News in July 2007
- 31 Jul 2007KFC slashes trans fats on UK menusKentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has slashed the amount of dangerous trans fats in its foods in the UK.
- 31 Jul 2007Daily drinking 'increases bowel cancer risk'Drinkers are being warned a large glass of wine or a pint of beer a day increases the risk of developing bowel cancer by around 10 per cent.
- 31 Jul 2007Cheaper life cover for vegetariansA new life insurance product was launched today offering lower premiums to vegetarians.
- 31 Jul 2007Barrister loses bank charges bidA barrister has lost his legal bid to gain compensation from a high street bank after it charged him around £2500 in bank fees.
- 31 Jul 2007Coffee plus exercise could have health benefitsCoffee and exercise may combine to guard against the dangerous effects of too much sun, new research suggests.
- 30 Jul 2007Sky and Sony to put TV on PSPSony PSP owners in the UK and Ireland will soon have the chance to watch Sky programmes on their consoles.
- 30 Jul 2007Insurers face £2.5bn flood repair billInsurers are expected to have to pay out up to £2.5 billion to cover the huge cost of the floods that have devastated parts of Britain.
- 30 Jul 2007Call for healthy meals during school holidaysPoorer children should be given free healthy meals during the summer holidays to cut rates of childhood obesity, a think-tank said today.
- 30 Jul 2007Holidays are the latest status symbolNearly a quarter of holidaymakers splash out on upgrades so they can brag to their friends, but many tourists still fib about their overseas trips, it was revealed today.
- 30 Jul 2007Cruise party in Legionnaires' scareA cruise liner on which it is feared a group of elderly holidaymakers could have contracted Legionnaires' disease is due to dock in Dover on its return to Britain.
- 28 Jul 2007BBC launches iPlayerThe BBC has launched its on-demand TV service – the iPlayer.
- 28 Jul 2007Bid to reunite people with forgotten savingsNational Savings and Investments today launched an advertising campaign in a bid to reunite people with £435 million of lost savings.
- 28 Jul 2007Sugar-free Coke set to outsell regular varietyCoca-Cola's sugar-free drinks are set to overtake regular Coke sales for the first time.
- 28 Jul 2007Worries over airport's £2 fast track chargeAn air passenger watchdog has expressed major concerns about an airport's new scheme to let travellers buy their way past security queues.
- 27 Jul 2007Traffic news comes to digital radioEnglish motorists with DAB digital radios in their cars can now catch up with the latest travel information 24 hours a day.
- 27 Jul 2007Setanta and Virgin unveil sports news channelSatellite broadcaster Setanta is to launch a sports news channel on Virgin Media’s digital TV platform.
- 27 Jul 2007Supermarkets charge into non food sectorBritain’s leading supermarkets are continuing to change the face of the high street by grabbing an even larger slice of the non food sector, a new report reveals.
- 27 Jul 2007Supermarket to sell wine in plastic bottlesWine will be sold in recyclable plastic bottles instead of glass as part of a supermarket trial.
- 27 Jul 2007Popularity of alternative medicines 'soaring'Herbal and homeopathic remedies are shrugging off their hippy image and hitting the mainstream, sales figures out today suggest.
- 27 Jul 2007Asda sells mobile for under £10Supermarket chain Asda has started selling a pay-as-you-go mobile phone for under £10.
- 27 Jul 2007Holiday hagglers save billions each yearBritons collectively save £3.5 billion a year by haggling while they are abroad, knocking an average of 23 per cent off the price of items they are buying, a survey showed.
- 27 Jul 2007Britain's roads more travelled than everThe distance travelled by vehicles on Britain's crowded roads exceeded the 500 billion kilometre (310 billion miles) mark for the first time last year.
- 27 Jul 2007Banks in current account charges test caseWhich? has welcomed news that Britain’s leading banks are being taken to court over unauthorised overdraft charges.
- 26 Jul 2007French vote Britons most adventurous eatersThe French have paid Britons the ultimate culinary compliment, it was revealed today.
- 26 Jul 2007Gadget gives you web access on the moveA new hand held gadget which allows you to surf the net wherever there is a mobile phone signal is set to hit stores next month.
- 26 Jul 2007Sony unveils new Walkman rangeSony has launched a new series of Walkman MP3 player which makes it easy for even the most committed technophobe to load and play their favourite tunes.
