The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues hundreds of recall notices for potentially unsafe food products each year, but consumer advocates say too few of them are reaching grocery customers.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported one in six Americans are sickened each year by foodborne illnesses.

It is up to the FDA and grocery stores to notify purchasers about recalls, but a new study found it is not working very well.

Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog for the Arizona Public Research Interest Group Education Fund, said the current system often leaves shoppers in the dark.

"Right now, it's a hodgepodge," Murray asserted. "Some of the blame is on the shoulders of the groceries, some of it is on the FDA, and frankly, some of it's on the part of consumers, who need to do more to make sure that they're informed."

Murry pointed out when recall notices do not get people's attention, there can be serious consequences. CDC data show each year, 128,000 Americans are hospitalized, and 3000 die, from foodborne illness.

While many merchants in Arizona and elsewhere say they post recall notices in their stores, Murray noted a growing number of supermarket chains are using "loyalty card" data to deliver notices directly to customers. She said until the system improves, shoppers need to be more proactive.

"If you have a grocery store or two that you frequent the most, then stop by the customer service counter and say, 'Hey, you know, I've been shopping here for years. I have my shopper's card, and what do you guys do to notify by shoppers when there's been a recall?' " Murray urged.

Murray added the report found current FDA requirements for disseminating recall notices are poorly enforced, and more retailers need to use their technology and customer data to deliver notices directly to consumers.

"About half of the stores that we surveyed do a really good job of contacting customers based on their transactions, based on products that they actually purchased," Murray emphasized.

Last year, Americans reported losing a record-breaking $5.8 billion to scams, and now, the State of California and AARP are teaming up to try to bring the number down.

A four-part web series on consumer fraud protection debuts today at noon and runs every Wednesday through the end of the month.

Sally Westlake, targeted outreach specialist for the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, pointed out so-called romance scams affect thousands of people.

"The most recent report by the FBI said last year, over 3,000 Californians fell victim to online romance scams, losing a total of nearly $184 million," Westlake reported. "The most vulnerable to fall victim to romance scams are people over the age of 60."

The first Scam Chat webinar will cover the most prevalent types of fraud in California right now. The other three in the series will cover home improvement and solar schemes, investment fraud, and financial empowerment.

Jackie Wiley, also a targeted outreach specialist for the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, said people should be suspicious when a person calls or emails, claiming to work with a financial institution, or a law enforcement or government agency.

"It could be a utility company, telling you that your bill is delinquent. It could be 'the IRS.' It could be someone saying you missed jury duty," Wiley outlined.

Wiley added it is always a big red flag if a caller or email asks for payment via cryptocurrency or gift card. You can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission or to the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation call center.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.

Maryland is joining a nationwide effort to crack down on illegal robocalls.

Along with attorneys general from every other state, Maryland's Brian Frosh is joining the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force. It will investigate and take legal action against the telecommunication companies turning a blind eye and profiting from illegal robocalls coming into the U.S.

Jen Holtz, associate state director for outreach for AARP Maryland, said it is a great step forward in its partnership with the Attorney General's office to prevent the financial exploitation of older adults.

"In working with Attorney General Frosh in some of these activities that we've sponsored with him, the issue of robocalls comes up multiple times, every single time," Holtz pointed out. "We know it's top of mind for the public."

Common scam calls are against older adults related to Social Security and Amazon scams against consumers. Americans lost nearly $30 billion through fraudulent calls in 2021, according to the National Consumer Law Center. And last month alone, roughly 71 million robocalls were placed in Maryland, which averages more than eight calls per person.

Holtz encouraged consumers to take precautions to avoid becoming the victim of a scam call by hanging up on illegal robocalls, verifying the caller if they claim to be from an agency or organization, and exploring free and low-cost call-blocking options. And she emphasized it is important to stay vigilant.

"They're criminals, they're not following the rules, they're not abiding by the law," Holtz stressed. "They don't care whether you're on that list. So if you're on those Do Not Call Lists, and you're getting that call anyway, it's probably not a legitimate call."

She added education is the best form of prevention, and AARP's fraudwatchnetwork.org provides up-to-date information on the latest tactics used by scammers and offers tips to avoid becoming the victim of fraud.

As New Hampshire faces another week of hot, humid temperatures, its residents also are bracing for a dramatic spike in energy bills.

As a result of the cost tripling for natural gas used to generate electricity, many customers will see their power bills double starting this month. Patrick McDermott, volunteer vice president of AARP New Hampshire's executive council, said it's going to make it harder on everyone's pocketbooks, especially those with fixed incomes or who are age 50 or older.

"Unfortunately, it piles on everything else that's going on, with inflation and costs that are going up for food," he said. "It's going to be very difficult for many people who are already having problems keeping up with their costs and buying the things that they need."

McDermott encouraged people to take advantage of the many rate and program options that can help them save, including budget billing and deferred payment plans through local utility companies. Applying for Critical Care or Chronic Condition Status can help customers with certain medical conditions keep their power on if they can't afford to pay. New Hampshire Energy Relief Programs also provide relief to qualifying ratepayers.

McDermott added that increasing energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption also can help households better manage rising costs.

"The cheapest kilowatt-hour is the one that isn't used," he said. "So turn lights off, turn off unnecessary appliances, take shorter showers, wash laundry in cold water - things that are pretty much common sense, but it's good to remind people."

Weatherization measures such as caulking doors and windows, installing weatherstripping, and getting checkups for cooling and heating systems can help control a home's inside temperature. The New Hampshire Weatherization Assistance Program can help low-income residents with some of those improvements.