Kraft Heinz did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Consumer Reports. In April 2024, Consumer Reports’ tests found that various Lunchables kits available at supermarkets contained potentially concerning levels of lead, phthalates (chemicals found in plastic), and very high sodium levels. While CR didn’t test the school lunch versions of the Lunchables kits,…
We rate refrigerators based on their thermostat control, temperature uniformity, noise output, ease of use, and efficiency. Every refrigerator we test gets wired with 15 temperature sensors. We then monitor these thermocouples for more than a month in one of three temperature-controlled chambers. These results tell us how well a refrigerator maintains a set temperature…
Dyson’s vacuums are top-tier for various reasons. They’re powerful, easy to maneuver, bagless, lightweight, and more. But a majority of these vacs are also very expensive. If you’ve been waiting for one to go on sale, you’re in luck. Right now (until December 31), you can get up to $250 off by using the link…
President-elect Donald Trump announced tonight that he would be appointing billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) upon taking office in 2025. The acronym DOGE appears to be a reference to the digital currency dogecoin, of which Musk is a fan. “These two…
Some contaminants, like lead and cadmium, are naturally found in the environment, which can partly account for their presence in food. But processing can also introduce heavy metals and chemicals found in plastic. In CR’s tests, our experts found lead, cadmium, or both in all the kits. Even in small amounts, these heavy metals can…
Manufacturers report a model’s noise level in decibels, averaging the readings over the dishwasher’s full cycle. But that isn’t necessarily the best indicator of noise output. So CR’s panel of judges sit and listen to each dishwasher that we test through its entire cycle—even if it takes 3 hours. “People remember a noise when it’s…
Ask the search engine Ecosia about “Paris to Prague” and flight booking websites dominate the results. Ecosia’s CEO Christian Kroll would prefer to present more train options, which he considers better for the environment. But because its results are licensed from Google and Microsoft’s Bing, Ecosia has little control over what’s shown. Kroll is ready…
Branch has become one of my favorite home office furniture companies for three main reasons. First, its products are easy to assemble, with clear instructions and helpful assembly videos. Second, they look good, with multiple color options and an overall aesthetic that’s easy on the eyes. Third, everything is reasonably priced. Sure, you can find…
Despite those aforementioned anecdotes, self-clean disasters are the exception, not the rule. Sutton has seen little evidence to suggest that running the self-clean cycle is likely to damage your oven. “I recall hearing of a few malfunctions during self-cleaning over the years, but it’s not a common thing,” he says. In fact, such problems emerge…
1. Don’t put hot items in the fridge right away. If you put food on the glass shelves when it’s still piping hot, the shelves could break. The hot items might also raise the temperature inside your fridge. That could put a burden on the compressor because it has to run longer to bring the…