Groupons and other online social coupons are great way of saving money, but they cost the business tremendously. When you pay $25 for a Groupon that gives you a $50 value, the merchant gets around $12.50. If you just mention the Groupon without buying it, you could get a similar deal.
Remember that time you walked into a big chain store with a shopping bag full of games, thinking you were going to cash out big time, only to leave with a gift card housing barely enough credit to grab even one new game? Of course you do; we've all been there.
We only have so much willpower . To optimize your restraint, Forbes suggests that you limit your financial decisions. The fewer money decisions you have to make, the smarter those choices will be.
When it comes to looking good in photographs, you need stuff that you can remember quickly when facing a camera. Photographer Deanna McCollum offers a simple mantra that should be easy to enact before the shutter clicks.
When you do need to send out your resume, recalling all your achievements at your current job can be tough. That's why The Daily Muse suggests keeping a "Brag Folder" in your email inbox where you save any praiseworthy message.
If a room in your house is stinking, whether from burnt food or anything else, grab two cinnamon sticks from the pantry. Throw them in some water and boil it. You'll soon have your room smelling fresh, says redditor phunterqa.
Unloading a dishwasher is one job no one loves, but you can make it a whole lot easier by just assigning the space next to it for storing plates, knives, cups and other everyday items, says Myquillyn of Nesting Place.
We're all stuck in places that make us wait. It's easy to get bored and do nothing, but that time—if planned well—can be used productively. How do you make use of this otherwise "wasted" time?
Flipping over Smart Cars makes me think of the mean people who put turtles on their backs just to see them struggle to right themselves, only in this case the vehicles can’t wiggle in protest. Their owners, however, are probably really ticked off, reports NBC Bay Area.
The news station found at least four of the vandalized cars, which have been flipped onto their front or rear ends or on their sides.
“Whoever is doing this just has misdirected anger,” said one woman who was carsitting for a pal.
Police say the suspects are still out there and will face felony vandalism charges if they’re ever caught. And it sounds like quite a fair amount of witnesses noticed something was amiss over the weekend.
One man said he saw about six to eight people wearing hooded sweatshirts flipping cars at 1 a.m. this morning.
“They looked like they were up to no good,” he said. “And sure enough, they huddled around it and lifted it up.”
“They look like they are dachshunds sitting up on their hind legs,” he added.
So cute! But so wrong.
As for why these miscreants are out there behaving badly, it’s not totally clear — but it could just be that the cars are so itty bitty and light, well, it’s just too great of a temptation for the more dastardly among us.
Vandals Flip Smart Cars Over in San Francisco [NBC Bay Area]
Follow MBQ on Twitter because she is a friend to turtles: @marybethquirk
The company recalled 386,000 model year 2001 to 2004 Escape SUVs that may have corrosion issues related to the vehicles’ subframe, USA Today reports.
The corrosion issue could cause the lower control arm to separate, and potentially lead to diminished steering control. Salt used on the roads during the winter is thought to increase the chance of issues.
One crash, but no injuries, have been tied to the problem, officials with Ford say.
Affected vehicles can be found in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. About 37,000 SUVs are located in Canada.
Dealers will install a reinforcement cross brace to resolve the issue.
The second recall affects 48,960 model year 2013 and 2014 Ford Fusions, Escapes and C-Maxs, and Lincoln MKZs.
The vehicles have back seat frames that don’t conform to safety standards and could increase risk of injury. The company says no accidents or injuries have been attributed to the issue.
Ford launches recalls of 435,000 cars and SUVs [USA Today]
There are a number of federal protections to keep unsafe chemicals out of our favorite foods. But more often than not, those protections fail consumers. A new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council explores one of those failures: Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) designation.
Here’s how it works: the designation allows companies to use their own scientists or contractors to determine if a food additive is safe for consumption. Through use of that loophole a number of potentially dangerous chemicals are being poured into products such as cereal bars, chewing gum and sports drinks.
On Monday, the NRDC released a report [PDF], “Generally Recognized as Secret: Chemicals Added to Food in the United States,” highlighting the inadequacies and minimal Food & Drug Administration supervision found in the United States food safety protection system.
