Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from October 2002

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from October 2002

Genetically modified foods for the world's poor?(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... For consumers in developed nations, the key issue in GM foods is labelling. In survey after survey, all over the world, consumers consistently say they want GM food labelled--whether that's because of environmental concerns, safety questions or...

Kava subject to voluntary recall. (choice cuts).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The Complementary Health Council of Australia has urged retailers to remove kava products from sale due to concerns about links with liver problems. This follows the recent death of a woman taking kava. Although it's been used safely as a...

Prepaid mobile phone plans: choice, August 2002. (Update).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... * Telstra prepaid changes Following the publication of our article, TELSTRA made several changes to its prepaid services. The TELSTRA Pre-Paid plan has been temporarily withdrawn from the market while the carrier sorts out some technical...

Health fund placed in administration. (choice cuts).(IOR Australia)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The Private Health Insurance Administration Council (PHIAC) has appointed an administrator for IOR Australia. However, the health fund's operations will carry on as normal and benefits will continue to be paid. The administrator is reviewing...

Looks like a sports drink, but ... (choice cuts).(safety labelling)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... That depends on your point of view. If you're an adult, or a child who can read, it's a mouthwash--it says so on the label. But to a toddler or child who can't read, it looks pretty much like a sports drink, bottled in the familiar pop-top...

Fight for your rights! (choice cuts).(consumers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... CHOICE'S Consumer Services department often deals with unfortunate cases of people being misled and sold dud products. One recent case demonstrated how important it is to know your consumer rights when buying, and to stand up for them. A...

Cheap scanners. (choice cuts).
October 1, 2002... Three out of 14 worth buying: not a good score. Computer CHOICE tested 12 scanners costing under $300 for its September 2002 issue, and has just updated the test with two HP models that weren't available for the original test. The...

Once-a-week workout keeps the elderly strong. (choice cuts).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... As we age our muscles tend to lose bulk and become thinner and weaker. This can develop into a vicious cycle--as they become weaker, we use them less, and they become weaker still. Reduced weight-bearing activity also affects our bones, making...

Scary fairy. (World Consumer Snapshot).(absinthe)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Austrian Konsuraent reported recently on a strange consequence of EU law--absinthe is back. The bitter, high-percentage spirit (60-70%) was popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and killed many--it was banned in Europe (except the UK)...

UK lives up to expensive reputation. (choice cuts).(Ikea price survey)
October 1, 2002... Consumer centres in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Finland and Sweden recently checked prices for 35 products at European Ikea stores and found wide price differences. A corner lounge suite in Austria, for...

Don't wash too much. (choice cuts).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Researchers from the University of Tubingen (Germany) recently discovered a natural antibiotic that protects our skin from fungus, diseases and germs: the peptide dermcidin, produced by the body's sweat glands. According to German Test...

Temporary spare. (your letters).(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2002... In your May article on tyres you mentioned that some car models have an emergency space-saver spare tyre instead of a full-size one. You failed to point out, however, that some car manufacturers use the euphemism `temporary spare' to hide the...

Thumbs up! (your letters).
October 1, 2002... * Daniel Gruber, of Caulfield South, Victoria, commends two companies for their superior customer service. In both cases he had lost his purchase receipt, but Hewlett Packard's repair centre nevertheless repaired his printer free of charge...

What else to look for in coolers. (your letters).
October 1, 2002... Your December 2001 report on coolers didn't touch on some important features for people who use one a lot. Living on the Gippsland Lakes I spend most of summer on the water or beach, so coolers are an essential daily tool. Here's what you...

Letter of the month. (your letters).
October 1, 2002... We want to hear from you--your experiences help our research and often let other readers know about scams and rip-offs. To thank you for writing to us. Your Letters awards a prize of a CHOICE book to the `Letter of the month'. This month's...

The number you have called is not reliable ... you can't trust the information provided by mobile phone customer service centres. (Mobile phone service).
October 1, 2002... IN A NUTSHELL * Mobile phone company customer service reps can't always answer even simple questions--our anonymous caller received incorrect answers to very basic questions one third of the time: not an acceptable standard. *...

Minced words: premium, lean, best, choice, gourmet--just some of the words used to describe mince. Do they mean anything? (Mince).
October 1, 2002... IN A NUTSHELL * The words used to label mince don't seem to mean anything consistent at all, though labels suggesting a lower fat content (`lean', `diet') were mostly on mince with less than 10% fat. * A higher price can be an...

Buckle up: how to find the right car insurance and save dollars. (Survey: car insurance).
October 1, 2002... IN A NUTSHELL * We surveyed 20 car insurance companies for their premiums and the cover level of their comprehensive policies, and asked CHOICE subscribers how satisfied they've been with them. * You can easily save hundreds of dollars...

Coming soon? Health warning labels for junk food. (Word on the street: the buzz on what's new and happening in the marketplace).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... They've been on cigarette packets for years, and even on alcohol packaging, urging temperance. Now some doctors and politicians are calling for health warnings on fast-food packaging. With about half the Australian population overweight or...

