Yonkers, NY – All body lotions are supposed to moisturize but some come with bigger promises like “long-lasting relief.” But do these products really live up to their claims?

The October 2011 issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, names Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion the winner in the magazine’s test of 14 name- and store-brand body lotions. Walmart’s Equate Moisturizing Lotion, a copycat of our top pick, was the only store-brand that stood out in our tests.

“Store brands typically do well in many of our other product tests,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “However, their performance in our test of body lotions was mostly underwhelming.”

To determine which lotions worked best, ShopSmart tested formulas from Aveeno, CeraVe, Cetaphil, Eucerin, Gold Bond, Jergens, Lubriderm, Nivea, Suave, and Vaseline and store brands from CVS, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart. Many of brand-name lotions did a good job and left skin slightly more moisturized after five hours than the others we tested. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion, $10.50 for 16 ounces, was tops in our tests, and Walmart’s copycat Equate Moisturizing Lotion, $6.50 for 16 ounces, did well too. ShopSmart also found a bargain buy in Suave Advanced Therapy Body Lotion, which costs $3.25 for 18 ounces.

When it came to store brand lotions, most of the products ShopSmart tested didn’t match up to pricier name bands. In fact, the least effective lotion we tried was Target’s Up & Up Extra Healing Moisturizer. Yet some name-brand formulas also failed to impress our testers including CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion, $13.75 for 12 ounces, Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin, $6.75 for 21 ounces, and Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion Fragrance Free, $8.00 for 16 ounces.

Another surprise in ShopSmart’s test of body lotions was the number of ingredients each of the products contained, with some containing as many as 33. Some like water and aloe are familiar, but you need a chemistry degree to understand the others. Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion, $10.00 for 18 ounces, was noted for having the fewest chemicals.

To find out more about body lotions, including other top choices, pick up the October 2011 issue of ShopSmart magazine, available on most newsstands. The report also features moisturizing tips from a top dermatologist and a label decoder, which identifies potentially irritating ingredients found in body lotions.

About ShopSmart Magazine

Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports’ celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists.

ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.

Yonkers, NY – There’s no debating that today’s grocery bills are out of control. Sadly, snagging a deal on household staples such as cereal and toilet paper can be as much of a thrill as hitting a great shoe sale these days.

However, there is some good news: Deals on groceries are getting easier to find as competition is heating up. The September 2011 issue of ShopSmart magazine, from the publisher of Consumer Reports¸compiled a simple guide to the new world of grocery shopping and how to take advantage so that you can stretch your grocery dollars to the max.

“The price of groceries today is through the roof,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “Luckily, the number of great deals and special incentives that grocery stores and other retail chains are offering is also on the rise, as these places try to encourage you to spend more of your grocery dollars with them.

Changing The Way You Save On Groceries

Between free shipping for online orders, an ever-expanding catalog of mobile apps and deals, and a slew of other incentives offered by grocery stores, the era of coupon clipping just doesn’t cut it anymore. ShopSmart suggests trying out these money-saving techniques:

1. Coupon Sites and Apps: The biggest selection of coupons is still found online. Sites such as Coupons.com and SmartSource.com usually have up to 100 deals at any time, compared with no more than 30 coupons in newspaper circulars. Additionally, CouponMom.com and SmartSource.com have new mobile versions that let you scroll through offers and pick the coupons you want from your phone without downloading special software or apps.
   But don’t stop there: More stores and manufacturers are loading their websites and smart phone apps with great deals. For instance, Grocery Smarts Lite, a new app for Android smart phones, tracks items and prices from the latest store circulars from CVS, Rite Aid, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart, then cross-references all possible manufacturers’ coupons with the circulars and show you the bottom line for each item.
2. Social Network Offers: More grocers are using Facebook, Foursquare, and Twitter to lure customers with deals. You can use Foursquare on your phone to get deal alerts when you’re driving near a store. Walmart uses Facebook to post coupons as well as specials at the store closest to your ZIP code. Whole Foods offers one-day sales, recipes, and more through Facebook and Twitter. Though a deal might not put dinner on the table, it could get you a break on a bag of chips or deli potato salad if you buy a pack of ribs.
3. Store Sites: With dozens of sites and apps for finding and managing coupons, even veteran coupon clippers can feel overwhelmed. The solution? At the very least, focus in on the store or two at which you do your weekly shopping and check its websites and circulars for list builders and downloadable apps to organize your trip. Also, make sure to ask the store whether it accepts other stores’ coupons.

