Consumer News: Recent research identifies a new game plan for high blood pressure

The chips were distributed to nationwide retailers

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Utz Quality Foods has issued a voluntary recall of certain Zapps and Dirty potato chips in the U.S.

• The recall stems from a seasoning ingredient that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

• No illnesses have been reported, but consumers are urged not to eat affected products.

Utz Quality Foods is recalling limited varieties of its Zapps and Dirty brand potato chips after a supplier flagged a potential contamination issue, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notice.

The Hanover, Pennsylvania-based snack maker said the recall was initiated after it was notified that a seasoning ingredient used in certain products may contain Salmonella, a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.

The affected chips were distributed to various retailers in the United States, though the recall applies only to specific flavors and production lots tied to the seasoning ingredient.

Salmonella infection can lead to symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, it can result in more severe illness, particularly among young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

No reports of illness

Utz said it has not received any reports of illness related to the recalled products.

The recall follows notification from a third-party supplier that a seasoning containing dry milk powder could be contaminated, prompting the company to act out of an abundance of caution, according to the FDA notice.

Consumers who have purchased the affected chips are advised not to eat them and instead discard the products or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Retailers have been instructed to remove impacted items from store shelves.

Zapps, known for its Cajun-style kettle chips, and Dirty chips are both brands owned by Utz Quality Foods.

Food recalls are typically issued when a product may pose a health risk due to contamination or mislabeling, and federal agencies advise consumers to check product details carefully to determine whether items they have purchased are affected.

The FDA said it continues to monitor the recall as part of its ongoing food safety oversight.

New research shows small increases in daily movement may lower disease risk

• Findings from a recent study found that adding about 1,700 to 5,500 steps per day was linked to lower risk of several chronic diseases.

• The study used real-world Fitbit data from more than 15,000 adults over time.

• Extra steps helped offset but not completely erase risks tied to long periods of sitting.

If you spend a big chunk of your day sitting at a desk, in the car, or on the couch youre not alone. Researchers have long linked sedentary time to a higher risk of chronic conditions, from diabetes to heart disease.

But new research suggests there may be a practical way to push back against some of those risks: simply moving more throughout the day.

The study, led by researchers connected to Vanderbilt Health and published in Nature Communications, looked at whether increasing daily step counts could help counteract the health effects of prolonged sitting. Instead of focusing on intense workouts, the research zeroed in on something more accessible everyday steps.

How the study worked

To explore this, researchers analyzed data from 15,327 adults participating in the National Institutes of Healths All of Us research program. Each participant used a Fitbit device, which tracked their daily steps and sedentary time over extended periods.

This approach gave scientists a detailed, real-world look at behavior not just snapshots or self-reported activity. The dataset also included electronic health records and other health measures, allowing researchers to connect movement patterns with new diagnoses of chronic disease over time.

The study specifically compared people with varying levels of sedentary behavior including those sitting for as long as 14 hours a day and examined how increasing daily steps influenced their risk of developing conditions like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

What the researchers found

The results point to a clear pattern: more steps were associated with lower risk for many chronic conditions. In particular, adding between 1,700 and 5,500 steps per day helped offset the increased risks linked to long periods of sitting.

The number of extra steps needed varied by condition. For example, about 1,700 additional daily steps were linked to lower risk of obesity and liver disease, while higher increases around 5,300 to 5,500 steps were associated with reduced risk of diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

However, the findings werent universal. Increasing step counts did not fully offset the risks of coronary artery disease or heart failure, suggesting that movement alone may not completely counteract the effects of prolonged sedentary time for every condition.

Overall, the study suggests that while sitting less is still important, adding more movement even in modest amounts may play a meaningful role in lowering the risk of several chronic diseases.

Many of us have to be in seats most of the day, researcher Evan Brittain, MD, MSCI, said in a news release.

This is a bit of an empowering message to say, even if youre stuck there for a number of hours, this is a strategy to offset that. Its a practical way to convey evidence around disease risk.

The great Costco bagel debate of 2026 is upon us

• Smaller packs, more flexibility: Costco is testing single eight-count bagel packs instead of forcing multi-pack purchases.

• Less waste, smarter spending: Shoppers can buy what theyll actually eat instead of overbuying and freezing extras.

• Debate over value: Some say the per-unit price is higher, others say its cheaper if you avoid throwing food away.

