Consumer Reports says owners of one model of high chair manufactured by Baby Trend of Ontario, California should check the product carefully for any plastic labels that can be removed without tools, and thus might pose a safety hazard if young children peel the labels free, put them in their mouths and then choke on them.

The Baby Trend Deluxe Feeding Center Chrissy is a $90 chair intended for babies and toddlers weighing up to 40 pounds. Consumer Reports is not aware of any choking incidents involving the Deluxe Feeding Center and we believe that the likelihood of such incidents is small.

However, should such incidents occur, they could result in serious injury or death, so we have designated the Deluxe Feeding Center as Don't Buy Safety Risk.

The oval-shaped plastic labels that caused our concern say "Baby Trend", and on the units we tested, were attached to the front of the tray and on both sides of the upper part of the frame.

We initially tested two of these high chairs, both manufactured in 2011. As part of our testing, we check that all non-paper labels are securely attached and cannot be removed without the use of tools or solvents-- a requirement that is also part of the ASTM-International standard for high chair safety. Our tester noticed that one plastic label on one of these samples was slightly detached, and she peeled it off easily. We found that all of the plastic "Baby Trend" labels on both samples could be peeled off without tools or solvent.

We then purchased two more Deluxe Feeding Center samples, both made in 2012. On these chairs, the labels on the frames were attached with adhesive and we were able to remove one such label from each chair without tools or solvent. The labels on the trays, however, were securely attached with tabs, posing no hazard.

All of the removed labels were small enough for children to choke on as judged by the fact that they fit into a standard "small parts" cylinder used to check for that possibility.

We found no non-paper labels that could be removed without tools on any other high chair we tested.

As a further check, we purchased four samples of Baby Trend high chairs that were not the Deluxe Feeding Center model. All the plastic labels on these chairs were attached with tabs and posed no safety hazard.

The Deluxe Feeding Center is sold only by Toys 'R Us, according to Baby Trend General Manager Bradley Mattarocci who said that the model is no longer made and he expects it will no longer be available within 60 days.

Mattarocci added that, "We stand behind the product that it is 100 percent in compliance with ASTM standard and it has been tested by certified CPSC labs that have approved it for distribution".

Consumer Reports has notified the Consumer Product Safety Commission of our findings.

Consumer Reports advises shoppers to avoid purchasing the Deluxe Feeding Center Chrissy High Chair and cautions existing owners to check their units carefully to remove and discard any plastic labels that can be peeled off by hand. "Checking labels in this manner is always a good practice when purchasing products that may be used by or come in contact with your baby or any child under 3," said Joan Muratore, program leader for family and child product testing at Consumer Reports.

The United Kingdom probably won't win the most medals in the 2012 London Olympics, but the host nation was tops in another recent global contest: the ACEEE 2012 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard, a ranking of 12 of the world's largest economies by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. China and the United States, favorites to climb the most podiums in London, came in sixth and ninth respectively.

The full rankings, which focused on buildings, industry and transportation are as follows: (1) the U.K.; (2) Germany; (3) Italy; (4) Japan; (5) France; (6) the European Union, Australia, and China (3-way tie); (9) the U.S.; (10) Brazil; (11) Canada; and (12) Russia.

Out of a possible 100 points, the U.S. received an overall score of 47, a full 20 points behind the leader. "The U.K. and the leading economies of Europe are now well ahead of the United States when it comes to energy efficiency," said ACEEE executive director Steven Nadel in the news release. "This is significant because countries that use energy more efficiently require fewer resources to achieve the same goals, thus reducing costs, preserving valuable natural resources, and creating jobs."

The report outlines several recommendations that could help the U.S. become more energy efficient, including:

• A national energy savings target. Congress should pass a national energy savings target to complement existing state policies and raise the bar for all states. Most countries analyzed in the Scorecard have such targets. In the interim, the states without mandatory targets for utility energy savings should adopt them.
  
• Efficiency in manufacturing. Manufacturers should commit to continual improvement in energy efficiency by using Superior Energy Performance ISO 50001 (ISO 2011) and other voluntary platforms.
  
• Financial incentives. States and the federal government should implement improved financial incentives, such as tax credits, loans, and loan-loss reserves, to spur private investment in energy efficiency.
  