- 26 Jul 2007Gadget to cut standby energy wasteA device that stops energy being wasted by gadgets left on standby has been launched.
- 26 Jul 2007Diesel fumes link to heart diseaseDiesel fumes react with cholesterol to clog up arteries, new research suggests.
- 26 Jul 2007Brits splash out on domestic helpBritons spend on average nearly £2,000 per year outsourcing domestic chores, a survey out today says.
- 26 Jul 2007Toyota's plug-in hybrid ready for road testsToyota says it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle which is ready for public road tests in Japan.
- 25 Jul 2007Millions battling debit card PIN overloadMillions are suffering from PIN overload as they struggle to remember increasing numbers of the four-digit codes for credit or debit cards, a survey showed today.
- 25 Jul 2007Flight passenger complaints upComplaints by air passengers soared last year, with flight cancellations topping the dissatisfaction list.
- 25 Jul 2007Stop selling patio heaters, says green groupResponsible retailers should drop the sale of patio heaters to help protect the environment, a green group said today.
- 23 Jul 2007Virgin Media unveils sports packageVirgin Media has announced a deal with Setanta to give customers on its top subscription package six free sports channels.
- 21 Jul 2007Survey shows massive rise in pocket moneyChildren receive an average of just over £8 a week in pocket money, 600 per cent more than they got 20 years ago, research showed today.
- 21 Jul 2007Drink drive campaign targets young menA £3 million summer anti-drink drive campaign aimed specifically at young men has been launched by the government.
- 21 Jul 2007Cancer fears prompt meat dye banA red dye used in sausages and burgers is being banned because it could cause cancer, said the European Commission.
- 21 Jul 2007Cost of wedding gifts soarsBrits spend a total of £6.7 billion on wedding gifts each year, a survey revealed.
- 20 Jul 2007Sony unveils camcorder for YouTube generationSony is launching a pocket-sized camcorder designed for bloggers who upload video and images to the web.
- 20 Jul 2007New cars and hot deals, 20th July 07New X-Trail: the same, but different
- 19 Jul 2007Scots ‘most likely to have personal number plates’London languishes last in a list of places where personalised number plates are popular, it was revealed today.
- 19 Jul 2007Night-time A&E visits treble since 24 hour openingThe number of late night drinkers making emergency visits to hospital has trebled since the licensing laws were relaxed, a new study indicates.
- 19 Jul 2007EU backs single standard for mobile TVThe European Commission has backed a single standard for mobile TV in the EU in a bid to boost its usage across the continent.
- 19 Jul 2007BBC suspends phone-in competitionsThe BBC has suspended phone competitions across all its TV and radio stations after it uncovered more instances of staff ringing in and pretending to be viewers.
- 19 Jul 2007Women spend £7bn to look good on beachWomen plan to splash out £7 billion on pre-holiday makeovers to look glamorous on the beach this summer, it was revealed today.
- 19 Jul 2007Mobile number switching to be speeded upThe time it takes to transfer your mobile phone number to a different network looks set to be slashed under new proposals.
- 19 Jul 2007Phone for 'older generation' to go on saleAn easy to use mobile phone designed specifically for the older generation goes on sale in the UK this week.
- 18 Jul 2007Google makes cookie concessionInternet search giant Google has made a minor concession to privacy campaigners by announcing its cookies will auto delete after two years.
- 18 Jul 2007Importing food 'can be more energy efficient'Importing food from the other side of the world can sometimes be more energy-efficient than buying UK produce, according to an agriculture expert.
- 18 Jul 2007Manifesto to preserve nation's gardensTop wildlife and horticultural organisations are today signing a wildlife gardening manifesto to save the nation's gardens, particularly those in towns and cities.
- 18 Jul 2007Vitamin C 'no help in preventing colds'The idea that vitamin C supplements fight off colds is a myth, researchers have concluded.
- 18 Jul 2007Ryanair rapped over air passenger duty adsRyanair was today rapped for adverts which criticised Gordon Brown over air passenger duty.
- 18 Jul 2007Broadcasters attacked over premium rate servicesTelevision broadcasters were lambasted by the industry's watchdog today for a ‘systemic failure’ in the way they operate their premium rate phone services.
- 18 Jul 2007Air passengers warned over dangerous luggageHolidaymakers preparing to jet abroad this summer are being reminded not to carry everyday items which could be dangerous on board planes.
