Here are some of your top consumer headlines today:
You should expect to start seeing nutritional labels on your meet in about a year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says labels will be required on meats starting January 1, 2012. The labels will give you information about calories, calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, protein and vitamins. You will find the labels on 40 popular cuts of beef, poultry, pork and lamb. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hopes it will help health-conscious Americans make wise choices about the meats they choose to consume.
Made sure to lock your car this weekend. New Year's Day, which is Saturday, is expected to be the worst holiday for car thefts. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, 2,760 vehicles were stolen across the country in 2009. The next highest holiday is Halloween, when 2,325 cars and trucks disappeared. The Fourth of July was the third busiest day for car thieves. In the spirit of the holiday, they didn't seem to strike as much on Christmas, which is the least favorite holiday for thieves.
Parents will soon have more control over what their teenagers listen to on the radio while driving. Ford is making it easier for parents to prevent their kids from listening to certain radio programs. The car manufacturer is currently creating a system that will allow parents to disable 16 channels on Sirius satellite radio, including Howard Stern, Playboy, Hip-Hop Nation and Raw Dog Comedy. A Ford spokesperson says those mature content channels could be distracting for young drivers. Parents can expect the new features to be rolled out late next year in Ford's Mykey System. Parents will also be able to limit the car's top speed and audio volume.
