Consumer News: EWG’s new sunscreen guide finds progress — but some gaps remain

New research warns coverage losses may delay early detection

• A new study projects millions of Medicaid recipients could lose coverage under upcoming eligibility changes.

• Researchers estimate the changes could lead to more than 1 million missed cancer screenings within two years.

• The study suggests delayed screenings may result in more advanced cancer diagnoses and preventable deaths.

Proposed changes to Medicaid eligibility rules could have major ripple effects on cancer screening rates across the United States, according to new research from the University of Chicago published in JAMA Network.

The analysis looked at how new federal requirements including work mandates and more frequent eligibility recertification may affect access to preventive healthcare services like mammograms, colorectal screenings, and lung cancer screenings.

Researchers say these administrative changes could make it harder for some people to stay insured, even if they still qualify for Medicaid coverage.

These new requirements introduce administrative barriers that often mean paperwork or technical errors determine whether someone gets screened for cancer, researcher Sarah Shubeck, M.D., M.S., said in a news release.

A particularly concerning aspect is that people who are disproportionately likely to lose coverage are exactly the people most likely to benefit from early cancer detection: younger adults and people from vulnerable social groups.

The study

The study focused on policy changes included in the 2025 federal budget legislation that are expected to take effect beginning in 2027.

Researchers used state-level Medicaid enrollment data and previous real-world examples including Medicaid work requirements in Arkansas and pandemic-era eligibility verification changes to estimate how many adults could lose coverage under the new rules.

They then modeled how those coverage losses might affect participation in routine cancer screenings recommended for breast, colorectal, and lung cancer. Using national screening statistics and cancer incidence data, the researchers projected potential downstream effects on diagnoses and mortality over a two-year period.

What the study found

Their projections suggest that roughly 7.5 million adults eligible for cancer screening could lose Medicaid coverage within two years of the new rules taking effect, with some estimates climbing above 10 million in more severe scenarios.

As a result, the researchers estimate the country could see more than 1 million missed cancer screenings, including approximately 406,000 missed mammograms, nearly 680,000 missed colorectal screenings, and more than 67,000 missed lung cancer screenings.

The study also projected that these missed screenings could lead to more than 2,300 undetected cancer cases nationwide. Some of those cancers may not be discovered until they have progressed to more advanced stages that are more difficult to treat.

Researchers estimated the changes could contribute to roughly 155 avoidable deaths tied to breast, colorectal, and lung cancers during the first two years after implementation.

This analysis highlights how policy changes like Medicaid cuts and restrictions can have profound and preventable negative effects on public health, researcher Adrian Diaz, M.D., said. The hope is to inform policymakers and the public about the stakes before these changes take effect."

A new survey shows growing distrust in online hiring posts

• Two-thirds of surveyed job seekers say theyve suspected a job posting was fake or misleading.

• Poor grammar, vague company details, and unrealistic salaries were among the biggest warning signs.

• Experts say AI-generated listings may be making it harder for applicants to identify legitimate opportunities.

The online job hunt is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate, and for many applicants, the problem isnt just competition its trust.

A new survey from Resume Genius found that 67% of active U.S. job seekers say theyve encountered job postings they believed were fake or misleading. The findings highlight how skepticism has become a growing part of the application process, especially as more listings appear across digital job boards and hiring platforms.

One of the biggest culprits: artificial intelligence.

"AI-generated job postings have made an already stressful process even harder to navigate. Job aren't new, but AI has made them far more widespread and far more convincing, says Eva Chan, Career Expert at Resume Genius.

Scammers can now produce postings that are polished and grammatically clean, stripping away the telltale signs job seekers have traditionally relied on to spot fake roles. Job seekers are now having to sift through more questionable listings than ever just to find legitimate opportunities. That extra layer of vetting adds a real mental burden on top of an already exhausting search."

The survey

The findings are based on a survey of 1,000 active U.S. job seekers conducted by Pollfish on behalf of Resume Genius.

Researchers screened participants to ensure they were actively searching for work at the time of the survey. The sample included people who were employed, self-employed, and temporarily unemployed, offering a range of perspectives from individuals at different stages of the job search process.

The survey launched on March 16, 2026, and explored several topics related to modern job hunting, including resume strategies, concerns about applicant tracking systems, interview stress, employer ghosting, AI use, mental health, and misleading job postings.

Resume Genius analyzed the results for broad trends as well as differences across gender and age groups. Pollfish used Random Device Engagement technology in an effort to create a balanced and organic participant pool, and percentages were rounded to the nearest whole number.

What the survey found

The survey found that uncertainty is widespread even among people who arent completely sure theyve seen a fake listing. Nineteen percent of respondents said they were unsure whether a posting they encountered was legitimate, while only 14% said they had never suspected a listing of being fake or misleading.

When asked what makes a posting appear suspicious, respondents pointed to several common warning signs. Poor grammar and typos topped the list alongside vague company information, with both cited by 52% of participants. Nearly half of respondents also said salaries that seemed too good to be true immediately raised concerns, while 41% viewed undisclosed pay as a red flag.