- 17 Jul 2007Die-hard drivers remain dependent on carsDie-hard drivers are just as dependent on their cars as they were in the early 1990s, an RAC Foundation report has found.
- 17 Jul 2007Takeaway meals packed with salt and fatA survey of restaurants, takeaways and pubs across the South East has found alarming amounts of salt and fat hidden in popular takeaway food.
- 17 Jul 2007Firm reports sharp rise in male cosmetic surgeryThe number of men over 50 having cosmetic surgery has risen more than 140 per cent in the last five years, according to one firm.
- 16 Jul 2007Cadbury fined £1m over salmonella outbreakChocolate-maker Cadbury was fined £1 million today following a national salmonella outbreak which left three victims in hospital.
- 16 Jul 2007Rugged microwave designed for outdoorsThe good old fashioned camp fire could become a thing of the past after an American company produced a portable microwave designed for rugged environments.
- 16 Jul 2007Site draws up rules for iPhone auctionsInternet auction giant eBay has introduced measures to regulate sales of Apple’s new iPhone on its site.
- 16 Jul 2007New cars and hot deals, 16th July 20071 Series Coupé starts around £21,000
- 16 Jul 2007British firms slow to answer customer emailsNearly 80 per cent of British consumers are unhappy about the time it takes businesses to respond to their customer service emails, a new poll has found.
- 16 Jul 2007BT unveils football download serviceBT has joined the battle for a share of the lucrative football market by announcing plans to show Premiership matches on its new TV download service.
- 16 Jul 2007Nokia adds Skype to N800Mobile phone giant Nokia has announced that customers with its N800 Internet Tablet will now be able to make calls using Skype.
- 16 Jul 2007Palm sized speakers pack a punch says SonySony is launching a micro home cinema system complete with speakers that fit comfortably in the palm of your hand.
- 13 Jul 2007Sorry the hardest word for driversFor most drivers, sorry seems to be the hardest word to say on the road, a report out today revealed.
- 13 Jul 2007Households to test 'smart' electricity metersThousands of households across the country are to test state of the art 'smart meters' as part of an initiative to cut household energy bills.
- 13 Jul 2007'Costly' UK holidays not helping environmentThe cost of holidaying in the UK is putting Britons off taking a 'greener' break here instead of flying abroad, it was revealed today.
- 13 Jul 2007Bread price hike on the cardsStaple foods are likely to get more expensive as firms have to pay more for basic ingredients such as corn and wheat, experts warned today.
- 13 Jul 2007Chemical warning over fake toothpasteToxic chemicals have been found in fake Sensodyne toothpaste sold at car boot sales and discount shops, the medicines watchdog has warned.
- 12 Jul 2007Parents splashing out on baby's nurseryParents are spending an average of more than £2,600 furnishing and decorating a nursery for a new baby, a survey showed today.
- 12 Jul 2007Wet weather boosts cold remedy salesCough and cold remedies are selling at more than treble last summer's rate thanks to the wet weather, according to Boots.
- 12 Jul 2007Insurers urged to cover music downloadsPeople who download music won't be covered by insurance if a computer virus destroys their entire collection, Computing Which? warns today.
- 12 Jul 2007Fat tax on unhealthy food could slash deaths
- 12 Jul 2007TV bosses slammed over quiz complaintsTelevision bosses have been warned following a 'worrying upsurge' in complaints about TV competitions and quiz shows.
- 12 Jul 2007Pint of milk a day 'helps keep disease at bay'Drinking a pint of milk a day or eating yoghurt helps ward off a condition linked to diabetes and heart disease, research showed today.
- 12 Jul 2007Microsoft crowned the UK's number one brandMicrosoft has beaten Coca-Cola to scoop the title of the UK's number one brand, according to a poll out today.
- 12 Jul 2007Sky reports broadband successThe number of people signing up for Skybroadband has grown by more than 50 per cent in the past three months.
- 11 Jul 2007New 8pm news bulletin on BBC1BBC1 today announced a new nightly news summary which will be broadcast between the Six and Ten 0'Clock News.
- 11 Jul 2007Sausage additive in cancer warningFood experts are warning that an additive used in some breakfast sausages and burger meat could cause cancer.
