The service is free for Prime members

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Service now covers more than 1,000 U.S. communities, to reach 2,300 locations by year-end

• Fresh produce, dairy, meats, and baked goods now available within hours alongside millions of Amazon staples

• Prime members get free same-day grocery delivery on orders over $25

Amazon has announced an expansion of its Same-Day Delivery service to include thousands of fresh grocery items, now available in 1,000-plus cities and towns across the United States, with plans to double coverage by the end of 2025.

Customers can order perishables like produce, dairy, meat, baked goods, and frozen foods, along with household products, electronics, fashion, and more all arriving together, often within hours.

Prime members qualify for free Same-Day Delivery on qualifying orders of $25 or more. Non-members pay $12.99 per delivery. Orders under $25 incur a $2.99 fee for Prime customers.

Early regional tests saw Amazon grocery shoppers returning twice as often, with bananas, strawberries, apples, and avocados among the top sellers. In several markets, Amazon said strawberries even sold better than AirPods. CEO Doug Herrington described the rollout as a quick and easy experience for customers everything from milk and apples to mystery novels delivered in hours.

Shot across the bow of other supermarkets

The service got its first trial in 2024 in Phoenix and was expanded this year to Orlando and Kansas City, Mo. Amazon said it decided to go national after customers embraced the convenience.

The service is likely to put pressure on existing brick-and-mortar supermarkets to compete. Neil Saunders, managing director and retail analyst at GlobalData Retail, told CNN the service will almost certainly grow Amazons food market share.

As Amazon already has a lot of the logistical infrastructure in place, it should be able to grow profitably, which is something other online grocers have struggled to do, he told CNN.

Amazon will use a temperature-controlled network and six-point quality checks to ensure freshness, the company said. Insulated, recyclable bags keep groceries cool en route, building on standards set by Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market. The move underscores Amazons ambition in the $100 billion-plus annual grocery sector and is set to further challenge rivals with its blend of speed, selection, and convenience.

Study finds Americans often misjudge which personal choices impact climate change the most

• New research shows people overestimate the climate benefits of recycling and efficient light bulbs, while underestimating the impact of flying, owning dogs, and using renewable energy.

• The most impactful actionsavoiding flights, not owning a dog, and switching to renewable electricitywere among the most misunderstood.

• Experts say marketing, visibility, and misinformation contribute to the publics inaccurate rankings of climate-friendly actions.

Many Americans pride themselves on their burlap shopping bags, vegan snacks and recycling everything in sight. But a new study recently published by the National Academy of Sciences finds that many such cherished traditions don't actually do all that much to reduce climate change, while other harmful behaviors like jet flights andcarnivorous dogs are much more damaging.

Researchers asked participants to rank the climate impact of various behaviors, from switching to energy-efficient light bulbs to avoiding plane flights. They found widespread misconceptions. While avoiding flights, not adopting a dog, and using renewable electricity ranked highest in actual climate benefit, they were also the most underestimated by participants. Conversely, actions like recycling, changing light bulbs, and using less energy for laundrythough beneficialwere overestimated in their climate impact.

People over-assign impact to actually pretty low-impact actions such as recycling, and underestimate the actual carbon impact of behaviors much more carbon intensive, like flying or eating meat, said study co-author Madalina Vlasceanu of Stanford University.

Several factors may explain the gap. Jiaying Zhao, a psychology and sustainability professor at the University of British Columbia, noted that visible and frequent actions, like recycling, feel more significant than infrequent but high-impact behaviors like flying. Marketing campaigns have also long promoted recycling and efficient appliances, while often ignoring the emissions from activities such as air travel or pet ownership.

Flying dogs are the worst

Dogs, in particular, contribute more to climate change than many realize due to the meat-heavy diets they require. Beef production, a common protein in pet food, is especially carbon-intensive and often linked to deforestation. Air travel is another major source of emissions, with a single round-trip flight from New York to Los Angeles producing over 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide per passenger.

Switching to renewable energy, experts say, is among the most effective choices an individual can make, significantly reducing emissions from home heating, cooling, and electricity use.

The researchers found that when participants were given accurate information about the climate impact of different actions, they adjusted their priorities toward more impactful changes. People do learn from these interventions, Vlasceanu said. After learning, they are more willing to commit to actually more impactful actions.

