A new investigation from Consumer Reports and the Yuka app found concerning levels of additives and contaminants in snacks. In this episode we unwrap why American standards differ from those in other countries, where the Food and Drug Administration is dropping the ball, and what you can actually do to demand better for your health.

Thanks for supporting Talking Carts. The show will be taking a hiatus for the summer and we'll keep you posted on our next moves. In the meantime, please continue following Consumer Reports on our social channels and at cr.org.

Did you know the estimated annual upkeep for a dog can hit $1,500, and for cats, it can climb up to $3,000? Luckily, it's possible to cut the cost of care without sacrificing comfort! We walk through what savvy pet owners should be adding to their carts on Amazon Prime Day and answer the most asked questions about pet insurance. Listen to unlock a happier, healthier, and more affordable life alongside your beloved furry friends!

Did you know that in 2025, the average cost of caring for a baby through just the first year of life—including essentials like diapers, clothing, and toys—surpassed $20,000? Before you begin to spend, let Consumer Reports' baby experts help you separate the best from the rest, ensuring you make smart, safe buying choices for your little one. We pull back the curtain on the rigorous process CR uses to determine its annual Top Baby Picks of 2026, covering the must-have items like strollers, car seats, and high chairs. Our experts answer the essential questions parents are asking: Which unnecessary products should we leave off of our baby registry to save space and money? What are the key safety and convenience differences between an infant, convertible, and all-in-one car seat? And, most importantly, tips on how you can save money on all your baby gear needs.

Smart home innovations are everywhere, but do they simplify life or just add complication? We speak with CR's Senior Home & Appliances Writer, Daniel Wroclawski, who lives with over 70 smart devices. We tackle essential consumer questions: Do appliances need to be smart? What happens when integrated systems fail?

Learn crucial tips on securing your smart home from hackers.

Essential tips on selecting the perfect destination and avoiding the most common, costly mistakes people make when booking flights and hotels—knowledge that could save you hundreds!

Monet Hambrick, of The Traveling Child, shares how to make family vacations that delight, even on a modest budget.

CR's Best Cruise Lines: https://www.consumerreports.org/money/cruises/best-cruise-lines-a1084300422/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

7 Common Luggage Problems: https://www.consumerreports.org/money/luggage/common-luggage-problems-and-how-to-fix-them-a9551904028/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Tanya's Hard-Shell Suitcase Reviews: https://www.consumerreports.org/money/luggage/best-hard-shell-carry-on-luggage-from-consumer-reports-tests-a2086664350/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Monet Hambrick's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingchild

00:00 Welcome to Talking Carts

01:32 How Booking Trips Has Changed

04:01 Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

07:00 Common Travel Mistakes

10:40 Dealing With School Schedules

13:06 Strategies for Trip Planning

15:05 Travel Splurges to Skip

17:57 What To Do Before Every Trip

21:55 Travel App Recommendations

23:34 Get the Right Luggage

27:29 Cruise Line Dos and Don'ts

30:12 What "Good Value" Means To You

31:55 Key Takeaways and Next Steps

Feeling the impact of inflation, shoppers are searching for true bargains. CR's "Price Tracker" charts the long-term price patterns of 16 specific, high-demand products. Learn to stop guessing and start shopping smarter by understanding when patience pays off and when waiting could actually backfire.

00:00:00 Dealing With Price Uncertainty

00:04:00 What Products Does CR Track?

00:05:48 Most and Least Stable Prices

00:08:04 Causes of Market Volatility

00:11:43 Are Consumers Overreacting?

00:14:06 How CR's Price Tracker Can Help You

00:16:08 Buying Refurbished and Secondhand

00:18:45 Mapping Out Your Purchases

00:21:13 Month-to-Month Price Trends

00:23:38 Add-to-Cart Pricing Deals

00:24:57 "Buy Now," "Wait" or "It Depends?"

00:29:28 Key Takeaways and Next Steps

Feeling the pinch from rising costs? Stop overspending on groceries! While some expenses are out of your hands, you do have control over your grocery budget—and it's time to take it back. In this episode of Talking Carts, we dive into the power of coupons. Hosts Tanya Christian and Brian Vines welcome Star Smith, the "Deal Diva" behind "Coupon with Star." Star shares her game-changing tips and techniques to completely transform your shopping habits. Learn to maximize every discount, minimize your spending, and keep more money in your pocket, no matter where you shop.