For years, shopping the bakery at Costco came with a built-in dilemma: great prices, but way more food than most people actually needed. If you wanted bagels, you werent just grabbing one pack, you had to commit to multiple sleeves whether you liked it or not.

Now, thats starting to change. And for a lot of shoppers, its a bigger deal than it sounds.

The change: Smaller packs, same value mindset

Costco is testing a new approach in some warehouses by offering a single eight-count package of bagels for $4.99, instead of requiring shoppers to buy two six-packs at once.

On paper, its a small tweak. In reality, it fixes one of the biggest pain points in the Costco bakery, which is forced bulk buying.

Instead of standing there debating freezer space, or whether youll realistically eat a dozen bagels before they go stale, you can now just grab one pack and move on.

Why this matters for real shoppers

Reducing the number of bagels you have to buy isnt just about convenience, Costco is hoping it reduces waste and hopefully saves you money in the process.

Heres what used to happen:

• Youd buy more bagels than you needed just to get the deal.
• Half would end up frozen (or forgotten).
• Sometimes, food would go bad before you finished it.

With smaller pack sizes, youre:

• Buying closer to what youll actually eat.
• Keeping food fresher.
• Avoiding the bulk trap where cheap per-unit pricing can lead to waste.

For smaller households, empty nesters, or anyone not feeding a crowd every morning, this is a much more practical way to shop.

But not everyone thinks its a win

Some shoppers arent celebrating just yet, and I think theyre raising a fair point.

A few commenters argue the change may be less about convenience and more about pricing.

One shopper put it bluntly: So before, you got 12 for $5.99. Now, you get 8 for $4.99. They raised prices without raising prices.

Another added: So now it is more expensive per pack.

Yes, youre buying less upfront. But depending on how you look at it, the per-unit cost could be slightly higher.

Others pushed back on that argument, pointing out that if you used to throw some away (or forgot about them in the freezer) then the smaller pack is actually cheaper in real life.

The hidden savings strategy here

This shift to smaller amounts also unlocks a smarter way to shop at Costco overall.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that bigger always equals cheaper. But the truth is, the best deal is the one you actually use.

A single $4.99 pack you finish is cheaper than two packs where one goes stale.

So, if you see these smaller bakery options at your local warehouse:

• Start with one pack and test how fast you go through it.

• Skip the automatic stock up mindset.
• Only freeze extras if you know youll actually use them.

What to watch going forward

Like many Costco changes, this rollout isnt everywhere yet. Availability can vary by location, and not every bakery has made the switch.

But if this sticks, it could signal a bigger shift in how Costco balances bulk value with real-life shopping habits. And honestly, its overdue.

Because while Costco built its brand on buying more, shoppers today are getting smarter about buying better, and often that means buying less.

The chips were distributed to nationwide retailers

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Utz Quality Foods has issued a voluntary recall of certain Zapps and Dirty potato chips in the U.S.

• The recall stems from a seasoning ingredient that may be contaminated with Salmonella

• No illnesses have been reported, but consumers are urged not to eat affected products

Utz Quality Foods is recalling limited varieties of its Zapps and Dirty brand potato chips after a supplier flagged a potential contamination issue, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notice.

The Hanover, Pennsylvania-based snack maker said the recall was initiated after it was notified that a seasoning ingredient used in certain products may contain Salmonella, a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.

The affected chips were distributed to various retailers in the United States, though the recall applies only to specific flavors and production lots tied to the seasoning ingredient.

Salmonella infection can lead to symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare cases, it can result in more severe illness, particularly among young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

No reports of illness

Utz said it has not received any reports of illness related to the recalled products.

The recall follows notification from a third-party supplier that a seasoning containing dry milk powder could be contaminated, prompting the company to act out of an abundance of caution, according to the FDA notice.

Consumers who have purchased the affected chips are advised not to eat them and instead discard the products or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Retailers have been instructed to remove impacted items from store shelves.

Zapps, known for its Cajun-style kettle chips, and Dirty chips are both brands owned by Utz Quality Foods.

Food recalls are typically issued when a product may pose a health risk due to contamination or mislabeling, and federal agencies advise consumers to check product details carefully to determine whether items they have purchased are affected.

The FDA said it continues to monitor the recall as part of its ongoing food safety oversight.