uNYC Board Of Health Approves Sodium Warning Labels For Extra Salty Menu Itemsr

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  (JD Hancock)

  Like your food salty? If you live in New York City, you’ll be reminded exactly how salty your next meal is starting Dec. 1, when chain restaurants will have to include a salt shaker symbol on menu items that exceed the recommended daily intake of sodium.

  The city’s Board of Health unanimously approved black-and-white sodium warning labels for any menu items that have more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium, or about a teaspoon’s worth, reports CBS New York. This makes NYC the first city in the country with such a requirement, which is aimed at improving the health of the city’s residents.

  On average, American consume about 3,400 mg of salt per day, with only about 10% of the population meeting the 2,300 mg daily recommendation. Though we’re eating most of our salt in processed and restaurant food, many people might not realize how much salt is in each dish — for example, Applebee’s Chicken Fajitas Rollup clocks in at 3,600 mg of sodium; Chili’s Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad has 3,470 mg and Olive Garden’s Tour of Italy entrée packs in 3,830 mg of salt per serving.

  The motive here isn’t to say “no” to salt, NYC officials say, but more “know” how much salt you’re eating. Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration says the warning label is part of a strategy to lower the city’s premature mortality rate by 25% by 2040.

  “Excess sodium intake is dangerous and linked to increased blood pressure and risk of heart disease and stroke,” a spokeswoman from de Blasio’s office said last month. “With this warning label, we can increase awareness about the risks.”

  The Center for Science in the Public Interest applauded NYC’s move, saying salty chain restaurant meals “are turning Americans’ hearts and brains into ticking time bombs—gradually raising our risks of suffering a heart attack or stroke.”

  “Today’s action by the New York City Board of Health will help consumers avoid some of the riskiest chain-restaurant offerings,” CSPI President Michael F. Jacobson said in a statement.

  The salt industry is fighting back, predictably: the Salt Institute, a trade group for salt producers, says the measure is based on “incorrect government targets” that have been called into question by recent research.

  “This is another example of the government creating policy based on outdated, incorrect sodium guidelines that have been refuted by 10 years of research,” Lori Roman, President of the Salt Institute, said in a statement Wednesday before the vote. “Research shows Americans already eat within the safe range of sodium consumption and population-wide sodium reduction strategies are unnecessary and could be harmful.”

  Restaurant owners weren’t so pleased with the idea either, saying that new federal menu labeling guidelines will be taking effect in 2016, which could require them to revamp their menus twice.

  “The establishments that fall under these new regulations will be forced to construct costly new menu boards in consecutive years,” said Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the NYS Restaurant Association, said in the statement. “This is just the latest in a long litany of superfluous hoops that restaurants here in New York must jump through. Every one of these cumbersome new laws makes it tougher and tougher for restaurants to find success.”

  NYC Board Of Health Approves Menu Sodium Warnings [CBS Local]

  
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by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

uAmazon Has Finally Sold All Of Its Fire Phonesr

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• Last year, Amazon endlessly teased us all with what was going to be either a new smartphone or some kind of exotic sex toy. Unfortunately for Amazon, it was the former, and the Fire Phone failed to catch on. That’s okay, though, because the last phones have been sold, and the engineers who made the device into a real-life phone are gone. Amazon can just pretend that none of this ever happened.

  It turns out that an AT&T-exclusive device that’s Android-based but doesn’t give you access to the full Google Play store isn’t of much interest to phone consumers, and it only took Amazon about six weeks to start selling the phones for 99 cents with a 2-year AT&T contract, which included a $100 Amazon Prime subscription as part of the package.

  Maybe now that carriers have us paying for our phones, and not including them as a free thing that we get when signing a new two-year contract, consumers will be choosier about what smartphones when we see the actual sticker price, and it’s far higher than $200.