A legal settlement Friday between credit card issuers and merchants will allow stores to apply a surcharge at checkout if you pay with credit. Previously, major credit card issuers, such as Visa and Mastercard, didn't allow merchants to charge such fees.

When you choose credit at checkout, you're increasing the store's cost of doing business because merchants have to pay an interchange fee, or so-called swipe fee, to credit card issuers when plastic is used as payment. The fee covers the cost of processing the transaction. The settlement doesn't cover debit card transactions.

In addition, the antitrust settlement requires major banks, Visa, and MasterCard to pay more than $7 billion to some 7 million retailers that accept Visa and MasterCard, and reduces the swipe fees that merchants have to pay to credit card issuers for eight months, according to news reports.

According to an attorney for the retailers in the settlement, few stores will charge consumers more for credit-card purchases based on this ruling. In an interview with USA Today, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs Craig Wildfang said that when credit-card surcharges are allowed in other countries, retailers seldom slap them on credit-card purchases. Instead, credit-card companies have sometimes agreed to lower the amount they charge the retailer per transaction.

According to others, consumers that use credit cards with rewards programs attached to them could see cuts to such programs. Swipe fees associated with these types of cards have generally been the highest for merchants, revenue from which credit card issuers used to cover the cost of offering rewards programs. Therefore, a reduction in swipe fees could lead to a reduction in credit card rewards, according to LowCards.com, a credit card comparison site.

The settlement still needs to be approved by the U.S. District Court, which means it could be the end of 2012 or later before merchants can actually start charging customers a surcharge for plastic.

There are 10 states, including New York, California, and Texas, that have laws prohibiting merchant surcharges, according to the Wall Street Journal, which means this settlement will not alter credit card transactions and their corresponding fees in those states.

To pick the right credit card for your spending habits, see our credit card buying guide, which includes common credit card gotchas to look out for.

Sources:
Visa, MasterCard settle dispute for $6B [USA Today]
Q&A: How the Credit Card Settlement Affects You [Wall Street Journal]
Credit Card Users Could Lose in Swipe Fee Settlement [LowCards.com]

After many weeks of declines, gas prices are again mixed compared to the week before. The national gasoline average is $.26 cents below the price this time last year. Diesel fuel is about 23 cents below this time last year.

Source: Energy Information Administration, 7/16/12. Figures rounded to the nearest cent.

See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline, including reports on how to get the best gas mileage and where to find the cheapest gas. Learn about future technologies in our in our guide to alternative fuels.

Nissan North America is recalling nearly 12,000 Nissan Juke small sport-utility vehicles in the United States and Canada. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), certain models of the Juke SUV have rear seat back latches that may fail during a frontal collision, increasing the risk of injury to rear passengers.

NHTSA says the safety issue is tied to "incomplete weld penetration" of the rear seat latches, which are designed to lock the seat backs of the 2012 Nissan Juke SUV in the upright position. The manufacturing issue with Nissan's small SUVs—one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs recently tested by Consumer Reports—affects more than 11,000 of the vehicles in the United States. Another 700 vehicles in Canada also are being recalled, says Transport Canada.

Nissan is expected to notify owners affected by this safety recall of Juke SUVs by the end of July. Mechanics at local dealerships will replace the Juke's faulty rear seat strikers free of charge.

For more information, consumers may call Nissan North America's toll-free customer service at 800-647-7261.

Sources:
Recall: 20120 Nissan Juke - Seats    Campaign ID #: 12V328000 [NHTSA]
Road Safety Recall # 2012211: Nissan Juke (2112) [Transport Canada]

Consumer Reports has nearly completed testing all-season tires—a mammoth year-long task to see how family sedan tires measure up. Although the analysis continues, our engineers have seen tires stand out in different rated factor as they continue their number-crunching quest for the best tire. Below, we share highlights and insights from the H-rated tires in the test program.

These tested all-season tires are fine replacements for many older cars, minivans, and light-duty trucks that normally get S- (112 mph) and T- (118 mph) speed-rated tires. And some new cars come with a base tire package in this speed-rating.

If you recently purchased a new car, it will likely have H- (130 mph) or V- (149 mph) speed-rated all-season tires, which we call performance all-season tires. Such tires were once reserved for sports cars, but today they are commonly found on newer cars of all types. While you might wince at the speed capability, the tires typically provide higher levels of cornering grip and more precise handling than lesser tires. (If you're not sure what your car needs, take a look at your vehicle's tire information placard, typically found on the driver's door jamb or consult the owner's manual.)

