Consumer News: The states where groceries hurt the most — and what you can do about it

More than 650,000 units are affected

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Nearly 651,000 gallons of bottled water recalled in Illinois and Wisconsin over sanitary concerns.

• FDA classifies the action as a Class II recall, citing products bottled under insanitary conditions.

• Recall remains ongoing; no press release has been issued by the company.

Valley Springs Artesian Gold, LLC is recalling nearly 651,000 units of bottled water distributed in Illinois and Wisconsin after federal regulators determined the products were bottled under insanitary conditions. Some bottles may have also been distributed to other states.

The recall, identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as Event ID 98410, was initiated voluntarily by the Portage, Wisconsin-based company on Feb. 6, 2026. The FDA classified the action as a Class II recall on Feb. 26, indicating that use of the product could cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, though the risk of serious harm is considered remote.

The recall covers three one-gallon (128 fl. oz.) plastic jug products with plastic caps:

• Valley Springs 100% Natural Bottled Water (UPC 0 31193-00701 9), totaling 379,868 units.

• Valley Springs 100% Natural Bottled Water with Fluoride Added (UPC 0 31193-01301 0), totaling 7,840 units.

• Valley Springs Steamed Distilled Water (UPC 0 31193-00601 2), totaling 263,440 units.

What to know

In total, 651,148 units are affected. The FDA report lists water was bottled under insanitary conditions as the reason for the recall. The agency did not specify the exact nature of the sanitary deficiencies in its enforcement report.

The company notified consignees and/or the public using multiple communication methods, including combinations of email, fax, letter, press release, telephone, or in-person visits, according to the FDA filing. However, the enforcement report notes that no formal press release was issued specifically for the recall.

As of the FDAs latest update, the recall remains ongoing and has not been terminated.

Consumers who purchased one-gallon Valley Springs bottled water products in Illinois or Wisconsin are advised to check the UPC codes and discontinue use of affected items. Retailers and distributors have been instructed to remove the products from sale.

Oil prices have jumped, but so far, there has been little effect at the pump

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Its been a fast-moving 48 hours in global energy markets following major developments involving Iran and renewed tensions in the Middle East.

• With so many headlines hitting at once, its important to separate what is actually happening from what is simply being speculated.

• Early market reactions are driven more by risk pricing than confirmed supply disruptions but uncertainty itself is now a key driver of energy costs.

The U.S. and allied military strikes on Iran over the weekend have roiled global energy markets, immediately pushing crude oil prices higher as traders price in geopolitical risk and the specter of further escalation. While the Strait of Hormuz a maritime chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil supply passes remains open, fears around its potential closure or disruption have intensified price volatility.

In the wake of the attacks, benchmark crude prices surged sharply when trading resumed, with Brent and U.S. oil futures climbing sharply amid concern over regional stability.

Analysts note that markets are currently pricing in elevated geopolitical risk rather than confirmed cuts in production or exports. According to recent industry analysis, while leadership turmoil in Tehran adds uncertainty, it does not at this stage equate to lost supply. Strategic risk premiums are being built into oil pricing, pushing wholesale fuel costs up before any physical disruptions occur.

Interestingly, the national average gasoline price has edged lower in some areas due to routine price cycling, GasBuddy said in an analysis over the weekend. That relief is likely temporary.

Short-term gas prices may rise

Despite some localized short-term price relief driven by routine gas station price cycling, experts say this softness is likely temporary. As oil markets reopen fully and wholesale costs adjust to the heightened risk environment, pressure on pump prices is expected to return.

Recent projections suggest the national average U.S. gasoline price could creep back above $3.00 per gallon, with room for an additional 1015 cent increase over the coming week or two depending on broader oil market behavior.

This aligns with forecasts from GasBuddys analytics team, who caution that without physical supply disruptions, increases will likely be incremental rather than explosive barring escalation beyond current tensions.

Why the Strait of Hormuz matters

The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point for global energy flow, and its status greatly influences market psychology. Although shipping continues for now, the threat of Iranian attempts to disrupt tanker traffic or even warnings that have already caused some vessels to anchor outside the strait have introduced additional costs and risk premiums into the market.

