Behind the Scenes

CR recently found that unsafe products are still being sold through major online marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart.com, and Temu, especially when items are offered by third-party sellers. Unlike traditional retailers, these platforms often avoid responsibility for product safety, even when hazardous items are identified.

Our investigation highlighted the risks this creates for consumers, from faulty electronics to potentially dangerous household products. Without clear accountability, unsafe items can remain available even after problems are discovered. CR has called on policymakers to close this gap and hold online marketplaces responsible for the safety of the products they sell.

CR’s push to make online sales safer is prompting action. After we raised concerns about a carbon monoxide detector labeled “Amazon’s Choice,” the company removed the product from its site. Actions like this show how increased scrutiny can lead platforms and manufacturers to respond more quickly and take safety issues seriously.

Together, these findings show both the scale of the problem and the progress that’s possible when companies are held accountable.

Consumer Reports testing is raising new questions about the safety of everyday beauty products. In recent evaluations of popular boxed hair dyes, CR identified heavy metals, phthalates, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and other health risks.

Our testing of synthetic braiding hair revealed similar issues. Nearly all products tested contained heavy metals or VOCs, including lead in most samples. Because braiding hair is often worn for weeks at a time, this type of exposure can be prolonged and difficult to avoid.

These findings are especially concerning because beauty products are often used frequently and for extended periods, increasing the potential for repeated exposure. Yet many of these products lack clear ingredient disclosure or meaningful safety standards, leaving people with limited information about what they are using and how it may affect their health over time.

Because of CR’s investigation, companies are reviewing how their products are made and tested, and CR is working with several brands to advance stronger safety practices and clearer information for consumers.

CR has a track record of turning investigations into real change, including successfully pressuring the FDA to ban lead acetate from hair dyes in 2018. Now, CR is calling on L’Oréal Paris to remove toxic chemicals from its products and urging the New York Assembly to pass the Beauty Justice Act.

This work highlights a growing reality: everyday beauty products can carry hidden risks, and better information is essential for making safer choices.

For the third year in a row, Consumer Reports was named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. The recognition highlights CR’s Homeowners Insurance Bill of Rights and its campaign for accountability in a volatile insurance market. 

The Bill of Rights outlines nine fundamental protections that CR says all policyholders should be guaranteed, regardless of where they live. The effort comes as extreme weather intensifies across the country and insurers raise premiums, deny claims, and pull back from high-risk areas, leaving millions of Americans without reliable coverage.

From investigating hidden pricing practices to advancing new tools and protections, CR continues to find new ways to serve consumers in a changing marketplace. This honor reflects not just innovation, but impact—and the role supporters like you play in making that work possible.

CR’s 90th anniversary was recently celebrated through two exhibits at Duke University and a digital experience that brings the organization’s history to life. One exhibit, titled This Sneeze Was for Science, features striking images from CR’s archives, including photos of products being tested. The name is a nod to the rigorous and sometimes surprising methods behind CR’s work.

From early work on product safety to today’s efforts to address data privacy and fairness, the exhibits highlight how CR has helped shape a safer and more transparent marketplace over nearly a century. Your support helps carry this work forward.

See the virtual exhibit tour here.

CR’s Talking Cars podcast recently reached its 500th episode, offering trusted advice and insights on vehicle safety, performance, and buying decisions.

Over the years, the podcast has helped millions of listeners better understand the cars they drive and the choices they make. It’s one more way CR connects with consumers and helps them navigate complex decisions with confidence.

Watch the episode here.

Want to deepen your impact? Join the Friends for Safety movement by starting your own fundraiser. It’s a bold new way to support independent research and fight for stronger protections. Invite your friends today and help CR protect consumers. 

1. Get started in a few easy steps: 
2. Go to give.cr.org/Friends-For-Safety 
3. Create your team or individual fundraising page
4. Customize it your way
5. Share it with your friends and family