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More than 12,000 pounds of bacon imported from Canada were uninspected

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• More than 12,000 pounds of imported bacon are being recalled after entering the U.S. without the required federal import reinspection.

• The recall affects Royale Natural and Top Valu bacon products sold through Grocery Outlet stores in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

• No illnesses have been reported, but consumers are urged not to eat the recalled bacon and should throw it away or return it for a refund.

More than 12,000 pounds of imported smoked bacon are being recalled after federal officials determined the products entered the United States without undergoing a required import reinspection.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Maple Leaf Foods Inc., of Lisle, Ill., is recalling approximately 12,036 pounds of not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) refrigerated smoked bacon imported from Canada. According to the agency, the products were distributed to Grocery Outlet distributors and retailers in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

The recall is not related to contamination or reports of illness. Instead, the products were imported without receiving the required federal import reinspection, a safeguard designed to verify that imported meat products meet U.S. food safety standards before they enter commerce.

Products included in the recall

The recalled bacon was produced on June 9, 10, 12, 13, and 15, 2026, and includes:

• 12-ounce vacuum packages of "Royale Natural Applewood Smoked All Natural Uncured Bacon Product of Canada" with sell-by dates of Sept. 1, 2026 and Sept. 7, 2026.

• 12-ounce vacuum packages of "TOP VALU Uncured Hardwood Smoked Bacon Product of Canada" with sell-by dates of Sept. 1, Sept. 2, Sept. 4, Sept. 5 and Sept. 7, 2026.

The products bear the Canadian establishment number "EST. 1" on the package. Master shipping cases also display health certificate 2026-S732971612.

No illnesses reported

FSIS said the issue was discovered during routine inspection activities. As of the recall announcement, there have been no confirmed reports of illness or injury linked to the bacon. Anyone who believes they became ill after consuming the product should contact a healthcare provider.

Because some packages may still be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers, FSIS is urging anyone who purchased the recalled bacon not to consume it. Instead, consumers should discard the product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

Although labeled as bacon, the products are classified as not ready-to-eat, meaning they require thorough cooking before consumption. Even so, FSIS recommends that consumers avoid using any product covered by the recall because it did not undergo the required import verification process.

In the current outbreak, nearly 2,000 people in nine states have been stricken

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Cyclospora infections are surging across the U.S. this summer, driven in part by contaminated fresh produce and the parasite's seasonal peak.

• Experts say the illness is difficult to diagnose and cannot be prevented simply by washing produce, making outbreaks especially challenging to control.

• Unlike many stomach bugs, Cyclospora is not spread directly from person to person, but through food or water contaminated with human waste.

The United States is experiencing one of its largest outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in recent years, with thousands of confirmed and suspected cases linked to contaminated produce. As health officials continue investigating the outbreak, infectious disease experts say several factors make the parasite unusually difficult to detect, trace, and prevent.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People become infected by eating food or drinking water contaminated with human feces carrying the parasite. Fresh produce including leafy greens, herbs, and berries has been implicated in previous outbreaks because these foods are often consumed raw.

This year's outbreak has largely been associated with iceberg lettuce distributed from Mexico, although investigators continue to examine whether other foods also played a role. Although there have been no deaths, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports nearly 2,000 people in nine states have been sickened, with nearly 100 hospitalized.

Epidemiologic evidence continues to point to contaminated iceberg lettuce, even after the FDA determined an earlier positive laboratory test from one sample was a false positive.

A seasonal disease

Cyclospora infections tend to peak between May and August in the United States. According to experts, the seasonal increase occurs because warmer weather helps the parasite mature in the environment while imports of fresh produce from regions where the parasite is more common also increase during the summer months.

Unlike viruses such as norovirus, Cyclospora is not usually passed directly from one infected person to another. The parasite must spend one to two weeks outside the body before it becomes infectious, making contaminated food and water the primary sources of infection.

Symptoms can last for weeks

Symptoms usually begin about a week after exposure but can take as long as two weeks to appear. The hallmark symptom is frequent watery diarrhea, often accompanied by stomach cramps, nausea, bloating, fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Without treatment, symptoms may persist for several weeks or even recur after temporarily improving. Some infected people, however, experience no symptoms at all.

Doctors typically prescribe the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) to treat the infection. Maintaining hydration is also important, particularly for older adults and people with weakened immune systems, who may face a higher risk of complications from severe diarrhea.