“Americans should expect that their food is safe to eat, but sadly today there’s no guarantee because safety oversight from federal agencies and food manufacturers is shockingly weak and hidden from public scrutiny,” said Tom Neltner, NRDC health scientist and report co-author.
One of those inadequacies is the use of the Food Additives Amendment of 1958 which exempted from the formal, extended FDA approval process common food ingredients like vinegar and vegetable oil that are “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).
Today, the Act has evolved to become a loophole that allows manufacturers to make safety determinations about the newest chemicals used in food without notifying the FDA. The chemicals are deemed safe by the manufacture’s in-house scientists or employees, a clear conflict of interest, the NRDC says.
Further, the safety of a chemical is usually determined without taking into consideration the potentially serious allergic reactions, interactions with common drugs, or proposed uses much greater than company-established safe doses.
In an attempt to limit these undisclosed GRAS determinations the FDA allows companies to voluntarily inform the the agency about their chemicals. However, when the FDA begins to ask tough questions the companies often withdraw their information, Neltner says.
Because of the frequency at which companies make GRAS safety determinations, the NRDC decided to explore the companies’ rationale for not participating in the voluntary notification program.
The NRDC identified chemicals that appear to be marketed in the U.S. pursuant to an undisclosed GRAS determination. In all, the report found 275 chemicals from 56 companies that are marketed for use in food based on GRAS.
Using a Freedom of Information Act request, the NRDC identified four case studies in which a company withdrew its voluntary GRAS notice to the FDA after the agency brought forward concerns about the chemical’s safety.
A company determined the use of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was safe in the production of 25 products including teas, sports drinks, and juices. However, documentation shows the FDA cited evidence the chemical may cause leukemia in fetuses in human cell tests and animal studies showing it affected the thyroid, testis, spleen, pituitary, liver and gastrointestinal tract.
Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is currently used in five products marketed in the U.S. including beverages, chewing gum, coffee, tea, and candy despite the FDA’s concerns that estimated exposure was well in excess of what the company itself deemed safe.
Sweet lupin protein, fiber, and flour is found 20 products in the U.S. including baked goods, dairy products, gelatin, meats and candy despite the FDA-raised questions about whether or not the chemical would cause serious allergic reactions in those with peanut allergies. The chemical is found in a plant related to the peanut family.
A company determined Theobromine was safe to be used 20 products including bread, cereal, beverages, chewing gum, tea, soy milk, gelatin, candy and yogurt despite the FDA’s questions about the estimated consumption being five times higher than the safe consumption level reported by the company.
Neltner said the NRDC could not name specific companies using the chemicals in their products, citing an agreement the organization made in order to gain access to a commercial database for their investigation.
Asked whether consumers would be able to connect any health issues with the consumption of the chemicals, Neltner says there wouldn’t have been enough time to completely explore the effects.
The NRDC concludes that a chemical additive cannot be “generally recognized as safe” if its identify, chemical composition and safety determination are not publicly disclosed to the FDA.
“Congress should close the loophole responsible for this failing now. Until it does, FDA should strictly limit companies’ conflicts of interest and require them to disclose to the agency when they self-approve the safety of a chemical,” Neltner says. “And consumers should demand that their grocery stores and their favorite brands sell only food with ingredients deemed safe by federal food safety experts.”
NRDC Report: Potentially Unsafe Chemicals in Food Threaten Public Health [Natural Resources Defense Council]
Baby seems skeptical of this lint brush thing.
Of course, that list is for the company’s grocery service, AmazonFresh. Which means the black-and-white wand, which reminds me of a cross between a Ninetendo Wii controller and a pregnancy test, is only available in areas currently on AmazonFresh’s roster — Southern California, San Francisco or Seattle. Amazon has about 20 urban areas in mind for expanding the service this year, notes Reuters.
It’s equipped with a microphone and speaker so you can verbally add items to your shopping list, or if you notice you’re running low on organic freeze-dried Mediterranean kale or whatever, you just scan the barcode on the item.
Right now the product is free as it’s in a trial period, but it’s unclear what it will cost in the future, if anything. Which it probably will because things cost money, you see. Curious minds can sign up to request a Dash to try it out.
