Indice dei contenuti per October 2017 in Consumer Reports

OF ALL THE DECISIONS we make in a lifetime, few are as personal or emotional as the decision to move yourself, a spouse, a parent, or another loved one to an assisted living facility. We often go to great lengths to finnd the right car, phone, or refrigerator to meet our specific needs, so it goes without saying that choosing a residence we can trust to o­er compassionate care to a beloved family member at.a vulnerable time of life is of the utmost importance. With medical care growing more sophisticated and the population growing older, the average age of new assisted living residents was 84 in 2016— and assisted living facilities now account for 17.percent of America’s senior housing, a 33.percent increase from just five years ago. What’s more, these…

The latest ratings from our labs The range of caffeine in a typically sized brewed serving* Source: Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, October 2014. AMERICA HAS A CRAVING for coffee. Though a steaming cup of joe has fueled the morning routines of many for generations, U.S. coffee consumption is now at an all-time high: Approximately 62 percent of us drink it every day—an increase of 5 percentage points over last year, according to the National Coffee Association. Coffee drinkers across all age groups, from teens to seniors, have a seemingly insatiable thirst for the stuff. Many of us also have a growing preference for high-quality brew, with more than half the coffee we consume now classified as gourmet. It’s a preference that’s becoming much easier to indulge: The number of…

IN RECENT YEARS, federal efficiency standards have limited the amount of water washing machines can use. As a result, new appliances are far more water-efficient than older models. That goes for almost any brand or type. Some consumers, noticing the small amount of water used, wonder whether their new washer is doing as good a job at getting clothes clean. We’ve even heard from readers who were so concerned that they added more water to the machine with a bucket or garden hose. That’s a really bad idea. In fact, adding too much water can result in dingier clothes. “Cleaning results may suffer because the clothes can’t rub against each other in excess water, which is how newer machines are designed to work,” explains Emilio Gonzalez, a CR engineer who…

KNOCK, KNOCK! With fridges in LG’s Signature line (starting at about $7,500), knocking twice on a glass door-withinthe- door illuminates an interior light so that you can see what’s inside without letting cool air escape. You can also open the main door by waving your foot through a laser beamed onto the floor. CR’s take: The window gives a limited view of the interior. The hands-free door might be convenient for some, and rest assured, a sensor prevents the door from opening when, say, your cat takes a swipe. COMMAND CENTRAL The techloaded models in Samsung’s Family Hub line (starting at $3,000) have a built-in tablet that can display any thing from the weather to the day’s headlines. Interior cameras record the contents and send images to your phone (so that…

A PARTICULAR assisted living facility might look like a solid choice based on location, care services, and your family’s finances. But what’s also important is finding a good fit for yourself, or for Mom or Dad, a place where you or they can feel comfortable socially and make new friends. “A person’s physical and psychological wellbeing can be improved by staying active and engaged,” says Carolyn McClanahan, a financial planner and doctor in Jacksonville, Fla. Here are tips for finding a good match: Use Your Instincts Look for activities and facilities—such as field trips, a book club, or a pool—that your parent(s) might enjoy with others who have similar interests. Consider the size of the residence, its appearance, and how you see staffmembers interacting with residents and each other. For…

78 Amy’s Light & Lean Quinoa & Black Beans with Butternut Squash & Chard 77 Luvo Planted Power Bowl Great Karma Coconut Curry 75 Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Unwrapped Burrito Bowl 74 Kashi Chimichurri Quinoa Bowl 74 Luvo Planted Power Bowl Mighty Masala & Greens 72 Luvo Planted Power Bowl So Cal Kale & Bean 72 Kashi Black Bean Mango Bowl 72 Smart Ones SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl 71 Kashi Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowl 70 Sweet Earth Curry Tiger 70 Smart Ones SmartMade Orange Sesame Chicken Bowl 70 Amy’s Bowls Harvest Casserole 69 Smart Ones SmartMade Mediterranean-Style Chicken Bowl 67 Luvo Bowl Chicken Harissa & Chickpeas 67 Sweet Earth Moroccan Tagine 65 Evol Fire Grilled Steak 61 Sweet Earth Bean & Mango Cubano 61 Grainful Unstuffed Pepper 59 Smart Ones…

IT SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE SOLUTION: To curb the obesity problem, make unhealthy foods more expensive and people will eat less of them. Local governments around the country—including Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Berkeley, Calif., among others—have started to do just that, enacting laws that tax sugar-sweetened drinks and sodas at a higher rate than other foods and beverages. Sugary drinks are a logical choice. They’re a major contributor to daily American calorie intake— roughly 7 percent of all calories consumed—while contributing little to no nutritional value. Consider that an average 20-ounce cola harbors about 16 teaspoons of added sugar. These so-called behavior or sin taxes are among the newest weapons being deployed in the complex war to end America’s obesity crisis. The U.S. currently holds the unenviable title of…

