2007 Press Releases - Consumer Services
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Bronson Urges Consumers to Dispose of Products due to Botulism Risk (12/17/07) - Bronson today urged residents to dispose of Gourmet de Lyon food products purchased at two Palm Beach County Green Market locations because of the risk of botulism. Learn more...
Bronson Warns That Wildfire Danger Increases as Drought Worsens (12/10/07) - Bronson is urging residents to use caution with any type of fire until the state receives enough rainfall to relieve drought conditions. Learn more...
Bronson Stresses Safety With Holiday Trees, Decorations (12/07/07) - Bronson is urging people to be careful with Christmas trees, lights, Menorahs and other decorations this holiday season. He is especially concerned about the potential for fire given the dry conditions around the state. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Sweep For Recalled Toys (12/03/07) - Bronson has announced his department will do a sweep of stores this holiday season looking for toys that have been recalled. Learn more...
Bronson To Deploy Inspectors To Pet Stores During Holiday Season (11/26/07) - Bronson announced today that his department is conducting a sweep of pet stores during the next five weeks to ensure that such establishments are complying with regulations that protect consumers in the purchase of pets. Learn more...
Bronson Reminds Consumers to Keep Food Safety in Mind over the Holidays (11/20/07) - Bronson is urging consumers to follow food safety measures as the holiday season gets underway. Numerous food borne illness outbreaks during the past year have heightened public awareness about the dangers with various types of food items. Learn more...
Bronson Reminds Consumers to Check out Charities (11/19/07) - Bronson is urging consumers to check out charitable organizations before making any donations. As the holidays get underway, charities are gearing up for their busiest time of the year. Many collect about half their annual donations in the short time between Thanksgiving and New Years. Learn more...
McCollum, Bronson Join National Hispanic Advocacy Group to Warn About Work-At-Home Scams (10/26/07) - Attorney General Bill McCollum and Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today issued a consumer advisory in cooperation with the National Hispanic Institute, warning consumers about work-at-home scams. Learn more...
Bronson Unveils New Website for Consumers Seeking Alternative / Renewable Fuels (10/23/07) - For the motoring public anxious to obtain ethanol and biodiesel fuels, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced today that more facilities throughout the state are making these products available. Learn more...
Bronson Announces National Fire Prevention Week (10/04/07) - Bronson announced today that October 7th – 13th is National Fire Prevention Week by reminding Floridians that we all can help prevent fires in our forests and wildlands. Learn more...
Bronson Urges Public To Cook Ground Beef Thoroughly As Massive Food Recall For E. Coli Tainted Product Is Underway (10/02/07) - With yet another major recall of ground beef underway, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today reminded consumers that cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees kills E. coli O157: H7 bacteria, as well as most other pathogens. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Arrest For Illegal Telemarketing Operation (9/19/07) - According to OALE, Friedman, the owner and president of Premier Timeshare Vacations Inc. which is located at 14 18th Street South, St. Petersburg, was operating an unregistered telemarketing business. The business contracted with consumers to advertise their time shares for sale. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Arrests In Telemarketing Operation (9/14/07) - Bronson has announced the arrest of two Pinellas County men for running an unregistered telemarketing operation. The business contracted with consumers to sell advertising for vacant land and time share properties. Learn more...
Bronson Files Lawsuit Against Company for Violating ‘Do Not Call’ Law (9/06/07) - Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against a Central Florida company for violating Florida’s “Do Not Call” law. A lawsuit filed in Seminole County Circuit Court alleges that Great Southern Water Treatment Inc., of Longwood, made at least 6 calls to Florida residents on the state’s “Do Not Call” list between February and June of 2007. Learn more...
Bronson To Address Consumer Advisory Group In Bradenton (9/04/07) - Bronson will address the Florida Consumer Advisory Council at a meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 5, at Bradenton City Hall. The Council, which is composed of business, government and consumer representatives, advises Bronson’s department on consumer issues. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Sweep Of Manatee County Businesses (9/04/07) - Bronson announced today that investigators from his department have begun a countywide sweep of health studios, telemarketers, motor vehicle repair shops and sellers of travel in Manatee County to make sure they are registered with the state and complying with regulations governing contracts, estimate/invoices and vacation certificates. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Filing Of Charges Against Travel Agent (8/31/07) - Bronson announced today that a criminal charge has been lodged against a Tampa woman for falsifying her application to sell travel in Florida. Learn more...
