Social media giant Meta has reached a settlement with US states and territories to resolve a court case related to child safety on Facebook and Instagram.

The tech company will pay a maximum of $16.68bn (£12.26bn), according to court documents.

The settlement requires Meta introduce certain rules for teenage users, including daily limits and night-time blocks.

Meta denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.

It was alleged the company had violated numerous federal and state privacy laws for children.

The states suing Meta claimed it used its platforms “to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens,” and ignored the damage they did to the “mental and physical wellbeing of America’s youth”.

After the settlement was announced, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb called it a “monumental public health victory”.

He added: “The safety features Meta is required to install will fundamentally and immediately change how young people use Instagram and Facebook.”

Safety features Meta will need to introduce include limiting access for children during school hours, stronger parental controls and robust age verification for underage users.

“Today, we are announcing an agreement with a bipartisan group of 52 attorneys general across US states, territories, and the District of Columbia, building on our longstanding efforts to empower parents and support teens,” Meta said in a statement.

“The agreement includes a payment of approximately $18 billion, which can be used to fund youth online safety initiatives, among other state priorities.

“The payment will be distributed in annual instalments over a 10-year period.”

But the company said TikTok and YouTube should also implement the same safety features for their younger users.

“Our new Time Limit commitments, Night Mode features and usage limits during school hours set the right path forward for our whole industry, but this framework will only work if all our peers join us,” Meta’s chief legal officer CJ Mahoney said.

YouTube and TikTok have been contacted for comment.

SPRINGDALE, ARK. — Drive-thru beverage chain 7 Brew is introducing a line of energy beverages to its retail portfolio.

The beverages are available in five varieties, including original and original sugar-free.

Ocean breeze sugar-free features blue raspberry and coconut flavors.

Nightshade sugar-free contains lavender, pomegranate and blue raspberry flavors.

Pink mermaid sugar-free is made with watermelon, coconut and strawberry flavors.

The 12-oz beverages may be purchased at Walmart locations.

They will be the ‘public face’ of the regeneration scheme planned for the area north of Bristol

The West of England mayor is calling on “passionate leaders” to put themselves forward for a new job helping deliver major regeneration plans to the north of Bristol.

The individual will chair a new ‘mayoral development zone’ – an area targeted for growth – stretching across South Gloucestershire and including Brabazon.

“You might have heard us talk about Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc,” metro mayor Helen Godwin said in a video on LinkedIn. “And you you might have heard us talk more recently about a mayoral development zone.

“This is a really important development for this huge regeneration project. We are now looking to put together a group of people who can really help and support us as we move forward into delivery. And the most important of all we are looking for a chair for the mayoral development zone.

“So we need someone who is really passionate about Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc, who understands the economy of the area and who wants to be a part of this great leap forward for this iconic space. Please apply.”

According to the West of England Combined Authority’s website, the chair of the MDZ will provide strategic leadership and set the long-term vision for the proposed new town, which will include thousands of new homes.

It is understood the chair will help guide the MDZ, working with partners to unlock investment and opportunities for the West of England.

“You will provide overall leadership and oversight to ensure that the MDZ’s ambitions are translated into action, working collaboratively with the two partner organisations and navigating their respective governance and decision-making processes to secure the necessary support, decisions and accountability,” a statement on Weca’s website states.

“You will ensure the MDZ operates with strong governance, clear oversight and effective partnership working, helping to align priorities and drive progress across a programme that will shape the future of the West of England for generations – in particular in South Gloucestershire and north Bristol.”

The job will involve being the “public face and senior ambassador” for the regeneration scheme which is expected to deliver a £20bn boost to the regional economy.

It will also mean working across local authority boundaries, and with central government, Weca, South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol City Council, Homes England, investors, developers and local communities.

“You will represent the New Town regionally and nationally, championing investment, innovation and sustainable growth while ensuring the ambitions of government are balanced with the priorities of local communities,” the advert on the Weca website adds.