- 11 Jul 2007Virgin loses Cross Country rail franchiseA rail passenger group has welcomed news that Arriva has been awarded the ‘Cross Country’ rail franchise that covers almost the entire length of Britain.
- 11 Jul 2007Garden space is disappearing, warn campaignersMore than 200 acres of garden space will disappear in the time it takes for a parliamentary Bill aimed at halting the practice to return to the Commons, campaigners have warned.
- 11 Jul 2007Meat from cloned animals could be on US menusClone-burgers could be on the menu at American fast food restaurants within two or three years, it has been claimed.
- 11 Jul 2007Vodafone announces mobile banking serviceVodafone customers can have now access their bank accounts via their mobile phones.
- 11 Jul 2007EasyJet adds Birmingham airport flightsNo-frills airline easyJet is to start operations at a thirteenth UK airport later this year, it emerged today.
- 10 Jul 2007Sainsbury's is latest to ban chequesCheques edged closer to extinction as Sainsbury's geared up to ban them from its tills.
- 10 Jul 2007'Sunblock' claim dropped in new holiday adviceSun creams claiming to provide 'total protection' or 'sunblock' are making promises they cannot deliver, the European Commission has warned.
- 10 Jul 2007Blue Peter hit with fine over phone-in scandalMedia watchdog Ofcom has imposed an unprecedented £50,000 fine on the BBC over the Blue Peter phone-in during which a young studio guest posed as a competition winner.
- 10 Jul 2007New cars and hot deals, 10th July 07All-new Mazda 2
- 10 Jul 2007Barclaycard prepares to launch three in one cardBarclaycard has launched a website to allow people to pre-register for its new three-in-one payment card.
- 10 Jul 2007Store dedicates space to roboticsA UK computer chain is launching in-store areas dedicated to robots.
- 10 Jul 2007Bid to protect children on social networking sitesGuidance will soon be produced to help protect children using internet social networking websites.
- 09 Jul 2007Boeing unveils 'green' jet airlinerPlanemaker Boeing today unveiled its new 'green' 787 Dreamliner aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce engines.
- 09 Jul 2007New filter helmet means clean air for cyclistsIt may look like something out of Return Of The Jedi but this helmet could help cyclists breathe more easily, according to its designer.
- 09 Jul 2007Clothing catalogue sale of Botox sparks concernsPlastic surgeons expressed fears today over the 'frivolous' sale of Botox in a clothing catalogue.
- 09 Jul 2007Exercise bike for youngsters launchedA leading toy firm is launching its first exercise bike for children as young as three years old.
- 09 Jul 2007Tonnes of liquids seized at UK airports each dayAn estimated five tonnes of liquids from hair gel to toothpaste are being confiscated each day at the UK’s major airports.
- 07 Jul 2007Coca-Cola workers vote to strikeSupplies of Coca-Cola are under threat after workers voted for strike action at one of the world's largest bottling and distribution centres, says the UK's biggest union.
- 07 Jul 2007Record fine for TV quiz scandal firmThe company behind the Richard and Judy premium rate telephone quiz scandal has been hit with a record fine.
- 07 Jul 2007Holidaymakers carried away by debtBritons are racking up holiday debt, with one in 10 people taking another break before they have even paid for their previous one, a survey has revealed.
- 07 Jul 2007Homeowners 'willing to move every four years'More than a quarter of homeowners are willing to move house every four to seven years in a bid to climb further up the property ladder, a report today suggested.
- 07 Jul 2007Channel 4 group wins digital radio licenceA Channel 4-led consortium has the right to broadcast 10 new national digital radio stations.
- 07 Jul 2007Almost half unaware of car carbon ratingsNearly half of consumers are still unaware of the colour-coded label scheme indicating how 'green' cars are, research has revealed.
- 06 Jul 2007Size ten could disappear from the clothes railsWomen's clothes sizes seen in high-street shops today could be replaced with bust, waist, hip and height measurements under new European guidelines.
- 06 Jul 2007New car registrations risingVauxhall accelerated ahead of arch rival Ford to top the new car sales table last month.
- 06 Jul 2007UK among biggest spenders on clothesUK shoppers have the second highest annual spend on clothes in Europe at an average £556 each, a report out today says.
- 06 Jul 2007More drink drivers in summer than at ChristmasDrink driving may now be more common in the summer than at Christmas, say senior police officers.