Must-See Supermarket Sites

A lot of supermarket websites can help you find a recipe, generate a shopping list, and print coupons. But some chains have morphed their sites into personal shoppers and diet coaches, with shopping lists and menu advice from nutritionalists. They’re also using social networking sites to make special offers. Here are a few standouts:

• www.WholeFoodsMarket.com
  What’s New: It has always been a great site for healthful, budget-friendly recipes, cooking videos, and solid nutrition. (Click on “Health Starts Here” for advice.) But now you can connect with your local store on Facebook and Twitter to access exclusive deals and in-store events, such as craft-beer happy hours, lunchtime cooking classes, and tastings of new products.
  Don’t Miss: Connect with your local store (at the home page enter your ZIP code and select the store you like) for daily deal alerts and other special events.
• www.Wegmans.com
  What’s New: Even though Wegmans is a regional chain with stores in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, the site is worth checking out for diet and nutrition advice no matter where you live. Under “Eat Well Live Well” you’ll find great meal-planning tips if you’re cooking for people who have food allergies, diabetes, or gluten sensitivity. The company has also pledged not to raise prices on 40 of their customer’s favorite products for the rest of 2011.
  Don’t miss: Click on “Eat Well Live Well” and check the “Daily Meal Template” to see what your breakfast, lunch, and dinner portions should look like. Also check out “Kitchen View” for full-screen recipes—for reading without scrolling.

If You Do Nothing Else…

Ok, you have a life, but you still want to save. We’re with you on that. If you do nothing more than these basics, you’ll still score plenty of deals.

1. Start clipping:Get multiple copies of the local paper for extra coupon savings. Also, check in-store dispensers, receipts, and products themselves for coupons.
2. Sign up:Registering for websites such as CoolSavings, Coupons.com, and GrocerySmarts.com is free and gives you access to tons of downloadable coupons.
3. Always carry your store loyalty card:If you keep forgetting, try the free CardStar mobile app, which stores all your loyalty cares electronically in one place.
4. Watch the register!: Make sure that you’re getting the sale price and that all your coupons are scanned.

About ShopSmart magazine

Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports’ celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.

Yonkers, NY – It’s comparable to driving a car without a seatbelt—a new investigation from Consumer Reports Health finds that drug labels sometimes lack key safety warnings and some pharmacies fail to include the medication guides required by the federal government.

For its investigative “spot check,” Consumer Reports Health sent staffers to five individual drugstores in Yonkers, NY: Costco, CVS, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart, to fill prescriptions for warfarin. Warfarin (Coumadin and generics) is a blood thinner used to prevent strokes and one of the 20 most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S., according to IMS Health.

Most alarmingly, four of the five pharmacies failed to provide a federally mandated medication guide that is required for certain drugs, including warfarin. And while all of the pharmacies provided their own patient materials, known as consumer medication information (CMI), they differed from the FDA-approved guide for warfarin and contained conflicting warnings about alcohol. Warfarin can cause severe internal bleeding that can be life threatening and is the second most common drug implicated in emergency room visits in the U.S.

Consumer Reports Health also wanted to see how drug labels, warning stickers, and consumer drug information sheets varied from pharmacy to pharmacy. A certain level of variation was expected due to the use of different software at the various chains to print labels and instructions. While the findings are not nationally representative for each chain, they raise significant concern. “We were shocked by what we unearthed,” said Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., chief medical adviser, Consumer Reports Health.

“We found that critical warnings were absent from some drug labels and information sheets were confusing, loaded with medical jargon, and sometimes unreadable due to tiny print. It’s very worrisome to think of consumers taking dangerous drugs without adequate warnings,” added Lipman. Lipman urges consumers who take warfarin to check with their doctor when starting a new medication or discontinuing an old one because some drugs can either decrease or augment its effect.

Part of the problem, according to Lisa Gill, prescription drug editor, Consumer Reports Health, is that there’s no nationwide standard like “Nutrition Facts” on food packages or the “Drug Facts” on over-the-counter medication. “Consumers probably know more about their Cheerios than their prescriptions drugs,” said Gill. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires certain details on labels such as a patient’s name and dosage instructions, it does not monitor drug labels; rather, each state’s board of pharmacy is responsible for their overall content. And whether or not there are warnings on the bottles is left up to the individual pharmacist. “It’s my opinion that the inconsistencies and omissions on drug labels really cry out for uniformity and federal oversight. FDA regulation could solve this,” said Lipman.

