Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from July 2002

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from July 2002

Can we afford private health insurance?(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... On page 10 you'll find our latest update on private health insurance so that you can make your own decisions about whether you want it and, if so, the most appropriate policy for you. But there are broader issues to consider. CHOICE is...

And the winner is ... (choice cuts).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The winner of the appliance reliability survey draw, which included everyone who returned their survey by the due date, is Maree Cisera of Williamstown in Victoria. Maree's prize is a Pioneer DVD player--congratulations. Many thanks to...

Can you help? Hair dyes and skin reactions. (choice cuts).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Have you had an allergic or other skin reaction to hair dyes, such as swelling, bleeding, peeling, reddening or blistering? We're taking part in an international consumer project investigating problems with hair dyes, and would like to hear...

Another reason why it's good to eat your greens! (choice cuts).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Findings from research on animals suggest folate (or folic acid) may protect us from Parkinson's disease, according to June's CHOICE Health Reader. In a study where mice were given folate-deficient diets, the animals developed severe...

Household products pose electrocution risk. (Safety Warning).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... You've probably got double adaptors and extension cords at home--get them out and check the brand and model details straightaway. Millions of Click brand double adaptors and an unknown number of Yun brand extension cords are unsafe and should...

Chocolate stamps. (World Consumer Snapshot).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Chocolate fans have another reason to envy the Swiss since their postal service released chocolate-scented stamps, called `Chocoswiss' stamps. They're copies of chocolate squares and, when rubbed, give off the scent of cocoa. Canadian...

Internet from your power point? (World Consumer Snapshot).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... You're probably familiar with ISDN and ADSL connection, and may also know you can get the internet through a satellite dish. Consumentengids from the Netherlands reported earlier this year on the newest, fastest alternative--through the power...

Robotic vac. (World Consumer Snapshot).(Electrolux vacuum cleaner)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Which? magazine from the UK recently previewed the Trilobite (left)--a cute, red, robotic vacuum cleaner named after an extinct invertebrate that sucked particles off ocean floors. It has three cleaning programs (normal, quick and spot),...

Creative packaging. (choice cuts).(Sara Lee Corp.)(apricot danishes)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Our article on food styling (CHOICE, Jan/Feb 2002) struck a chord with readers, inspiring two to send us a photograph of the SARA LEE Apricot Danishes they'd purchased, alongside the packaging. As Kerrie Damen from Werribee, Victoria, wrote:...

Fridges and safety switches. (choice cuts).(the pros and cons of using a residual current device)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The idea of a household `safety switch', or residual current device (RCD) as it's more correctly known, is that in the event of some sort of electrical fault to do with wiring or a faulty appliance, all power is cut in a split second (see Your...

Time for the washing.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2002... Once again your test results on washing machines give preference to machines whose cycles take one to two hours to do a load. Most people aren't interested in waiting that long to do a load of washing, no matter how water- or energy-efficient...

Petrol prices.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2002... Yet again fuel prices are rising. Rather than calling on the government for taxes to be scrapped, we should be pressuring them to put this extra money into research on alternative fuels, and perhaps subsidising current fuel-reduction...

Letter of the month.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2002... Your experiences help our research and often let other readers know about scams and rip-offs--see page 2 for how to contact us. To thank you for writing to us, Your Letters awards a prize of a CHOICE book to the `Letter of the month'. This...

Thumbs up.(good customer service)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... * From Roseline Goodman, in Bexley, NSW, thumbs-up to Kimberley Clark Australia, which promptly replaced 72 Snugglers nappies that were too small for her 5.5 kg baby and so leaked (though claimed to fit babies to 8 kg) with 70 larger ones. ...

Are you sick of eating out? The food industry is quick to point the finger at consumers' kitchens when it comes to food poisoning, but for some it may be a case of do as I say, not as I do ... (Health: food safety).
July 1, 2002... IN A NUTSHELL * One in 10 or one in 20 food businesses failing food hygiene and safe handling practices might not sound much, but it translates to thousands of places where you and your family eat. * New food safety regulations that...

Private hospital insurance: don't get shortchanged by private health insurance premium rises--use our latest Best Buys to find a policy that suits your needs and budget. (Update: health insurance).(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2002... IN A NUTSHELL * We surveyed 132 hospital policies with over 1400 different premium options to give you a choice of Best Buys. * For a hospital insurance database that will find policies to fit your individual preferences, go to...

Miracle weight loss? Fat chance! Several people have asked us about Celluslim and Slim-Gel weight loss products, available through mail order. The ads make them sound plausible, but what's the real story? (SCAM: slimming products).
July 1, 2002... CELLUSLIM is marketed as "the capsule that melts fat and cellulite fast"--without diet or exercise. And once you've lost all your fat, "you will always remain thin and cellulite-free", because "you can never eat more fat that you burn up" when...

Reader car reviews: are you shopping for a car and want some independent advice? Read what fellow subscribers have to say about six popular models. (Review: cars).
July 1, 2002... Earlier this we invited owners of a number of car models to give us the lowdown on their vehicles. A small panel of people (at least nine for each car) told us what they felt about six popular models: * Ford Falcon. * Holden Barina....

