Behind the Scenes

Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to copy and manipulate human voices. With only a few seconds of audio, scammers can use voice-cloning apps to impersonate people in phone calls, voicemails, and even social media messages. A new CR investigation shows just how accessible and dangerous this technology has become.

CR found that free or low-cost voice-cloning tools are already being used in fraud schemes that target families, financial institutions, and businesses. The results can be emotionally devastating and financially damaging. There were more than 850,000 reports of “imposter scams” from U.S. consumers in 2023, resulting in nearly $2.7 billion in lost money, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Despite the growing threat, there are currently no federal rules specifically addressing AI voice impersonation. To address this gap, CR  is calling on the FTC to regulate voice-cloning tools, require safeguards, and ensure consumers are protected from this new kind of identity theft.

Read the full report and call on the FTC to protect people from AI voice scams.

CR tested 41 types of powdered formula for a number of toxic chemicals, including arsenic, lead, BPA, acrylamide, and PFAS. Even low levels of exposure to these substances over time can impact brain development and long-term health. We looked at established formulas like Enfamil and Similac, newer startups like Bobbie, popular store brands, and imported brands.

Some of the results were concerning: about half of the samples we tested contained potentially harmful levels of at least one contaminant. But it was also reassuring to see that the other half of the samples showed low or no levels of concerning chemicals, showing that there are many good options on the market. 

On March 18, just one day after CR shared our test results with the Food and Drug Administration, the agency announced a new initiative to strengthen its oversight of the formula industry, including increased testing for heavy metals and other contaminants. 

CR experts spoke about the findings to national media, including CBS Mornings.

Until stronger safeguards are fully in place, CR is providing parents with practical tips to help reduce exposure, including choosing formulas with lower risk profiles.

This work builds on CR’s long-standing efforts to strengthen food safety standards. With your continued support, CR will keep pushing for a marketplace that puts the health and safety of families first.

Learn which formulas did better or worse, and get expert advice.

Synthetic braiding hair is widely used by Black women and girls, but many of the products contain little to no ingredient disclosure. CR tested 10 popular synthetic braiding hair products for heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) after hearing concerns from Black women about potential health risks. Our tests revealed all had cancer-causing chemicals, including one known carcinogen that’s strictly limited in lab use.

Our investigation sparked national conversation around dinner tables, on social media, and in the media, including Essence, AP, and BBC News.

Despite the widespread use of synthetic braiding hair, there’s very little oversight of this product. CR is calling on regulators to close this gap and ensure that manufacturers are held to higher safety standards.

Next we are planning to test products that label themselves as nontoxic so that people have more choices. Everyone deserves to feel confident in their personal care choices, and that starts with knowing exactly what’s in the products we use.

Read the full findings and urge the FDA to limit dangerous chemicals in these products.

Lowell Parker, Ph.D., has spent his life in pursuit of one thing: clarity. Whether guiding students through complex equations or researching laser spectroscopy, Parker has always been driven by the power of information—and the belief that the public deserves access to it.

Now retired from teaching college chemistry, Parker’s passion for public awareness hasn’t wavered. These days, he’s sounding the alarm about something most people are unaware of: the consumption of purified inulin as a dietary fiber food additive and supplement. “People are randomly consuming purified inulin—often without understanding its effects,” he says. “It’s available in major stores like Costco, marketed as a prebiotic fiber, but the average consumer isn’t being told enough about how it works or its potential risks.”

For Parker, this isn’t just another health concern—it’s a reflection of why Consumer Reports matters. “CR is the most honest and transparent organization I know,” he says. “Because I relate strongly to their mission of health and safety in the marketplace, it seemed like a good fit.”

That trust led him to make Consumer Reports part of his legacy. “I was in my 50s when I began putting together my first will,” Parker shares. “I never had children of my own, so I knew I had to leave my estate to an organization where it would do the most good.”

As a professor, scientist, and consumer advocate, Parker wants others considering a charitable legacy to ask the hard questions: “If you have complete trust, and you believe in their mission, then you have chosen the right organization.”

Through his planned gift, Parker is helping ensure that CR can continue educating the public—on everything from hidden risks in everyday products to holding powerful industries accountable. His message is clear: science, safety, and transparency matter. And the public deserves nothing less.

If you have questions, need a free will or would like to to learn more about how to include Consumer Reports in your estate plans, please contact Talib Nichiren at [email protected].