  “[I]t appeared clear that above all else the Fire Phone was designed as a tool to make it more convenient for people to buy things from Amazon and consume Amazon content,” Ars Technica observed in its obituary for the phone, and Amazon will be trying something similar to that in the future with cheaper versions of their Fire tablets. We want more out of our phones than that, especially when signing a 2-year contract for the privilege.

  Amazon finally stops selling the Fire Phone, as company adjusts its hardware strategy [Geekwire]
  Amazon’s Fire Phone appears to be dead [Ars Technica]

  
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by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

uMarriott, Samsung Partner To Offer Hotel Guests Virtual Reality Headsets, Because Why Not?r

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• Have you ever walked into a hotel and thought, ‘Man, this isn’t how I pictured things when I booked the room.’ While you can’t exactly change the layout or furnishings of the room – unless you switch hotels – a new partnership between Marriott and Samsung could let you escape the reality of your humdrum lodgings for a bit.

  Marriott today announced an initiative to test “VRoom Service” over a two-week period at the New York Marriott Marquis and London Marriott Park Lane hotels.

  Through the service, Marriott guests can call a dedicated VRoom Service extension and request to checkout a Samsung Gear VR headset and headphones for an “in-room virtual reality experience” for 24 hours.

  “Our guests want to be in inventive spaces that help foster their creativity and thinking,” says Matthew Carroll, vice president at Marriott Hotels. “VRoom combines storytelling with technology, two things that are important to next generation travelers.”

  In addition to launching virtual reality room service, Marriott also announced a new virtual travel content platform called VR Postcards.

  The platform allows users to experience “intimate and immersive travel stories” through the Samsung headsets.

  “Each story follows a real traveler on a journey to a unique destination; viewers are immersed in the destination and hear the travelers’ personal stories about why travel is important to them,” Marriott says.

  The first three VR Postcards were shot in the Andes Mountains in Chile, an ice cream shop in Rwanda and in the bustling streets of Beijing.

  While Postcards will be available to guest using the VR Room Service, it will also be available to the general public via Samsung Milk VR premium video service.

  Samsung says the new partnership with Marriott is the first for its Gear VR technology.

  “We’re tremendously excited to be collaborating with an innovative brand like Marriott on creating the future for travelers,” Matt Apfel, Vice President, Strategy and Creative Content at Samsung Media Solutions Center America, said in a statement.

  This, of course, isn’t Marriott’s first attempt to improve upon its entertainment offerings. Earlier this year, the company announced it would attempt to beef up its entertainment options by testing in-room access to Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services in select locations.

  Last year, the company introduced a 4D reality program called The Marriott Transporter. VentureBeat reports that initiative was basically a “teleported” booth featuring the Oculus Rift DK2 VR headset, that took guests on tours of Hawaii and London.

  [via VentureBeat]

  
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by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

uNo, You Aren’t Going To Win An Audi Or A Diamond Ring Just By Liking & Sharing A Post On Facebookr

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• Although you might be suspicious that something sounds too good to be true, not every scam you come across on the Internet will immediately set off alarm bells. After all, what’s the worst that could come from liking and sharing a post on Facebook, beyond the fact that a new Audi R8 V8 or a diamond ring from Tiffany & Co. won’t become yours? Some scams exist (and thrive) just to get those valuable likes and shares, and gain an audience for future scams.

  In a blog post by Internet security company Avast, author Deborah Salmi points out a few fake giveaways she’s come across in the past week, promising the chance to get a free car, or diamond jewelry just for liking and sharing a post on Facebook.

  The instructions are simple: for a chance to win, like the page, request the color of car you want in the comments and then share with your friends. Or share a post from a fake Tiffany & Co (not Co., a dead giveaway) for a diamond ring.

  The thing is, though these scams might not even direct users to a spam link or ask for personal information, they’re what’s known as like-farming: a way to get as many page likes and shares as quickly as possible. Once that happens, Facebook’s algorithm pushes these posts to others’ newsfeeds, continuing the vicious scam cycle. Later the pages can be repurposed for survey scams or other unsavory things, with a large audience served up and ready to go after those giveaway tricks. Or those pages with all those fans can be sold on the black market to scammers with even scammier ideas.

