Consumer News: Eddie Bauer to close 174 stores as bankruptcy process moves forward

The shellfish may be tainted with Norovirus

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• FDA warns restaurants and retailers in nine states not to serve or sell certain Manila clams harvested in Washington state due to possible norovirus contamination.

• Consumers in Washington are urged not to eat specific raw oysters harvested from the same area during the same time period.

• The shellfish are linked to a norovirus-like illness outbreak, according to federal and Washington state health officials.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning restaurants, retailers and consumers about potentially contaminated shellfish harvested in Washington state that may be linked to a norovirus outbreak.

The advisory covers certain raw oysters harvested by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and Manila clams harvested by the Lummi Indian Business Council, both taken from the Drayton Harbor harvest area in Washington between Feb. 13 and March 3, 2026.

According to the FDA, the products may be contaminated with norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes gastrointestinal illness.

The oysters were distributed within Washington state, while the Manila clams were sent to restaurants and food retailers in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington, and may have reached additional states.

Recall tied to illness outbreak

The alert follows a March 4 notice from the Washington Department of Health, which informed federal officials about a recall of certain shellstock raw, live molluscan shellfish such as oysters and clams after reports of a norovirus-like illness associated with raw oyster consumption.

The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to sell or serve the affected shellfish and to dispose of them or coordinate destruction with their distributors.

Consumers are also being urged not to eat the oysters or clams if they may have purchased them.

Symptoms can appear quickly

Norovirus is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness. Infection typically develops 12 to 48 hours after exposure.

Common symptoms include:

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Nausea

• Stomach pain

Other symptoms may include fever, headache and body aches.

Most people recover within one to three days, but the illness can lead to dehydration, particularly in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

What restaurants should do

The FDA recommends that restaurants and food retailers:

• Stop serving or selling the recalled oysters and clams.

• Dispose of the products or contact distributors to arrange for destruction.

• Thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces and utensils that may have come into contact with the shellfish.

• Wash hands with soap and warm water after handling potentially contaminated products.

Food businesses that sold the shellfish in bulk should also sanitize containers used to store the products to prevent cross-contamination.

What consumers should do

Consumers who may have eaten the affected shellfish and develop symptoms of illness should contact a healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local health department.

The FDA said it is continuing to monitor the investigation and will provide updates as more information becomes available about the distribution of the shellfish.

The Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanada is among the first of the new items

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Taco Bell is rolling out several new menu items this month, including a new dessert and additional limited-time foods tied to its annual Live Ms Live event.

• The chain is expanding its value offerings, with items priced at $3 or less as part of its revamped Luxe Value Menu.

• More than 20 menu innovations are planned for 2026, with some debuting in March and others expected later this year.

Taco Bell is making a fresh push to lure diners this month, unveiling new menu items and limited-time promotions as part of a broader lineup of changes planned for 2026.

The fast-food chain kicked off the updates in early March with the nationwide debut of Chocolate Fudge & Caramel Empanadas, a two-piece dessert featuring one empanada filled with salted caramel and another with chocolate fudge. The items are sold together for about $2.99 and are expected to join Taco Bells value menu later in the month as a limited-time offering.

The new dessert is one of the first reveals tied to Taco Bells annual Live Ms Live event, where the company showcases upcoming food innovations and brand initiatives. This years event is being streamed publicly for the first time, highlighting what the company says will be more than 20 new menu items and collaborations arriving throughout 2026.

Beyond desserts

In addition to desserts, Taco Bell is experimenting with several new savory items expected to arrive later this month. Among those teased are Crispy Chicken Crunchwrap Sliders and Steak & Guac Nacho Fries, along with a new drink flavor in the Refresca lineup called Pink Passionfruit Refresca Freeze.

The changes come as Taco Bell continues to emphasize affordability. Earlier this year, the company launched its Luxe Value Menu, featuring 10 items priced at $3 or less. New items on that menu include the Mini Taco Salad, Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker, Beefy Potato Loaded Griller, Chips & Nacho Supreme Dip, and Salted Caramel Churros, alongside several returning favorites.