No word on what the stick will do if you demand to add the secret of life, the perfect lifemate or “That thing I ate that one time that was sooo good,” to the list, however, so if you end up asking it, please let me know.
Amazon launches Amazon Dash for delivery of groceries, household items [Reuters]
Follow MBQ on Twitter because it’s Monday and etc: @marybethquirk
In our April Recall Roundup for food, supplements, and even a few over-the-counter drugs, the lemon cookies have peanut butter, the vegan hot chocolate mix has dairy, and a lot of organic peppercorns might be contaminated with salmonella.
Our monthly Recall Roundups have grown so expansive that we’ve had to separate them into two separate roundups: one for consumer goods, and one for consumables.
If you have any of these listed items in your pantry, first check the varieties and flavors against the ones listed on the recall site or press release, then check expiration date or lot numbers.
If there’s a match, don’t panic! If an item is listed as having undeclared walnuts and you’re not allergic to walnuts, for example, you don’t have to do anything at all. You can keep the item, eat it, not eat it, or return it to the store or the manufacturer for your own peace of mind.
Items that may be contaminated with bacteria or foreign objects are worrisome for everyone, and you should return them to the retail store where you bought them, or contact the company for a refund and further instructions.
DESSERTS AND SNACKS
AH!LASKA Organic Cocoa Non-Dairy Chocolate Mix – contains undeclared milk
Chocolate Chunk LUNA Bars - undeclared macadamia nuts
Alprose Swiss Chocolate Dark Chocolate and bulk chocolate napolitans – may contain undeclared milk
Zesty Lemon Cookie Buttons (Hannaford supermarkets) – may contain peanut butter cookies instead, which is an allergen risk, not a disappointment risk
Parker Farms and Store Brand Cheese Snacks, Salsa, And Peanut Butter – possible Listeria contamination
Simply Lite Dark Chocolate Bars – may contain large quantities of milk protein
Fannie May Spring-Wrapped Chocolate Boxes – undeclared peanuts
Net Food Turkey Diced Apricots – undeclared sulfites
DAIRY
Belmont Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream (Aldi) – undeclared nuts
PACKAGED FOODS
ELF Herring Fillets in Wine Sauce – contains undeclared milk
Plum Organics World Baby Pouches – plastic spout may break
Tyson Foods and Spare Time Chicken Nuggets – may contain plastic shards
Backpackers Pantry Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken – mislabeled; may contain jerk chicken with rice, which has different allergens
CONDIMENTS AND SPICES
Whole Foods Market 365, Frontier, Simply Organic, and Sprouts Farmers Market Organic Black Peppercorns – possible Salmonella contamination
SUPPLEMENTS
African Black Ant, Black Ant, XZen, XZone, and Mojo Risen – contain active ingredients of actual drugs (Viagra and Cialis)
Super Fat Burner, Maxi Gold and Esmeralda and Bella Vi – contain unapproved new drugs
Kratom products – contain unapproved new drugs
Reumofan Plus - contains unapproved new drugs
OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS
Alli Capsules – possibility of tampering
Pleo-FORT, Pleo-QUENT, Pleo-NOT, Pleo-STOLO, Pleo-NOTA-QUENT, and Pleo-EX homeopathic drug products – may contain traces of antibiotics
HEALTH CARE ITEMS
Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Mouthwash – possible contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria
Look before you chomp.
There are some foods that really shine when they’re dipped in savory sauces, but no amount of barbecue sauce is going to make that bit of plastic taste like a chicken nugget. Which is why Tyson Foods is recalling more than 75,000 pounds of chicken nuggets that could possibly contain crunchy bits of plastic.
The company is pulling 75,32 pounds of frozen, fully cooked nuggets from stores over the concern that they could be contaminated with “extraneous materials,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.
Consumers had complained of finding small bits of plastic in the nuggets, with some reporting minor oral injuries as a result of accidentally snacking on the stuff. Tyson has traced the problem back to a product scraper inside a blending machine.
