Productopia | Buyer Beware

We don't think of our furniture as a health hazard, save for maybe the sharp corners of a kitchen table. But several studies have shown that the materials used to make furniture -- from the formaldehyde used in wood adhesives, to the chemicals used in upholstery --  can cause long-term health issues, including respiratory problems, developmental delays, and fertility issues. 

The latest such study, by researchers at Duke University and the University of California at Berkeley, found many sofas contain a toxic flame retardant linked to cancer, hormone disruption and neurological problems. Overall, 85 percent of the 102 polyurethane-foam sofas tested were treated with flame retardants known to be toxic or that lack information about their health effects. Forty-one percent contained cancer-causing chlorinated Tris (TDCPP), a flame retardant banned for use in children's clothing in 1977. Seventeen percent contained the chemical pentaBDE, which has been banned worldwide since 2004.  Researchers even found toxic flame retardants in sofas labeled as eco-friendly. Read more

If Facedeals has its way, Cheers won't be the only establishment where everyone knows your name. But rather than relying on smiling bartenders to deliver a personal touch, the Facedeals app leverages specially designed cameras working in conjunction with facial recognition tools to automatically identify you as you walk in the door -- regardless of whether or not you've ever set foot in the place before.

In a creepy-slash-ingenious move, the app taps into your Facebook profile, using your tagged pictures to map your face for its face-recognizing cameras and tapping into your Like history to offer specialized deals.

So what's the deal with Facedeals? Is Big Brother watching you or is this just the cloud-connected future of marketing? That depends on who you ask. Read more

Countless consumers have been duped by fake gift cards and coupons; finding themselves victims of credit card fraud and identity theft. In one of the biggest internet hoaxes to date, some 37,000 unsuspecting Facebook users tried to score $1,000 IKEA gift cards through a bogus fan page. In order to claim the gift card, they were asked to provide personal information such as their name, address, date of birth and phone number. Some users were redirected to a page that asked them to supply credit card info as well.

And more recently, police raided a home in Arizona and thwarted a multi-million counterfeit coupon operation. They found an estimated $25 to $30 million dollars in fake coupons, many of which were sold online.

Frito-Lay took a hit when a phony coupon offering a free $5 bag of Doritos began circulating. The fake was accepted at some grocery stores before Frito-Lay caught on.

Before you provide any personal information online or grant access to your hard-earned cash, read these tips on how to spot fake coupons and gift cards: Read more

What makes our lives easier and better might just make the furry members of our family sick, or maybe even kill them. The ASPCA recently came out with its Top Ten Pet Toxins of 2011, an annual list compiled by fielded calls into the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL. Read more