Our experience shows performance all-season tires fall into one of two camps: Some all-seasons offer good all-weather grip, a comfortable ride, and long tread life, while others tend to compromise winter traction and tread life for dry and wet grip and handling. Based on our testing, we see this trend continuing. Clear examples of the latter include the Sumitomo HTR A/S P01, GT Radial Champiro VP1, and the Yokohama Avid ENVigor.

Other findings:

Winter Traction
If you are looking for the best winter traction available, simply buy winter tires. Most performance tires offer some grip to travel through snow and on icy road surfaces, but they are best left to mild to moderate winter conditions. Making my list of models to avoid from this group if you need any sort of winter traction capability are the Sumitomo HTR A/S P01, GT Radial VP1, and Yokohama Avid ENVigor.

Rolling Resistance
We only tested one performance all-season model marketed as a fuel saver—the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422—and it does indeed have low rolling resistance. However, we also found that the Michelin Primacy MXV4 H and Dunlop SP Sport 7000 A/S also have impressively low rolling resistance.

Braking on dry and wet pavement
Most tires stop well on dry pavement. The Falken Ziex ZE-912, Sumitomo HTR A/S P01, and the GT Radial Champiro VP1 get the nod for impressive dry stopping grip. On wet pavement, the Continental PureContact, Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S H, Dunlop SP Sport 7000 A/S, Sumitomo HTR A/S P01, and Yokohama Avid ENvigor are very impressive.

Handling
We provide a handling rating based on a weighted average of dry and wet cornering around our skid pad, subjective on-center steering feel, and emergency handling. Surprisingly, of the 20 H-rated models tested, there are no standouts. Most are capable, though we were unimpressed with the aforementioned Bridgestone Ecopia EP422. It just felt slower responding and gave up earlier in our handling tests than other tires.

Tread wear
We are seeing a trend of more performance all-season tires carrying higher tread wear warranties than in years past. We're commonly seeing 60,000 to 70,000 mile warranties, whereas in the past, a 50,000-mile tread wear warranty was considered high. Still, based on our extended mileage vehicle test, there is a wide disparity in tread-life potential. The best bets here are the Michelin Primacy MXV4 H and Continental PureContact.

Top rated tire?
This competitive group of tires promises to provide consumers with a lot of good choices. As we have seen, several tires are standouts in certain areas. Once we complete our testing and number crunching, you will be able use the overall score in our upcoming tire report to select from our recommended choices, or consider the other models based on your priorities.

As always, these test ratings will be added to our comprehensive online tire ratings soon as our work is completed with the large group. The ratings are scheduled for the November issue.

Related:
Findings from our family car all-season tire tests
Family car all-season tire update reveals potential savings with low-rolling resistance tires

I was surprised recently to get a message from a friend thanking me for a birthday card I'd sent her on Facebook. I did want my friend to have a happy birthday, but I hadn't sent that card. Turns out I'd somehow given a greeting-card app permission to send cards to Facebook friends on their birthdays.

I was annoyed because that app did something I didn't intend. Facebook's apps page is like a toy store for adults, but unfortunately, it can lead you into some privacy minefields.

Here's how you can have fun using apps and still keep your privacy intact.

Be aware when you share.
A few weeks ago, I received a message from a friend: "You're actually listening to the Andrews Sisters?" When you use an app called Spotify on Facebook, as I was, it can post updates with the songs you're listening to. You can turn this feature off on Spotify's Preferences menu or simply hide the occasional guilty pleasure.

Other apps let friends know what you're reading. For example, when you add the Huffington Post's app to Facebook, you can share articles or choose not to share anything. You'll find the controls for all those settings at the top of each article you read and by clicking on the gear symbol. You can also remove apps completely by going to Facebook's Privacy Settings, clicking on "Ads, Apps, and Websites," and selecting the ones you no longer want.

Know what you agree to.
When you sign up to use a Facebook app, it must ask for your permission before it can take actions such as posting on your behalf or accessing your data when you're not using it. The popular Words with Friends, like every app, accesses your name, profile picture, gender, and friends list, as well as any info you choose to make public. It asks for other permissions but requires access only to your e-mail address. But some apps can't be used at all unless you grant all the permissions they request.

