Beware of pomegranate seeds as Hepatitis A outbreak spreads – National Consumers League

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By Zoe Stahl, Food and Labor Policy Intern
Over the past month, the food safety community has been gathering more and more information about a recent Hepatitis A outbreak. The outbreak, which has infected 140 people, has been linked to pomegranate seeds imported from Turkey and can be found in the Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to investigate how the outbreak occurred.

But, in the meanwhile, let’s get the facts straight. What’s Hepatitis A? Hepatitis A is a virus that causes liver disease.  The virus is typically spread through the ingestion of fecal matter, usually through contaminated food or close contact with an infected person. What’s been done? The business community responded quickly. Costco, which had sold the Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend to over 240,000 customers since February, has been calling customers to notify them of the outbreak.  They have also announced the recall and pulled the product off of their shelves. The Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Network, an FDA-led team of state agencies, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have been working hard to trace the virus as well. So, could this outbreak have been prevented? It is likely that this outbreak could have been prevented through the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which creates a food safety system more focused on prevention than response.  The import portion of the law, which would help make imported foods meet the same food safety standards as the ones in the U.S., has yet to be implemented. If the rule had been put into effect, this outbreak could very easily have been prevented. Unfortunately, the rule has been stuck in the bureaucracy of government agencies and has not yet been released. Perhaps this tragic outbreak will provide the impetus the government needs to release this essential import rule before any more outbreaks occur.

New Web site helps consumers navigate health insurance exchanges – National Consumers League

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By Nikola Sirovica, Communications Intern Many Americans are confused about how to enroll in the new health insurance exchanges which will take effect on January 1, 2014.  A new resource will help you navigate options when registration begins on October 1, 2013.

The Obama administration last week kicked off the Health Insurance Marketplace education effort with a consumer-friendly Healthcare.gov Web site and a 24-hour-a-day consumer call center to help Americans sign up for private health insurance. The new tools will help consumers select the coverage that best suits their needs. Open enrollment for free or low-cost coverage available through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) begins October 1. Key features of the Web site include integration of social media, sharable content, and consumer-friendly information to help Americans find the right coverage for their budget. The new design allows consumers to access it from their desktops, smart phones, and other mobiles devices, and also features a web chat for those who need live assistance. By October, consumers will be able to create accounts, complete an online application, and shop for qualified health plans. As Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary, put it, “the Web site will make sure every American who needs health coverage has the information they need to make the choices that are right for themselves, their families, and their businesses.” Learn more about the Web site at www.HealthCare.gov. For Spanish speaking consumers, CuidadoDeSalud.gov, will be updated to match the information found in the new Web site. Customer service representatives are available for assistance via a toll-free number at 1-800-318-2596. 

Tread cautiously before investing in a college degree – National Consumers League

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By Zoe Stahl, Food and Labor Policy Intern
As a college student, I have acutely felt the rising cost of tuition and the anxiety inherent in a rapidly changing job market. Like many others, I have begun to question the value of a college degree, but a recent study by the Department of Labor (DOL) left me feeling reassured in my decision.

In April, the unemployment rate for college graduates was 3.9 percent, while the rest of the workforce experienced a 7.5 percent unemployment rate.  In November 2010, when the unemployment rate for college graduates was at its highest during this economic downturn, it was at just 5.1 percent—a figure near to the jobless rate of high school graduates when the economy is healthy. However, not all college attendees or graduates enjoy these benefits. Students who enroll in for-profit colleges such as The University of Phoenix, Kaplan Colleges, National American University, and Alta Colleges, do not guarantee a higher quality of life for themselves. For-profit colleges often charge prices just as high as their non-profit counterpart, however, their attendees and graduates—often lower-income, military, and minority students—do not enjoy the same success. They often are unable to secure jobs and, as a result, default on their loans. Luckily, there are available and accessible resources to help students make more informed decisions about where to attend college—making sure we get as much bang for our buck. Some available resources are the Department of Education’s College Scorecard, which provides graduation rates, average tuition and default rates for American colleges and universities. Another tool is Accredited Online Schools & Colleges, an online database of accredited colleges. Using the website will help you find credible schools that provide an education that will serve you well in the marketplace.  These resources will help make you a more informed consumer and ensure paying for a college degree is a smart investment!