“Most importantly, you will share our ambition for the West of England. You will bring the vision, leadership and integrity required to help deliver a nationally significant New Town that creates homes, opportunities and sustainable growth, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.”

The closing date for the role is Sunday, September 6, with panel interviews planned for Tuesday, September 15.

For more information or to apply, people are being advised to contact recruiters Andrew Timlin or Simon Winspear at Hays at Andrew.timlin@hays.com or simon.winspear@hays.com.

Mergers and acquisitions are increasingly becoming a core growth strategy for India Inc, with annual deal volumes more than doubling since fiscal 2017, as companies look to scale faster, enter new markets and acquire capabilities that could take years to build organically, according to Crisil Ratings.

For investors, however, the key differentiator is execution, it said. The ratings firm said its review of 100 large debt-funded acquisitions found that two in three broadly met expectations, with successful deals delivering 20-80% scale expansion within 1-2 years, wider geographic reach and margin improvement from the second year as synergies materialised.

The remaining one-third fell short of intended business outcomes. Integration challenges accounted for about half of these cases while regulatory delays and cross-border execution issues each contributed to roughly one-fifth.

The increase in M&A activity comes against a stronger credit backdrop. Moderating organic capex, lower leverage and prudent funding have strengthened balance-sheet flexibility and improved companies’ ability to absorb acquisition-related risks.

Median net debt-to-Ebitda for corporates rated by Crisil is estimated at around 1.3 times last fiscal, compared with around 2.4 times in fiscal 2017.

“Indian corporates are increasingly using M&As to accelerate growth, expand market access and acquire capabilities that would take years to build organically,” said Subodh Rai, Managing Director, Crisil Ratings.
M&A activity is being driven by different priorities across sectors. Pharma and healthcare, enterprise technology, artificial intelligence and consumer companies are using acquisitions to bridge technology, talent and intellectual-property gaps. Cement and metals companies are pursuing acquisitions for consolidation, reducing build times from 4-6 years to 1-3 years.Acquisitions have largely resulted in stable or positive credit outcomes, Crisil said. Around three-fourths of ratings were reaffirmed or upgraded following acquisitions, while about 60% of acquirers deleveraged on or ahead of plan within two years.

Manish Gupta, Deputy Chief Ratings Officer, Crisil Ratings, said the benefits of scale, diversification and synergies helped offset the temporary increase in acquisition-related leverage. Where outcomes were weaker, common reasons included elevated leverage, slower ramp-up, industry downcycles and regulatory delays.

The long-term value creation from M&As, Crisil said, will depend on disciplined capital allocation, strong execution, timely synergy capture and continued investment in core capabilities.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dolly Parton, the singer-songwriter who rose from a one-room Appalachian cabin to become one of the most beloved and enduring icons in American music, died Tuesday at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer, her team confirmed.

Parton’s team said in a statement that she died at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones. “After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement said.

Parton’s nephew, Brian Seaver, first announced her death in a video posted to her Instagram account, speaking on behalf of the family. “My name is Brian Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” Seaver said.

A subsequent statement from Parton’s official account reflected on her broader legacy. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family,” the statement said. “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.”

Her team also highlighted her extensive philanthropic work in a statement provided to CBS News. “Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement said. “Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact.”

Parton’s family said that, in keeping with her wishes, no large public funeral is planned. Instead, “a small, private service will be held for immediate family,” according to the announcement.

Born Jan. 19, 1946, in a one-room cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River near Sevierville, Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children born to Robert Lee Parton, a farmer and construction worker who could not read or write, and his wife, Avie Lee. From that humble beginning, Parton went on to become one of the bestselling recording artists in history, winning 11 Grammy Awards and selling more than 100 million records over the course of her career.