See how private an app really is.
Check apps you want to use at privacyscore.com, which scores websites and apps on how well they protect privacy and tells you which companies collect personal data about what you do on websites or apps, usually for the purpose of targeting ads. Words with Friends, for example, scored 78 out of a possible 100: According to the site, at least one of the 54 parties tracking the app's users retains the info it collects for more than four years! In contrast, the Sims Social app scored 94, in part because just five companies track its users, and they generally keep user data private.

Stop "Instant Personalization."
Facebook has a service called Instant Personalization that can let partner websites use your public info to personalize your experience. For example, when I visited Internet TV guide Clicker while logged into my Facebook account, I found I was automatically logged into Clicker as well. I was able to turn this service off with one click. If Instant Personalization isn't for you, you can turn it off entirely using Facebook's Privacy Settings.

For more on protecting your privacy on Facebook, along with our video on how to use Facebook's Privacy Settings, see our story, "Facebook & your privacy."

A version of this story originally appeared in the July 2012 issue of Consumer Reports ShopSmart Magazine.—Ed.

Nissan has unveiled the redesigned Note hatchback in Japan. It's a world car that will replace the Versa hatchback in the U.S. market for the 2014 model year. As such, it differs significantly from the Versa sedan.

The entry-level Versa sedan was redesigned last year, with better fuel economy but chintzy interior, more noise and worse ride than the previous version. The Versa hatchback will compete with the Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta hatch, and Toyota Yaris.

The company revealed precious few details about the new Versa hatchback this week. Nissan didn't announce engines for the States, but in other markets, the Note will be powered by a supercharged 1.2-liter, 3-cylinder engine with direct injection and a high 13:1 compression ratio, good for between 90 and 100 hp. Nissan claims fuel economy overseas of 59 mpg, but standards for measuring it vary widely.

At the same time, Nissan announced changes to the 2013 Versa sedan that will give it an EPA rating of 40 mpg on the highway—up from 38. The main change is the addition of a rear trunk spoiler. We got 40 mpg on the highway and 32 overall in our tests. That magical 40 mpg EPA highway rating will bring the Versa sedan up to par with the EPA ratings for several larger sedans, including the Chevrolet Cruze Eco, Ford Focus SFE, and Mazda3 Skyactive. When we tested the claims of those three models, we found they met the 40 mpg claim. The Honda Civic HF returned 49 mpg on the highway.

WASHINGTON — Consumers Union, the policy arm of Consumer Reports, today praised the action by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the controversial plastic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby bottles and sippy cups.

“This is a big day for everyone who has worked so hard to get BPA out of our sippy cups and baby bottles, especially the families who have lobbied the government to do the right thing for our kids,” said Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives for Consumers Union.  “Scientific studies show there are serious health risks associated with BPA, and this action by the FDA will help protect millions of the most vulnerable Americans.  FDA's next step should be to ban this chemical in infant formula containers.  Babies’ exposure to BPA should be minimized in every way possible.”

Last year, the state of California enacted a law co-sponsored by Consumers Union to ban BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups.  Immediately following the passage of the California law, the U.S. chemical industry's trade association, the American Chemistry Council, asked the FDA to phase out rules allowing BPA in such products last fall, stating that manufacturers of bottles and sippy cups had already stopped using the chemical due to consumer preferences.

Consumers Union has long urged federal, state, and local governments to curb uses of BPA in food containers, especially those used by babies and young children, pointing to scientific studies that link BPA exposure to increased risk of cancer, diabetes, and reproductive, neurological, and developmental disorders.

Contacts:
David Butler, Consumers Union, 202.462.6262 or dbutler@consumer.org
Kara Kelber, Consumers Union, 202462.6262 or kkelber@consumer.org
Naomi Starkman, 917.539.3924 or nstarkman@gmail.com

The experts here at Consumer Reports have long been fans of plasma TVs, and Panasonic's new VT50, ST50, and UT50 models demonstrate why. All four of the models we tested delivered incredibly deep, inky black levels, contributing to their excellent picture quality.

These new Panasonic plasmas, included in our latest Ratings of LCD and plasma TVs (available to subscribers), stand out for a few other reasons. All have Internet capability, and the VT50 and ST50 models also have a full browser and built-in Wi-Fi.

