As summer nears and the warmer weather beckons us to spend as much time outside as possible, there’s no escaping the mosquitoes, ticks and other disease-carrying pests that often threaten to drive us back inside.

That leaves many consumers with the burning question: Which method is the best when it comes to fending off these annoying and sometimes dangerous adversaries?

There’s no shortage of products on the market, from sprays to wipes to lotions, but it’s the active ingredient — rather than the delivery system — you need to focus on.

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In collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and as a precautionary measure, McDonald’s USA today issued a voluntary product recall of the four Shrek Forever After™ promotional glassware currently being offered in U.S. restaurants.

McDonald’s statement on their, “To be clear, the glassware was evaluated by an independent third-party laboratory, accredited by the CPSC, and determined to be in compliance with all applicable federal and state requirements at the time of manufacture and distribution. However, in light of the CPSC’s evolving assessment of standards for consumer products, McDonald’s determined in an abundance of caution that a voluntary recall of the Shrek Forever After glassware is appropriate.”

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. “Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.”

McDonald’s
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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Wal-Mart to pull entire line of Miley Cyrus-brand jewelry from its shelves after tests show high levels of toxic metal cadmium.

In a statement, Wal-Mart said it would “remove all of the jewelry from sale” while it investigates.

The items are not known to be dangerous if they are simply worn. Concerns come when youngsters bite or suck on the jewelry, as many children are apt to do.

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Family Dollar Stores is recalling about 1.8 million toy dart gun sets sold at its U.S. stores from September 2005 through January 2009 after receiving reports of two asphyxiation deaths.

The discount chain announced the voluntary recall with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Monday, after the importer of the toy dart gun sets — Plainfield, New Jersey-based Henry Gordy International — refused to recall them.

The company said it had received reports that a 9-year-old boy in Chicago, Ill. and a 10-year-old boy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin died as a result of choking on the pliable plastic pieces.

MSNBC

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Genetic testing is making its way to the corner drugstore, and federal regulators aren’t too happy about it.

Walgreens will begin selling personal genetic testing kits starting Friday, becoming the first major retail chain in the U.S. to offer the home tests. CVS plans to have the same kits in its stores by August.

Both drugstore chains are buying the kits from Pathway Genomics, a 2-year-old San Diego start-up that offers genetic health and ancestry reports.

The over-the-counter tests, which have been available through a few Internet retailers, haven’t reached a mass audience until now. And their pending arrival has scientists and bio-ethicists concerned that consumers will misuse or misunderstand the results.

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