Find Star's tips and socials here: couponwithstar.com

How to save at the supermarket: https://www.consumerreports.org/money/grocery-stores-supermarkets/save-big-at-the-supermarket-a1165260654/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

CR's advice for saving big with digital coupons: https://www.consumerreports.org/money/coupons/how-to-save-big-with-digital-coupons-a1632035239/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Most and least expensive supermarkets: https://www.consumerreports.org/money/prices-price-comparison/most-and-least-expensive-supermarkets-a3157951568/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

#Couponing #SaveMoney #Couponing101 #GrocerySavings #BudgetHacks #ShoppingTips #Rebates #Discounts

00:00:00 The Joy of Couponing

00:02:52 Tanya's Coupon Success Story

00:04:15 Coupon With Star

00:04:51 QUIZ: History of Coupons

00:07:35 Star's First Couponing Win

00:10:10 How Couponing Has Changed

00:11:40 Couponing For Beginners

00:13:23 Get Over Couponing Guilt

00:14:54 Saving With Rebate Apps

00:16:23 Can Coupons Go Wrong?

00:19:13 Sticking to a Budget

00:20:27 Maximizing Deal Apps

00:22:26 Starting Your Stockpile

00:24:49 Best and Worst Stores

27:28 Key Takeaways and Tips

From razors to body wash, products marketed to women can be up to 48% more expensive than the "male" versions—even when they're virtually the same! The "Pink Tax" is the gender-based price discrimination that drains women's wallets every day. Author Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, who literally wrote the book on this: The Double Tax: How Women of Color Are Overcharged and Underpaid explains the unique and disproportionate financial burden placed on women of color.

Learn more about Anna's work: https://annagifty.com/

Read CR's piece on strategies to avoid the pink tax: https://www.consumerreports.org/money/what-is-the-pink-tax-a1270997218/

00:00:00 What is the "Pink Tax"?

00:01:56 Pink Tax Quiz

00:05:21 How Women of Color Are Overcharged and Underpaid

00:06:39 Effects on Society At Large

00:07:44 What the Data Shows

00:09:43 Costs for Parents

00:12:19 Impact on the Elderly

00:13:43 Price of Beauty

00:16:19 Childcare Expenses

00:19:13 How Communities are Affected

00:23:32 What You Can Change Now

00:26:24 Organizing for Economic Justice

00:28:38 Takeaways and Further Reading

One year after our groundbreaking investigation found toxic heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead, plus carcinogens, in synthetic braiding hair, we did follow-up testing. We put the new products—marketed as "safer alternatives"—to the test. The results are concerning.

See our new research here: https://www.consumerreports.org/health/wigs-hair-extensions/braiding-hair-heavy-metals-vocs-follow-up-test-a9549045438/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

And check out the 2025 study that started it all: https://www.consumerreports.org/health/wigs-hair-extensions/dangerous-chemicals-detected-in-braiding-hair-cr-tested-a4850978424/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

00:00:00 Welcome to Talking Carts

00:01:04 Braiding Hair Test Results

00:02:40 Braid or Build?

00:05:31 Why We Tested Braiding Hair

00:07:01 What Products We Tested

00:10:30 Lack of Regulation

00:11:42 How We Did Our Tests

00:12:50 Changing Hair Routines

00:15:45 Are Any Products Actually Safe?

00:18:48 Criticisms of Our Methodology

00:20:59 Human Hair Test Results

00:22:38 What Regulators Should Do Next

00:25:25 What You Can Do Right Now

00:29:31 Black Women Move This Industry

Make your next car purchase a triumph! Get the essential tactics on handling fees, negotiating a price, and making sure the floor mats are included.

We've got you covered from the moment you decide to start looking to the second you drive your new baby off the lot.

#CarBuyingTips #TopPicks #UsedCars #NewCars

See CR's 2026 Top Picks: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/best-cars-of-the-year-10-top-picks-of-2026-a1118808691/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Consumer Reports' Build and Buy Service: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-prices-build-buy-service/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

00:00:00 Intros

00:01:44 Tanya's Top 2 Car Buying Tips

00:04:02 Car Facts Quiz

00:06:20 Keith Barry Interview

00:07:35 How Car Buying Has Changed

00:09:50 What New Buyers Should Know

00:11:35 CR's Build and Buy Service

00:12:52 Add-Ons That Can Add Up

00:17:44 Negotiating With The Dealership

00:22:32 How CR Buys Cars to Review

00:27:07 New, Used, or Lease?

00:29:45 More Advice From CR