Parton had been open about health struggles in the months leading up to her death. She canceled a planned Las Vegas residency in May, citing ongoing health issues. In a May 4 video announcement addressing her condition at the time, Parton said, “My immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple three years, and they’re working real hard on rebuilding [and] strengthening those, and hopefully I’ll be up to snuff again soon.” A source close to the situation told ABC News at the time that Parton had been dealing with kidney stones. Despite those health challenges, Parton made a surprise public appearance in June at the grand opening of Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, a gas station and restaurant bearing her name, in Cornersville, Tennessee, her last major in-person public appearance before her death.

Parton was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at age 82. The couple, who married in 1966, never had children, a decision Parton said she never regretted. “It wasn’t meant to be,” she told CBS News. “And I don’t regret it. I never regretted it. I mean, it was a choice. So, you make your choices, you make your sacrifices, and I never looked back. I knew early on that I was gonna walk that road till God told me to stop.” Reflecting on their marriage in July 2025, following Dean’s death, Parton said, “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.”

Tributes poured in from across the music industry and beyond following news of her death. Fellow country star Reba McEntire shared a tribute honoring their decadeslong friendship. “Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart,” McEntire said. “There will never ever be another you. We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang. Thank you, Lord, for Dolly.” Singer Linda Ronstadt, who recorded with Parton earlier in her career, offered a similarly heartfelt statement. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend, Dolly Parton,” Ronstadt said. “One of the most extraordinary musical experiences of my life was recording with her. The world is a poorer place without her.”

President Donald Trump also honored Parton, ordering flags to be lowered in her memory. “There has never been anyone like her, and never will,” Trump said.

Over her career, Parton became known not only for chart-topping hits and prolific songwriting but for her wide-ranging ventures beyond music, including her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and her Imagination Library, a literacy nonprofit that has distributed hundreds of millions of free books to children around the world. She was also widely recognized for helping fund research that contributed to the development of a vaccine used globally, according to her team’s statement, part of a broader legacy of philanthropy her family said guided her throughout her life.

Widely regarded as one of the rare public figures embraced across the American political spectrum, Parton spent more than seven decades in the entertainment industry, building a body of work and a public persona that made her, according to her family’s statement, someone who made audiences around the world “feel like family.” As tributes continue to arrive from musicians, political leaders and fans across the globe, Parton’s family has asked for privacy as they prepare for the small, private service planned in her honor.

LeBron James’ surprise move to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason has transformed the franchise from a longshot into a legitimate championship contender, according to sportsbook odds, reigniting two separate but closely linked debates among NBA fans: whether the 41-year-old can realistically win one more title in what he has described as the final chapter of his career, and whether doing so would settle basketball’s most enduring “greatest of all time” argument in his favor over Kobe Bryant.

On the first question, betting markets have responded decisively to James’ arrival. According to ESPN, the Sixers began the offseason as a relative long shot to win the 2027 NBA Finals but surged to +900 odds, tied for third-best in the league, following two major transactions: a trade for five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown and, shortly after, James’ decision to sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the franchise. Before those moves, Philadelphia had been sitting at odds as long as 60-1 or even +6600 at some sportsbooks, according to Bolavip.

James addressed his motivation for the move directly when announcing the decision. “This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family … I still want to compete, to win and have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship,” James said, according to CBS Sports.

The Sixers now field a starting lineup built around James, Brown, All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey, rising wing VJ Edgecombe and former league MVP center Joel Embiid, giving Philadelphia what Bleacher Report described as “one of the strongest starting fives in the league” on paper. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs remain the co-favorites at +260 to +270, with the defending champion New York Knicks and the Sixers rounding out the top tier of contenders, according to Covers.com.

That said, oddsmakers and analysts have flagged genuine risk factors tempering the optimism. Bleacher Report noted that Philadelphia’s championship hopes will depend heavily on Embiid’s health and availability come playoff time, given his extensive injury history, while James himself, who missed 22 games during the 2025-26 season, is not getting any younger, turning 42 in December. The outlet also raised questions about lineup fit, noting James could plausibly function as a third or fourth offensive option behind Embiid, Brown and Maxey, a role reversal that will require significant on-court chemistry to work smoothly. Coach Nick Nurse, who previously won a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, has posted a 116-130 record since taking over in Philadelphia, according to CBS Sports.