Executives say the revamped value menu is meant to give customers more inexpensive add-ons while keeping prices competitive in a tight fast-food market.

With additional menu announcements expected throughout the year, Taco Bells latest rollout suggests the chain is doubling down on a strategy that mixes limited-time novelty items with low-cost staples to keep fans coming back.

Limited-time promos are popping up across major chains this month

• Five Guys is offering a rare BOGO burger deal from March 1012, when you order through the app or website.

• Chipotle is offering a BOGO entre from 34 p.m. on Friday the 13th with a tattoo, while Shake Shack has a BOGO K-Shack promotion through March 16.

• Tropical Smoothie Cafe rewards members can get a free smoothie with purchase (March 915), Portillos has $1 cake slices with a $5 purchase, and Olive Gardens Buy One, Take One entre deal runs through May 3.

Several national chains are running limited-time March promotions that can score diners free food or deep discounts.

Here are some of the most notable deals right now.

Five Guys

This week, Five Guys is offering a BOGO deal where youll get a free burger with the purchase of any other burger.

• Deal runs March 1012.
• You must order through the Five Guys website or app.
• Use promo code FGAFTERPARTYat checkout.
• Get one free burger of equal or lesser value.
• Limit one redemption per account.

This promotion celebrates the chains 40th anniversary and is one of the rare discounts the brand offers.

Chipotle

Get a free entre at Chipotle on Friday the 13^th when you show a tattoo (real or fake) from 3-4 pm.

Here are the details:

• Free entre when you buy one and show some ink, fake or real (a Sharpie tattoo will work too).
• Valid in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, and Germany.
• Valid on Friday 3/13/26, from 3-4 pm local time only.

Don't overthink the tattoo.It's safe to assume they'll accept just about anything written on your body.

Shake Shack

Shake Shack is offering a BOGO deal on their K-Shack Korean menu.

• Use promo code SPICYSWEET at checkout.
• Valid through 3/16/26.

To qualify, you must add at least two of these items: K-Shack BBQ Burger, K-Shack Fried Chicken Sandwich, K-Shack Fried Chicken Bites, K-Shack Spicy BBQ Fries, K-Shack Spicy BBQ Cheese Fries, or the K-Shack Spicy Caramel Shake.

Krispy Kreme

This one is simple, weargreen and score a free green doughnutforSt. Patrick's Day.

• The deal happens onMarch 16th and 17th only.
• Wear something green in-person, or via the drive-thru, and get a freeGreen O'riginal Glazed doughnut.
• No purchase necessary.

Olive Garden

Olive Garden is offering a buy one entre in-person, and take another entre home for later, with prices starting as low as $14.99 for both entres.

• Valid for dine-in, to-go, and online ordering.
• Included entres are Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Angel Hair with Marinara, Four-Cheese Manicotti, Fettuccine Alfredo, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Lasagna Classico, and Chicken Parmigiana.
• Promotion starts 3/16/26 and runs until 5/03/26.

Deals like this tend to appear through email or the Olive Garden eClub, so signing up can unlock some surprise offers.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Rewards members can get a free smoothie every dayyes, every day, with purchase.

• Part of the chains Tropic Fan Fest.
• Rewards members get a free 24-oz smoothie.
• Must purchase a Tropic Bowl or food item.
• Limit one per day.
• Runs March 915.

Portillos

The folks at Portillos are offering a $1 slice of cake for rewards members, a small $5 purchase is required.

• Available to Portillos Perks rewards members.
• Buy $5 or more and get a $1 slice of birthday cake.
• Valid from March 915.

Thispromotionis celebrating the chains 63rd anniversary and the first birthday of its rewards program.

Oil price spike tied to conflict involving Iran raises fears of supply disruptions

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The nations average price of gasoline has risen 51.1 cents over the last week and stands at $3.45 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 12 million individual price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations nationwide.

• The national average is up 54.1 cents from a month ago and 41.6 cents higher than a year ago.

