European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Consumer abuses 1987 by Michael Decourcy Hinds new York times manufacturer that advertised Ranqui Lizars Lor air Traljic controllers companies i hat sell three wheel molar bikes linked 1o injuries and deaths of children and a potentially deadly automobile defect these represent some at i he major consumer abuses of 19b7, according to a Survey of a dozen organizations hat specialize in consumer issues leaders of he Independent non profit organizations also cite intense promotion of Home equity Loans television programs that depend on expensive toys and marketing that misleads Consumers about the Heath fullness of prepared foods. Consumer organizations which have spent much of this decade battling the regulatory policies of i he Reagan administration now say they arc exploit log a backlash against deregulation. They assert that they Are having More Success in courts and in state agencies and Legislatures but that the administration end Federal agencies Are shit unresponsive to complaints. Here based on interviews with these leaders is a summary of some of the consumer controversies these leaders consider the most troublesome of the year. Automobile the automobile Industry s most disturbing problem is unexpected acceleration of cars according to Clarence n. Ditlow Iii director of the Center Tor Auto safely an Independent consumer group Ditlow said that the National Highway traffic safely administration lha Federal automotive safety Agency has tailed to respond adequately. Between 2,000 and 3,000 car owners complained about the defect to the Federal Agency this Yea More complaints than the total the Agency had received on thai subject since 1967. When the defect was first reported. Since 1967 there have been 2.043 injuries and 56 deaths associated with sudden acceleration according to the Federal Agency. The defect which involves almost All makes of cars. Causes them to accelerate without warning most often when the automatic transmission is shifted from Park to drive or reverse. Sophisticated electronic controls Are now believed to play a role in the problem. There Are few complaints about Saab. Mazda or Chrysler. Diane a. Steed administrator of the Federal Agency said it has conducted 50 investigations including six conent ones and that some led to recalls. The Agency recently asked a Federal research Laboratory to conduct an Independent study of the problem. Homo equity loan 1 advertising for Home equity Loans has been very very questionable this  said Linda f. Golodner executive director of the National Consumers league. In Independent organization founded in 1b99 lenders Nave been luring people to gel further in debt by telling them to use their Home equity to buy boats go on vacations and spend  Home equity credit a second mortgage with a revolving line of credit increased by a record to billion this year to about 180 billion after a slightly smaller increase in 1986. According to estimates by the Federal Reserve system. Such Loans became Papular after the 1966 Federal lax revision phased out deductions for he interest paid on non mortgage debts. It is promoted As Page 18 the stars and St pipes a Way for taxpayers to payoff credit card balances and other personal debt with a now loan on which Iho intercut payment  face Dau Utike however. Golodner said she is concerned that borrowers May exhaust their Home equity on Short term credit rather than preserving it for such traditional purposes As Home improvement and paying for education. The banking Industry has begun to police itself said Fritz Elmendorf a spokesman for the consumer Bankers association a Trade group. We have been trying to address some of these concerns and a Tot of our members Are now providing detailed Price information and use  television it is discriminatory for companies to put on to programs that demand the Purchase of an expensive toy to make the programs enjoyable said Peggy Charren discussing some children s programs introduced this year. Someday television will be very interactive but the sets will probably come Wilh gimmicks to make them work for  Charren is president of action or children s television which has Long opposed the commercialization of children s programs. Mattel inc. A Pioneer in developing toys that respond to inaudible signals on television programs contends that audiences can enjoy its weekend show Captain Power and the soldiers of the future without buying Captain Power Loys which can shoot invisible beams a i targets on Iho television screen and electronically Register when targets have been hit if you have the toy you have the capability said Spencer Boise a Mattel spokesman. If you Don t have the toy. You Don t know what you re missing he said tha Federal communications commission under court order As a result of a suit brought by Charren s organization is preparing guidelines for advertising on children s programs and Congress is considering legislation restricting programming that centers on particular manufacturers toys. Food the Public believes that aft vegetable oils Are lower in saturated fats than animal fats and the food Industry is exploiting that misunderstanding said Mitchell Zeller. Assistant director for Legal affairs at the Center for science in the Public interest a consumer group specializing in food and nutrition issues Many companies advertise and Label products As containing 100 percent vegetable shortening but use tropical oils Coconut. Palm and Palm Kernel oils that contain As much As twice the saturated fal Content of lard which is 41 percent saturated fat. Saturated lats elevate blood cholesterol Levels which increases the risk of coronary heart disease. The consumer group petitioned the Federal food and drug administration in 1996 to require better disclosure in advertising and Labelling but the Agency has not taken action this year the Center presented its Case to the new York state attorney general s office. Which subsequently negotiated agreements with two leading companies the Keetter co. And Sunshine biscuits inc the companies agreed to remove the statement "100 percent vegetable Oil from advertising and pack ago labels for crackers and other foods we did t agree that we were violating the Law  sunday december 20,1987 come Josephine on or