DNA ancestry tests, food waste and juice gets squeezed: CBC's Marketplace consumer cheat sheet
Miss something this week? Don't panic. CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need.
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Why do we waste so much food?
Buying more than we need and expiration dates are partly why more than half of all food produced in Canada is lost or wasted, according to a Toronto agency that works to reduce food waste. One industry expert says at least a third could be salvaged and one barrier is confusion about best before dates. Check out our 2016 investigation on supermarket food waste.
Juice squeezed out of the food guide
Orange juice is part of a balanced breakfast, right? Maybe not. A new version of Canada's Food Guide could soon drop juice. After decades of considering it a serving of fruit, Health Canada expressed concern about sugar content in juice, even from a natural source. We tapped into the debate a few years ago when we investigated "premium" orange juices.
Caught on camera: homebuyers
If you're looking for a new house, you might want to watch what you say at your next viewing. An Ontario real estate agent says two of her clients recently used cameras and microphones to eavesdrop on potential buyers. The wrong comment could end up being used against you, but a privacy lawyer says homeowners aren't required to warn about surveillance.
What else is going on
A game that simulated defusing a bomb was pulled after backlash. Cut the Wire involved a ticking toy bomb connected to numerous wires that needed to be disconnected before it pretend-exploded. After parents complained to retailers, the manufacturer said it would stop distributing the game in North America. Gymboree closing its stores, including 49 in Canada. The kids' clothing retailer had previously closed a third of its stores in 2017 when it first filed for bankruptcy protection. The company has suffered from reduced mall traffic and a shift to online shopping. Bad gas killed Calgary-area cars. The station's fuel tank was contaminated with saline and caused several vehicles to seize up and stop starting. Insurance companies are still investigating who's at fault.
The latest in recalls
This bread sold in Newfoundland and Labrador could contain glass. The company voluntarily recalled 30 types of bread after a light bulb broke in the production area, but no glass has been found in packages.
Plus: These HP computer batteries could overheat; these heating pads could also overheat; the hardware on these cribs could detach; the rattles on these socks could be a choking hazard; the steerer tube collar on these bikes could crack; these bicycle brakes could fail and the manual for these fitness trampolines gives incorrect folding instructions.
This week on Marketplace:
Charlsie Agro on our investigation into Ancestry DNA Testing Kits
What are you? Where are you from? It's a question I've been asked all my life. People stop me on the street, even our viewers have emailed asking, "What's your nationality? Are you from Zimbabwe?" This week, I get some answers... sort of.
Marketplace is putting five of the most popular ancestry DNA testing kits to the test. But there's a twist: My identical twin Carly (on the left) helps us investigate. We are supposed to have identical DNA, so we should have the same ethnic break down too, right?
DNA ancestry testing is big business, but how accurate are the results? Don't miss this week's show, especially if you bought one of those kits for a relative over the holidays. Charlsie