Check your freezer for the below items, which are part of the recall:
• 5-lb. bags of “Tyson Fully Cooked White Meat Chicken Nuggets – Item # 16142-928 with a “Best if Used By” date of “Jan 26 2015” or “Feb 16 2015.” The manufacturer codes “0264SDL0315 through 19” and “0474SDL0311 through 14” can also be found on the bags. These products were produced Jan. 26, 2014 or Feb. 16, 2014 and shipped nationwide to Sam’s Club.
• 20-lb. bulk packs of “Spare Time Fully Cooked Nugget-Shaped Chicken Breast Pattie Fritters w/Rib Meat – Item #16142-861 with identifying case codes of “0264SDL0315 through 19” and “0474SDL0311 through 14.” These products were produced Jan. 26 and Feb. 16, 2014 and were shipped for institutional use in Indiana and Arkansas.
The product bags bear the establishment number “P-13556.”
If you’ve got a recalled product, cut the UPC and date code from the back of the bag before you throw it out, and mail it to the below address for a full refund:
Tyson Foods – CP631
P.O. Box 2020
Springdale, AR 72765-9989
Got questions? Call Tyson Foods Consumer Services toll free at (866) 328-3156.
(**bc**)
In this case, the Chuck E. Cheese was the one in the suburbs of Utica, New York. At least only two guests were involved, this time. The brawlers were a 24-year-old man and a 46-year-old man. Both were charged with disorderly conduct. The younger man punched a police officer in the face and resisted arrest, and was also charged with second-degree harassment, resisting arrest, and second-degree obstructing governmental administration. He was taken to the county jail.
We don’t know whether the men knew each other before their encounter at the restaurant, or why they were fighting. Police didn’t specify whether either or both of the two men were the fathers of kids who were partying at the time. Past mass brawls have occurred at other Chuck E. Cheese’s establishments usually involve prize tickets, an important form of currency.
Two charged following fight at Chuck E. Cheese’s [Observer-Dispatch]
(aloucha)
According to consumer advocates in states where payday lending is prohibited (but where the masses have not resorted to rampant looting) the answer is no.
Today, 13 states prohibit or ban the short-term, high-interest loans intended to get the borrower through to the next paycheck. The laws generally enact a rate cap which puts the annual percentage rates at or below 36%.
“Payday loans are predatory, abusive products that take advantage of disadvantaged borrowers and trap them in vicious cycles of debt, interest payments, and repeat borrowing,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, where payday lending is prohibited tells Consumerist in an e-mail.
While it appears to be a growing trend by states and the federal government to rein in predatory payday lending – no state has allowed payday lending to begin service since 2005 – that doesn’t stop the payday industry from using scare tactics and misleading information to keep the practice up and running.
BUT CONSUMERS NEED QUICK CASH
Last week during a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau panel discussion on payday lending, Jamie Fulmer, Sr. VP of Public Affairs with payday lending operation Advance America, said his company found that 98% of customers were satisfied with their payday lending experience.
“Every customer who walks in our door can expect to meet their individual needs,” he said.
That might be true for the short-term, but a recent report from the CFPB found that 4 out of 5 payday loans are made to consumers who are stuck in a debt trap. By renewing or rolling over loans the average monthly borrower is likely to stay in debt for 11 months or longer.
Many payday lending supporters put an emphasis on the convenience and availability of payday loans.
One report [PDF], titled “Effects of State Payday Loan Price Caps & Regulations,” from the University of Washington insists that payday loans are the best option for consumers.
“Payday loans—short-term unsecured loans intended to be repaid upon the receipt of expected income within a pay period—may legitimately be the most attractive option, due to their convenience, reliability, and availability on short notice.”
But what Zywicki and Sarvis fail to demonstrate in their article, and Fulmer failed to mention at the panel discussion, are the future consequences of taking out a short-term, high interest loan.
“What happens if a car breaks down and you need $300 to get the car fixed?” Ellen Harnick, senior policy counsel with the Center for Responsible Lending says. “If you don’t fix the car then you lose your job. What payday lending leads people to think is it’s a good solution so they don’t pursue other solutions. They take the loan because there’s a shortfall, but in two weeks they have a $345 shortfall because they now have the loan and the fee.”
And so the cycle of debt, and creation of a rollover loan situation begins.