Other warning signs included requests for personal or financial information early in the process, applications that appeared AI-generated, and attempts to move conversations off trusted job platforms. Together, the findings suggest many applicants are becoming more cautious and analytical when reviewing opportunities online.

For consumers, the report underscores the importance of slowing down and verifying details before sharing information or committing time to an application.

To protect themselves, job seekers should verify any role on the company's own careers page, look up the recruiter or hiring manager on LinkedIn, and treat any request for personal or financial details upfront as an immediate red flag, Chan suggests.

What to do when your go-to discount store suddenly shuts its doors

• Hundreds of Family Dollar stores are closing, especially in the South and Appalachia, making cheap everyday essentials harder to access for many shoppers.

• Budget-conscious shoppers may need to rely more on Walmart pickup, Dollar General digital coupons, and stores like Aldi to keep costs down.

• Experts warn about cheap store creep, where shoppers slowly spend more at convenience stores and drugstores after local discount chains disappear.

For millions of shoppers, Family Dollar has long been the quick cheap stop for basics like toilet paper, snacks, cleaning supplies, and last-minute household items.

But that option is disappearing in many parts of the country.

A new analysis from Local Falcon found that at least 350 Family Dollar stores have been marked permanently closed on Google Maps over the past 10 months. The closures are hitting the South and Appalachia especially hard, with Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, and Kentucky seeing some of the biggest losses.

For shoppers in smaller towns and rural communities, these closures could make everyday essentials harder to come by and more expensive.

Why this matters for shoppers

Family Dollar stores often filled an important gap for consumers between grocery stores, convenience stores, and big-box retailers.

They were especially useful for:

• Cheap cleaning supplies
• Small grocery trips
• Low-cost paper products
• Last-minute household basics
• Avoiding long drives to Walmart or Target

When those stores start to close, shoppers may end up:

• Paying higher convenience-store prices
• Making more expensive impulse purchases
• Driving farther for essentials
• Losing access to smaller package sizes and being forced to buy in bulk

That last point matters more than people realize. While warehouse stores often have lower unit pricing, many shoppers simply cannot afford large bulk purchases upfront.

How to adapt if your local Family Dollar closes

Shift quick trips to Walmart pickup

One of the biggest money traps after a dollar-store closure is convenience shopping.

Instead of grabbing a few overpriced items at a convenience store, use Walmart pickup for small weekly orders. Even basic household items can be significantly cheaper than convenience stores.

Compare Dollar General more carefully

Many shoppers assume Dollar General and Family Dollar have nearly identical pricing. That is not always true.

Dollar General often runs stronger digital coupon promotions through its app, especially:

• Saturday $5 off $25 deals
• Laundry product promotions
• Paper-product discounts
• Cleaning supply bundles

Those coupons will often beat Family Dollar pricing entirely and are a great way to save.

Pro tip: The best time to shop Dollar General is usually on Saturday mornings when coupon stacking opportunities are the highest.

Watch out for 'cheap store creep'

One sneaky problem after dollar-store closures is shoppers tend to slowly spend more without noticing.

That happens because people replace multiple small trips with:

• Convenience stores
• Drugstores
• Grocery-store impulse buys

And those stores are often dramatically more expensive on basic household products.

Things like paper towels, soda, laundry detergent, toothpaste, and trash bags can cost 20% to 50% more at drugstores or grocery stores compared to discount chains.

Aldi and warehouse clubs may become better backup plans

If your area loses multiple dollar stores, it may finally make sense to shift more purchases to (if available):

• Aldi
• Costco
• Sams Club
• Walmart+ delivery
• Amazon Subscribe & Save

This is especially true for nonperishables and household staples. Even splitting purchases between two stores can create noticeable savings over time.

Pro tip: Amazon Subscribe & Save works best for predictable household items like toilet paper, trash bags, dishwasher pods, vitamins, and pet food. Try not to use it for impulse purchases.

Certain lots may be contaminated with Salmonella

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Sugar Foods LLC is recalling specific lots of Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons over possible Salmonella contamination linked to a milk powder ingredient.

• The recalled croutons were distributed to Kroger stores in 17 states, including Virginia, Texas, Ohio, and Tennessee.

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

Sugar Foods LLC has issued a recall of certain lots of Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons after an ingredient supplier warned of possible Salmonella contamination in milk powder used in the products seasoning blend.

The recall affects five-ounce bags of Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons with UPC code 0 11110 81353 4 and Best If Used By dates ranging from Feb. 17, 2027 through April 7, 2027.

According to the company and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the milk powder was supplied by California Dairies Inc. to seasoning manufacturer Solina USA, which produced the seasoning blend used on the croutons.

The recall was initiated after California Dairies announced its own recall over concerns the milk powder could contain Salmonella bacteria.

Sugar Foods said the seasoning batches tested negative for Salmonella before use, but the company decided to recall the product out of an abundance of caution.

Distributed in 17 states

The recalled croutons were distributed between March 7 and April 7, 2026, to Kroger stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting,and abdominal pain. In rare cases, the infection can spread into the bloodstream and cause more severe complications.

Consumers who purchased the recalled croutons are advised not to consume them and instead throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Sugar Foods has established a consumer hotline at 332-240-6676 that is available around the clock for questions related to the recall.