• Sold At: Home Depot, Direct Tools Outlet (Jul 2021May 2025)

• Contact: powertools.ridgid.com/recall or 800-597-9624

Baby Loren Morning Dresses (Children's Loungewear)

• Hazard: Fails flammability standardsburn risk to children

• Units Affected: About 340

• Remedy: Full refund

• Sold At: Boutique childrens stores and online (Oct 2022Mar 2025)

• Contact: babyloren.com/pages/recall or 209-834-5053

Safety Tip: Stop using recalled products immediately and follow the recall instructions for repair, replacement, or refund. Many brands offer prepaid return labels or do not require proof of purchase.

Light and moderate workouts offer a powerful wellness boost without reaching for medication.

• Lightintensity activity can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms in children and teens.

• A combination of moderate resistance and aerobic exercise was found to be effective at easing depression.

• Exercise offers an accessible, nonmedical way to support young peoples mental health.

Mental health challenges among children and teens especially anxiety and depression are becoming more common.

While clinical treatments are important, researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) wanted to know if something as simple as regular, gentle exercise could offer tangible mental health benefits.

Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health issues affecting children and teenagers worldwide, researcher Dr. Ben Singh said. Evidence-based treatment guidelines often recommend cognitive behavior therapy and antidepressants as first-line interventions, yet 40-60% of children dont receive treatment or fail to gain sufficient benefits, so we clearly need alternatives.

Exercise is a low-cost, widely accessible strategy that could make a real difference to childrens mental health. And while people know that exercise is generally good for your health and wellbeing, there is little evidence that shows how exercise works for kids, nor the types of exercise that might work better than others.

The study

The researchers conducted a wideranging review of international studies on children and adolescents, analyzing what types of exercise seemed most beneficial for mental health.

They looked at both light-intensity activity (such as walking or gentle play) and moderate-intensity training combining aerobic moves (like jogging or cycling) with resistance work (such as circuit training with light weights or bodyweight exercises).

By comparing outcomes across multiple trials and demographics, the researchers could identify patterns in what helps most and for whom.They focused on evidence relating specifically to anxiety and depression symptoms

The results

The researchers findings were clear:

• Lightintensity exercise consistently appeared to ease anxiety in both children and teenagers. It doesnt take vigorous workouts just regular movement to gently lift the mood.

• For symptoms of depression, a slightly higher intensity delivered better results. Study participants engaging in a blend of moderate aerobic and resistance training (like circuit classes combining cardio and weights) showed measurable improvements in depressive symptoms.

• Importantly, exercise worked as a nonmedical way to deliver mental health relief meaning it could be used without immediately turning to medication.
  

Our study draws together global evidence to show that gentle, light-intensity exercise is highly effective in reducing anxiety in children and teens, while medium-intensity programs that combine resistance and aerobic training like circuits with weights can counteract depression, Dr. Singh said in the news release.

Importantly, it demonstrates how exercise is an effective, accessible, lifestyle intervention that can immediately improve mental health issues in children, without first defaulting to medicines.

Why it matters

This research offers hopeful news for parents, educators, and young people themselves: promoting regular movement doesnt just help physical wellbeing it can also reduce anxiety and lift mood.

Exercise should be a core part of mental health care for children and teens, whether at school, in the community, or clinical settings, researcher Professor Carol Maher said in the news release. Short, structured programs that include strength training or a mix of activities seem especially promising, but simply exercising, even for short amounts of time, will deliver benefits.

And for parents, rest assured you certainly dont need to fork out money for a gym membership or training program; play-based activities, games, and sport are all valuable forms of movement that can support mental wellbeing.

Over $200 million in forfeited assets will be distributed to sex trafficking victims exploited through Backpage.com between 2004 and 2018.

• Over $200 million in forfeited assets will be distributed to sex trafficking victims exploited through Backpage.com between 2004 and 2018.

• The DOJ calls this the largest victim compensation effort of its kind, targeting illicit profits from one of the internets most notorious sex trafficking platforms.

• Victims have until Feb. 2, 2026, to file petitions for financial compensation through a dedicated website and hotline.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today the launch of a historic victim compensation initiative, aimed at distributing more than $200 million in forfeited assets to those whose sex trafficking was facilitated through the now-defunct website Backpage.com. This marks the largest victim remission process ever undertaken in a human trafficking case.

Backpage.com facilitated the exploitation of women and children as one of the largest online advertisers for commercial sex and sex trafficking over its 14-year existence, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the DOJs Criminal Division. Todays announcement underscores the Departments unwavering commitment to use forfeiture to take the profit out of crime and to compensate victims.

A long-awaited victory

Between January 1, 2004, and April 6, 2018, Backpage.com operated as a hub for commercial sex advertising, becoming a primary conduit for sex trafficking operationsincluding the trafficking of minors. After the website was seized by the U.S. government in 2018, years of criminal prosecutions followed. Executives and affiliated businesses were convicted of conspiracy to facilitate unlawful commercial sex, money laundering, and other federal offenses. They are now serving federal prison sentences.

In December 2024, the DOJ secured the forfeiture of over $200 million in assets linked to Backpage's illicit profits. Those funds are now being deployed to support eligible victims, as part of the departments broader mission to return criminal proceeds to those harmed.

