Findings from a recent study explore coffee contaminants so you can sip smarter

• Fifty-seven coffee products from 45 top-selling brands were tested in a wide-ranging chemical screening.

• Results found trace amounts of glyphosate, widespread AMPA (even in organic coffee), acrylamide, and phthalates varying by roast, packaging, and origin.

• For the cleanest cup: reach for dark or light roasts, avoid medium, and prefer bagged or pod packaging over cans; organic options still had AMPA.
  

Coffee fuels our mornings and brings people together but whats actually in that cup?

The Clean Label Project, a nonprofit that works to bring transparency to consumer products, teamed up with a lab to uncover what might be hiding beyond the nutrition facts.

Spoiler: safe on the label doesnt always mean clean in the beans.

The study

The organization sampled 57 bestselling coffee products from 45 brands. They made their picks based on results from Nielsen, SPINS, Amazon, and organic market listings.

Researchers ran 7,069 contaminant tests. Everything from heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury) to mycotoxins, pesticides, phthalates, glyphosate, and AMPA (a glyphosate breakdown product) was measured.

The tests were conducted in an ISO/IEC 17025accredited lab using advanced techniques.

The results

Heres what they found:

• Glyphosate turned up in just two samples but AMPA showed up in 72% of them, including every single organic coffee, even though glyphosate is banned in organic farming.

• Acrylamide, a byproduct of high-temp roasting, was in 100% of the samples. Though each cup was within EU limits, typical servings could push daily exposure beyond safety thresholds. Interestingly, light and dark roasts contained less acrylamide than medium roasts, and canned coffee had more than bagged or pod varieties.

• Phthalates, linked to hormone disruption and other health concerns, were found in 70% of samples especially in canned and pod packaging.

Choosing cleaner coffee

So, what can you do to make your cup of joe a little more guilt-free?

• Opt for light or dark roasts, and steer clear of medium roasts when possible.

• Go for coffees in bags or pods over cans to minimize phthalate exposure.

• Organic doesnt guarantee AMPA-free, but it typically has fewer industrial contaminants.

• Consider the region coffees from Africa tended to have lower heavy-metal levels, while volcanic Hawaiian soil often meant higher levels.
  

The Clean Label Project also identified 16 coffees that deliver on safety and purity, which means consumers can feel good about buying and drinking them. Heres the list:

• 365 Whole Foods Market Caramel Medium Roast (bag)

• Starbucks Colombia (pod)

• Camerons Vanilla Hazlenut (bag)

• Counter Culture Forty-six (bag)

• Dunkin Hazelnut (bag)

• Eight OClock Original Roast (bag)

• Fabula Dark Roast (pod)

• Great Value French Roast (pod)

• Groundwork Organic Ethiopia (bag)

• ILLY Classico (can)

• Kicking Horse Three Sisters (bag)

• Nespresso Diavolitto (pod)

• Newmans Own Special Blend (pod)

• Peace Coffee Birchwood (bag)

• San Francisco Rainforest Blend (pod)

• Seattles Best Post Alley (bag)

New midsize EV pickup will start at about $30,000, Ford promises

• Ford announces a new Universal EV Production System and EV platform to streamline manufacturing and reduce costs.

• First vehicle will be a midsize, four-door electric pickup starting around $30,000, launching in 2027.

• $2 billion retooling of Louisville Assembly Plant will secure 2,200 jobs, with no layoffs planned.

Ford Motor Co. is launching what it says is a sweeping new approach to electric vehicle production, anchored by a midsize, four-door electric pickup it says will offer breakthrough affordability when it arrives in 2027. The vehicle, expected to start at about $30,000, will be built at Fords Louisville Assembly Plant, which will undergo a $2 billion retooling later this year.

The Louisville facility currently produces the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs, employing 2,800 hourly and 200 salaried workers. Ford said the new truck will ensure the jobs of 2,200 hourly employees. About 600 positions will be affected, but Ford stressed there are no layoff planssome workers will be offered retirement buyouts, while others can transfer to nearby facilities. Company officials hinted additional EV models could eventually be added in Louisville, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The investment is part of nearly $5 billion in spending that includes Fords $3 billion BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall, Michigan. That plant will produce prismatic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries starting next year for the Louisville-built truck. The combined projects are expected to create or secure almost 4,000 U.S. jobs and bolster domestic supply chains.

"Model T Moment"

Ford CEO Jim Farley framed the announcement as the companys Model T moment, emphasizing the need to create profitable, American-made affordable EVs that can compete globallyespecially against Chinese automakers. Developed by Fords California-based Skunkworks team, the Universal EV Platform will reduce parts by 20%, cut assembly time by 15%, and use a cobalt- and nickel-free battery pack that doubles as the trucks floor.

While Ford has not released performance specs, range estimates, or charging details for the new pickup, Farley said the total cost of ownership over five years will be lower than that of a three-year-old used Tesla Model Y. The truck will be similar in size to todays Ford Maverick.

The news comes as Ford delays its full-size electric pickup successor to the F-150 Lightning until 2028 and pushes back its E-Transit van launch to the same year. Current production of the Lightning in Dearborn and the Mach-E in Mexico will continue unchanged.

ufts-led research shows calories from dollar store food nearly doubled from 2008 to 2020

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

The digital divide hasn't closed. What are the options?

AOL, one of the last major providers of dial-up internet in the United States, will soon retire its decades-old service. The shutdown marks the end of an era for the distinctive screech and hiss of a modem connection and leaves a small but significant number of Americans facing a tough question: whats next if you still cant get broadband?

Although the FCC says more than 90% of U.S. households now have access to broadband, millions still live in areas where high-speed internet is unavailable, unreliable, or unaffordable. For many rural residents, AOLs dial-up was slow but dependable, using the same copper telephone lines that power landline calls.

The end of dial-up wont directly cut people off from the internet, but it will force them to seek alternatives often at higher costs or with more complicated setups.

Alternatives to dial-up in 2025

1. Satellite Internet
Providers like Starlink, HughesNet, and Viasat can reach nearly anywhere in the country. Starlinks newer low-Earth-orbit satellites offer far better speeds and lower latency than traditional satellite services, but equipment costs can top $500 and monthly plans often exceed $100.

2. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
Companies like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T offer home internet via 4G LTE or 5G networks. If your cell signal is strong, speeds can rival cable, with prices starting around $50/month. However, rural areas with weak coverage may not benefit.

3. Mobile Hotspots
Using a smartphone or a dedicated hotspot device, users can connect laptops and desktops to cellular data. This is a flexible option but can be expensive if your carriers data caps are low. It, like fixed wireless, may not work in rural areas or in more urbanized areas with lots of network congestion.

4. DSL and Fiber (Where Available)
Some regions still have DSL providers operating over phone lines much faster than dial-up but slower than modern broadband. Where fiber has expanded, its the gold standard, offering gigabit speeds.

5. Community and Municipal Networks
A growing number of towns are building their own broadband infrastructure or partnering with nonprofits to deliver affordable internet access, often with grant funding.

The loss of AOL dial-up underscores the ongoing challenges in bridging Americas digital divide. Federal and state broadband initiatives, along with private investment, are racing to expand access but for some, the transition may be bumpy.