Consumer News: What's really in toddler foods? Study finds most are ultra-processed

New poll shows food safety concerns are influencing produce purchases nationwide

• Four in 10 Americans say they're buying or eating less produce because of the Cyclospora outbreak.

• Most people are following news about the outbreak, with those paying the closest attention most likely to change their eating habits.

• Confidence in the FDA is mixed, though more Americans say they have confidence in the agency than not.

The ongoing Cyclospora outbreak isn't just making headlines it's also changing the way many Americans shop for food.

According to a new CBS News/YouGov poll, 40% of U.S. adults say they are now buying or eating less produce because of concerns about the outbreak.

The poll suggests the outbreak has captured widespread public attention. Most Americans say they are following news about Cyclospora at least somewhat closely, making it one of the more closely watched public health stories at the moment.

Women were somewhat more likely than men to report cutting back on produce, while older adults were also more likely than younger people to say they've changed their eating habits.

The findings come as federal health officials continue investigating illnesses linked to Cyclospora, a parasite that can contaminate food or water and cause an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis.

How the poll was conducted

The findings are based on a nationally representative CBS News/YouGov survey of 2,193 U.S. adults conducted between July 22 and July 24, 2026.

Researchers weighted the results to reflect the U.S. adult population based on demographic factors, including gender, age, race, education, and 2024 presidential vote. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.

Participants were asked about how closely they were following news about the Cyclospora outbreak, whether it had affected their produce purchases or consumption, and how much confidence they had in the Food and Drug Administration's (FDAs) ability to respond to the situation.

What the results mean for consumers

One of the clearest patterns in the survey is that attention appears to influence behavior. People who said they were following the outbreak "very closely" were especially likely to report buying or eating less produce than those paying less attention to the news.

The poll also found mixed opinions about the FDA's handling of the outbreak. Overall, more Americans expressed confidence in the agency than a lack of confidence, but relatively few said they had "a lot" of confidence.

While the survey highlights shifting consumer behavior and attitudes, it doesn't examine whether reducing produce consumption lowers the risk of illness. Instead, it offers a snapshot of how a high-profile food safety investigation is influencing Americans' perceptions, shopping decisions, and confidence in the nation's food safety system.

New research suggests the medication's effects can outlast early appetite changes

• People taking semaglutide continued eating fewer calories after 60 weeks, even as some feelings of hunger returned.

• The study suggests eating less not just feeling less hungry may help explain the medication's long-term weight loss benefits.

• Researchers say the findings may help set realistic expectations for people taking semaglutide over the long term.

Many people who take semaglutide for weight loss notice dramatic changes early on, including feeling less hungry and thinking about food less often. But as time goes on, some worry the medication has stopped working if those effects begin to fade.

A new study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that may not be the case. The researchers found that adults taking semaglutide continued to eat significantly fewer calories after more than a year on the medication, even though some of the early appetite-suppressing effects became less noticeable over time.

The findings, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, help explain how semaglutide may support both initial weight loss and long-term weight maintenance.

Many patients worry that their medication has stopped working if they notice some return of hunger after the first several months, researcher Jena S. Tronieri said in a news release.

Our findings show that even when people feel some of those sensations returning, semaglutide continues to help them eat less. That sustained reduction in calorie intake appears to be a key reason why weight loss is maintained over time.

How the study was conducted

The randomized, double-blind clinical trial followed 120 adults with overweight or obesity for 60 weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a once-weekly 2.4-milligram dose of semaglutide or a placebo, and everyone also received regular counseling on healthy eating and physical activity.

At the start of the study and again after 20, 40, and 60 weeks, participants completed a five-hour laboratory visit. After eating a standardized breakfast, they were offered lunch and instructed to eat until they felt comfortably full. Researchers then measured exactly how many calories each participant consumed.

The study also tracked hunger, fullness, food cravings, and how rewarding participants found different foods.

What the findings could mean

Throughout the study, people taking semaglutide consistently consumed about 24% to 30% fewer calories than those receiving the placebo. Participants in the semaglutide group also lost an average of 15.1% of their starting body weight after 60 weeks, compared with 3.4% in the placebo group.

One of the more notable findings was that the medication's effects on appetite didn't all last equally. During the first 20 weeks, participants reported feeling less hungry, having better appetite control and thinking about food less often. By weeks 40 and 60, however, many of those self-reported differences were no longer statistically significant, even though calorie intake remained substantially lower.

For consumers, that distinction may be reassuring. The researchers say a gradual return of hunger doesn't necessarily mean semaglutide has stopped working. Instead, the medication may continue helping people eat fewer calories even if it no longer feels as dramatically effective as it did during the first few months.

This study highlights an important distinction between peoples perceptions of their appetite and how they actually eat, researcher Thomas A. Wadden said in the release.

People taking semaglutide for weight loss often notice dramatic reductions in hunger and food noise when they begin this treatment. If those sensations gradually become less noticeable, some may incorrectly assume the medication is no longer effective.

Don't mistake a checkout glitch for a Prime sales pitch

• A temporary Amazon glitch removed free shipping for some shoppers. Amazon says the issue has been fixed.

• Don't assume you need Prime. If free shipping disappears, double-check your cart before signing up for a membership.

• Review your checkout carefully. Make sure your order qualifies for free shipping and verify you didn't accidentally start a Prime trial.

Some Amazon shoppers got an unpleasant surprise when they reached the checkout screen this week.

According to reporting by The Washington Times, some customers found that the usual free-shipping option had disappeared. Instead, they were only given two choices: pay for shipping or sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime. Amazon later confirmed the issue was caused by a temporary technical glitch and said it has since been resolved.

The incident frustrated shoppers and sparked speculation online that Amazon was intentionally steering customers toward Prime memberships. Amazon says that wasn't the case, describing it as a software error that temporarily affected some users.

While the glitch appears to have been short-lived, it serves as a good reminder to pay close attention during checkout.

Before you sign up for Prime

If you typically qualify for Amazon's free shipping (without Prime), a missing free shipping option may just be a glitch and not a sign you need a Prime membership.

Many orders of $35 or more that contain eligible items still qualify for free shipping without a Prime membership. If you don't see the option, take a few minutes to investigate before completing your purchase.

Pro tip: If you dont have Prime, its smart to keep a couple small "filler items" in mind. If your order is just below the $35 free-shipping minimum, adding something you know youll use anyway (think batteries, toothpaste, deodorant, or dish soap) is often cheaper than paying for shipping.

What shoppers can do

• Make sure every item qualifies. Not everything sold on Amazon is eligible for free shipping. Some third-party sellers and oversized products have different shipping policies, so one item in your cart could affect your shipping options.

• Look for the "FREE Shipping" label before adding items to your cart. Product pages usually indicate whether an item qualifies. If it doesn't, you may be able to find the same product sold by Amazon or another eligible seller.

• Watch your cart total carefully. Coupons, promotional credits, and certain discounts can sometimes change your qualifying purchase amount. If you're only a few dollars short of the free-shipping threshold, adding an inexpensive household item you already need may cost less than paying a shipping fee.

• Refresh your cart before checking out. Temporary glitches can happen. Signing out and back into your account, refreshing your browser, or trying the Amazon app may restore the missing shipping option.

• Don't assume Prime is your only choice. If you're prompted to start a free Prime trial, take a moment to review the checkout screen carefully. If something doesn't look right, try refreshing the page or adjusting your cart before enrolling.

• Contact customer service if the numbers don't add up. If your order clearly qualifies for free shipping but the option doesn't appear, Amazon's customer service may be able to resolve the issue before you place your order.

Pro tip: Its smart to check your order confirmation after you buy. If you accidentally started a Prime free trial during checkout, you can cancel before the trial ends and avoid any future membership charges.

The scammers are using letters instead of email or texts

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The IRS is warning cryptocurrency holders about fake letters directing them to a nonexistent Digital Asset Compliance Portal.

• QR codes in the letters lead to a website that imitates IRS.gov and seeks wallet details, exchange credentials, and personal information.

• Recipients should avoid responding, verify communications through IRS.gov, and report suspected fraud to IRS Criminal Investigation.

The IRS is alerting cryptocurrency holders to a mail-based phishing campaign designed to steal personal information and digital assets.

Fraudsters are sending official-looking letters claiming recipients must enroll in a Digital Asset Compliance Portal before a specified deadline. The letters contain QR codes that lead to a fraudulent website modeled after IRS.gov, according to an IRS Criminal Investigation fraud alert.

The IRS said it does not operate such a portal and did not send the letters.

Once on the fake website, victims may be asked to provide identifying information, cryptocurrency wallet details, exchange-account credentials, or other sensitive data. Criminals can use that information to steal identities, access accounts, or take control of digital assets.

Criminals continue to exploit public trust in government agencies, IRS-CI Chief Jarod Koopman said, urging taxpayers to verify unexpected requests before responding and report suspected fraud to law enforcement.

Social engineering tactics

The campaign uses several familiar social-engineering tactics, including government branding, urgent deadlines. and unsolicited QR codes. Although the IRS includes QR codes in some legitimate correspondence, taxpayers who receive an unexpected notice should independently visit IRS.gov or contact the agency using information published on its official website.

Coinbase and cybersecurity company DarkTower traced the infrastructure to a recently registered domain obtained through a Hong Kong registrar and hosted in Romania, The Journal of Accountancy reported. The IRS has not disclosed how the perpetrators obtained cryptocurrency holders names and mailing addresses or how many people may have received the letters.

Anyone who shared information through the fraudulent site should stop communicating with the scammers, change passwords on affected accounts, and contact the relevant bank or cryptocurrency exchange immediately. The IRS also recommends enabling multifactor authentication and never disclosing private keys or wallet-recovery phrases.

Potential victims should preserve letters, screenshots, and emails as evidence and submit reports through the IRS-CI tip portal.