“The standard argument is consumers really need this thing and that’s not true,” Harnick says.
IF YOU BAN PAYDAY LOANS, CONSUMERS WILL HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN
Payday industry leaders and supporters often try to illustrate the importance of payday lending by claiming that without the option consumers would have no viable alternatives available at their disposal.
One report [PDF] from the University of Washington “Effects of State Payday Loan Price Caps & Regulations” insists that few financially attractive alternatives to payday lending currently exist in the marketplace.
“Without access to payday loans, consumers likely use overdrafts, pawnshops, and late bill payment to cover short run credit needs.”
But advocates say that simply isn’t the case and a number of states have proven it’s not.
For instance, New York offers two products. The Credit Builder Loan for low-income borrowers with little or no credit, and a Score Builder Loan for those with low credit scores. Both options have a 14.25% interest rate and no fees for a six-month loan.
In North Carolina, the State Employee Credit Union offers a Salary Advance of up to $500 at 12% APR with no fees. The loan must be paid back in full by automatic payments on the next payday.
Borrowers in Connecticut can find help in the form of personal loans from the First New England Federal Credit Union. The loans feature APRs between 10.25% and 17.99% depending on a borrower’s credit score.
“In the absence of payday lending, people do a lot of things; they negotiate payment plans with creditors, they juggle bills, they sometimes borrow from family and friends,” Harnick with CRL says. “If it’s not available they will find other methods.”
Of course there have been products masquerading as viable alternatives, such as legitimate banking institution’s Direct Deposit Advance programs. The services differ little from the typical storefront payday loan operation – both offer high-interest, short-term loans meant to get consumers out of emergency financial situations, but in reality have been found to trap them in an ongoing cycle of debt.
Facing tighter regulations, banks such as Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank have announced the discontinuation of the programs, something Blumenthal, the senator from Connecticut applauds.
“It is also important to ensure that traditional banks do not provide products that are essentially payday-in-disguise, such as ‘deposit advance loans.’” he says. “These products cause real harm to Connecticut families, and we must ensure that such bad actors find no refuge in our state.”
PAYDAY LENDING BOOSTS THE ECONOMY
Payday lenders often argue that the small-dollar loans help boost the economy in a positive way. The argument is that when a consumer has more money they’ll spend it on goods and services, in turn pumping funds into the economy.
It’s been argued that traditional storefront payday lending creates jobs, an estimated 77,000 jobs nationally according to the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSAA), a payday lending advocate.
CFSAA estimates that the industry contributed over $10 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2007.
However, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that in 2011 the U.S. economy took a net loss of $774 million due to the payday loan industry.
“The economic activity generated by payday lending firms receiving interest payments is less than the lost economic activity from reduced household spending. Specifically, each dollar in interest paid subtracts $1.94 from the economy through reduced household spending while only adding $1.70 to the economy through spending by payday lending establishments.”
Additionally, a number of studies have concluded that borrowers who use payday lending are left in worse circumstances than when they first took out the loan.
A 2008 report from researchers at Vanderbilt and the University of Pennsylvania, “Do Payday Loans Cause Bankruptcy” [PDF], found that a borrowers chance of filing for chapter 13 bankruptcy doubles within two years after receiving their first payday loan.
Consumer advocates have found that, in reality, regulating or eliminating payday lending actually proves to be better for the economy. Connecticut, North Carolina and New York each reported saving consumers millions of dollars through the use of interest rate caps.
CRL’s “Springing the Debt Trap” report [PDF] found that Connecticut saved $64 million, North Carolina saved $153 million and New York saved $345 million.
Savings and alternative forms of small dollar credit have led to consumer’s often changing their tune about needing payday loans.
CONSUMERS: ‘WE DON’T NEED YOUR LOANS’
“Generally, we can say that when states have adopted rate caps there has not been a clamor from consumers to have triple digit lending come back,” Lauren Saunders, attorney with the National Consumer Law Center says. “There’s a transition period in those states where consumers get cut off from predatory loans, but once they are gone, people find other options that are better for them.”
That certainly seems to be the case in North Carolina. The state offers a unique perspective on payday lending; it was banned for nearly 200 years before the state legislature allowed payday lenders an exemption from the state’s 36% rate cap.