CR’s take: A good navigation system should allow you to set your route by simply saying the name of your destination, just as you can with your smartphone. Some systems let you program your destination by using an app before you get into the car. Real-time traffic capability is a musthave; your phone has it, and your in-car navigation should, too. A big, clear screen is important, as is the ability to access your music while also staying current with turns on the route. And you should have access to up-todate maps without being charged a high price to keep them current, as some manufacturers do. Navigation systems often falter when it’s difficult to input the destination, turn off the guidance instructions, or cancel the route. Of course, they’re at…

CR’s take: The systems that do it right don’t make you memorize special commands. Some systems work as well as today’s smartphones, interpreting your natural conversational speech. Voice commands can be very useful for making phone calls and setting destinations in a navigation system, but manufacturers shouldn’t intend them as a crutch to make up for poorly designed car functions. What owners say: An average of only 28 percent of owners were very satisfied with voice-command systems. The top-rated Ford/Lincoln Sync 3 was lauded by certain subscribers for its ability to understand more common phrases. Others said that Sync 3 was very easy to use compared with the previous versions, and one owner said “the voice activation works very well.” Tesla’s system also rated comparatively high. One owner said, “Best…

Self-Driving Standards WHAT’S AT STAKE Though autonomous vehicles could greatly reduce car crashes and other incidents caused by driver error, the evolving technology also raises other safety questions. For instance, it’s unclear how reliable autonomous systems will be, or how alert a human will need to be in a self-driving car. As Congress considers legislation, Consumer Reports recently testified at a hearing on self-driving cars, held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The hearing comes as the number of traffic deaths in the U.S. is on the rise. Our testimony—a consumer voice on a panel dominated by industry stakeholders— focused on exploring the safety potential of self-driving vehicles while ensuring that new challenges are anticipated and addressed. We stressed that lawmakers should require sensible, enforceable, evidence-based measures for the…

IF YOU RELY on labels for information about a product’s environmental impact and fair trade policies, you should know that certain claims on coffee labels are essentially meaningless: Terms including “ethically/sustainably farmed,” “shade grown,” and “direct trade” lack any legal definition or industry standards. But you can rely on certain seals to indicate the conditions under which coffee was grown. Charlotte Vallaeys, Consumer Reports’ senior policy analyst and our top food labels expert, explains what some common labels mean. USDA Organic The term “organic” is strictly regulated by the Department of Agriculture. In the case of coffee farms, this seal means synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides that can be harmful to farmers and to wildlife are banned. The label also ensures that soil quality is protected. Fairtrade This seal indicates…

Samsung FlexWash WV60M9900AV $1,500 83 OVERALL SCORE THE SETUP FlexWash is a single machine made up of two integrated washers that can run separately or at the same time. Samsung’s mini top-loading washer sits above the front-loader, increasing the total height of the unit to 47 inches (about 8 inches taller than most front-loaders). Homeowners need not add supply lines: The typical setup of one water line for hot and another for cold will work. CLAIMED CAPACITY The frontloader, at 5 cubic feet, is big enough to fit a king-sized comforter. The 1-cubic-foot mini washer can handle small loads, say, four T-shirts, three pairs of yoga pants, or about 30 small, delicate items, such as bras and undies. FEATURES Samsung’s main washer has 12 cycles, a steam option to improve…

Best Matching Suite With a Gas Range Most people prefer gas ranges. The burners respond to adjustments quickly and work well with virtually any style of pot and pan. Plus there’s no cooking surface to worry about scratching, as with glasstopped electric ranges. Total: $5,300 LG LDG4315ST $1,700 73 OVERALL SCORE Our top-rated double-oven gas range, this model offers solid top-of-the-range performance and beautiful baking. “This is a feature-rich, high-performing range at a very competitive price,” says Tara Casaregola, who runs CR’s range and cooktop lab. The LG has two high-power burners (some have only one), allowing you to boil water for pasta and sear a steak at the same time. LG LFXS30766S $2,500 81 OVERALL SCORE Another appliance that tops the charts, this French-door refrigerator maintains ideal temperatures throughout the…

MOST ASSISTED LIVING residences will ask you to sign an admission agreement, which is a contract, before moving in. Don’t rush to sign. You’ll want to look at the contract carefully and ask an elder-law attorney to review it. “You want to be aware of all the terms, since you may not have much recourse once you sign,” says Lori Smetanka, executive director of National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, an advocacy group. The cost for a legal review will vary from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand, depending in part on where you live and the particular facility, and whether a contract may be negotiated. “If the lawyer already knows the language in a facility’s contract, it may take only an hour or so to go…