Cough medicines: relief or rip-off? While it's tempting to reach for the medicine when someone in your family has a cough, how much help are they really? (Review: cough medicines).(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2002... Every year Australians spend millions of dollars on cold and flu remedies. With over 100 different cold and flu products on pharmacy shelves, not to mention various herbal elixirs and potions, the choice can be bewildering. Most of them...

Hot chocolate: it's a bitterly cold night--what you need is a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Which one will best hit the spot (and not your hips)? (Taste test: hot chocolate).(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2002... Hot chocolate's the ultimate cold-weather comfort drink. Is there a miracle version out there that's not only the ultimate indulgence but also kind to your waistline? Well, not exactly--but you can come close. As you might guess, a hot...

Safety glass: all it's cracked up to be? Spontaneous shattering raises some concerns. (Safety: home glass).
July 1, 2002... Glass doors, large picture windows, low-level glass, and shower and bath screens are potentially deadly--as the parents of two young children from Perth and Sydney who bled to death after being cut by broken glass are only too aware. If safety...

Watch your mouth! A mouthguard can save you from dental injuries in a wide range of sports. But it needs to fit you well or it won't work. (Review: sports mouthguards).(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2002... Mouthguards matter. They're like seatbelts--they won't prevent all injuries, but serious, painful and expensive dental disasters are a whole lot less likely if you're wearing a well-fitting mouthguard. Studies have shown that young men (10...

Freezer goes hi-tech. (Word on the street: the buzz on what's new and happening in the marketplace).(LIEBHERR GSND3316 )(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
July 1, 2002... On test: The German-made LIEBHERR GSND3316 upright freezer. What's special about it? It uses hydrocarbon refrigerant (better for the environment), has a variable-speed compressor (different from normal freezers), superior energy efficiency,...

`Get in anywhere' cordless powered screwdriver/drill. (Word on the street: the buzz on what's new and happening in the marketplace).(the Power Grip from Metabo)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
July 1, 2002... Can't seem to get the power you need when driving screws into tight spaces? METABO has just released a heavy-duty cordless screwdriver/drill that fits in the palm of your hand. Not only is it more compact than a regular cordless drill, allowing...

No refund for fraud. (hip pocket).(case of credit card fraud)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Northern Territory subscriber Beth wants to share her cautionary tale with other Hip Pocket readers. Seth and husband Gordon, who are retired, spent a leisurely 15 months touring New Zealand. Their daughter regularly checked their home...

Who'll get your super? (hip pocket).(legal restrictions for inheritance of a superannuation)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Did you know you can't just leave your superannuation to whomever you want? Under super law, your nominated beneficiary must be a dependant. The Tax Office says that can be anyone who depends on you financially, including a spouse or de...

Hedge funds. (hip pocket).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Hedge funds don't use a medium to long-term investment strategy like other managed funds, but seek short-term gains. Until recently they were only offered to institutions and very wealthy investors. Now they've become available to...

Mobile phones. (Test: mobile phones).(Evaluation)
July 1, 2002... New digital mobile phones are becoming ever smaller and more sophisticated, with new technology and a range of features that allow you to use them for much more than just making and receiving phone calls. The question is: how useful are...

Is there really less pesticide residue in organic food? (food bites).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Yes, according to the our sister organisation, the Consumers Union in the US. It's just published the results of the first comprehensive study of pesticide residues, based on US data. While this may be a result many people would expect, until...

A low fat chip? Not exactly. (food bites).(Baked Lays)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... We wrote about the often potentially misleading nature of `% fat-free' claims in December's Food Bites, but now we've come across an ad for a new product, BAKED LAYS potato and rice chips, that not only makes a % fat-free claim to imply it's...

Coming to a straw near you ... (food bites).(Tetra Pak probiotic straws)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Probiotics are the `good' bacteria usually found in yoghurt that are beneficial to your digestive system--and they're big business. In the US, Tetra Pak has unveiled plans for a probiotic straw. The idea is that you'll swallow the bacteria from...

Consumer bookshelf.(How to Cook Practically Anything)(Changing Course: How Do I Retire?)
July 1, 2002... HOW TO COOK PRACTICALLY ANYTHING Sydney Pemberton With over twenty years of professional and practical cooking experience, Sydney Pemberton is the ideal person to turn a kitchen novice into a confident cook. Her new book, How To...

Too rich: what do you get for your money if you spend up big on a vacuum cleaner? (Test: vacuum cleaners).(Evaluation)
July 1, 2002... Don't expect four times the performance for four times the price--these expensive models only removed up to 10% more dirt than the best-performing cheap vacs we tested last year. For example, the best model for cleaning carpet in this test,...

Recalls & bans.
July 1, 2002... Nowadays there are so many product recall we may not be able to print all of them in CHOICE. For comprehensive recall information go to the Federal Treasury website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Safety Policy on...

Hard word.(truth in advertising)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Granny was an industrial chemist For a home-made recipe that's 100 years old, using only the "finest natural ingredients", this chocolate pudding seems to contain an awful lot of food additives. With the help of our trusty additive code...