All articles tagged with #consumer products
Allison and Stephen Ellsworth turned a home-made remedy into Poppi, grew it to over $500M in annual sales, and sold it to PepsiCo for about $1.95B. Bootstrapping with credit cards, loans, and a Shark Tank investment helped scale and rebrand, while COVID forced a $25M capital raise; now they manage their windfall by prioritizing family and experiences and are planning a new venture while mentoring other entrepreneurs.
A surge of menopause-focused products—ranging from skincare and dietary supplements to gadgets and wearable prompts—has flooded markets and social media. Doctors warn that many claims aren’t scientifically proven and advise patients to discuss evidence-based options with their clinicians, such as hormone therapy (when appropriate), nonhormonal medications, and lifestyle measures like regular exercise and a healthy diet. Dermatologists also stress sensible skincare and sun protection, noting that some beauty claims (e.g., ingestible collagen) lack solid science.
Weber is recalling about 3.2 million metal wire bristle grill brushes (models 6277, 6278, 6463, 6464, 6493, 6494) sold 2011–2026 due to small bristles detaching and posing an ingestion and internal-injury risk. The company offers a replacement nylon-bristle brush; consumers should stop using and discard the recalled brushes. Brushes were sold at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Target, Amazon, and Weber.com; manufactured in China and Cambodia; recall number 26-282; at least 38 reports including 4 swallowed bristles.
A patient shared a photo of a doctor's waiting room with consumer products displayed near a TV playing ads, raising ethical concerns about commercialization in healthcare spaces and highlighting the environmental impact of overconsumption driven by advertising.
Kimberly-Clark announced a nearly $50 billion acquisition of Kenvue, Tylenol’s parent company, creating a consumer products giant with 10 billion-dollar brands and $32 billion in annual revenue, expected to close in the second half of next year.
Amazon has launched Amazon Grocery, a new private-label brand offering over 1,000 grocery items mostly under $5, including fresh produce, meat, seafood, and pantry essentials, aiming to compete with other private brands and cater to price-conscious consumers.
Procter & Gamble will raise prices on about 25% of its U.S. products starting in August to offset $1 billion in anticipated tariff costs for fiscal year 2026, affecting brands across categories like fabric care, baby care, and personal health, with premium products seeing the most significant increases.
Scientists warn about the health risks of phthalates, chemicals used in perfumes and other self-care products to prolong scent. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors linked to developmental issues in children and cardiovascular disease in adults. Despite being banned in children's toys, they remain prevalent in many consumer products. Experts recommend avoiding added fragrances and opting for phthalate-free alternatives to reduce exposure. While some argue the data on human harm is insufficient, animal studies suggest significant risks, prompting calls for more cautious consumer choices.
BuzzFeed Community members share their experiences with 23 popular things that didn't live up to the hype, ranging from college and Y2K to AirPods and the Harry Potter books. They discuss various disappointments, including music festivals, the Tesla Cybertruck, and the McRib Sandwich, highlighting how expectations often fell short of reality.
PayPal has announced new leadership appointments to spearhead the development of a new advertising platform and enhance its consumer product offerings. Mark Grether, formerly of Uber, will lead PayPal Ads, while John Anderson, previously with Plaid, will oversee the consumer business, including PayPal and Venmo. These changes aim to leverage PayPal's extensive consumer and merchant relationships to create a personalized advertising platform and drive consumer engagement and innovation.
A new study has found that flame retardants, specifically polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), commonly used in consumer products in the United States, are linked to an increased risk of dying from cancer. These chemicals, known as endocrine disruptors, have been associated with various health issues and are found in a wide range of products, from furniture to electronics. Despite efforts to remove some PBDEs from the market, exposure continues to be a concern, and measures to minimize exposure, such as checking product labels and using protective fabric, are recommended.
Nestlé USA has issued a recall for metallic mugs sold with Starbucks-branded gift sets due to burn and laceration hazards. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is overseeing the recall to protect consumers from unreasonable risk of injury, in line with federal law. Consumers are advised to stop using the mugs and can find more information on CPSC's website or contact the CPSC Hotline for assistance.
Unilever plans to spin off its ice cream businesses, including Ben & Jerry's, citing a focus on "superior brands with strong positions in highly attractive categories." The decision comes after activist investor Nelson Peltz joined Unilever's board in 2022, pushing for changes. The spinoff is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and will result in a reduction of about 7,500 office-based jobs. Unilever's profit margin on ice cream is less than half of what it makes from personal care products, and the separation will allow the company to focus on boosting revenue in other divisions.
A testing laboratory found high levels of benzene, a carcinogenic chemical, in acne creams such as Clinique, Proactiv, and Clearasil, with amounts up to 12 times the permitted limit by the FDA. The lab also detected benzene in other products like PanOxyl and Walgreens' acne soap bar. This poses potential health risks, as benzene was found not only in the products but also in the air around them, indicating a potential inhalation risk. The FDA has not yet responded to the petition filed by the testing laboratory.
A study has identified 829 chemicals commonly found in consumer products, food, drinks, pesticides, medications, and workplaces that could potentially promote the development of breast cancer by altering the body's hormones. These chemicals have been linked to activating estrogen receptors and causing cells to overproduce estrogen and progesterone, increasing the risk of breast cancer. Researchers emphasize the need for new tools to identify environmental exposures contributing to this trend and develop prevention strategies to reduce the burden of the disease.