When the sunset period ended in 2001, the legislature determined the loans weren’t good for consumers and did not extend the exemption.
Harnick, who works in North Carolina, says the legislature’s finding concluded that payday lending not only does not help consumers, but in most cases it makes people’s situation substantially worse.
Shortly after the exemption ended, the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks requested the University of North Carolina conduct a study on the consequences of the rate cap.
The report [PDF] found that 9 out of 10 households said payday lending was a bad option. Additionally, three out of four former payday loan users said the loans were harmful.
“Three-quarters of low- and middle-income people were unaffected by the ban on payday lending…of those that were affected by the end of storefront payday lending, more than twice as many reported that the absence of payday lenders had a positive impact on their lives.”
“Even consumers who were presently facing a shortfall of funds said it was better that payday lending was not available,” Harnick said.
FOR STATES WITH RATE CAPS, THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER
Even with strict rate caps, predatory lending has found its way to consumers in states like Connecticut through the Internet.
Sen. Blumenthal has been working to prevent online payday lenders from skirting state regulations and taking advantage of consumers.
“Like many states, Connecticut has strong usury laws that have all but eliminated storefront payday lending in the state. But out-of-state, online lenders continue to try to skirt Connecticut’s restrictions,” he says in an e-mail to Consumerist. “In fact, many of the constituent complaints I hear in Connecticut are about these sorts of online lenders, which is why I have co-sponsored the SAFE Lending Act – a bill that would close loopholes in federal law that enable these abuses.”
The payday lending industry and their supporters continually push to be let back into states where they are banned.
“North Carolina has been fortunate that our legislature has banned payday lending, but there have been efforts to bring it back,” Harnick says. “Lenders are eager to bring it back. The North Carolina legislature has thankfully not taken the bait, but lobbyists have invested a lot of money to try to take back the state.”
States such as Connecticut, North Carolina and New York have proven that enacting rate caps can have a positive impact on consumers and the economy. And that should be used to help further extend protections to other states and the federal government.
“I think that people have spoken in these states and legislatures have listened and that what we are seeing now is continued pressure to put in strong federal standards,” Tom Feltner, Director of Financial Services with Consumer Federation of America, tells Consumerist. “So that those states that have taken steps can keep protections and states where they are unprotected this will be a baseline that states and federal regulations can build on.”
And federal protections could be in place soon.
Last week, CFPB director Richard Cordray announced the agency was in the “late states” of working on rules to stop predatory lending.
We’ve all got kitchens and we all eat food, but not everyone can agree on where and how to store that food so it doesn’t immediately turn into a moldy mess or dry out into a worthless husk. Last week, we looked at the the best places and methods for keeping your bread, dairy and eggs fresh, and in this second Spoilage Wars installment, we’ll deal with the fruits and vegetables you endeavor to keep from rotting away.
Since we’re not the experts, we once again turn to Julia Collin Davison — executive food editor for the book division of America’s Test Kitchen and on-screen test cook for America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen — to learn from her experience.
GARLIC:
Where to store: Countertop
In a bag or not? Davison says garlic should be ideally be kept in an open basket with room for air circulation at room temperature. Don’t remove the papery outsides until just before use, as it protects the garlic.
What about those green shoot? Chances are you’ve encountered cloves of garlic that have started to develop green shoots in the center. Davison says not to worry about these. Just take them out when you’re cutting up the garlic because they don’t always taste so great.
ONIONS:
Where to store: Countertop
Be careful about the neighbors: Just like garlic, you’ll want to keep the onions in a ventilated space. In fact, it’s perfectly fine to store the two alongside each other, says Davison. What you don’t want is to have your potatoes and onions in close proximity, as gases from the onions can hasten sprouting in potatoes.
Speaking of taters…
POTATOES:
Where to store: Pantry or cupboard
Kept in the dark: Davison says your potatoes should be stored inside a paper bag in a cool, dark, dry place. And as mentioned above, away from onions and their sprout-encouraging gases. Sprouted potatoes are safe to eat, notes Davison, but you should remove the sprouts themselves using the tip of a vegetable peeler or other tool. The potato sprouts are considered toxic due to their potentially high concentration of glycoalkaloids, which can have an effect on the nervous system.
