In a major win for public health, the Food and Drug Administration banned Red Dye No. 3 in food, drinks, and ingested medications. This synthetic dye has long been linked to cancer, as well as hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral issues in children. It’s commonly found in products marketed to kids, including candy, snacks, and cereals.

Consumer Reports pushed for this ban for years, testifying before government officials, mobilizing public support, and delivering a petition to the FDA signed by 80,000 consumers. CR co-sponsored a 2023 California law banning the dye in foods sold and manufactured in the state, which helped generate momentum for this historic national action in 2025.

This is just one example of how CR’s investigations and advocacy are driving change to help ensure the food we serve our children is safe. Others include:

• Kraft Heinz removed its Lunchables meal kits from the National School Lunch Program after CR’s tests found concerning levels of sodium, lead, and cadmium in Lunchables and similar kits. CR organized people across the country to tell the federal government to pull Lunchables from the program, and we generated widespread media coverage to ratchet up the pressure on the company to act.
• CR co-sponsored a new California law banning six synthetic dyes from school meals due to their links to learning and behavior problems.
• When CR found potentially dangerous levels of arsenic and lead in infant formula, the FDA launched a new safety initiative, just one day after receiving our findings.

Learn more about our Toxic-Free Kids’ Food Campaign.

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise, but also real risks for consumers. In a CR investigation of six widely used AI voice-cloning tools, four failed to include meaningful safeguards, making it easy to clone someone’s voice without their consent. This can create a clear path for impersonation scams, including fake emergency calls that mimic loved ones and demand money. Our findings underscore the urgent need for stronger protections and tougher enforcement of existing rules to prevent AI misuse.

When Congress proposed a 10-year ban on state AI laws, CR testified at a Senate hearing, warning that such a move would leave consumers vulnerable. We noted how states have led the way in addressing AI harms, while federal action has lagged. CR members sent over 80,000 emails to their senators opposing a ban. The Senate overwhelmingly rejected the proposal in a 99-to-1 vote—a victory for consumer protections.

CR is also working in several states on legislation to address the use of AI for big decisions that impact your daily life. Companies increasingly use hidden algorithms to determine who gets hired, who gets approved for a loan, or who receives medical care. These algorithms may reject qualified people because of incorrect or biased information. CR is advocating for reforms and transparency.

When Consumer Reports tested synthetic braiding hair, every sample had toxic chemicals linked to cancer. Some contained lead, chloroform, or benzene. These products are marketed to Black women and girls, who may wear them for several weeks at a time, lengthening their exposure to these substances.

No federal agency has jurisdiction over synthetic braiding hair products to ensure they are safe. CR helped craft legislation introduced in Congress to direct the FDA to regulate them. And we are working with a coalition of groups to advance a bill in New York state that aims to ban the sale of cosmetics and personal care products, including synthetic braiding hair, that contain dangerous substances like heavy metals, PFAS, and phthalates.

Consumer Reports conducted two major investigations into the grocery giant Kroger as we kicked off our Make the Price Right campaign. The first investigation found that many Kroger stores were overcharging customers by leaving expired sale tags on the shelves. Shoppers thought they were getting deals, but at checkout, the average overcharge was $1.70 per item, or 18.4 percent. One day after we published our findings, Kroger announced it would be hiring an additional 15,000 employees across the country to "enhance the customer experience." Then, in a separate investigation, CR was able to uncover—thanks to an Oregon privacy law that CR helped establish—that Kroger was building detailed loyalty profiles on its customers, tracking their behavior and using that data, which was often incorrect, to personalize pricing and promotions, all without clear disclosure.

For many years, Consumer Reports has exposed the unfair hidden fees that inflate prices for consumers and make it difficult to comparison shop. We gathered thousands of stories from people who’d been stung by junk fees and shared them with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). We also shared our nationally representative consumer surveys, which showed that large majorities of Americans were fed up with these fees and wanted action.

A new FTC rule backed by CR aims to eliminate hidden and deceptive fees in live event tickets and short-term lodging by requiring businesses to disclose the total price up front. This includes all mandatory fees, eliminating "drip pricing" where consumers are lured in with a low advertised price and then hit with additional charges at checkout. The FTC estimates the rule will save consumers 53 million hours of time each year in searching for tickets and lodging.