Ta ta, tinsel teeth. (Word on the street: the buzz on what's new and happening in the marketplace).(braces)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... When the likes of Tom Cruise get braces as an adult, you can be sure others will follow. The choice isn't only cosmetic--crowded and overlapping teeth can make it difficult to keep them clean. The good news is they've progressed a long way...

The key to inputting text. (word on the street: the buzz on what's new and happening in the marketplace).(personal digital assistant keyboards)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... In addition to organising your life, a pocket-size personal digital assistant (PDA) offers some computer functions, like word processing, without the size and weight of a laptop. This is great when you're on the move and want to update your...

The bread mix bake-off: our CHOICE Home Testers tried seven white bread mixes for taste, appearance and sliceability. (Bread mixes).
October 1, 2002... Bread mixes are a cheap and convenient way of making bread in your breadmaker--all you have to add is yeast (which is often included in the pack) and water. Many CHOICE readers have told us they tweak the recipes a little, mixing different...

What's new in contact lenses? Wearing your soft contact lenses overnight was a strict `no-no' just a few years ago. Now a new type of lens is changing the rules. (Contact lenses).
October 1, 2002... IN A NUTSHELL * Contact lens manufacturers, researchers and wearers are very enthusiastic about silicone hydrogel continuous-wear lenses, but some practitioners remain a little cautious. * The latest in Australian contact lens...

REV milk. (food bites).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... You may have seen ads on TV lately for REV milk. They show various people with an exaggerated lack of energy or `performance'--a woman washing up with an electric toothbrush, a teenager tidying his room with a garden blower. The punchline is...

Long-life meat. (food bites).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... You've heard of long-life milk, but how do you feel about long-life meat? A New Zealand company has devised a storage system that will keep meat fresh for up to two months if kept at 0[degrees]C. Currently, meat will only be at its best under...

Still no action on health claims. (food bites).(Brief Article)(Column)
October 1, 2002... While health claims seem to be under ongoing and lengthy review, they're still in fact banned on food products, though you might think otherwise given the number using what seem very like health claims in their promotions. It looks as if the...

Mixed bag: latest crash tests show there are still big differences in the protection provided by small cars. (Drivelines).
October 1, 2002... The latest round of high-speed crash tests released by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) looked at a number of small cars. The good news: at least a driver airbag is standard equipment on all the tested models. And two...

A PDA in the hand ...: is what? It's a personal digital assistant--gadget or godsend? (PDAs).(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2002... IN A NUTSHELL * PDAs are useful, but our trialists didn't think they were worth the money. * Trialists had no overall preference between operating systems. * Colour screens look good, but are hard on batteries. * The more you...

A glass and a half? Choosing a carton of milk sounds simple enough, but with the milk display cabinet taking up a wall of the supermarket these days, how do you know which type of milk is best for you? (Milk).(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2002... IN A NUTSHELL * What are all the different types of milk, how are they different and who should drink what? * How do alternatives to cow's milk--soy, rice, goat--compare nutritionally? It's a valuable contribution to our diet for...

Update Windows: give your computer a makeover. (Computing Choice).
October 1, 2002... If you have an internet connection, you can fix software problems in your version of Windows and update its features. Microsoft has web pages dedicated to updates for Windows. The updates are of two forms: * Critical updates to fix known...

Website for young people. (hip pocket).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The Commonwealth Bank recently launched www.dollarsandsense.com.au, a website targeted at young people with information on a variety of money issues, including earning, saving and spending. The family is the most popular source of...

New online savings account. (hip pocket).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... COMMUNITY FIRST Credit Union has released an online banking service website at www.easystreet.com.au, including a fee-free online savings account. A minimum deposit of $1000 is needed to open it, and you can withdraw money at any time with...

Super legacy. (hip pocket).(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2002... Our July 2002 Hip Pocket item about superannuation beneficiaries resulted in several inquiries from readers. Kathleen Johnson of Melbourne (right) writes: "You mention that the beneficiary of your super must be a financial dependant....

A cut above? hacked off with gnawing at that hedge with hand clippers? Our test sorts out several electric hedge trimmers to do the job well for you. (Hedge trimmers).
October 1, 2002... IN A NUTSHELL * Motor power alone is no indicator of cutting ability: the highest-wattage model in the test scored equal lowest. * We found some excellent safety features, but not all on same model. Electric trimmers can be really...

Combo blenders/food processors: a food preparation dream or a storage and washing-up nightmare? (Combo food processors).
October 1, 2002... IN A NUTSHELL * On test: 10 blender and food processor combination units. * The range of what they can do is impressive, and one of them could be the single, do-it-all gadget you're looking for. * But: the trade-off for a large...

Recalls & bans.
October 1, 2002... Nowadays there are so many product recalls 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 Unit...

What's new at www.choice.com.au.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Need a new mobile phone? To help you choose the phone that's right for you, check out the newly updated mobile phone database, with 15 new models. Go to www.choice.com.au/communications and scroll down to mobile phones. Manufacturer...

Hard word.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2002... Better yet, keep them in the safe We all know how important it can be to keep instructions for future reference--especially if they're for a VCR, sewing machine, electronic toy or something like that. But reader Helen Deacon was amused...