- 06 Jul 2007Energy companies battling for businessConsumers switching energy supplier are making power companies compete more fiercely on price, according to the energy regulator.
- 06 Jul 2007O2 plays down iPhone rumoursMobile giant O2 has played down reports it is on the brink of winning exclusive rights to sell Apple’s iPhone in the UK.
- 06 Jul 2007Vauxhall under fire over 'roll-away' accidentsFurious motorists are demanding that Vauxhall takes action after a spate of incidents in which parked cars have simply rolled away.
- 06 Jul 2007Fairer terms for online IT shoppersAn online electronics store is to give consumers a fairer deal by making it easier for them to return goods and get refunds.
- 05 Jul 2007Asda unveils traffic light food labelsAsda is introducing new food nutrition labels which will combine the ‘traffic light’ and GDA (guideline daily amount) systems.
- 05 Jul 2007Pharmaceuticals pushing their drugs to GPsDrug companies continue to bombard GPs with promotional materials and inducements - despite a strengthened code of practice in the pharmaceutical industry, says Which? today.
- 05 Jul 2007Traffic light labels ideal for barbecue foodDifferent labelling makes it hard to compare fat, saturates and salt in barbecue favourites like sausages and burgers, Which? says today.
- 05 Jul 2007Nokia unveils Bluetooth speakerphonePhone giant Nokia is to launch a portable speakerphone to make garbled conversations on car journeys a thing of the past.
- 05 Jul 2007British dishes shunned by teenagersScores of traditional British dishes could die out because teenagers simply don't eat them, a survey found.
- 05 Jul 2007Boots recalls hot water bottlesHot water bottles are being recalled over fears they could split and scald people.
- 04 Jul 2007Drivers confused about what is legalMotorists are mystified over what constitutes legal and illegal behaviour behind the wheel.
- 04 Jul 2007Credit files check is £6 well spentOne in five Which? members who have checked their credit history unearthed mistakes, Which? Money reveals today.
- 04 Jul 2007Handy advice for first-time buyersA new edition of a Which? essential guide has plenty of advice for people trying to get on the first rung of the property ladder.
- 04 Jul 2007YouTube coming to LG mobilesLG Electronics has announced it’s joining forces with YouTube to bring the online video site to its mobile phones.
- 04 Jul 2007Shoppers' record spend on plasticUK shoppers put a record amount on plastic last year with £321 billion spent using debit and credit cards.
- 04 Jul 2007'Talking' toilet tells users when to flushA 'talking toilet' which tells users when to press the flush is to hit the UK.
- 04 Jul 2007Bottles of spring water recalledBottles of an English spring water are being recalled due to a contamination scare, according to the food watchdog.
- 04 Jul 2007Dark chocolate could help lower blood pressureEating a piece of dark chocolate a day could help lower blood pressure, new research has found.
- 03 Jul 2007Honda tops reliability surveyHonda has practically swept the board in this year’s Which? Car reliability survey, the biggest-ever owner satisfaction survey in the UK with almost 100,000 cars rated.
- 03 Jul 2007Which? reveals the cars to avoidWhich? Car today names ten Don’t Buy cars you'd be better off leaving on dealers’ forecourts and 20 Best Buys you can drive with confidence.
- 03 Jul 2007Sony calls for TV for the visually impairedSony is calling on the television industry to follow its lead by providing products and services for blind and partially sighted people.
- 03 Jul 2007TV channel criticised over violent footageTV channel Bravo has been warned after an early morning show featured footage of a man being violently attacked.
- 03 Jul 2007Britons spending more on fruit and vegetables
- 03 Jul 2007Tesco bags deal to sell TV inventionAn invention designed by one of the contenders of ITV series Tycoon will be on sale in supermarkets next month.
- 02 Jul 2007Airlines launch mobile phone check-inTwo of Europe’s largest airlines have launched a new mobile phone check-in service.
- 02 Jul 2007One in four tourists has no insuranceA quarter of holidaymakers travel with no insurance, with some simply forgetting to buy cover, a survey has found.
- 02 Jul 2007Supermarket launches low alcohol wineA supermarket is launching a range of lower alcohol wines in response to customer demand.
- 02 Jul 2007McDonald's lorries to run on chip fatMcDonald's is to run its fleet of lorries on converted chip fat after the fast food giant announced its latest green initiative today.
