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When CR first crash-tested car seats, 12 out of 15 were rated Not Acceptable. After CR published its findings, the government required manufacturers to certify that their seats would pass a similar test.

In a study of U.S. Department of Agriculture data, CR found pesticide levels in some fruits and vegetables were too high. Shortly after, one of the pesticides was banned for use on food crops commonly consumed by children.

CR was one of the first groups to test food packaging for BPA. After working to pass bans in several states, the FDA finally announced a federal ban on BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups (2012) and infant formula packaging (2013).

After years of CR’s advocating for standards to address the problem of blind zones behind cars and trucks, the Department of Transportation finally required backup cameras in all vehicles less than 10,000 pounds by 2018. 

CR’s evaluation of smart TVs using our Digital Standard found that millions of TVs can be controlled by hackers exploiting easy-to-find security flaws.

In the wake of repeated E.coli outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce, CR came out ahead of public officials in recommending people avoid all romaine lettuce. CR’s position compelled regulators, including the CDC, to issue strong warnings to consumers.

In response to CR’s removal of the Tesla Model 3’s recommended status due to braking distance, Tesla issued an OTA update—the first time a software update was used to change a car’s physical performance. The car earned back its recommended status.

The California Consumer Privacy Act provided key individual privacy rights, such as the right to stop the sale of personal info. CR fought efforts to weaken the legislation, mobilizing CR members to call on legislators to enact privacy protections.

CR launched the Digital Lab–a bold initiative to advance and protect consumer rights in the digital era by focusing on testing connected products and platforms for hackability, digital privacy, and how responsibly our data is handled.

CR spent years working with consumers and Congress to curb the pestilence of automated phone calls, many of which are initiated by fraudsters. The bipartisan TRACED Act was signed into law in December 2019, ushering in powerful consumer protections.

CR testified before Congress about cable TV fees, following years of advocacy and research. Thousands of CR members contacted lawmakers, and Congress passed a law requiring providers to disclose the total price of service before a consumer signs up.

CR’s investigation into the safety of inclined infant sleepers linked to dozens of deaths led to the recall of over 5 million sleepers. Following CR’s outreach, several retailers and online marketplaces said they would stop selling the sleepers.

Keurig Dr Pepper withdrew Peñafiel Mineral Spring Water, imported from Mexico, from U.S. stores after CR found it contained nearly double the federal limits for arsenic. The FDA flagged the water for arsenic as early as 2013 but issued no recall.