The majority of the 40-inch and larger TVs in our Ratings can connect to the Internet so you can stream video, and a growing number of them have Web browsers that let you explore the Internet on your big screen. Wi-Fi is also becoming more common, a plus in situations where you'd rather not run a cable from the TV to your modem or router.

The VT50 model we just tested has another feature that makes it easy to explore the Web—a second remote with a thumbpad that acts much like a touchpad. Several other TVs in our Ratings also have remotes designed to help you navigate the online world.

In a month most college kids will be headed off to campus either for the first time or as returning students. But before going to Bed, Bath & Beyond, newbies should check their college website to see what the school furnishes and which items are permitted in the dorms and which aren't. Whether you can take a coffeemaker, mini-fridge or a microwave may depend on the living space be it a room, suite, apartment or off-campus. Here are some recommendations.

In Best small appliances for college students, we recommend some of the top performers from Consumer Reports' tests of coffeemakers, microwaves, and toasters and toaster ovens, among others items. We found some hand vacuums that will blend in with any college decor and also have some cookware recommendations for students who are getting their first off-campus apartments.

Threat of fire is the main reason colleges prohibit some appliances and such things as halogen lamps and extension cords. According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking equipment causes four of every five dorm fires.

We probably didn't need another survey to tell us that 75 percent of American women find doing the laundry tedious. But LG did one anyway as part of the company's launch of what it's calling the industry's largest capacity washer, the LG WM8000. At a whopping 5.1 cubic feet, LG promises the spacious front loader will save both time and money because laundry can be dealt with in fewer loads.

According to LG, American women— the survey doesn't mention men—do laundry on average 2.8 times a week, a chore that takes eight hours or more. One out of three respondents said they do more laundry in the summer than at any other time of year. This one dreary task causes them to miss out on exercise, family time and social events, the women reported. LG claims the "mega-capacity" WM8000 can help them reclaim some of that time by accommodating larger loads and using the TurboWash feature, which it claims reduces cycle time by 20 minutes.

The WM8000 is on sale now ($1,399 for white and $1,499 for graphite) and Consumer Reports just brought one into the labs for testing. It's too early to tell if it will perform as well as its brandmate, the LG WM3470H[W]A, $1,100, which tops our front-loader Ratings. In addition to TurboWash, the new machine has what LG calls 6Motion, six different wash motions including tumbling, scrubbing, filtration, rolling, stepping and swinging that work in various combinations depending on the fabric. The WM8000 received Energy Star's Most Efficient designation, something we'll keep in mind as we test for energy and water efficiency.

Samsung has added a fascinating new feature to its new 16-megapixel MV900F subcompact camera: You can control the camera's 5x optical zoom lens, as well as its shutter button, remotely via simple hand gestures. Samsung calls this feature Gesture Shot, and it tracks your hand in much the way face detection tracks your face.

Here's how you use it:

You'll need to set the camera up either on a tripod or flat surface, and stand in front of the lens. Then flip up the swiveling display so you can see the photo you're composing. Now you can control the lens via two circular hand motions (they're similar to the "wax on/wax off" hand motions Mr. Miyagi immortalized in the movie The Karate Kid).

A clockwise motion zooms the lens in, and a counterclockwise motion zooms it out. To take the photo, you pretend to push down with your hand (palm down) twice, which engages the self timer. So it's great for self-portraits. If you want to get out of the photo, you have 3 seconds to exit, stage left.

The MV900F subcompact also has Wi-Fi features and a swiveling 3.3-inch OLED display, and it can capture 1080 full HD-resolution videos. It will be available in late August for $350.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an official investigation into 2001-2004 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute sport-utility vehicles. Issues with the popular small-sized SUVs' cruise control systems has raised concern with engineers from the safety agency and with the two car companies, Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motors.

According to NHTSA, its Office of Defect Investigation has received nearly 100 consumer complaints of stuck throttles after deactivating the cruise control systems in the Ford and Mazda SUVs. It is alleged that interference between the vehicle's speed control cable and the appearance cover at the throttle body cam may be behind the incidents, including one fatal collision last January.