• The national average price of diesel jumped 85.9 cents in the last week to $4.599 per gallon.

U.S. motorists are facing one of the sharpest weekly increases in fuel prices in years as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East send shockwaves through global energy markets.

According to GasBuddy data, gasoline prices surged more than 50 cents per gallon in just a week after oil prices spiked following U.S. strikes on Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for global oil supplies. The sudden escalation has injected significant uncertainty into energy markets and raised concerns about prolonged supply disruptions.

In just a week, consumers have seen gasoline prices surge at one of the fastest rates in years after oil prices spiked following U.S. strikes on Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

With additional attacks across the Middle East over the weekend pushing oil above $100 per barrel for the first time in years, fuel markets are now rapidly recalibrating to the risk of prolonged disruption to global supply flows.

De Haan warned that prices may climb even further in the coming days. Gasoline prices in many states could rise another 20 to 50 cents per gallon this week, while diesel could jump by as much as 35 to 75 cents as global distillate markets react to the heightened risk.

Oil prices surge on Middle East tensions

Crude oil prices climbed over the past week as escalating tensions between Iran and Israel heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. Traders are particularly focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which a large share of the worlds oil shipments pass.

In early Monday trading, West Texas Intermediate crude rose $5.39 per barrel to $72.41, up from $66.85 a week earlier. Brent crude increased $6.42 to $79.29 per barrel compared with $72.08 last Monday.

Energy markets had already been supported by geopolitical concerns and inventory data earlier in the week, but the latest escalation added a new risk premium and increased volatility. Analysts say developments involving Iran, especially any threat to production or shipping routes, are likely to remain the primary driver of oil prices in the near term.

Mixed signals in U.S. fuel supply data

The latest Weekly Petroleum Status Report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows mixed trends in domestic fuel inventories.

U.S. crude oil inventories rose by 3.5 million barrels in the week ending Feb. 27 but remain about 3% below the seasonal average for this time of year. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve remained unchanged at 415.4 million barrels.

Gasoline inventories declined by 1.7 million barrels but are still roughly 3% above the five-year seasonal average. Distillate inventories which include diesel edged up by 0.4 million barrels but remain about 3% below typical seasonal levels.

Refinery utilization increased slightly to 89.2%, while implied gasoline demand fell by 442,000 barrels per day to 8.292 million barrels per day.

Gas price patterns across the country

Despite the rapid national increase, prices vary widely depending on location.

The most common price motorists encountered nationwide was $3.19 per gallon, followed by $2.99, $3.49, $3.29, and $3.39. The median U.S. gas price stood at $3.29 per gallon, about 16 cents below the national average.

Stations in the top 10% of prices averaged $4.93 per gallon, while those in the lowest 10% averaged $2.88.

The lowest average gasoline prices were reported in Kansas ($2.90), Oklahoma ($2.95), and Arkansas ($2.98). The highest prices were in California ($5.14), Washington ($4.58), and Hawaii ($4.33).

Several states saw particularly large weekly increases, including Indiana (+57.8 cents), Florida (+57.2 cents), Michigan (+55.3 cents), Ohio (+54.6 cents), and California (+51.1 cents).

Diesel prices spike even more

Diesel prices have climbed even faster than gasoline in the past week, reflecting tighter global distillate supplies and strong freight demand.

The most common diesel price nationwide rose to $4.99 per gallon, followed by $4.49, $4.69, $4.59, and $4.29. The median diesel price reached $4.59 per gallon, about six cents below the national average.

The lowest average diesel prices were found in Texas ($3.93), Kansas ($3.95), and South Dakota ($3.99). The highest averages were in California ($5.87), Washington ($5.46), and Hawaii ($5.18).

States experiencing the largest diesel price spikes included Texas (+$1.11), North Carolina (+$1.10), Tennessee (+$1.10), Georgia (+$1.07), and Mississippi (+$1.04).

With tensions in the Middle East continuing to evolve, analysts say motorists should brace for additional volatility at the pump in the weeks ahead as global energy markets react to the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.