Fish Consumption Advisory For Escambia River (8/23/07) - Department of Health (DOH) State Surgeon General Ana M. Viamonte Ros M.D., MPH, announced today that a Fish Consumption Advisory has been issued for the Escambia River south of SR 184 (Quintette Road) to the mouth of the river in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The advisory recommends consumers eat no more than one 6-ounce meal of skinless striped mullet per week from the designated area due to increased levels of chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s). Learn more...
McCollum, Bronson Caution Floridians About Fraudulent Charities (9/21/07) - Attorney General McCollum and Commissioner Bronson both expressed their concern that in light of the recent widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Dean, con artists and scammers may try to take advantage of people’s good intentions by creating illegitimate charities, including internet-based “organizations.” Emails and websites requesting donations may appear legitimate, but could be a ploy to gain personal information. Learn more...
Bronson Urges Consumers to Read Fine Print in Termite Contracts (9/20/07) - Bronson is telling consumers to get all the details before signing over their termite protection contract. Recently, some pest control companies have been offering “sign over” contracts where they take over the protection and warranty contract from another company. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Sweep Of Palm Beach County Repair Shops (8/10/07) - Bronson announced today that investigators from his department will conduct a countywide sweep of auto repair shops in Palm Beach County next week to make sure that shops are registered with the state and complying with regulations governing estimates and invoices for repair work. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Arrest of Fugitive Scam Artist (8/07/07) - Bronson today announced the arrest of a federal fugitive wanted by the U.S. Secret Service in connection with a $1.7 million identity theft scam. Learn more...
Bronson Urges Grocers/Public to be Diligent with Castleberry Recall (8/02/07) - Bronson is urging retail outlets to recheck their shelves for food products recalled by Castleberry’s Food Company several weeks ago. He has also put a link to the list of recalled products on the Department’s website. Learn more...
Bronson Urges Consumers To Protect Against All Types Of Termites (8/02/07) - Bronson is urging homeowners to take steps to prevent a termite infestation and check on pest control companies prior to signing a contract. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Charges Filed Against Unlicensed Mover (8/01/07) - Bronson today announced that Cary Lee White, 41, of Odessa was charged with operating a moving company without a license. Learn more...
Bronson Deploys Inspectors to Search for Recalled Food Products (7/27/07) - Bronson announced today that his department is intensifying efforts to assist federal regulators in searching for and removing from store shelves food products recalled by Castleberry’s Food Company a week ago. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Sweep of Seminole County Businesses (7/10/07) - Bronson announced today that investigators from his department have begun a countywide sweep of health studios, telemarketers and sellers of travel in Seminole County to make sure they are registered with the state and complying with regulations governing contracts and vacation certificates. Learn more...
Got Grouper? New Website Will Tell You If Its Real... (7/05/07) - Bronson is unveiling a new website that will help consumers determine whether the grouper they buy is the real deal….or a substitution. Bronson’s Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing has developed a web site that provides tips on purchasing grouper. The web site comes in the wake of a series of cases where merchants mistakenly or purposely sold cheaper substitutes to customers without their knowledge. To protect themselves against product mislabeling, consumers can visit www.FL-Seafood.com. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Continued Wildfire Threat (6/29/07) - Bronson today asked Floridians to be very careful with all outdoor fires as they celebrate the 4th of July. “Our Division of Forestry is again responding to 20 to 40 new wildfires each day,” Bronson said, “and many of these are caused by people who have been careless with a campfire, bonfire or outdoor cooking fire.” Learn more...
Bronson Urges Residents to Keep Safety in Mind this July 4th (6/28/07) - Many Floridians will celebrate the nation’s birthday next week with family and friends by firing up their propane grills for a traditional backyard barbecue. To help make the summer grilling experience both safe and enjoyable for consumers, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson, along with the Florida Propane Safety, Education and Research Council, has compiled a list of propane gas grill and cylinder safety tips. Learn more...
Bronson Files Lawsuit Against for Violation of ‘Do Not Call’ Law (6/26/07) - A lawsuit filed in Brevard County Circuit Court alleges that Travel Partners USA LLC, a Fort Lauderdale travel agency, made at least 15 calls to Florida residents on the state’s “Do Not Call” list since January of 2006. Learn more...