According to the report, available online at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org, there are approximately 1.5 million preventable medication errors each year, one third of which take place outside of hospitals where consumers must fend for themselves and rely on their own ability to follow instructions. Research suggests that consumers are confused by the printouts that accompany their prescriptions and rely heavily on the label that’s affixed directly on the bottle. “From a consumer safety point of view, it all comes down to the label on the bottle, though we still urge consumers to read all materials that come with their prescriptions,” said Gill.

Some highlights from the report:

• Four of the five pharmacies failed to provide a federally mandated medication guide that is required for certain drugs, including warfarin.
• The prescription filled by Target included four warnings printed directly on the label and a directive to “read the medication guide that comes with this medicine.” Walgreens also had four warnings printed on the label; CVS had three warnings printed on the label; Costco had two warning stickers positioned sideways on the bottle; and Walmart had no warnings of any kind on the bottle. However, a second trip to Walmart did yield three warning stickers on the bottle, as did a third trip to another Walmart in the area.
• All of the pharmacies provided their own patient materials, known as consumer medication information (CMI). However, they differed from the FDA-approved guide for warfarin and they contained conflicting warnings about alcohol. While Costco and CVS advised patients to “limit or avoid alcohol,” the FDA approved guide recommends abstaining from alcohol all together.
• Target’s bottle design and labels stood out from the pack, thanks to the chain’s triangular containers which provide ample space for detailed instructions. The drug information is in large type, the pharmacy details are small and at the bottom of the label, and there’s space for multiple warnings and instructions on the back of the bottles.

The Consumer Reports Health investigation suggests that consumers need to be on their guard, particularly when starting a new medicine. Consumer Reports Health recommends the following steps to stay safe:

• Understand the basics of your medication. Talk to your doctor about how much you should take, when, and how often. Take time at the pharmacy counter to talk to the pharmacist. Even if he or she seems busy, don’t feel reluctant to ask.
• Ask about food, medications, supplements, and vitamins that should be avoided. And what about alcohol and other beverages?
• Ask about possible side effects, both common and rare.
• Read the patient information sheets that accompany your prescription.
• Determine when you can stop taking the medication. Some drugs, like antibiotics, should be taken until they’re finished. You might be able to discontinue other medication as you feel better.

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Product Information

Name of Product: Holiday rattle baby slippers

Units: About 57,000

Importer: Atico International USA Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Distributor/Retailer: Walgreen Co., of Deerfield, IL.

Hazard: The internal stuffing and rattle inside the slippers decorative figures can be pulled out, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Atico received one report of a 7-month old baby that was found beginning to turn blue with the slippers’ stuffing in its’ mouth. The baby’s father removed the stuffing. Two additional reports of babies wearing the slippers who pulled on the rattle/stuffing and the stuffing came out were also reported. No injuries reported.

Description: The recalled slippers are decorated with stuffed fabric figures including snowmen, Santa, reindeer, and penguins, and have decorative rattles inside the slippers that sound like bells when shaken. Item number 999526 is printed on the back of the cardboard header card packaging. “Find Your Joy” is printed on the front of the slippers packaging.

Sold exclusively at: Walgreen stores nationwide from October 2010 through January 2011 for about $5.00.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the slippers and return them to any Walgreen location for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Atico International USA toll-free at 877-546-4835 between 9:00am and 5:00pm ET, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.aticousa.com

Holiday rattle baby slippers sold at Walgreens recalled.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting www.saferproducts.gov

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at 301-595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Jennifer Williams and Stacie Plunkett greet Healthcare Expo visitors

In a four hour block of time, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, the Paris Civic Center was a buzz of activity as over six hundred visitors passed through the center’s doors during the sixth annual Healthcare Expo .

Visitors were greeted by Paris Chamber of Commerce representatives Jenifer Williams and Stacie Plunkett, and asked to sign-in and register for free door prizes and give-a-ways. Each visitor received a free gift bag to fill with the free hand-outs and gifts provided by the diverse vendors. Stacie is chairperson of the Chamber’s Healthcare Committee which coordinates the health expo.

At the center of the expo hall’s setup was Henry County Medical Center’s free testing and screening multi-station. Blood pressure checks, blood sugar reading, cholesterol reading, hand grip strength testing and osteoporosis screenings were provided free. The results were recorded and given to each visitor for review with their personal medical care provider.