Petition process now open

Victims may now begin filing petitions to claim compensation for financial losses incurred as a result of their trafficking. Individuals, their legal representatives, or estates of deceased victims are eligible if the trafficking was facilitated through Backpage.com within the 20042018 timeframe.

The DOJ has appointed Epiq Global Inc. as the Remission Administrator. Victims can access the petition form and additional information at www.backpageremission.com or contact Epiq directly by phone (1-888-859-9206 toll-free or 1-971-316-5053 for international callers), email, or mail. The final deadline to submit a claim is February 2, 2026.

The investigation and forfeiture process was a joint effort among the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation. Federal agents followed financial trails, tracked down illicit transactions, and coordinated the seizure of assets.

Sex trafficking is one of the most horrific crimes we confront as a society, said IRS-CI Chief Guy Ficco. The money always leaves a trailand thats where we come in.

The DOJ emphasized that no payment is required to participate in the compensation process and urged victims to rely only on the official website and channels for information.

Delivering justice beyond prosecution

This landmark remission effort reflects the DOJs increasing emphasis on compensating victimsnot just punishing perpetrators. Since 2000, its Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) has returned more than $12 billion in forfeited funds to crime victims.

Todays announcement shows the FBIs commitment to ensuring that those who profit from human trafficking face the consequences of their actions, said FBI Assistant Director Jose A. Perez. We will continue to work alongside partners to thwart this industry by decimating its capacity for monetary gain while seeking safeguards for its victims.

For More Information:
Visit: www.backpageremission.com
Call: 1-888-859-9206 (toll-free) or 1-971-316-5053 (international)
Deadline to file: February 2, 2026.

More action is needed to give Veteran borrowers and their families the assistance they deserve

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

Slogans and executive orders aren't enough, some advocates argue

• President renews calls for pharmaceutical industry to cut prices now
• Consumer groups demand federal enforcement, not just rhetoric
• Health organizations warn against political grandstanding without action

President Trumps latest demands that drugmakers cut prices now have ignited a wave of reactions from consumer and health advocacy organizations, many of which say his words ring hollow without policy enforcement to match.

In a series of statements and social media posts, Trump urged pharmaceutical companies to slash prescription drug prices, calling the current cost burden unacceptable for American families. While the President claimed he would hold Big Pharma accountable, consumer watchdogs say theyve heard similar pledges beforewith few lasting results.

Its easy to call for lower prices on Twitter, said Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen. Whats hard is actually standing up to drug corporations and passing policy that forces them to act.

Groups say demands fall short without action

Organizations like the National Consumers League (NCL) and AARP welcomed the attention on high drug prices but questioned whether the White House is willing to back up its demands with meaningful regulation.

Consumers are desperate for relief, said Sally Greenberg, executive director of NCL. But we need more than finger-pointingwe need enforcement, price negotiation power for Medicare, and an end to anti-competitive practices.

AARP echoed those sentiments, pointing to its research showing that the average annual cost of widely used prescription drugs has nearly tripled over the past 15 years.Older Americans should not have to choose between filling a prescription and buying groceries, said Nancy LeaMond, AARPs executive VP. We urge the administration to support real reforms.

Some public health organizations expressed concern that Trumps latest push is more political posturing than policy development.

The public deserves leadership, not slogans, said Dr. Michael Sinha, a physician and drug policy researcher at Harvard. Presidents from both parties have railed against high drug prices, but without legislation or regulatory muscle, not much changes.

Dr. Sinha pointed to past proposals like international reference pricing and transparency rules for TV adsmany of which were proposed but never implemented or were blocked in court.

Pharma pushes back

In response to Trumps remarks, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) released a statement defending the industrys pricing structure and highlighting the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in determining what consumers pay.

We agree patients should pay less at the pharmacy counter, PhRMA said, but we must fix the broken system of middlemen that drives up out-of-pocket costs.

The industry group also cited the cost of innovation and global demand as reasons why drug prices remain high in the U.S.

PBMs quickly fired back."America's pharmacy benefit managers support lower prices for every prescription drug for every patient and have called on drug companies to lower list prices to make medicines more affordable. PBMs stand ready to pull through lower drug prices to health plans and patients, as well as continue to administer pharmacy benefits and clinical programs that help patients safely access lower cost medications," the Pharmaceutical Care Manager Association said in a prepared statement.

Drug companies alone set and raise drug prices and can lower the list prices at any time. In addition, some drug companies block lower cost generics and biosimilars from entering the market, leading to Americans paying the highest prescription drug prices in the world," it said.

Advocates want specific measures

Policy groups are urging the White House to move beyond rhetoric and take specific steps, including:

• Allowing Medicare to negotiate prices directly

• Capping out-of-pocket costs for seniors

• Reining in patent abuses and exclusivity deals

• Importing safe, lower-cost drugs from abroad

Theres no mystery to solving this, said David Mitchell, founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs. We know what workswhat we lack is the political will.

While Trumps remarks have once again spotlighted the issue of rising drug costs, observers say any real change will depend on whether the administration follows through with policy proposals or pushes for congressional action.

In the meantime, advocates are watching closelyand warning that time is running out for patients who need relief now.

Talk is cheap, said Greenberg. Prescription drugs arent.