Some complaints point to the issue potentially being tied to previous speed control cable repairs made in response to an earlier 2004 recall of Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs. Officials are investigating to see if a new official safety notice—such as the recent NHTSA recall of 2013 Ford Escape SUVs —is warranted.

Consumer Reports car safety experts have tips on how to deal with unintended acceleration in vehicles. And if you're an owner who has experienced similar cruise control issues in a Ford Escape or Mazda Tribute SUV, we offer advice on how to file a safety complaint with the NHTSA on its website: www.SaferCar.gov.

Source:
ODI: 2001-2004 Ford Escape / Mazda Tribute - Speed control    Action #: PE12019 [NHTSA]

A little over a month after competitor Verizon Wireless unveiled its Share Everything data plans, AT&T has announced its own version: AT&T Mobile Share. Unlike Verizon, which is offering only Share Everything to new customers, newcomers to AT&T will still have the option of choosing an existing individual or family plan. And current customers can switch over to a sharing plan without extending their contracts, if they choose.

Mobile Share, to be available in late August, lets customers add up to 10 smart devices (one must be a smart phone) to a plan, all of which will share a "bucket" of data, says the company. Tethering (using an applicable smart device as a modem) and unlimited domestic talk and text are also included.

You can choose a data amount from 1GB to 20GB, at prices ranging from $40 to $200 a month, and additional data is $15 per gigabyte. (AT&T reassures consumers that they'll receive overage alerts when they approach the limits of their plans.)

"The larger the data bucket you choose, the less you pay per gigabyte and the less you pay for each smartphone added to the shared plan" says AT&T: $45 for each smart phone at the 1GB level down to $30 per smart phone at the 20GB level. There's an additional charge per each device you add to your plan, depending on the type, ranging from $10 to $45.

In comparison, Verizon's Share Everything rates begin at $50 a month for 1GB of data and go up to $100 a month for 10GB. You add $40 a month for each smart phone on the plan, $30 for each basic phone, $20 per mobile hotspot, and $10 per tablet.

For now, our advice for low- or moderate-data users who have AT&T is to stick to an individual plan; the shared plan looks more practical for individuals or families with numerous devices, though costs could climb quickly as you add more data.

If you're shopping around for a new carrier or a new phone, check our Ratings at ConsumerReports.org.

Source:
Introducing AT&T Mobile Share

Related:
Verizon announces Share Everything data-only billing plan
Would all-data mobile-phone bills be a consumer boon?

A blocked dryer vent, a broken microwave, a damaged mower blade. These are three of the most overlooked home hazards, according to RepairClinic.com, and ignoring them can lead to injuries, fires or worse. "It's important to be aware of these dangers and to take proper care to reduce risks and stay safe," says Chris Hall, president of the replacement parts website. Here's how with tips from Consumer Reports, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and RepairClinic.

Clothes dryers: Instant fire starters
As we recently reported in Appliance fires: Is your home safe? clothes dryers accounted for almost 14,000 fires, 10 deaths and $84 million in damages from 2002 to 2009. Many were caused by blocked dryer vents that caused heat buildup resulting in fast-moving fires. "If you notice that it's taking longer for your clothes to dry, it's likely that lint is clogging the venting system," says Hall of RepairClinic.

What to do. White vinyl venting no longer meets national fire code standards in the U.S. and should be replaced with an aluminum equivalent. Safer yet, replace accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal ducts. Then make the following a routine:

• Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes.
  
• Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically.
  
• Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up.
  

What to do. Repairs are best left to a professional. However, the cost of a new microwave is often comparable to the cost of replacement parts so a new unit may be the best solution, says Hall. Non-electronic parts like door latches and glass trays, however, are inexpensive and easy to replace. Most of the countertop microwaves recommended by Consumer Reports cost less than $200.

Lawn mowers: Watch for flying projectiles
From 2008 through 2010, an average of 40,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for walk-behind power mower injuries, according to the CPSC. Many of the injuries, including some fatalities, were caused by flying debris kicked up by the mower's spinning blade.

What to do. To prevent this hazard, clear your lawn of all twigs, rocks and other objects before getting started. Here's some more tips from RepairClinic:

• Check the cutting blade regularly for damage, bends and dullness. A blade should be replaced every one or two years, depending on how often the mower is used.
  
• Keep children and pets inside when the lawn mower is in operation.
  