Hard to diagnose and hard to prevent

Scientists say one reason the current outbreak has become so widespread is that Cyclospora is not detected by routine stool tests. Physicians generally must order specialized testing when they suspect the infection.

Prevention is also challenging. Because the parasite can cling tightly to fresh produce, simply rinsing fruits and vegetables may not remove it completely. Cooking foods thoroughly is the most reliable way to kill the parasite, but that's not practical for many fresh fruits and salad ingredients.

Health experts recommend washing hands before handling food, rinsing fresh produce under running water even though it is not foolproof, and paying close attention to food recalls and public health advisories during the summer outbreak season. People who develop prolonged watery diarrhea after eating fresh produce should seek medical care and ask whether testing for Cyclospora is appropriate.

Many millionaires see cars as tools not trophies

• Many self-made millionaires skip flashy cars. They often choose practical, reliable vehicles that help build wealth instead of drain it.

• They focus on total ownership costs. Depreciation, insurance, maintenance, and resale value matter more than the monthly payment.

• Their biggest lesson: Buy for your needs, keep your vehicle longer, and invest the money you save instead of chasing status.

Ask people to picture a millionaire and they'll often imagine a Ferrari, Bentley, or Rolls-Royce in the driveway.

But decades of research paint a very different picture.

In their landmark book The Millionaire Next Door, researchers Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko found that many self-made millionaires live well below their means. They don't necessarily wear designer clothes, live in the biggest house on the block, or drive the flashiest car.

Instead, many quietly build wealth by making practical financial decisions year after year. That philosophy often extends to the vehicles they buy.

While some wealthy Americans certainly enjoy luxury and exotic cars, many self-made millionaires see a vehicle for what it is: a depreciating asset. They'd rather put their money into investments that grow in value than into something that starts losing value the moment it leaves the dealership.

Here are five car-buying habits that can help explain why many affluent households choose practicality over prestige and what every consumer can learn from their approach.

They think about depreciation before horsepower

One of the biggest expenses of owning a new vehicle is not fuel, insurance, or maintenance.

It's good ol depreciation.

Many new vehicles lose a substantial portion of their value during the first several years of ownership. Luxury vehicles often depreciate even faster because they start with higher sticker prices and can become expensive to maintain once they're out of warranty.

That's why many financially savvy car buyers spend as much time researching resale value as they do all of the bells and whistles on each model.

Specifically, brands like Toyota, Honda, Lexus, and Subaru consistently earn strong marks for resale value and long-term reliability. This makes them all attractive choices to buyers who care about total cost of ownership more that owning a car thats seen as a status symbol.

Consumer tip: Before buying any vehicle, look up its projected five-year resale value. Two vehicles with nearly identical purchase prices can have very different ownership costs simply because one holds its value better.

They calculate the total cost of ownership not just the monthly payment

Walk into almost any dealership and one of the first questions a salesperson will ask you is: "What monthly payment are you comfortable with?"

That's an understandable question for many consumers, but it can also easily distract you from the bigger financial picture.

A vehicle's true cost includes the following:

• Insurance premiums

• Fuel

• Maintenance

• Tires

• Registration fees

• Repairs

• Depreciation

Think of it this way: a luxury SUV with a manageable monthly payment may ultimately cost thousands more over five or ten years than a dependable midsize SUV with lower insurance premiums and fewer repair bills.

Many self-made millionaires will focus on the "total cost of ownership" instead of simply coming up with a number that fits into their monthly budget that they can afford.

Consumer tip: Before signing any paperwork, compare five-year ownership estimates, not just the sticker prices. Im a huge fan of both AAAs Your Driving Costs as well as Edmunds True Cost to Own.

Bookmark them and use them whenever youre car shopping as they can reveal surprisingly large differences between very similar vehicles.

Reliability beats prestige almost every time

Think of it this way, a reliable vehicle for financially successful families creates predictability in their lives. This means instead of wondering whether an expensive repair bill is right around the corner, they can instead budget for routine maintenance while keeping the same vehicle for many years.

Vehicles frequently praised for their long-term durability include the Toyota Camry, Toyota Crown, Honda Accord, Toyota Highlander, Honda CR-V, Subaru Crosstrek, Ford F-150, and Lexus RX.

Consumer tip: Check reliability ratings before falling in love with a vehicle's appearance. I realize its not nearly as much fun, but a beautiful car is a total drag if it's constantly in the repair shop.

They keep their cars longer

One of the fastest ways to lose money is to trade in a vehicle every few years. Every trade starts the depreciation clock over again.