Bronson Urges Consumers to Heed Toy Recall (6/15/07) - Bronson is urging parents to pay attention to a new recall on some Thomas the Train toys. The Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with RC2 Corp., the toy importer announced the voluntary recall due to a lead poisoning hazard. Learn more...
Sink and Bronson to Host Second Workshop “Conversations On Climate Change” (6/11/007) - Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson will host the second in a series of “Conversations on Climate Change,” on June 12, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. The second workshop, set to begin after Tuesday’s Florida Cabinet meeting is titled Climate Change: Renewable Energy Solutions. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Arrest of Unlicensed Mover in Central Florida (6/06/07) - Bronson today announced the arrest of a Central Florida man for operating a moving company without a license. The arrest follows repeated efforts to register Pellegrino's company - Florida Moving Company Inc. Learn more...
Bronson Urges Public to Report Arson (5/14/07) - Bronson is urging the public to report any suspicious activity as wildfires continue to plague the state. Learn more...
Bronson Takes Action to Assist in Animal Evacuation (5/10/07) - Bronson has taken steps to make it easier for horse and livestock owners to move their animals in the event of an evacuation due to wildfires. Learn more...
Wildfire Update Advisory (5/10/07) - Bronson is alerting the media and other interested parties that a wildfire update will be posted every morning at approximately 10:00 a.m. on the department’s main web page as well as the department’s Division of Forestry webpage. Learn more...
Bronson Urges Residents to Plan For Pets and Animals prior to a Disaster (5/08/07) - Bronson is encouraging people to plan ahead for their animals in the event of an evacuation. Numerous communities have had to evacuate and Bronson says citizens should not wait until the order to evacuate comes to think about how they are going to deal with pets and other animals. Learn more...
Bronson Asks Residents to Report Price Gouging (5/04/07) - Bronson today urged state residents to report any instances of price gouging in the wake of the growing drought and wildfire risk that is impacting the entire state. Learn more...
Bronson Files Lawsuit Against Company Violating 'Do Not Call' Law (5/02/07) - Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against a Palm Beach County company for violating Florida’s “Do Not Call” law. Learn more....
Bronson Advises Consumers to Check Refrigerators for Potentially Tainted Cheeses (4/27/07) - Bronson is urging consumers to check their refrigerators for Ole Mexican Foods’ Verole Queso Fresco Authentic Mexican Crumbling Cheese and Ole Fresco Authentic Mexican Crumbling Cheese. The two products may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Charge Against Unlicensed Moving Company (4/17/07) - Bronson announced today that a Tallahassee man has been charged with operating an unlicensed moving company. Learn more...
Bronson Files Lawsuit Against Company for Violating ‘Do Not Call’ Law (4/13/07) - Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against a Duval County telemarketer for violating Florida’s “Do Not Call” law. Learn more...
Bronson Announces Arrest in Housing Scheme (3/30/07) - Bronson has announced the arrest of a Bunnell, Florida man for defrauding at least 11 Florida residents out of thousands of dollars in a low income home building assistance scam. Learn more...
Bronson Urges Safe Storage and Disposal of Chemicals (3/16/07) - Bronson is urging people to think “safety” when doing spring cleaning and yard work. Learn more...
Bronson Praises Winners of LifeSmarts Competition (2/22/07) - A five-member team of high school students from Jacksonville won the State LifeSmarts Championship held this week at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Learn more...
Florida High School Teams to Compete in LifeSmarts at State Fair (2/12/07) - High school students from around the state will compete for the state championship of “LifeSmarts ... the Ultimate Consumer Challenge,” on February 19 at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Learn more...
Bronson Warns About Storm Related Scams (2/05/07) - Bronson is warning people not to fall for potential scams as recovery gets underway from Thursday’s devastating tornado. Learn more...
Bronson Asks Residents to Report Price Gouging (2/02/07) - Bronson today urged state residents to report any instances of price gouging in the wake of the tornadoes that tore through four Central Florida counties overnight. Learn more...
Bronson Sponsors Resolution Supporting National Consumer Protection Week (1/30/07) - Bronson is urging people to be proactive in getting and sharing information about consumer protection issues in conjunction with a national outreach effort. Learn more...
View all of the Department's 2007 Press Releases