  To avoid like-farming scams on Facebook, Avast suggests alerting your friends when they share a fake page with you, and not clicking on anything or participating in the fake giveaway. Even if it’s uncomfortable to inform your mother-in-law at Thanksgiving dinner that she fell for something that’s so clearly fake, if you don’t want that scam popping up again in your newsfeed, it’s best to speak up. Remember, always: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

  
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by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

uLufthansa’s Pilots Ordered To End Strike, Wednesday Flights Remain Canceledr

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  (Adam Fagen)
  

  The Lufthansa pilot strike that led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights on Tuesday and Wednesday has ended after a German court ordered the pilots to return to work.

  Reuters U.K. reports that the increasingly bitter dispute between pilots and the airline over cost cuts and pay appears to be on hold, but flights already affected by the strike will remain canceled.

  While the court’s order means all striking pilots must immediately return to work, Lufthansa says it’s too late to revise the flight schedule for Wednesday. Although, the airline says it will attempt to return Thursday’s affected flights to their normal schedule.

  The regional labour court in the federal state of Hesse overruled a lower court’s Tuesday decision to extend the strike, saying that pilots were not only striking over pay and retirement benefits, but over Lufthansa’s plans for low-cost expansion.

  Since this was not part of the union’s mandate in pay talks, the court said the strike was not considered legal.

  The pilots union, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), started a series of 13 strikes about 18 months ago, Reuters U.K. reports, with the aim to prevent changes to early retirement benefits. However, recently the pilots have expressed their desire to prevent the airline from undergoing a low-cost expansion.

  A spokesperson for the union says they were surprised by the court’s ruling on Wednesday.

  “We will review the decision and then draw the consequences for our continuing labour battle,” he said.

  Lufthansa says it welcomes the decision and officials are ready to resume pay talks with the union.

  VC kicked off its most recent strike starting with long-haul flights on Tuesday, which forced Lufthansa to cancel 90 planned trips.

  The strike is extending to include medium- and short-haul flights on Wednesday, with Lufthansa announcing it would ground about 1,000 flights, affecting 140,000 passengers.

  “Lufthansa deeply regrets the resulting inconvenience to its customers and will do its best to keep possible disruptions to a minimum,” the airline said at the time, urging customers to check its website for updates on the travel situation.

  Customers who have flights canceled due to the strike can rebook or cancel their reservation without penalties.

  Lufthansa pilots ordered to end strike by court [Reuters U.K.]

  
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by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

uBritish Airways Flight Catches Fire On Las Vegas Runway, 14 Passengers Injuredr

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  (@pberberian)
  

  Fourteen people were injured Tuesday when a British Airways plane preparing for takeoff from Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport suddenly experienced engine failure that resulted in an intense fire.

  The flight, which was heading to London with 159 passengers and 13 crew members on board, billowed black smoke and orange flames from under the plane’s wings as it sat on the taxiway of the airport around 7 p.m. (EST), The Associated Press reports.

  Passengers and crew members utilized the plane’s emergency slides to escape the fire, a spokesperson for Las Vegas airport says. In all, 14 people were taken to a local hospital after suffering minor injuries from sliding down the chutes after the fire broke out.

  Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Jon Klassen tells the AP that airport fire personnel reached the plane approximately two minutes after the flames were reported at 4:14 p.m., and all passengers were off within three minutes. The fire was extinguished by 4:18 p.m.

  While the investigation is ongoing, Klassen says it appears the fire never breached the inside of the plane’s cabin.

  Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Ian Gregor says the agency is investigating the fire, but no official cause has been determined yet. However, he did tell the AP that the fire began in the plane’s left engine.

  A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board say it was also collecting information on the incident.

  British Airways reported on Tuesday that the aircraft “experienced a technical issue” as it was preparing for take off to London’s Gatwick Airport.