Analysts say the key factor for prices isnt the current flow of oil but what might happen if the conflict escalates and significantly impacts oil distribution routes. Historically, markets have tended to spike on fear and uncertainty long before any physical constraints occur.

Stop tossing your receipts theyre worth real money

• Scan every receipt. Upload it to apps like Fetch and Ibotta to earn points or real cash and stack with sales and coupons for bigger savings.

• Use receipt coupons. Stores like CVS Pharmacy print next-purchase discounts and rewards right on your receipt. Dont toss them.

• Join shopping panels. Programs like NielsenIQ and Amazon Shopper Panel pay you for uploading receipts and sharing purchase data.

Most shoppers toss their receipt in the trash as they leave the store. Thats a mistake.

In 2026, your receipt is more than just proof of purchase; it can actually earn you some money.

Ill teach you how to make it happen with tools like cashback apps, targeted coupons, rebates, and even paid surveys.

If you stack these correctly, you can turn one grocery trip into multiple layers of savings.

Heres how to turn every receipt into cash.

1. Fetch: the easy entry point

Fetch (formerly Fetch Rewards) is a simple-to-use app that pays you in points for scanning almost any receipt into the app.

This includes receipts for any grocery store, gas station, restaurant, or drugstore.

When you snap a picture of your receipt via the app, you earn:

• Base points for every receipt
• Bonus points for featured brands
• Extra promotions for specific products

Points can then be redeemed for gift cards to major retailers, movie theaters, and restaurants.

Fetch is great because it doesnt require you to pre-select offers before you go shopping. You just shop like you normally would, at any store, then scan your receipts when you get home. The points you earn will automatically be added to your Fetch account.

With consistent use, its very reasonable to assume youll earn $50-$150 annually for doing very little.

Pro tip: Be sure to link your Amazon account to your Fetch account, and youll score 25 points for every Amazon order you place. Youll be surprised how quickly the points add up.

2. Ibotta: the high-value cash-back option

Ibotta is one of the most popular cash-back apps, with the average user earning over $260 a year.

They pay you with real cash via PayPal, Venmo, or direct deposit for buying specific products and brands when grocery shopping.

To make it happen, you must:

• Add offers via the Ibotta app before you go shopping.
• Submit your receipt or link a loyalty account to collect your cashback.

The stacking opportunity that Ibotta provides is where you can really cut into your grocery bill.

You can stack the following:

• Store sale price
• Manufacturer coupon
• Ibotta cash-back offer
• Credit card rewards (if available)

That comes out to four layers of potential savings on one product.

When you use Ibotta strategically like this, you can easily push your discounts into 5080% off territory.

Pro tip: Get in the habit of photographing every receipt. Before tossing it, snap a quick photo and store it in a Receipts folder on your phone. You never know when that photo will unlock rebates, price-match claims, warranty coverage, and even product recall refunds.

3. Receipt Hog and CoinOut: multiply the same receipt

Similar to Fetch, Receipt Hog and CoinOut are two more popular apps that will turn your receipts into rewards.

If you really want to maximize your receipts, I recommend downloading them as well. It literally takes less than 30 seconds to open the app and snap a picture of your receipt.

And heres the good news, you can upload the same grocery receipt to all four of these:

• Fetch
• Ibotta
• Receipt Hog
• CoinOut

They work completely independent of each other and they turn one grocery run into four earning opportunities.

The payouts are modest individually, but when you use all four consistently, youre easily looking at $150$300 back in your pocket over the course of a year.

Pro tip: Have you ever considered how much you spend on beverages/soda in the average month? Highlight every non-essential drink on your receipt once a month and total it. Beverages often quietly consume 1020% of a grocery bill. Cutting just half of those purchases can free up $25$60 per month with almost no pain.

Don't ignore coupons printed on your receipt

Some of the best receipt savings dont always come from apps. Often, you can find the savings directly on your printed receipt.

CVS receipt coupons

I use to laugh at the ridiculously long receipt that CVS Pharmacy would print out whenever I bought something.

Then one day I took a close look at it and its actually filled with some really good stuff:

• $3$10 off category coupons
• Percentage-off entire purchase offers
• ExtraCare rewards
• Personalized product discounts

Savvy CVS shoppers will do the following:

1. Buy a small item in a category you frequently use.
2. This triggers a come-back soon coupon.
3. Use that coupon on a larger purchase on your next trip.
4. Last, stack it with manufacturer coupons and sale pricing for max savings.

