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Costco Rotisserie Chicken Lawsuit Explained: Does It Really Contain Preservatives?

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Costco’s famous rotisserie chicken is inexpensive, convenient and consistently juicy. But in 2026, the popular $4.99 chicken became the subject of a proposed class-action lawsuit over one short advertising claim: “No Preservatives.” The U.S. product discussed in the lawsuit contains sodium phosphate and carrageenan . The plaintiffs argue that these ingredients perform preservative functions and that Costco’s former advertising could therefore have misled reasonable consumers. Costco disputes that interpretation. The company says the ingredients are used for moisture retention, texture and cooking consistency—not as preservatives. So, does Costco rotisserie chicken actually contain preservatives? The ingredients are not illegal, and the lawsuit does not establish that the chicken is unsafe. The unresolved question is whether Costco’s former “No Preservatives” advertising could have misled reasonable consumers. Has Costco settled the lawsuit? Key Facts at a Glance T...

Trump’s 50% Tariffs on Canadian Goods: Product List, Exemptions and USMCA Rules

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President Donald Trump has signed three Section 338 proclamations imposing an additional 50% tariff on selected imports from Canada. The measures are scheduled to take effect on August 19, 2026. Here is what is covered, what is excluded, how USMCA and CUSMA treatment works, and what importers should check now. Quick answer The new duty is an additional 50% tariff on selected Canadian products , not a blanket tariff on every Canadian import. The scheduled effective time is 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on August 19, 2026 . Covered goods are determined by the HTSUS classifications listed in the three proclamations . Qualifying under USMCA, known as CUSMA in Canada, does not automatically exempt a listed product from the new Section 338 tariff. In this guide What the United States announced How Section 338 works ...

Feeling Run Down? Maybe You Should Go to the Forest — But Here’s What the Science Really Says

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There is a claim that has been spreading online: “Spend three days in the forest, and your immune cell activity can jump by 50%. Even after returning to the city, the effect may last for a month.” It sounds almost too good to be true. A little dramatic? Yes. Completely fake? Not exactly. The real story is more interesting than the viral version. The claim comes from a series of Japanese studies on forest bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku. In these studies, researchers looked at how spending time in forest environments affected natural killer cells, or NK cells, which are part of the body’s immune defense system. The short version is this: Small human studies found that a three-day, two-night forest bathing trip increased NK cell activity by about 50% in healthy adults. Some immune-related effects were still observed 7 days later, and in one male study, certain effects were reported even 30 days after returning to the city. But that does not mean “your entire immune system becomes 50%...

Canada Mortgage Rates Fall Below 4%: Is Now the Best Time to Buy a Home in 2026?

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 After years of elevated borrowing costs, Canadian homebuyers are finally seeing some relief. Several lenders across Canada have recently lowered their fixed mortgage rates, with some three-year fixed products now dipping below the 4% threshold. While this may not signal a dramatic shift in the housing market, it is an important development for anyone planning to purchase a home or renew an existing mortgage in 2026. Why Are Mortgage Rates Falling? The main driver behind the recent decline is the bond market. As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East eased and oil prices retreated from recent highs, inflation concerns began to soften. Investors responded by increasing demand for government bonds, pushing bond yields lower. This matters because fixed mortgage rates in Canada are closely linked to government bond yields. When yields decline, lenders often gain room to reduce borrowing costs for consumers. While the relationship is not always immediate, recent market conditions have...

RRSP, CCB and GST/HST Credit: The Tax Strategy Many Canadians Misunderstand

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Every RRSP season, the same idea comes back: contribute more to your RRSP, lower your net income, get a bigger tax refund, and maybe receive more government benefits. The idea is not fake. But for higher-income families, the way it is often explained online can create the wrong expectation. At first glance, using a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to reduce your income for benefit calculations sounds like a clever Canadian tax hack. In some cases, it can work. But it is important to understand what the strategy actually does — and what it does not do. In Canada, many income-tested benefits are not based only on your gross salary. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) looks at your net income, and for family benefits, your Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) . A deductible RRSP contribution can reduce your net income on your tax return. Since AFNI generally starts with line 23600 from your tax return, plus your spouse’s or common-law partner’s net inc...