Many financially successful households avoid that cycle by driving vehicles well beyond the average ownership period.

Keeping a dependable vehicle for 10 to 15 years can dramatically reduce annual ownership costs because you're spreading depreciation over a much longer period while eliminating years of monthly payments.

Imagine investing a $600 monthly car payment instead of making one. Over time, that money has the opportunity to grow rather than disappear into a depreciating asset.

Consumer tip: If your current vehicle is reliable, safe, and still meets your family's needs, keeping it for just two or three additional years could save thousands.

They buy for their lifestyle not their image

One of the biggest differences between wealthy consumers and everyone else may simply be the question they ask before buying.

Some shoppers ask: "What will people think if I drive this?"

Many self-made millionaires ask: "Will this vehicle do exactly what I need for the next decade?"

That mindset often leads to more practical decisions. A contractor may genuinely need a pickup truck. A growing family may benefit from a three-row SUV.

A commuter who drives 25,000 miles each year may prioritize fuel economy above luxury features. The purchase becomes about solving a transportation problem, not about making a statement at a red light.

Ironically, many of the wealthiest households have little interest in proving they're wealthy.

IIHS study finds these vehicles had 68% fewer police-reportable crashes per mile traveled

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Waymos driverless vehicles had a crash rate 68% lower than human-driven vehicles, according to new research.

• The vehicles were involved in 81% fewer injury crashes and 85% fewer single-vehicle crashes per mile traveled.

• Researchers said federal reporting requirements must improve as driverless technology expands.

Waymos driverless vehicles are involved in substantially fewer crashes than vehicles operated by human drivers, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The IIHS study found that Waymo vehicles operating without a human driver had 68% fewer police-reportable crashes per mile traveled than human-driven vehicles in the same cities.

Researchers examined crashes involving Waymo vehicles in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin. The companys vehicles traveled approximately 50 million miles in driverless mode during the study period, compared with about 222 billion miles traveled by human drivers in the same locations and time periods.

The results show that, on a limited scale, these driverless cars are safer than human drivers who can be impaired or drowsy or suffer lapses in attention, IIHS President David Harkey said.

Waymos results varied by city. Compared with human drivers, its crash rate was:

• 76% lower in Phoenix

• 71% lower in Los Angeles

• 35% lower in San Francisco

• 4% higher in Austin

IIHS cautioned that the Austin results were based on a relatively small sample and may not provide a reliable indication of the vehicles long-term performance there.

The study also found that Waymo vehicles were involved in 81% fewer injury crashes and 85% fewer single-vehicle crashes per mile than human drivers.

Comparing crashes is complicated

Researchers had to make significant adjustments to federal crash data before comparing driverless vehicles with human drivers.

Ordinary motorists do not report every collision. IIHS estimates that about half of all crashes and one-third of injury crashes involving human drivers are never reported to police. Drivers may avoid reporting minor crashes because of insurance concerns or because the damage does not meet a states reporting threshold.

Automated-vehicle companies, by contrast, have been required to report many minor incidents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Until federal rules were revised in 2025, even an incident such as a vehicle scraping its underside while entering a parking lot could be classified as a crash.

IIHS researchers reviewed 736 crashes involving automated driving systems on public roads from 2021 through 2024. They removed duplicate records and incidents in which the automation was not operating, the vehicle was not on a public road, or no actual collision occurred.

Researchers then estimated which crashes would probably have been reported to police if a human had been driving. Only 22% of the 736 incidents met that standard.

That left 89 crashes involving Waymo vehicles, 50 involving Cruise, 10 involving Zoox, and 10 involving other companies. Because only Waymo voluntarily provided mileage data, researchers could calculate a meaningful crash rate only for that company.

Of Waymos 89 likely police-reportable crashes, 64 occurred while the vehicles were operating without a human driver.

Better monitoring is needed

Waymo began as Googles self-driving car project in 2009 and launched its public driverless taxi service in Phoenix in 2020. It later expanded to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin.

Its vehicles are classified as Level 4 automated vehicles, meaning they can perform all driving functions without human supervision, but only within certain locations and operating conditions.

IIHS said the encouraging results should not eliminate the need for stronger oversight. Companies are required to report crashes, but they generally do not have to disclose how many miles their vehicles travel or whether those miles were driven autonomously.

Without mileage figures, regulators and researchers cannot determine how frequently other driverless vehicles crash or whether safety changes as fleets expand.