Consumer News: Justice Department widens beef-price investigation to eight major retailers

Theyre cutting prices on some items and promoting lower-cost options

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Walmart, Stop & Shop and Giant Eagle are among the retailers cutting prices on selected groceries.

• Kroger, Target and other chains are expanding private-label products to give shoppers less-expensive alternatives.

• Many reductions are temporary, regional or tied to loyalty programs, so consumers should compare the cost of their entire shopping list.

Facing resistance from consumers weary of high food prices, several of the nations largest supermarket chains are reducing prices on selected products and expanding their lower-cost store brands.

The initiatives dont amount to across-the-board grocery price cuts. But they could provide some relief on staples such as meat, produce, snacks and packaged foodsparticularly for shoppers willing to compare prices and substitute private-label products for national brands.

Walmart recently lowered prices on a variety of groceries, including ground beef, produce, snacks and store-brand foods. One ground-beef product received a reduction of nearly 12%, according to Grocery Dive.

The retailer is also expanding Bettergoods, its private-label food line, to nearly 1,000 products. Walmart has said the brand has attracted customers across income levels, including higher-income shoppers looking for value.

Regional discounts

Stop & Shop has lowered prices on thousands of products at stores in New York and New Jersey. The reductions are part of a broader effort by the regional supermarket operator to improve its price position and compete more effectively with discount chains.

Giant Eagle, which operates stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio and surrounding states, temporarily reduced prices on approximately 300 products. The company said the reductions, scheduled to remain in effect through Labor Day, average about 10%.

Kroger has also made lower prices a central part of its strategy. The company says it is investing in its everyday prices while expanding its selection of private-label foods. Kroger executives report that store-brand sales are growing faster than sales of national brands.

Store brands gain ground

Other retailers are addressing affordability by offering consumers more private-label choices rather than simply reducing the prices of existing products.

Target plans to add 600 store-brand food and beverage products over two years. About 400 will be sold under its Good & Gather brand.

Dollar General is also adding private-label products and has promoted more than 70 back-to-school items priced at $1 or less.

Meanwhile, Aldi continues to expand its U.S. footprint. The discount grocer, where most products are private-label, is on track to open 180 stores in 2026 and another 400 through 2028.

The growth of private brands suggests that consumers shopping habits may be undergoing a lasting change.

From January through May, sales at value-oriented retailers rose 11.6% compared with a year earlier, while conventional retailers recorded growth of only 2.3%, according to NielsenIQ data cited by Reuters.

Retailers say the search for value is no longer limited to lower-income households. Middle- and higher-income shoppers are also switching to store brands or visiting discount chains as they try to control grocery spending.

The savings have limits

Consumers should examine the details before concluding that their preferred supermarket has become significantly cheaper.

Some advertised reductions apply only to selected products or stores. Others are temporary promotions or require membership in a loyalty program. A supermarket may also cut the price of highly visible staples while leaving prices unchangedor raising themelsewhere in the store.

That means the total at the bottom of the receipt is more important than the discount on any one product.

Consumers may save more by creating a list of frequently purchased items and comparing their regular prices at two or three nearby stores. Unit prices, which show the cost per ounce or pound, can also reveal whether a sale item is actually less expensive than a different package size or store brand.

Shoppers should also check whether a discount requires a digital coupon. Some supermarket promotions must be activated through an app before checkout, which can prevent consumers who dont use the app from receiving the advertised price.

Even with those limitations, the emerging grocery price competition is good news for consumers. Traditional supermarkets are under pressure to narrow the gap with Walmart, Aldi and other value retailersand shoppers willing to compare prices are in the strongest position to benefit.

The products bear an unauthorized USDA inspection mark

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Shanghai Ravioli Corporation is recalling approximately 24,900 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products produced without federal inspection.

• The recalled Buffalo Chicken Rangoon and Benedettos Buffalo Chicken Mozzarella Sticks were sent to foodservice businesses in five New England states.

• No illnesses or injuries have been reported, but restaurants and other foodservice operators should not serve the products.