  “Our crew evacuated the aircraft safely and the fire was quickly extinguished by the emergency services at the airport.” a spokesperson says. “A small number of customers and our crew have been taken to hospital. All customers have been provided with hotel accommodation, and our colleagues are helping them with anything further they require.”

  Several passengers recalled the scary situation to The Washington Post on Tuesday, saying that while the incident was terrifying, the actual evacuation went smoothly.

  One passenger said the evacuation could even serve “as a training video. Everybody did their job.”

  Jacob Steinberg, a writer for the Guardian who was traveling on the flight, documented the situation on Twitter.

  Just evacuated on a British Airways flight at Las Vegas airport after an engine caught fire. Don't think anyone hurt http://pic.twitter.com/Y986xW9Wzy

  — Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) September 8, 2015

  “Was asleep as the plane took off. Came to a crashing halt,” he writes. “Smell of smoke. Initially told to stay seated, then shout of evacuate.”

  They opened the back door and slide went down and smoke started coming in plane, followed by mad dash to front. A lot of panic

  — Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) September 8, 2015

  To give you an idea of what the fire was like (that's my mate Jez, who just had a knee reconstruction, on the run). http://pic.twitter.com/snpHGFyxIC

  — Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) September 8, 2015

  “Could smell and see smoke but was on other side of plane,” he continued after evacuating the plane. “One person said fire melted a couple of windows.”

  Steinberg reported that when the pilot joined the passengers in a gate area he was applauded for the quick action of getting passengers off the plane.

  The pilot looked pretty shook up to be honest. Has been flying for years, don't think he had ever seen anything like that

  — Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) September 9, 2015

  Once passengers were relocated to hotels, Steinberg reported on Twitter that the airline sent a letter of apology and attempted to outline the next steps, including being subject to interviews from authorities.

  “I am sorry that you were involved in the incident at Las Vegas Airport today. We do not underestimate how distressing the experience has been for you and we have a dedicated team of staff here to help you.” the airline wrote. “I would like to reassure you that we will do everything possible to provide you with the assistance and support you need. After an incident like this, the authorities take over. They need to collect as much inflation as they can to help support any future investigation.” the airline wrote.”

  An apology letter from BA. It's 9.45pm in Las Vegas and we have just heard from a beleaguered tour guide. http://pic.twitter.com/eaLvk8l0Ws

  — Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) September 9, 2015

  London-bound plane catches fire on Las Vegas runway [The Associated Press]
  Quick action averts disaster as flames and smoke engulf London bound jetliner [The Washington Post]

  
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by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

uMcDonald’s Will Transition To Using Only Cage-Free Eggs In U.S., Canadian Restaurants (Eventually)r

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  (PepOmint)

  McDonald’s is hopping on the cage-free bandwagon, announcing today that it’s going to transition to sourcing only cage-free eggs for its U.S. and Canadian restaurants over the next decade.

  In the announcement, the fast food chain cited consumers’ shifting attitudes toward the path their food takes to get to the plate.

  “Our customers are increasingly interested in knowing more about their food and where it comes from,” McDonald’s USA President Mike Andres said in a press release on Wednesday. “Our decision to source only cage-free eggs reinforces the focus we place on food quality and our menu to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”

  Marion Gross, chief supply chain officer of McDonald’s North America, added that the shift advances “environmentally and socially conscious practices for the animals in our supply chain.”

  Currently, McDonald’s U.S. division buys about two billion eggs per year, and its Canadian business purchases around 120 million eggs. Those numbers could increase soon as well, as McDonald’s moves into its plan to offer all-day breakfast. Since 2011, about 10% of McDonald’s eggs in the U.S. have come from cage-free hens since 2011.

  While McDonald’s is ahead of some others in the food industry to pledge to go cage-free, with Costco facing increasing pressure to set a deadline to do so, it also has some catching up to do with its rivals: Burger King promised back in 2012 to go cage-free with its eggs by 2017, a date that is fast approaching.

  
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by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist