Consumer News: Feds issue public health alert for beef kofta products

But its very different from the traditional credit card skimmer scheme

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Criminals are targeting gas stations with a simple metal screw that allows them to steal gasafter customers leave.

• Authorities say the scam can cost drivers hundreds of dollars before they realize anything is wrong.

• Investigators are urging consumers to inspect gas pumps carefully beforefilling up.

Drivers across several states are being warned about a new type of gas station scam in which criminals tamper with fuel pumps to steal gasoline and charge it to a previous customer.

Its called the screw method because the scammers tamper with the gas pump using carpenters screws to cause it to malfunction. Here's how it works: A motorist purchases fuel with a debit or credit card and returns the handle to the pump when theyre finished. The gas has stopped flowing, but the pump is still active. It hasnt shut off.

Once the motorist drives away, the scammer approaches the pump and begins filling several gas containers. The new purchase is billed to the last motorists debit or credit card. The scheme has victimized consumers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and California so far, and law enforcement officials fear it will spread nationwide.

Officials say the scam differs from traditional skimming operations that steal credit card data. Instead of targeting payment information, the new fraud directly targets the fuel itself. Its also low-tech.

How it works

Police say that by placing a metal screw in the nozzle cradle, the pump remains active. So, if you see a screw in the cradle, remove it and inform the station operator that the gas pump has been targeted by a scammer.

"Someone couldve come up right behind me and pumped out everything in my debit card because theres no limit. Its not going to stop until that person leaves, so you can overdraft an account like that," Christian Quaker, told FOX2 Detroit.

State regulators and fuel retailers are increasing inspections at stations following reports of the scam. Some stations are upgrading pump security with reinforced locks, surveillance cameras, and electronic monitoring systems designed to detect unauthorized access.

What to do

Consumer advocates say drivers should remain alert for signs of pump tampering, including broken security seals, loose panels, or unusual attachments near nozzles and hoses.

Drivers are also encouraged to use stations operated by major retailers that conduct frequent inspections and maintenance.

Authorities say anyone who suspects pump tampering should notify local law enforcement and the state agency that regulates fuel pumps and gas stations.

Connectivity has become a major part of airline service

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• American Airlines plans to install SpaceXs Starlink satellite internet service on more than 500 aircrafts beginning in 2027.

• The airline says the move will deliver faster, lower-latency inflight Wi-Fi, as competition intensifies among carriers to improve onboard connectivity.

• Starlink will complement Americans existing Viasat and Intelsat systems, which already support free Wi-Fi for AAdvantage members on millions of flights annually.

American Airlines is expanding its in-flight connectivity strategy with plans to add SpaceXs Starlink internet service to more than 500 aircrafts beginning in early 2027.

According to the airlines announcement, the rollout will initially focus on Airbus A321neo and A321XLR aircrafts. It marks Americans latest investment in passenger technology, as airlines race to improve onboard internet speeds and reliability.

Starlink, which operates through low-Earth orbit satellites, is widely viewed as a major upgrade over traditional geostationary satellite systems because it can deliver lower latency and has significantly faster download speeds.

American said Starlink will join its current roster of connectivity providers, including Viasat and Intelsat. Earlier this year, the airline launched complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi for AAdvantage loyalty members on more than twomillion flights annually through a sponsorship agreement with AT&T.

Growing area of competition

The airline has been positioning connectivity as a competitive advantage. American previously said more than 900 of its mainline aircrafts are already equipped with satellite-based Wi-Fi and described free internet access as an essential part of the modern travel experience.

American joins a growing list of airlines adopting Starlink technology, including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and several international carriers. Industry analysts say airlines increasingly view fast, free internet access as critical for attracting premium and business travelers.

According to data cited by industry reports, Starlink-equipped aircrafts have demonstrated substantially faster median download speeds than some competing in-flight systems.

The agreement also strengthens Starlinks position in the rapidly growing aviation connectivity market. SpaceX recently disclosed that Starlink has become one of the companys most profitable business segments, generating billions in annual revenue.

The Midwest and South offer prime opportunities

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Zillow found 29 major metro areas where a typical single-family starter home is still priced below what a median-income household can afford.