Kellogg's agrees to remove toxic dyes from its cereals following negotiations with Texas

Young cowpokes and others sidling up to the breakfast bar won't be blinded by the glare from their cereal bowls anymore. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has twisted Kellogg's arms and wrestled an agreement that the company will permanently remove toxic dyes from its cereals.

Following months of investigating and negotiating, Im proud to officially say Kelloggs will stop putting these unhealthy ingredients in its cereals, said Paxton in a news release. The signed [agreement] demonstrates that Kelloggs is committed to keeping this pledge, and I commend the company for doing the right thing. I encourage other food manufacturers to sign similar agreements to demonstrate their commitment to helping Americans live healthier lives.

Kelloggs cereals have played an important role in US consumers lives for more than a century, and we look forward to continuing that tradition, the company wrote.

It's not clear if the agreement affects only Texas. Generally, when one state typically California regulates a consumer product, manufacturers apply the modification nationwide.

"A significant milestone"

The parties have signed anAssurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC), which certifies that the company is legally agreeing to remove artificial food colorings from its cereals by the end of 2027. This historic legal agreement with a major food company represents a significant milestone in the movement to remove toxic dyes from foods and protect the health of all Americans, Paxton said.

While other companies have verbally committed to removing food dyes, Kelloggs is the first to officially sign a legally binding agreement confirming that it will remove food colorings.

Paxton previously issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) to Kelloggs in February of this year and formallyannouncedthe investigation in April. The investigation was launched after Kelloggs claimed it would remove petroleum-based food colorings in the United States, but did not do so. Instead, it removed these toxic ingredients in Canada and Europe while continuing to put different types of blue, red, and yellow dyes in American cereals.

Dive into dcor, costumes for all (even pets!), and treats starting at just $1

• Target just dropped a Halloween collection online featuring over 1,500 items, with prices kicking off at just $1.

• Dcor spans three on-trend vibes moody Victorian, classic orange and black, and magical / iridescent with most pieces under $25.

• Costumes range from pop-culture characters to Target-themed looks and adaptive options, starting around $10, plus unique candy deals like spooky gummies and candy noodles.

Halloween has officially hit Target.

The retailer dropped an expansive lineup of more than 1,500 Halloween items on its website, with prices beginning at just $1. The goal is to help consumers prepare for the Halloween season ahead of time and without breaking the bank.

We know millions of families love Halloween and dont want to wait until October to shop, so Target is ready with over 1,500 new items so you can start preparing right now, Rick Gomez, chief commercial officer, Target, said in a statement.

With great value on delicious treats from Favorite Day and beloved national brands, stylish decor, and costumes for kids of all ages, Target has everything you need to celebrate a magical season.

What you need to know (budget, dcor, costumes & candy)

• Dcor Trends (mostly under $25)

  • Moody, bleak, and beautiful: Dark-romantic, Victorian aesthetics gold snakeskin taper candles, skull-and-pumpkin pillows, and luxe gothic pieces from the Threshold collection.

  • Orange, black, and boo: The Hyde & EEK! Boutique brings the classic Halloween palette with staples like Featherly Friends and the larger-than-life Lewis the grinning eight-foot pumpkin ghoul, plus new pals: werewolf, vampire, and witch.

  • Mystical, magical, enchanting: Iridescent witch hats, fringed pumpkins, and shimmery skeletons.

• Costumes (starting at $10)
  • Expect hundreds of fresh options for everyone from toddlers to adults and even your pets.
  • Pop-culture lovers can pick from Spider-Man, Gabbys Dollhouse, Minecraft, Wicked characters, and more. However, Target fans owe it to themselves: infant and toddler Bullseye dog costumes are already trending, as are the Bullseye semi-truck looks. Plus, food costumes (like Diet Coke, M&Ms, charcuterie boards) deliver whimsy, while adaptive options (like mermaid or firefighter costumes, light-up electric bones) make sure everyone can get in on the fun.
• Treats & Party Snacks
  • Targets got candy covered, too. Shoppers can find Joyride Spooky Gummies and Nerds Gummy Clusters exclusively at Target, alongside Favorite Day picks like peelable gummy apples, freeze-dried worm candy, sour slime, and spooky witches-brew noodles all for under $5. There are also party-ready value bags starting around $9.99, and party favors going for just $1.

Right now, the Halloween goodies are exclusively online but beginning in September, everything will hit shelves in Target stores.