A recall has been issued for over 260,000 cases of shredded cheese sold across 31 states and Puerto Rico due to potential metal fragment contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Great Lakes Cheese Co. initiated the recall, impacting various store-brand labels at retailers like Target, Walmart, and Aldi. Affected cheeses include mozzarella, Italian style, pizza style, and blends. The FDA classifies this as a Class II recall, indicating a potential for temporary or reversible health issues, such as dental damage or lacerations, if ingested.
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Heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, just weeks after a farewell concert with Black Sabbath. The musician, known as the “Godfather of Heavy Metal,” pioneered the genre with Black Sabbath, achieving global success and selling over 75 million albums. Osbourne also gained fame through the reality show “The Osbournes” and was celebrated for his iconic hits, stage presence, and a career that earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Osbourne, who battled Parkinson’s disease and other health issues, leaves behind his wife, Sharon, and several children.
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Following user reports of increased violent and graphic content appearing in their Instagram Reels feeds, Meta acknowledged a system error responsible for the inappropriate recommendations. The company issued an apology, stating the error has been rectified. Users reported seeing this content despite having sensitive content controls enabled to the highest setting. Meta employs a large team and AI technology to moderate content, aiming to prevent such issues, but this instance highlights a lapse in their system.
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New research from Eko reveals that Meta and X approved numerous ads containing violent anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish hate speech before Germany’s federal election. X approved all ten test ads submitted, while Meta approved half, despite policies against such content. These ads, including AI-generated imagery, used slurs, called for violence against minorities, and spread disinformation. Eko shared these findings with the European Commission, highlighting failures in both platforms’ content moderation systems and raising concerns about compliance with the Digital Services Act.
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MadeGood voluntarily recalled over two million granola bars in December due to potential metal contamination, a Class II recall as classified by the FDA on February 11th. The recall encompasses various flavors sold at major retailers including Target and Amazon. Consumers are advised to return affected bars for a full refund; retailers will then dispose of the product. MadeGood corrected the manufacturing issue and implemented preventative measures, although no injuries have been reported.
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Following a company-wide meeting where CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussed controversial topics including the termination of DEI programs and altered hate speech policies, a memo threatening termination for leaking internal communications was issued. This memo itself was promptly leaked, highlighting the ongoing challenge of maintaining confidentiality within Meta. Zuckerberg attributed the increased secrecy to previous leaks of sensitive information shared during internal meetings. The shift towards less transparency followed a change in the Q&A format, eliminating public voting and comments.
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Meta addressed user complaints regarding the automatic following of Donald Trump’s official presidential accounts on Facebook and Instagram. The company acknowledged technical difficulties preventing some users from unfollowing the accounts, emphasizing that users were not initially forced to follow them. These issues stemmed from the accounts’ transition under a new administration, a process Meta stated was consistent with previous transitions. Meta assured users that the problem was being addressed and would be resolved.
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Instagram is experiencing a technical glitch affecting search results for “Democrats,” displaying a “results hidden” message, while searches for “Republicans” yield significantly more results. This has led to accusations of political bias, although a social media expert suggests it’s likely a technical issue. Meta acknowledges the problem, affecting hashtags across the political spectrum, and states they are working to fix it promptly. The error, however, risks fueling conspiracy theories and harming Meta’s reputation.
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Mark Zuckerberg’s recent embrace of MAGA rhetoric and image coincides with Meta’s decision to drastically loosen content moderation policies, prioritizing the spread of disinformation. This shift, coupled with Zuckerberg’s public statements praising “masculine energy” and criticizing corporate inclusivity, is viewed as an attack on workplace diversity and employee well-being. This aligns with a broader trend among tech billionaires who seemingly resent their employees, viewing initiatives aimed at improving workplace culture as “woke” and ultimately detrimental to their bottom line. The resulting authoritarian internal environment at Meta, characterized by secrecy and disregard for employee feedback, further exemplifies this growing hostility towards the workforce. Ultimately, this antagonism towards middle-class workers benefits oligarchs at the expense of both employees and broader societal well-being.
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Mark Zuckerberg assured Trump administration officials, including Jason Miller, of his non-interference in their agenda, attributing Meta’s previous DEI initiatives to Sheryl Sandberg. Subsequently, Zuckerberg announced the elimination of these policies following a private meeting with Miller. This shift, coupled with Meta’s layoffs, suggests a coordinated effort with a more powerful and less-constrained Trump team than in his previous presidency. The changes signal a significant realignment of Meta’s internal priorities.
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John Q. Hosedrinker