Entries by Lisa McDonald

National Consumers League Welcomes the Appeals Court Ruling Backing FDA’s Decision to Remove GLP-1 Drugs from the Shortage List

September 9, 2026 in /by

September 9, 2026: Washington, DC – As an organization focused on the safety of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, the National Consumers League welcomes the August 27 ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirming the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision to remove the popular GLP-1 weight loss drug semaglutide from its drug shortage list as lawful and correct.

This Labor Day, Remember the Women Who Fought for the 40-Hour Workweek

September 7, 2026 in /by

September 7, 2026: Labor Day 2026 is around the corner, and fittingly, I was asked this week to join an important discussion about “Responsible Purchasing Practices,” hosted by the Fair Labor Association (FLA), on whose board I serve. It may sound like a niche topic, but the issue is anything but: for generations, workers have been pushed into exploitative conditions to meet relentless demand for goods.

National Consumers League Urges FDA to Reject Petition Seeking Autism Warning on Children’s Acetaminophen

September 2, 2026 in /by

September 2, 2026: Washington, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) submitted comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging the agency to reject a citizen petition from Children’s Health Defense (CHD) seeking to remove over-the-counter acetaminophen products for children under two and require boxed warnings linking acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

NCL Opposes DOT Proposal to Undo Truth-in-Advertising Regulations

August 21, 2026 in /by

August 21, 2026: Washington, DC – Today, the National Consumers League and six other public interest groups filed comments opposing the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (“DOT”) proposal to either weaken or entirely eliminate the Reagan-era Full Fare Advertising Rule. For over 40 years, the Full Fare Advertising Rule has required the price that airlines advertise to include all mandatory charges. If DOT continues with the most extreme proposal under consideration, there would be no meaningful requirement for the advertised airfare to resemble the actual cost charged to consumers. 

AI and Medicine: Promising Future or Dangerous Mistake?

August 11, 2026 in /by

August 11, 2026: Artificial intelligence has encroached upon every aspect of people’s daily lives; health and wellness is no exception. While it can provide numerous benefits, including the ability to access straightforward medical advice without an appointment quickly, AI is far too prone to mistakes to be fully trusted with your health. Here are five things you should keep in mind when using AI to self-diagnose:

Playing Russian Roulette with Food Safety Can Be Very Costly

August 10, 2026 in /by

August 10, 2026: The numbers are staggering. The nation is facing the largest cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history, with nearly 23,000 reported (over 10,400 laboratory-confirmed) cases since May 1, 2026, tied to contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce imported from central Mexico. Now traced to 47 states, the outbreak is hitting the Midwest and South hardest, with Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri reporting the largest number of infections.

As Financial Resilience Gap Widens For Gen Z, NCL Calls For Action

August 7, 2026 in /by

August 6, 2026: Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is calling for the Trump administration to address a widening generational gap in consumer financial resilience, as highlighted by the July 2026 Financial Resilience Index (FRI).Consumers are struggling to keep up with the cost of groceries, medical bills, gas, and other household expenses. Gas prices have risen by an average of 81 cents per gallon compared to this time last year. Grocery prices have risen by 33% since 2019, the highest jump in over half a century, while over 100 million Americans are facing some form of medical debt. As a result, only 61% of Gen Zers reported feeling in control of their day-to-day finances, 28 points lower than their Baby Boomer counterparts.

The Medical Debt-idemic

August 6, 2026 in /by

August 6, 2026: As a kid, I would count down the days until I was an adult. I yearned for freedoms like staying up late and being able to drive. Nothing in my imagination rivaled the maturity, respect, and independence that the milestone promised. Now, as a college student, I realize that the flagship freedoms of adulthood are, in fact, not free.

National Consumers League, Consumer Groups Urge Senate to Vote No on CPSC Nominees 

July 29, 2026 in /by

July 29, 2026: Washington, DC – The National Consumers League, Consumer Federation of America, and 29 other stakeholders sent a letter to Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging Senators to oppose the confirmation of Brien Lorenze and Karen Sessions to serve as commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  Last week, the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee advanced the nominations with a 15 yeas to 13 nays party-line vote.  The Senate may consider the nominations as early as this week.