Consumer News: Latest food recalls, 12/24/2025

The glow can be a sign of a serious eye condition

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• A holiday photo could reveal a hidden medical emergency. An unusual white or yellow reflection in a childs eye may be an early warning sign of serious eye disease.

• The condition, known as the glow, is often first spotted by parentsnot doctors. Flash photography in dim lighting makes the holidays a prime time for accidental discoveries.

• Early detection can save sight, eyes, and lives. Experts urge families to review their seasonal photos carefully and seek prompt care if they notice anything unusual.

As families gather this season to capture memories around twinkling lights and festive tables, a simple photograph could reveal something far more important than a perfect smile: a medical emergency hiding in plain sight.

Pediatric ophthalmologists refer to the phenomenon as the glow, a white, yellow, or opaque reflection that appears in a childs pupil in flash photography. While its easy to dismiss as a camera glitch and swipe past, that bright spot can be a critical clue to serious eye conditions, including retinoblastomaa rare childhood cancer that can be fatal if left untreated.

Thats why the American Academy of Ophthalmology is urging parents to take a closer look at their holiday pictures. In many cases, a parent or relative is the first to notice the abnormal reflection. These conditions are rarely caught during routine well-child visits, even though early detection is crucial.

20 different eye disorders

Medically known as leukocoria, the glow can signal more than 20 different eye disorders. Among them are retinoblastoma, Coats disease, retinal detachment, cataracts, infections that form granulomas, persistent fetal vasculature, and even severe differences in vision between the eyes that may require corrective lenses.

The holiday season creates almost perfect conditions for spotting the glow. Families take more photos, lighting is often dim, flash is commonly used, and children are photographed repeatedly from different angles by multiple peopleall factors that increase the chance of capturing the telltale reflection.

Parents are advised to look specifically for a white, yellow, or cloudy spot in the pupil, not the familiar red-eye effect, which is normal. The glow may appear when a child is looking slightly away from the camera, but the most concerning cases occur when the child is looking directly at it. Using flash and turning off red-eye reduction can make the reflection easier to spot.

When to be concerned

Seeing the glow once doesnt automatically mean something is wrong; sometimes its simply light reflecting off the optic nerve. But if it appears more than once in the same eye, experts recommend bringing those photos to an eye care professionaleither an optometrist or an ophthalmologistand asking for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

Doctors say the end of the year often brings a spike in these accidental diagnoses. Jesse L. Berry, MD, director of the Ocular Oncology and Retinoblastoma Program at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and a professor of ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, sees an increase in cases in late December and early January, when parents review photos from Christmas morning or New Years celebrations.

It can be vision-saving, eye-saving, and life-saving, Berry said. The earlier it is picked up, the easier it is for us to treat these tumors and to save the eyes and the vision.

Awareness efforts have grown in recent years, including Know the Glow, an international campaign founded by Megan Webber after her childs eye disease was first detected in a family photograph. Advocates hope that as more parents learn what to look for, a quick glance through holiday photos could make all the difference.

The company vows to appeal, calling the verdict fundamentally flawed

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• A jury returned a record-setting $15 billion verdict against Johnson & Johnson over claims tied to its talc-based baby powder.

• Plaintiffs argued the company failed to adequately warn consumers about cancer risks allegedly linked to long-term use of the product.

• Johnson & Johnson said it plans to appeal the decision, calling the verdict unsupported by science and evidence.

In one of the largest product-liability verdicts in U.S. history, a jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $15 billion in damages to plaintiffs who alleged that the companys talc-based baby powder caused cancer after years of regular use.

The verdict, delivered after a lengthy trial, marks a dramatic escalation in the long-running legal battle over talc products and their alleged links to ovarian cancer and other illnesses. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said the award reflects years of corporate misconduct and a failure to protect consumers from known risks.

Jurors heard testimony from medical experts and internal company documents that plaintiffs said showed Johnson & Johnson was aware of potential dangers associated with talc but continued to market the products as safe.

Johnson & Johnson has consistently denied those claims. In a statement released after the verdict, the company said the decision was fundamentally flawed and vowed to challenge it in court.

Decades of independent scientific studies confirm that talc does not cause cancer, the company said. This verdict contradicts the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and will not stand on appeal.

Broad wave of litigation

The case is part of a broader wave of litigation that has dogged the healthcare conglomerate for years. Tens of thousands of lawsuits nationwide have alleged harm from talc products, prompting Johnson & Johnson to stop selling its talc-based baby powder in the U.S. and Canada in 2020, and later globally.

Legal experts say the size of the verdict could have far-reaching implications, both for Johnson & Johnsons litigation strategy and for other companies facing mass tort claims.

Investors reacted cautiously, with Johnson & Johnson shares slipping in early trading as markets digested the news. Analysts noted that while the company has previously succeeded in reducing or overturning large talc verdicts on appeal, the sheer scale of the award raises new questions about potential financial exposure.

Power failures often lead to risky behavior

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Federal safety officials are warning that winter power outages sharply increase the risk of deadly carbon monoxide poisoning and house fires.

