Behind The Scenes

You shouldn’t need to be a scientist to understand whether the food you and your family eat is safe. Yet CR continues to find concerning gaps in the way potentially harmful substances in our food supply are monitored and regulated.

With support from donors like you, CR conducts independent testing and investigations to uncover these risks and push for stronger protections. In a joint investigation with Yuka, a food and cosmetic scoring app, CR examined additives in popular snacks from brands like Hostess, Cheetos, and Jell-O. We found that some contained additives at levels that may pose long-term health risks. 

More than 44,000 people have already joined CR in calling on the FDA to limit harmful additives in our food. Take action here.

CR’s other recent food testing of 52 rice products found measurable levels of inorganic arsenic in every sample, showing that a problem we first documented more than a decade ago persists. At the same time, our results showed that lower arsenic levels are achievable, making the case for stronger standards to reduce exposure.

CR is continuing to press regulators and manufacturers to reduce consumers’ exposure to potentially harmful substances and make food safety a priority.

When two people request the same Uber or Lyft ride at nearly the same time, should they expect to see roughly the same price? Consumer Reports set out to find out.

Working with volunteer riders, CR investigated how the two major ride-hailing apps priced trips from the same starting point to the same destination at nearly the same time. We found striking differences: Prices for some routes differed by as much as 50 percent. We also found examples of supposed discounts that raised questions about whether riders were really getting the deals they were promised.

Support from donors like you helps CR uncover practices like these and push for greater transparency and accountability. CR called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Uber and Lyft’s pricing practices, and more than 32,000 people joined us in urging the agency to take action.

The investigation is also getting the attention of Congress. Lawmakers from both parties have pressed Uber and Lyft for answers about how they set fares and discounts, citing CR’s findings as they seek more information about the companies’ pricing practices.

This investigation is part of CR’s broader work to shine a light on opaque, algorithm-driven pricing. Across the country, our research and advocacy are helping policymakers examine how companies use data and artificial intelligence to determine what consumers pay.

Join CR in calling on the FTC and states attorneys general to take action.

This year is Consumer Reports’ 90th anniversary. As part of the celebration, we asked people in their 90s for their perspectives on all kinds of topics, from their favorite home gadget to what they think about AI. Our nonagenarian “grandfluencers” included Gladys, who at 97 still drives herself in her 20-year-old car to the center where we filmed her. 

And when we asked Barbara what’s one thing in her kitchen she refuses to replace, she didn’t hesitate: “An old fashioned can opener. Because you can forget the new ones.”

Their answers are funny, thoughtful, and sometimes surprising. They also offer a glimpse of just how dramatically everyday life has changed since CR was founded in 1936, from how much things cost to the cars we drive, the products in our homes, and technologies that would have been hard to imagine nine decades ago.

For 90 years, CR has changed along with the marketplace while staying focused on the people who use these products every day. And as Gladys and the others show, consumers have plenty of wisdom of their own to share.

Meet CR’s nonagenarian “grandfluencers” on Instagram.

Wet sawdust, flaming space heaters, and bicycle helmets dropped onto steel anvils are all part of a day’s work at Consumer Reports.

The public radio podcast Outside/In recently visited CR, taking listeners behind the scenes to see some of the surprising and rigorous ways our experts put products to the test.

The episode, titled The Willy Wonka Factory of Product Testing, offers a glimpse into the thinking behind CR’s testing: figuring out how to recreate real-world conditions in the lab and designing tests that reveal how products perform when people actually use them.

The methods can be unusual, but there’s a serious purpose behind them. Independent testing allows CR to see how products actually perform, identify potential safety problems, and give consumers information they can trust before spending their money.

Along the way, listeners meet some of the people behind the testing and get a sense of the ingenuity and occasional weirdness that goes into answering seemingly simple questions about the products we use every day. It’s a fun reminder of just how much work can go into a CR rating or recommendation.

Listen to the Outside/In episode and see photos from the labs.

Stephanie Thrasher is a dedicated longtime member of both the President’s Circle and the Legacy Society at Consumer Reports. For Stephanie, the secret to a happier home isn’t buying more—it’s buying smarter. Her philanthropic mission is deeply personal, rooted in a desire to help others choose durable products they will truly love.

"My main reason for supporting CR is to reduce waste," Thrasher shares. In a world of impulsive one-click shopping, she witnesses the emotional and physical toll of overconsumption. She points to the trap of flashy late-night ads that lead to piles of disappointing, unused products, and the burden her peers feel when houses become cluttered with a lifetime of unnecessary belongings.

Thrasher believes the solution is stopping the cycle of buyer’s remorse before it starts. By supporting CR’s rigorous, independent testing, she helps everyday people see past marketing hype to make informed decisions. This transparency reduces the waste that inevitably follows poor purchases.

Through her support, Stephanie Thrasher isn’t just funding a nonprofit; she is equipping consumers with the tools to find peace of mind through less clutter and less regret. Her legacy ensures we can all navigate the marketplace with confidence, choosing quality over quantity.

We’re grateful to Stephanie, and to supporters like you, for helping CR provide people the information they need to buy smarter and waste less.