Paris Civic Center Walking Track

It must be noted that the Paris Civic Center, in addition to being an excellent meeting facility, is a well-rounded fitness center in its own right. Swimming pool, gymnasium and walking track and weight/aerobic fitness rooms are available on a daily full packet price. Daily passes for the separate facilities are also an option.  Annual passes are available at family, senior couple, senior single, adult single and youth single rates. Payment plans are available.  The center offers various fitness programs and classes, for a fee. For more information, please call the Paris Civic Center, 731-644-2517.

The Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce provided free copies of its Medical Services Directory, a guide to healthcare providers and allied services. There was information on the Henry County Medical Center’s rehabilitation services, which include physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech/language pathology. The center offers both inpatient and outpatient services. Also under the Health Center’s broad range of services is the Home Health & Hospice Program. It bridges the gap from hospital to home, providing a special kind of support for people with a limited life expectancy and their families. HCMC Home Health and Hospice serves Benton, Carroll, Henry, Humphreys, Stewart and Weakley Counties.

Free copies of Golden Years, the Peddler Advantage Retiree and Senior Citizen Magazine were distributed at the  Eiffel Gardens station. Eiffel Gardens is an spacious assisted living community whose station was staffed by personnel from the residence. There was a bounty of information of assisted living and the allied medical support services available to their residents.

Dr. Todd Keller,West Tennessee Chiropractic Center

Chiropractic Centers were well represented with West Tennessee Chiropractic and Paris Family Chiropractic each giving free screenings. West Tennessee Chiropractic’s Dr. Todd Keller performed upper and lower back scans and included free x-ray exam follow-up at their 1024 Mineral Wells Avenue office.  Paris Family Chiropractic performed energy balance scans. Dr. Elizabeth Craig of Paris Family  Chiropractic also specializes in acupuncture therapy. Both facilities also offer massage therapy, as does Escape A Day Spa- 1000 Cornerstone Drive and Dr. Robert Wesley, 212 Memorial Drive, both in Paris.

Freedom Fitness Tanning Spa

Fitness and exercise centers were also on hand. Freedom Fitness Spa and Tanning Center displayed a stationary exercise bike in combination with a near-infrared light therapy station. Fitness center and program information was also on display. Freedom is a 24-hour fitness spa center. They also offer massage, skin care and spa. Gift certificates are available. Visit them at www.freedomfitnesstn.com

Behavioral and mental health counseling services were the focus of several vendors. Carey Counseling Center displayed information on their diverse behavioral counseling services and extended stay facilities. Other developmental services vendors included Community Developmental Services and Henry County Medical Center Lake Haven. Youth Villages, 107 Memorial Drive, provides youth and family services.

Orthopedic surgery and sports medicine was the the focus of Henry County Therapy Center, Dr. G. Blake Chandler, Dr. Heather Gladwell, Dr. Eugene Gulish as well as the Henry County Medical Center’s Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation. Displays included mock-ups of knee, ankle, neck and spinal assemblies with informational handouts that discussed the various types of injuries each could sustain. Corrective prosthetics and external supports were also displayed. This included braces of various kinds, venous pulmonary support hosiery and diabetic support shoes. Diabetes information and health tips were available.

Walgreen's hands out sports water bottles

Several pharmacies had also set up displays with free give-a-ways. Walgreens distributed sports bottles, coffee mugs, stress relieves, hand sanitizer samples and printed materials on a variety of health issues covering high blood pressure, diabetes, dental hygiene, heart disease, physical exercise for health maintenance, flu immunizations and more.

In any discussion of health care in the United States health insurance is bound to be part of the conversation. Several insurance vendors provided handouts, mouse pads as give-a-ways, pens, had personnel on hand to answer questions from the visitors. Ricky Rhodes Insurance & Financial Services, Consolidated Insurance, the Allison Insurance Group, Tennessee Rural Health-Henry County Farm Bureau and Dixie Hines Agency were just a few of the agencies on site. Ricky Rhodes provided free juicy tangerines for all visitors to their station. Very tasty treats!

Tomorrow’s Hope Pregnancy Help Center manned a station with information centered on providing pregnancy counseling, natal and post-natal counseling and care, anger management and parenting classes.

All the while the many vendors were interacting with the continuously changing crowd of attendees, door prizes winners were being called out. The ultimate winners however must be acknowledged as the people of the Henry County regional area who have access to the many fine services showcased at this health expo.