Shanghai Ravioli Corporation is recalling approximately 24,900 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products because they were produced without the required federal inspection, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The Boston-based companys recall covers two not-ready-to-eat products:

• Cardboard boxes containing 100 pieces of BUFFALO CHICKEN RANGOON, with sell-by dates ranging from July 8, 2026, through June 29, 2027.

• Cardboard boxes containing 120 pieces of BENEDETTOS BUFFALO CHICKEN MOZZARELLA STICK, with sell-by dates ranging from July 8, 2026, through June 29, 2027.

The products were manufactured on various dates from July 8, 2025, through June 29, 2026. They were shipped to foodservice locations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

FSIS said the packages display a false USDA inspection mark bearing establishment number EST. 18004. The establishment associated with that number does not have a federal grant of inspection.

The agency discovered the problem during routine surveillance activities.

Why the lack of inspection matters

Federal inspection is intended to ensure that meat and poultry products are produced under sanitary conditions and meet labeling and food-safety requirements.

Because these products were made without that oversight, they could potentially contain harmful bacteria, undeclared allergens or other contaminants. The recall announcement did not identify a specific pathogen or report laboratory evidence that the products are contaminated.

No confirmed illnesses or injuries associated with the products had been reported when the recall was announced.

The recall has been designated Class I, the USDAs most serious classification. That designation applies when there is a reasonable probability that consuming a recalled product could cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

What foodservice operators should do

The products were distributed to foodservice businesses rather than identified as being sold directly through grocery stores. FSIS is concerned that some of the recalled items may still be in restaurant or institutional refrigerators and freezers.

Foodservice operators should check their inventory for the affected Buffalo Chicken Rangoon and Benedettos Buffalo Chicken Mozzarella Sticks. The products should not be cooked or served. They should be thrown away or returned to the supplier.

Anyone concerned about an illness or injury after eating one of the products should contact a health care provider.

Questions about the recall may be directed to Jordan Wu, quality control manager at Shanghai Ravioli Corporation, at 617-989-3833 or shanghaicorp@gmail.com. Consumers may also contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854.

Product labels and additional information are available in the USDA recall notice.

The recalled fruit was distributed in four states

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Panorama Produce is recalling 302 boxes of Martina-brand mangoes that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

• The mangoes were sold at select Walmart stores in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

• Consumers should check for a light-blue Agrofepac sticker with PLU 4584 and dispose of or return recalled mangoes.

Panorama Produce is recalling hundreds of boxes of mangoes sold at select Walmart stores because the fruit may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recall covers 302 boxes of size-9 mangoes distributed in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania from Aug. 10 through Aug. 21, 2026, according to an announcement posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The mangoes were shipped in cases bearing the Martina brand name. Individual pieces of fruit have a light-blue sticker displaying the following information:

• Agrofepac

• Produce of Mexico

• PLU number 4584

• UPC 07503061948050

The company initiated the recall after FDA sampling detected Salmonella in mangoes grown on the same farm. The sampled fruit did not enter U.S. commerce, but because it came from the same source as the distributed mangoes, Panorama Produce voluntarily recalled the affected shipment.

No illnesses connected to the recalled mangoes had been reported when the company issued its announcement.

What to do

Consumers should check any recently purchased mangoes for the identifying sticker and numbers. Recalled fruit should not be eaten, even if it looks or smells normal. Consumers should throw it away or return it to the store where it was purchased.

People should also wash and sanitize any surfaces or containers that may have come into contact with the mangoes. Anyone who develops symptoms and believes they may have eaten recalled fruit should contact a health care provider.

Salmonella infection can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Diarrhea may sometimes be bloody. Symptoms commonly begin within several hours to several days after exposure.

Most healthy people recover without treatment, but the infection can become serious or fatal for young children, older adults, frail people and those with weakened immune systems. In rare cases, Salmonella may enter the bloodstream and cause more serious conditions, including infected aneurysms, endocarditis and arthritis.

Consumers with questions may email Panorama Produce at information@panoramaproduce.com from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Saturday. Additional information and product photographs are available in the FDA recall announcement.

Amid inflation and economic uncertainty, the US must provide higher rates on bonds to sell them

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The 10-year Treasury yield climbed from 4.73% Friday to about 4.81% Wednesday as investors sold government bonds.