• Portable generators, heaters, candles, and charcoal grills can become lethal if used incorrectly indoors.

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission says simple precautions can save lives during storms and freezing weather.

As winter storms and bitter cold threaten millions of Americans, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging consumers to take extra precautions to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, fires, and other home hazards that often spike during power outages.

One of the biggest dangers comes from gasoline-powered portable generators, which many households rely on when electricity is knocked out. According to the CPSC, carbon monoxide poisoning linked to portable generators kills an average of about 100 people in the U.S. each year.

CO is especially dangerous because it is colorless and odorless, meaning victims may lose consciousness before realizing anything is wrong.

CPSC officials stress that generators should never be operated inside homes, garages, basements, crawlspaces, sheds, or other enclosed areaseven if doors or windows are open.

Ventilation is inadequate

Ventilation from open windows is not enough to prevent deadly CO buildup. Generators should only be used outdoors, at least 20 feet away from the home, and never on porches or in carports. Exhaust should be directed away from buildings, and nearby windows and vents should be closed or sealed.

Consumers are also advised to follow manufacturers instructions carefully, especially during rain or snow, maintain generators regularly, and consider models equipped with automatic carbon monoxide shut-off features.

Working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are another critical line of defense. The CPSC recommends installing alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, with smoke alarms inside each bedroom. Alarms with battery backup are especially important during outages, and interconnected CO alarms provide added protection by sounding throughout the house when danger is detected. Alarms should be tested monthly, and batteries replaced as needed. If an alarm sounds, residents should get outside immediately and call 911.

Winter weather can also block exterior vents for furnaces and other fuel-burning appliances.Officials advise keeping snow and ice cleared away from these vents to prevent carbon monoxide from backing up into the home.

Fire risks

Portable heaters pose additional fire and safety risks if used improperly. The CPSC warns that heaters should be kept at least three feet away from anything flammable, including beds, curtains, furniture, and clothing. Heaters should sit on stable, level surfaces and should never be left running unattended in confined spaces. Electric heaters should always be plugged directly into wall outlets, not power strips, and cords should never be run under rugs or carpets. Extra caution is urged in homes with children or pets.

Other common winter hazards include charcoal and candles. Charcoal grills should never be used indoors or in garages, even with doors open, because burning charcoal produces lethal carbon monoxide.

Candles should be used sparingly, kept away from flammable materials, and never left unattended. Safety officials recommend flashlights or battery-operated candles as safer alternatives during outages.

Finally, the CPSC reminds consumers to take gas leaks seriously. Anyone who smells or hears leaking gas should leave the home immediately and contact local gas authorities from outside. Electronics, including lights and phones, should not be used before evacuating, as they could trigger an explosion.

With severe weather already affecting large parts of the country, safety officials say preparation and caution can mean the difference between a manageable inconvenience and a life-threatening emergency.

The agency said it is closely monitoring review-related practices

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Federal Trade Commission staff sent letters to 10 companies, warning them of potential violations of the agencys Consumer Review Rule, which governs how product reviews and testimonials can be used in advertising and marketing.

• The warnings come amid heightened concern about deceptive online reviews, especially during the holiday shopping season when consumers heavily rely on ratings and testimonials.

• The FTC emphasized that violations of the Rule can lead to significant penalties, including federal lawsuits and civil fines of up to $53,088 per violation.

The Federal Trade Commission has issued warning letters to 10 companies, cautioning them that certain practices involving online consumer reviews may violate the agencys Consumer Review Rule. The letters, sent by FTC staff, highlight the agencys ongoing scrutiny of how businesses collect, present, and promote customer feedback.

Fake or false consumer reviews are detrimental to consumers ability to make accurate and informed choices about the products they are buying something of particular importance during the holiday season, said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection.

He added that as shoppers increasingly depend on online reviews, the agency remains committed to ensuring companies comply with the Rule.

Designed to prevent deceptive practices

The Consumer Review Rule is designed to prevent deceptive and unfair practices related to reviews and testimonials. It prohibits misrepresenting whether a reviewer actually used a product or service, as well as distorting whether the reviewers experience was positive or negative.

The Rule also bans companies from offering compensation or incentives that are conditioned on reviewers expressing a particular viewpoint, whether favorable or unfavorable.

In addition, businesses must disclose when reviews are written by company insiders or their immediate family members. Other provisions address practices such as suppressing certain reviews, manipulating company-controlled review platforms, and misusing indicators of social media influence, including follower counts or view totals, in a misleading way.

Companies put on notice

The FTC stressed that the warning letters do not constitute formal findings that the companies violated the Rule. Instead, they are intended to put recipients on notice of their legal obligations and the potential consequences of noncompliance. According to the agency, violations of the Consumer Review Rule can result in enforcement actions, including federal lawsuits and civil penalties of up to $53,088 for each violation.

By sending these letters, the FTC signaled that it is closely monitoring review-related practices and expects companies to take proactive steps to ensure their marketing accurately reflects genuine consumer experiences.