• Don't remove or adjust the position of the mower's deflector. Making a change that's not in the owner's manual can result in debris flying at a longer distance.
  
• Before each mowing season, check the protective rubber trail shield at the back of the mower to make sure it's working properly and free of tears.
  

Keeping a journal of everything you eat can be daunting, not to mention an unpleasant reality check. But new research suggests that it's one of the most effective things you can do to if you're trying to lose weight. The other two most important strategies were things to avoid: regularly going out for lunch and skipping meals.

In a study published online in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, researchers in Seattle examined the eating-related behaviors and self-monitoring strategies of 123 overweight or obese postmenopausal women who took part in a year-long weight-loss trial. Of the 18 behaviors and strategies the researchers looked at, which included counting calories and staying away from fast-food restaurants keeping a weekly food journal had the greatest positive correlation with weight loss. Women who used that strategy most weeks lost about 6 pounds more over one year than women who didn't (or, in terms of percentages, 12.8 percent of body weight among journalers compared with 8.2 percent among non-journalers).

The two other strategies most strongly linked to weight loss were things you shouldn't do: regularly going out to lunch, and skipping meals. Women who did those things lost about five fewer pounds and eight fewer pounds, respectively, over a year compared with other women.

Previous studies have looked at how various individual behaviors and strategies on weight outcomes, but this study was the first to pull together a wide variety of such practices, both healthy (planning meals and snacks throughout the day, keeping track of calories, weighing oneself regularly) and unhealthy (skipping meals, taking laxatives, vomiting after eating). That allowed the authors not just to identify which factors influenced weight loss, but to compare their relative importance.

If you're not sure what should go in a food journal, here are some basics:
• Be honest. Record everything you eat.
• Be accurate. Measure portions and read labels.
• Be complete. Include details such as how the food was prepared, and the addition of any toppings or condiments.
• Be consistent. Carry your food diary with you or use a diet-tracking application on your smart phone.

See which strategies were associated with healthy body weight in our survey of 21,632 readers (hint: eating at home was one). If a restaurant meal is the only option, use these tips for healthful dining out.

Source
Self-Monitoring and Eating-Related Behaviors Are Associated with 12-Month Weight Loss in Postmenopausal Overweight-to-Obese Women [Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics]

Refrigerator doors continue to get more innovative, with the debut this week of LG's Door-in-Door French-door bottom-freezer. The 31 claimed-cubic-foot fridge features a magnetically sealed compartment on the right door that you can access without opening the entire refrigerator. Besides making it easier to reach frequently used items, say a milk carton or bottle of ketchup, the door-in-door is a potential energy saver.

While LG calls the feature proprietary in its news release, it's similar to Kenmore's Grab-N-Go door on its Elite 7206 French-door refrigerator, which we recently reviewed. Don't expect any patent infringement lawsuits, however, since LG actually manufacturers many Kenmore refrigerators. The question is, how will the LG's performance compare with that of the Kenmore? In our review, the Kenmore delivered very good temperature control and efficiency, though it narrowly missed our recommended list. We'll report more on the LG has soon as we get it into our testing labs.

If you haven't shopped for a refrigerator in awhile, you'll notice other innovations affecting door design. For example, several manufacturers have added a horizontal drawer between the freezer and refrigerator on some French-door models. See our reviews of the Samsung RF4287HA, $2,600, and the GE Profile PGSS5PJX, $2,400, to learn more about this configuration.

Refrigerator doors are also becoming more interactive with the advent of Wi-Fi enabled LCD screens embedded in the front panel. Samsung's French-door model RF4289, $3,500, includes one of these displays, and it comes with various apps designed to generate recipe ideas, store your household's calendar, and more.

Enhanced ice and water dispenser design is another innovation you'll find on some of the latest refrigerators. Our top-rated French-door refrigerator from LG is one of several models on the market with an extra-tall dispenser that can fit pitchers and other oversized containers. And GE's brand new French-door refrigerator is the first of its kind to dispense hot and cold water alike.

These new refrigerator doors are nifty, but if you're in the market for a new fridge, you should pay close attention to what's going on inside the unit. Consistent temperature control, convenient storage features, and optimal efficiency will deliver the most satisfaction over the long haul. We've reviewed more than 250 refrigerators to help you find the model that's right for you.