• Rising oil prices, renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities, inflation concerns and expectations of another Federal Reserve rate increase are driving the selloff.

• Higher yields could lift mortgage and other borrowing costs, but may offer better returns on Treasury securities, CDs and savings accounts.

A sharp rise in government bond yields this week is threatening to push consumer borrowing costs higher, just as prospective homebuyers and other borrowers were hoping for some interest-rate relief.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note reached approximately 4.81% Wednesday, its highest level since November 2023. That was up from 4.73% at the end of last week. The two-year Treasury yield rose to its highest point since January 2025, while the 30-year yield climbed above 5.28%.

Although those percentage-point moves may appear small, changes of even a few hundredths of a percentage point can ripple through mortgages, corporate loans and financial markets.

Treasury yields rise when investors sell bonds, pushing their prices lower. This weeks selloff has not been limited to the United States. Government borrowing costs also reached multiyear highs in Britain, Germany and Japan, making it a global bond-market event.

Oil and inflation are driving yields higher

The most immediate catalyst is renewed fighting between the United States and Iran. Concern about disruptions to oil supplies sent U.S. crude prices above $90 a barrel Tuesday, while Brent crude approached $95.

Higher oil prices can raise the cost of gasoline, diesel, air travel, shipping and manufacturing. Bond investors worry that those increases could fuel another round of inflation.

Inflation is especially damaging to bondholders because it reduces the purchasing power of the fixed interest payments they receive. Investors generally respond by demanding higher yields.

Federal Reserve policy is another factor. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh recently warned that inflation remains well above the central banks 2% goal. Markets now see an increased possibility that policymakers will raise their benchmark rate at the Feds September meeting.

Investors are also worried about the enormous supply of debt entering the market. The federal government must sell more Treasury securities to finance large budget deficits, while technology companies have issued billions of dollars in bonds to pay for artificial-intelligence infrastructure. With more debt competing for buyers, issuers may have to offer higher yields.

What it means for mortgage shoppers

The clearest impact for consumers is likely to show up in mortgage rates.

Mortgage rates do not move directly with the Federal Reserves short-term rate. Instead, they tend to follow longer-term bond yields, particularly the 10-year Treasury and mortgage-backed securities.

The average 30-year fixed mortgage was quoted at 6.81% Tuesday, up three basis points in one day, according to Mortgage Research Network. The latest weekly Freddie Mac survey, completed before the full force of this weeks bond selloff, put the average at 6.66%.

On a $400,000, 30-year mortgage, the difference between 6.66% and 6.81% amounts to roughly $40 more per month in principal and interest. If yields remain elevated, mortgage rates could move higher still.

Consumers shopping for a home may want to compare several lenders, since quoted rates and fees can vary significantly. Buyers who are comfortable with their monthly payment may also consider locking a rate rather than gambling on an immediate decline.

Other loans could get more expensive

Higher bond yields can also affect auto loans, private student loans and business borrowing. Credit-card rates are more closely linked to the Feds short-term benchmark, but expectations of another Fed increase would make relief less likely for cardholders.

Higher government borrowing costs may also eventually affect consumers indirectly. As interest payments consume more of the federal budget, lawmakers could face greater pressure to reduce spending, raise taxes or borrow even more.

The stock market may also struggle when yields rise. Higher bond returns give investors a more attractive alternative to stocks, while increased borrowing costs can reduce corporate profits. That can produce volatility in retirement and brokerage accounts, particularly among technology and other growth stocks.

However, there is an upside for savers

The increase is not entirely bad news. Consumers buying newly issued Treasury bills, notes or bonds can earn higher returns. Banks may also maintain attractive rates on CDs, money-market accounts and high-yield savings accounts if interest rates remain elevated.

However, people who already own long-term bonds or bond funds may see their account values decline because existing bond prices fall as market yields rise.

Economists say future bond yields will likely depend on oil prices, developments in the Middle East and upcoming inflation and employment reports. A cooling economy or easing geopolitical tensions could pull yields back down. Persistent inflationor signals that the Fed is preparing to raise ratescould keep borrowing costs higher for longer.