The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "consumer issues" ...
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Outbreak
The Washington Post Magazine investigates the failure of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent 21 deaths caused by contaminated meat from Sara Lee Corp. The story reveals that the contamination occurred because of moisture problems in the cooling section of "the giant Bil Mar Foods meatpacking plant in western Michigan." While deaths were tolling, the USDA was leery to issue a press release for fear not to face the legal implications of wrongly accusing the meatproducer. Even though Bil Mar quietly recalled the deadly products from the market, people were still eating meat kept in refrigerators or supermarkets and contaminated with the dangerous Listeria bacteria, the magazine reports. A major finding is that government lacks regulatory power to recall unsafe foods, as well as penalties system for repeated violations in the food industry.
Tags: health; FDA; meat; bacteria; contamination; Sara Lee; CDC; listeria; sanitation; immune system; pregnancy; hot dogs; deli meats; consumers; lawsuits
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Vaccines: An issue of trust; Missed shots
In a two-part investigation Consumer Reports examines the pros and cons in regard to modern-day vaccines. The first part looks at the parents' dilemma: "Do I expose my child and community to the risk of a serious disease? Or do I expose my child to the risk of one of those rare catastrophic reactions to the vaccine itself...?" The story examines some "significant gaps" in the vaccine-safety system, but it also points to studies showing that unimmunized children are many times more likely to contract dangerous disease than vaccinated children. The second part reports on the neglect of adult immunization, and points out that every year as many as 400,000 Americans die of diseases that could have been prevented by routine vaccines.
Tags: polio; immunization; measles; mumps; rubella; doctors; patients; parents; diseases; GlaxoSmithKline; Aventis Pasteur; Wyeth Lederle; Merck
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Counting On The Census
The Wall Street Journal reports on several issues concerning the 2000 census: the use of census data by marketers to target consumers more and more specifically, practices used to blur personal data and protect the identity of individuals when data can be matched to already available internet sources, questions changes in the 2000 census, and the possible replacement of the long-form by yearly testing.
Tags: census; marketing; re-identification; long form questions; American Community Survey
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Child's Play
Reporter Susan Gregory Thomas investigates high-tech toys for infants and toddlers. "Toy manufacturers maintain that high-tech features can offer benefits that the analog world can't. While most are careful to point out that their products are no substitute for standards like blocks or books (or parents), some companies argue that technology can engage young children in a more personal way than non-technology playthings. . . Many critics believe that premise discloses precisely what's wrong with electronic interactivity: it serves the toy, not the child." On-magazine.com reports more on the issue of baby toys.
Tags: children; toys; consumers; Toy Manufactures of America; American Academy of Pediatric's Committee on Public Education; manufacturers
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The Riskiest Business
Following the revelations that Max Frankel had "looted $200 million from the insurance companies he owned" over a nine-year period, the General Accounting Office investigated how this could occur. Its report, issued in the fall of 2000, fingered weak enforcement by states' insurance commissioners and by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. With insurance regulation taking a more prominent role in state legislatures' 2001 legislative sessions, insurance commissioners and the association face a test: "Can they adapt to industry pressures without sacrificing consumer protection and still maintain a regulatory system worthy of the name?...If insurance commissioners don't meet industry's needs, pressure is likely to mount in Washington for a federal substitute." But states would lose significant revenue if the federal alternative were implemented -- of the $10.2 billion that insurance companies pay to states in premium taxes and fees, only $829 million goes towards regulatory budgets.
Tags: insurance; Martin Frankel; National Association of Insurance Commissioners; NAIC; Financial Services Modernization Act; Gramm-Leach-Bliley
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Blowout
The National Journal examines how the Ford - Bridgestone/Firestone tire safety incident was a "case study in how corporations handle a Washington crisis." When the situation began in May of 2000, Ford was able to take immediate steps at diffusing the situation because of the large crisis response team it already had in place. Ford had a well-established Washington D.C. office for its lobbyists and legal teams to work out of as well as a PR firm to handle consumer issues. Conversely, Bridgestone/Firestone was left with no response team, and managed to take the majority of the flak for the recall. Bridgestone/Firestone went through several PR agency and legal firms during the course of the recall and subsequent Congressional hearings. As a result of the tire crisis Congress passed the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act, and Bridgestone/Firestone set up its first Washington office.
Tags: Transportation; automobile safety; tires; Bridgestone/Firestone; Ford
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Schools Hooked on Junk Food
Washington Post investigates the common contracts between high schools and soft drink companies. Schools are becoming more dependent on revenue coming in while their students are becoming consistent in consuming junk food. These contracts have also brought on the controversial issue of if and when the vending machines can be shut off. Many parents and students would like to see access only at night or on weekends to promote a more healthy lifestyle.
Tags: Junk food; high schools; vending machines; soft drink companies; health risks; U.S. Agriculture Department
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Restaurant Reservations
Pioneer Press reporters found "from 1995-1999 restaurants violated food-safety regulations at least 130,000 times." Violations included unsafe food temperatures, cross-contamination risks, poor employee hygiene and insects/vermin in storage areas. Their investigation discovered that top health officials had given restaurants second, third and fouth chances before issuing penalities and were making deals to keep problems quiet. Above all, consumers were the last to know about code violations until food poisioning had struck.
Tags: State Department of Health; contamination; food poisioning
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The Fleecing of America's Elderly; Avoiding the Cemetery Trap
Consumer's Digest focused on two different financial issues affecting senior citizens. "The Fleecing of America's Elderly" researched various legal services and how they are often by abused by family members to steal money and property from the elderly. "This report estimated that some 5 million elderly may be victimized by this silent crime." "Avoiding the Cemetery Trap" focused on cemetery pricing and regulation. The report "presented common pricing abuses, comparisons of cemetery costs by metropolitan areas and suggests how to save on burial expenses."
Tags: Elderly; Cemeteries; illicit practices
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Calls for Reducing Chromium Levels in Water Go Unheeded
The Los Angeles Times examines the issue of chromium 6 in the ground water of dozens of area wells. The Times discovers that the state has been slow to implement new standards for chromium 6 in part due to the economic stress it would place on consumers. Chromium 6, made famous by the movie Erin Brockovich, is poisonous to humans and is believed to cause certain kinds of cancer. This entry includes the Times continuing coverage of the controversy as well as editorials.
Tags: Erin Brockovich; chromium 6; poison; California; ground water; pollution; environment; cancer; death