ONCE YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER starts having trouble with everyday activities, such as preparing meals and showering alone, you might need some assistance. It could be help from a home health aide or a move into an assisted living facility or nursing home. Planning for this can be a fraught exercise. But there are new types of long-term-care insurance that might help. Researchers estimate that more than half of today’s 65-year-olds will require long-term care at some point, at an average total cost of $138,000. Most will need help for less than two years. But one in seven Americans turning 65 today will face more than five years of disability, with potentially dire financial consequences. Medicare covers only short stints in a nursing facility. Medicaid can fill the gap,…

When you’re short on time or energy, takeout or a frozen meal can be a solution to the problem of getting a nutritious dinner on the table fast. But even healthysounding dishes with similar ingredients and approximately the same serving size can vary greatly in nutrition. We compared a frozen Mexican-style chicken power bowl with both a frozen chicken burrito and a chicken burrito bowl from a chain restaurant and found big differences. Red’s Organic Chicken, Cilantro & Lime Burrito, 2 (9 oz.) Made with: flour tortilla, chicken, brown rice, black beans, cheddar cheese, tomatillo, corn, red peppers Smart Ones SmartMade Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl (9 oz.) Made with: poblano peppers, black beans, red bell peppers, onions, corn, chicken, brown rice, Monterey Jack cheese, sauce Qdoba Burrito Bowl (9.5 oz.) Made…

Source: These results are based on the average-sized American adult (male and female); calculations are from the National Institutes of Health Body Weight Planner, using typical servings sizes for each beverage.…

CR’s take: A good audio streaming system should allow you to access your music or internet streaming service without having to touch your phone. Welldesigned systems let you navigate your music using steering-wheel controls, voice commands, or through a touch-screen display. Many systems automatically start playing music off your smartphone when you plug it in via USB merely to charge it, overriding the music source currently playing. One way around this is to use a 12-volt power cord with a dedicated USB port for phone charging. What owners say: Even the highest score—Tesla’s 68 percent—isn’t all that high, which suggests that drivers weren’t overly enthusiastic with audio streaming. Comments from Tesla owners indicate they like the dependable streaming, listing “music on demand” as one of the car’s numerous highlights. Many…

WHILE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEMS offer drivers plenty of cool, interactive features, job No. 1 remains safely piloting the vehicle. “A well-designed car should allow the driver access to the tech they need with minimal distraction,” says Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. “Unfortunately, some systems can be frustrating to use and take too much attention away from driving.” Here are the biggest concerns that CR has about these systems: Features can encourage drivers to take their eyes off the road. Taking your eyes off the road for 5 seconds at 55 mph is like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. Multilayered interfaces can require drivers to tap screens repeatedly to dig down to submenus. The systems make it easy for an automaker…

Fruitless Endeavor Someone please tell Kroger that apples grow on trees— not on strawberry plants. Mary Carter, Miamisburg, Ohio The Big Bad Wolf Was Here At least they don’t plan to blow the whole house down! Jim Langford, Georgetown, Texas One-Womb Schoolhouse It seems as though kids are starting school younger and younger these days. Keral Fell, Beverly, Ohio Flesh Direct This strange smorgasbord offers more than we can stomach. Linda Johnson, Alexandria, Va. SHARE Be on the lookout for goofs and glitches like these. Share them with us—by email at SellingIt@cro.consumer.org or by mail to Selling It, Consumer Reports, 101 Truman Ave., Yonkers, NY 10703—and we might publish yours. Please include key information, such as the publication’s name and date.…

For a clean, balanced cup Chemex THE BREWER This hourglass-shaped pour-over coffee maker differs from other pourover models because of the Chemex-branded filters, which are made of heavy paper and designed to regulate the filtration rate and keep sediment out. The glass body has a wooden handle that wraps around the neck of the carafe. It’s easy to pour coffee from the Chemex, but the narrow neck makes it difficult to clean by hand. The wooden handle isn’t dishwashersafe, but it can be easily removed. THE RESULTS Coffee brewed in the Chemex earned high marks for complexity, acidity, and overall quality in our taste tests; the filter minimized the presence of solids in the cup. If you like an aromatic, balanced brew with sweet, juicy undertones, this one’s for you.…

IF YOU LIKE the idea of dual washers, you might like a dual dryer, too. But this new option doesn’t come cheap either. The $1,500 Samsung FlexDry DVE60M9900V electric dryer, which matches its FlexWash, is among the most expensive we’ve tested. A large tumble dryer sits on the bottom, and on top, a small compartment circulates heated air to dry items that lay flat. You can insert a rack (it comes with the appliance) into the mini dryer to divide the roughly 6-inch-deep compartment in two. Our tests found the main drum to be very good at drying, and relatively quiet. To test the air-drying compartment, we used a man’s cotton/ poly-blend shirt, then a large cotton sweater, then four synthetic undergarments. We found that the mini air-dryer worked as…