• Birmingham, Pittsburgh, and Detroit topped the list, with starter homes costing roughly 55% to 61% less than the maximum affordable price for local buyers.

• The study arrives as starter homes now cost at least $1 million in 233 U.S. cities, up from 85 cities just five years ago.

Before home prices inflated during the pandemic, first-time buyers could usually find a small, two or three-bedroom home they could afford.

But even after the median home price surged to record highs, Zillow reports there are still pockets of affordability where a $300,000 budget can buy a starter home.

A new Zillow analysis identified 29 major metro areas where typical single-family starter homes remain priced below what local median-income households can reasonably afford. In many of those markets, entry-level homes cost well under $300,000.

The most affordable market in the study was Birmingham, Alabama, where Zillow estimated the affordable home price for a median-income household at $309,362. The typical starter home there was valued at just $120,408 about 61% below the affordability threshold. Pittsburgh and Detroit followed closely behind, with starter homes priced around $120,000 to $131,000.

The Midwest and Rust Belt offer prime opportunities

Other Midwest and Rust Belt cities dominated the list, including St. Louis, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Buffalo, where starter homes remained significantly below local affordability limits. Zillow said these markets stand out because buyers can still find entry-level homes without stretching their budgets to the breaking point.

Even some faster-growing Southern metros made the cut. In Charlotte, North Carolina, Zillow found the typical starter home was worth $259,353 more than $100,000 below the maximum price considered affordable for a median-income household in the area.

The report highlights a sharp divide in the U.S. housing market. While some regions still offer relatively attainable starter homes, affordability has evaporated in many coastal and high-demand cities.

On the other end of the scale

Earlier this year, Zillow reported that starter homes now cost at least $1 million in 233 U.S. cities, nearly triple the number recorded five years ago. California alone accounted for 113 of those cities, while New York and New Jersey also saw large concentrations of seven-figure starter homes.

Nationwide, the typical starter home is still worth less than $200,000, according to Zillow, but the rapid growth in high-cost markets has made homeownership increasingly difficult for first-time buyers.

Zillow economists said inventory conditions are beginning to improve, giving buyers slightly more negotiating power than they had during the pandemic-era housing frenzy. More homes are hitting the market, listings are sitting longer, and sellers are increasingly cutting prices.

Affordability remains a major hurdle, however. Separate analyses have found that starter homes priced below $300,000 have virtually disappeared in dozens of markets nationwide.

The products are linked to a multistate investigation into possible E. coli contamination

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for beef kofta products served at The Kebab Shop restaurant chain because of possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

• Health officials say nine people in California have been sickened in the outbreak, including six children; five people were hospitalized and two developed a serious kidney complication.

• The Kebab Shop has voluntarily stopped selling the grilled beef kofta at all locations while investigators continue tracing the source of the contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert for beef kofta products served at The Kebab Shop restaurant chain after the products were linked to a multistate investigation into possible E. coli contamination.

According to FSIS, the alert involves raw ground beef products produced by Olympia Food Industries Inc., doing business as Olympia Foods, in Franklin Park, Illinois, on Jan. 6, 2026. The beef was supplied to The Kebab Shop restaurant locations in California, Texas and Florida.

Federal officials said the products may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7, commonly known as STEC. The alert was issued because the products are no longer available for sale, making a formal recall impractical.

Nine people in California are infected

The California Department of Public Health said nine California residents have been infected with the outbreak strain. Illnesses were reported between March 27 and April 30. Six of the patients were children, five people required hospitalization and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

Investigators identified grilled beef kofta served at The Kebab Shop as the likely source of the outbreak after interviewing patients. The restaurant chain voluntarily paused sales of the menu item at all locations on May 18 and is cooperating with public health officials.

Health officials said the current risk to consumers is believed to be low because the product is no longer being served. However, anyone who ate beef kofta from The Kebab Shop and develops symptoms within 10 days is urged to contact a healthcare provider. Symptoms of STEC infection can include severe stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea that is often bloody.

FSIS advised consumers to discard any leftover beef kofta products if they still have them and reminded the public to cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.