CORN & FRESH PEAS:
Where to store: Refrigerator
Keep ‘em where you can see ‘em: Don’t shove these foods into the cold recesses of the back of the fridge, says Davison. Instead, keep them in the front where it’s warmest (but still cool, because it is a refrigerator, after all). The fridge will keep them fresh but if it’s too cold, they could become dried out.
And when you’re storing corn on the cob, keep the husks on and wrap all the ears of corn in a damp paper towel, keeping the whole thing inside a plastic bag.
“You want to keep the corn is as humid an environment as possible,” explains Davison, “so no cold air can get in there and dry things out.”
KEEP THESE ITEMS OUT OF THE FRIDGE –
TOMATOES, APRICOTS, AVOCADOS, BANANAS, KIWIS, MANGOS, NECTARINES, PAPAYAS, PEACHES, PLUMS, PINEAPPLE
Where to store: Countertop
How: Fruit bowls and baskets don’t just look cute in photos. They’re good places to keep your fresh produce. Davison says that the best way to store tomatoes is stem-down if they’re off the vine. This prevents moisture from escaping and bacteria from entering, and thus prolongs shelf life.
The foods in this group are prone to “chill injury,” says Davison says, so it’s best keep them out of the fridge. This is especially true for tomatoes.
“If they’re stored in the fridge the starches really become mealy,” explains Davison.
FRIDGE-FRIENDLY FOODS–
APPLES, CHERRIES, GRAPES, CELERY
Where to store: Refrigerator, though apples, cherries, and grapes will all survive on the countertop too (just not as long).
How: While corn and peas have to stay up front, these foods are good to go anywhere in the fridge, says Davison.
An extra tip about celery: According to testing by Davison her ATK colleagues, the best way to store celery is to wrap it in foil first.
The next installment of Spoilage Wars will look at the best way to keep your condiments, oils, herbs and spices from losing their potency.
There are so many great things going on in this home surveillance video featuring a FedEx guy frantically chasing after his truck that I’m having a hard time believing such a perfect set-up. Are we getting Punk’d? Is that still a thing? Why not just leave the “e” in the word?
Anyway, because nothing humorous can ever escape the all-seeing eye of the Internet, this gem of a video from a homeowner’s surveillance camera is now being enjoyed by the masses.
And the first to get a kick out of seeing the delivery guy chasing his wayward vehicle? The dogs in the yard across the street. They’re just happy to see the truck roll up because what’s that? A moving thing! We can watch it and chase from afar!
And once things get rolling, it’s even better — watch for the dog that actually jumps over another in excitement as the truck rolls merrily along and the guy attempts to jump back in it as it’s going.
Another moment that seems to be evidence of some kind of cosmic luck? Well, just watch through to the end. I’m no fan of spoilers.
(H/T to HyperVocal)
Emboldened by free snacks, hungry squirrels terrorized a Falls Church golf ... Washington Post Old-timers still shudder when they recall the Great Squirrel War. Four long years it was, human against rodent, neither side giving an inch. Atrocities? Yes, there were atrocities. Chemical warfare, too. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start at ... |
"Lemonade Day" in DC MyFox Washington DC WASHINGTON -- All across Washington, D.C., in dozens of locations, kids were hawking lemonade on this blustery Saturday afternoon. The establishment, city-wide, of dozens of one-day businesses didn't happen by chance. "Lemonade Day" is an organized ... |
Following animal deaths, 'budget uncertainty,' National Zoo renews caretaker ... Washington Post The National Zoo has begun to fill staff vacancies that contributed to the deaths of three animals and a zebra attack on a zookeeper last winter, zoo officials told a congressional oversight committee. Zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson said the zoo ... |
PotomacLocal.com |
How Much It Costs After Toilet Paper Lit on Fire inside School PotomacLocal.com The City of Manassas Office of the Fire Marshal is investigating a fire that happened on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in a restroom at Metz Middle School at 9950 Wellington Road in Manassas. Fire investigators determined that one or more students ... |