IF ALL YOU care about when shopping for a new range, refrigerator, or dishwasher is peak performance, your job couldn’t be simpler: Take your pick of the top models in our ratings and move on to your next home improvement project. You should know, however, that you’ll probably end up with models from more than one brand because manufacturers rarely earn the top spot in our ratings across all appliance categories. So the look of your refrigerator may clash with the dishwasher from another maker. “One brand’s stainless steel might have blue undertones, while another’s might look darker or have a brighter sheen,” explains Claudette Ennis, CR’s market analyst for kitchen appliances. “To ensure your major appliances match, you’ll likely have to stick with a single manufacturer.” If a unified…

CHEST OF DRAWERS South Shore is expanding a previous recall of its Summer Breeze chests from 3,500 units to 68,300. The unanchored chests are unstable and can tip over and trap children, possibly resulting in injuries or death. The chests were sold online from February 2005 through December 2016 for about $160. What to do: Call 800-290-0465 or go to southshorefurniture.com for a refund or free tip-over restraint kit installation. WHITEBOARDS Really Good Stuff is recalling about 1.6 million Write Again dry-erase whiteboards because their metal surface can separate from the wooden base, posing a laceration risk. The boards were sold in Really Good Stuff catalogs and online from March 2003 through April 2017 for $10 to $47. What to do: Stop using the board. For a free replacement, go…

Apartment-Like Living Many residential care communities are in large complexes where residents rent an apartment with a small kitchen and private bath. They also offer communal dining and shared activity rooms, such as libraries and fitness facilities. About 68 percent of residents live in facilities with 50 or more people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The biggest places typically are part of forprofit chains, including the three largest, Atria, Brookdale, and Sunrise. Small Group Homes Sometimes called board and care, these assisted living residences offer a more intimate, homelike feel, housing just four to 25 people. These smaller places are often located in residential neighborhoods, where seniors can rent single rooms, share common spaces, and dine together. Continuing-Care Communities Though most assisted living facilities are standalone,…

IT’S CLEAR THAT the assisted living industry needs to evolve to manage the increasing health needs of the population it aims to attract. In that vein, more federal and state regulatory oversight is urgently needed to protect residents and their families. CR believes policy makers should better protect consumers of assisted living facilities by doing the following: Define Assisted Living and Levels of Care The term “assisted living” can describe anything from a facility that merely offers room and board to one that provides full-time nursing care. As a result, confused consumers can end up paying for services they don’t need or, worse, not getting the care they do need. Policy makers should establish and clearly define level-ofcare classifications, and facilities should be required to use the classifications to communicate…

For an overview of senior housing options AARP Comprehensive information on independent living and nursing homes, as well as assisted living. aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/senior-housing To start your search for an assisted living facility Caring.com Click Assisted Living, then enter your ZIP code to find residences; listings include communities and services with current state licensing. caring.com If you’re in a hurry to find a residence A Place for Mom Referral service is free to consumers; providers pay the site a fee if you move in. aplaceformom.com To get help from an aging-life-care expert Aging Life Care Association Click on Find an Aging Life Care Expert to search in your state. aginglifecare.org To check the assisted living regulations in your state National Center for Assisted Living Go to Advocacy, then State Regulations to see…

Frozen power bowls tend to contain more whole grains, vegetables, and legumes, plus a lot less sodium, says Amy Keating, R.D., a CR dietitian. We compared three of our top-rated power bowls with similarly flavored packaged grain dishes. The nutritional values are for about 1-cup servings of each, as prepared. Luvo Planted Power Bowl So Cal Kale & Bean Uncle Ben’s Ready Whole Grain Medley Quinoa & Brown Rice with Garlic Kashi Black Bean Mango Bowl Goya Rice & Black Beans Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Unwrapped Burrito Bowl Knorr Selects Rustic Mexican Rice & Beans…

Ratings from our test track plus expert car advice JUST AS THE SMARTPHONE in your hand has become more capable—and more complicated—over the past few years, so have in-car infotainment systems. What is infotainment? It’s industry slang for a host of in-car features including music, navigation, phone integration, and voice recognition. And sophisticated digital interfaces are increasingly becoming standard issue in new cars. “Consumers want cars that bring the communication and entertainment capabilities of their phones into their cars,” says Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. “And automakers are responding.” Well-designed systems can execute multiple complex functions using natural speech (“call Mom on her cell phone”). Badly designed systems can turn those same interactions into a dangerous and confusing distraction. Consumer Reports has been asking owners about…

CR’s take: The best systems allow you to make or accept phone calls without taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel. The acid test for any Bluetooth system is that it consistently reconnects with your phone every time you get back in the car; failure to do so can be a source of major driver frustration. Beyond that, the better systems let you dial by voice command and sync your phone contacts to the car, and some systems can even read text messages for you and let you reply using voice commands. These systems can vary quite a bit in terms of call quality. On the best ones, the person you’re talking with won’t even know you’re in your car. What happens when people get…