If you do this consistently, CVS receipt coupons alone can generate smart shoppers an extra $20$40 per month in savings.

Monetize your receipts via shopping panels

Some research panels will actually pay you to upload your receipts and track your purchases for market research purposes.

They are not glamorous, but they also dont require much effort.

Here are three worth checking out:

• NielsenIQ Consumer Panel Theyll pay you to scan barcodes as you shop and report purchases once you checkout. You earn points which are redeemable for gift cards and merchandise.
• Kantar Shop & Scan Panel You simply scan the items you buy, and sometimes youll be asked to complete a short survey. In exchange, theyll give you reward points you can exchange for gift cards.
• Amazon Shopper Panel Youll earn monthly rewards by sharing receipts on stuff you buy outside of Amazon and by completing surveys about your opinion on certain brands or products. This one is invitation-only, but youre urged to download the app and tap on Receipts or Surveys within the app to check your eligibility.

The real grocery crisis isnt price its paycheck

• States like Mississippi and West Virginia rank highest because groceries take a bigger bite of lower incomes.

• Consider cutting convenience foods, swap to store brands, and reduce waste. Even a small drop in how much of your paycheck goes to groceries can save hundreds a year.

• Check unit prices every time. Bigger isnt always cheaper. Compare cost per ounce, pivot when items spike, and swap in frozen or alternate proteins to stay flexible.

Grocery prices are up over 20% since 2019, according to USDA data. However, heres the twist that most people miss:

The states where groceries cost the most arent necessarily the states with the highest food prices.

In actuality, they are the states where incomes are the lowest.

A new analysis from WalletHub found that residents in states like Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas spend the highest percentage of their income on groceries, even though many of those states actually have relatively low food prices.

For example:

• Mississippi households spend about 2.6% of their median monthly income on groceries the highest in the nation.
• West Virginia follows closely at 2.54%.
• Arkansas takes third and clocks in at 2.44%.

Meanwhile, residents in Massachusetts and New Jersey spend just around 1.5%, even though their grocery prices are often higher.

That begs the obvious question: Whats the difference?

Income. It all boils down to a states median income.

When incomes are lower, even those cheap groceries tend to feel expensive for families.

Heres an actionable playbook for you to try if groceries are eating a big chunk of your paycheck every month.

1. Stop budgeting groceries last budget them first

Most people build a budget around their fixed expenses like rent, insurance, and utilities. Then they see whats leftover and try to estimate what they can realistically spend on food.

Try flipping that script on its head.

Set a weekly food number first, then reverse-engineer your shopping list to fit it. That will inevitably end up forcing better buying decisions in the grocery aisle.

Pro tip: Start by creating a staples first rule. This would include protein, produce, rice, pasta, and beans. Then add your luxury items only if theres room left in your budget.

2. Focus on percentage of income not just price tags

If your income is tight, the goal isnt just to find the cheapest store. Its to actually reduce how much of your paycheck goes to food overall.

That means:

• Fewer impulse convenience foods
• More bulk basics
• Swapping name brands for store brands
• Reducing food waste

Even small wins like trimming your grocery share from 2.6% to 2.2% of income can free up hundreds per year.

3. Track unit price closely

Inflation has made comparison shopping mandatory.

Always check:

• Cost per ounce
• Cost per pound
• Cost per serving

Buying in bulk from Costco and Sams Club doesnt automatically mean better deals. Sometimes the smaller size wins, which means you need to be checking unit price, otherwise youre just guessing.

4. Watch income creep before grocery creep

In higher-income states, grocery costs take up a smaller percentage of earnings, even if the prices are higher.

Theres a lesson hidden there.

As your income rises, resist the urge to upgrade every food purchase to a more expensive brands. Keep buying like you did before the raise and bank the difference.

5. Adjust by season, not by habit

If eggs spike in your state (West Virginia, for example, ranks higher in egg prices), pivot to alternative proteins temporarily.

When produce is high, lean into cheaper frozen veggies.

Grocery prices are dynamic and constantly changing. Your shopping strategy should be too.