Whether James can realistically capture what would be his fifth championship ring remains a genuinely open basketball question, one that will be determined over the course of the coming season rather than settled by preseason odds alone. Should he succeed, however, it would immediately fuel the second, far more subjective debate: where that accomplishment would leave him relative to Kobe Bryant in basketball’s ongoing GOAT conversation.

That question does not have a consensus answer, and reasonable basketball analysts, former players and fans continue to disagree sharply on how to weigh the two legends’ respective careers. Arguments in James’ favor typically center on statistical accumulation and longevity: he already holds the NBA’s all-time regular-season scoring record, has reached the NBA Finals more times than Bryant, and has continued performing at a high level well into his 40s, a level of sustained excellence across shifting eras and teams that supporters argue no other player in league history has matched. A fifth championship, particularly one won at an age when most players have long since retired, would add further weight to that longevity-based case, especially for those who already rank James ahead of Bryant.

Arguments on Bryant’s side of the debate tend to emphasize different criteria. Bryant won five championships himself, all with a single franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers, and is frequently cited by supporters for his intensity, clutch performance in high-pressure moments, and a widely referenced work ethic that became a defining part of his public persona and legacy following his 2020 death. Some in this camp argue that peak dominance and championship pedigree within a single organizational era matter more than career-long statistical volume, a framework under which James winning a fifth ring with a third different franchise would not necessarily resolve the comparison in his favor, given that critics of “ring-chasing” narratives have historically pointed to James’ multiple team changes as a point of contrast with Bryant’s one-franchise loyalty.

Because the GOAT debate ultimately rests on which criteria a given fan or analyst chooses to prioritize, rather than any single objective statistical threshold, it is unlikely that any single outcome, including a fifth James championship, would produce full consensus. Basketball history is full of examples where accomplishments that seemed likely to settle such debates instead simply shifted the terms of the argument, with supporters of each side reinterpreting the same result to fit their existing framework.

What can be stated with more confidence is the concrete basketball reality shaping the coming season: James enters his 24th NBA campaign, a league record for tenure, as part of a Philadelphia roster that sportsbooks currently rate among the top handful of championship contenders, even as Embiid’s health, roster chemistry and James’ own physical durability at age 41 remain the central variables likely to determine whether that potential translates into an actual title. Whatever happens on the court, the broader question of how James’ career ultimately compares with Bryant’s is likely to remain a matter of ongoing, unresolved debate among fans and analysts regardless of how the 2026-27 season unfolds.

A massive flash flood tore through villages along the Nepal-China border Wednesday, leaving dozens dead and hundreds missing in one of the region’s deadliest natural disasters in recent memory. Here are 10 key things to know about the unfolding crisis.

1. The death toll has climbed to at least 31 and is expected to rise further

Local police in Nepal’s Bagmati province confirmed at least 31 deaths as of Wednesday, up from an earlier reported toll of 17. Officials cautioned the number is likely to increase further given that hundreds of people, including foreign nationals from several countries, remain unaccounted for as search and rescue operations continue.

2. The flood was triggered by an earthquake that set off a landslide

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal explained the disaster’s origin during a meeting at the House of Representatives. “An earthquake occurred at 8:37 a.m. today, and due to it, a large landslide occurred, blocking the river, which appears to have caused the flood,” Khanal said, referring to the Bhote Koshi river. The United States Geological Survey registered a magnitude 4.4 earthquake in the region at the same time referenced by Khanal, consistent with his account of the disaster’s cause.

3. Tibet has also been badly affected, with China warning of “major casualties”

The flooding crossed into China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, where a mudslide struck the Gyirong border port. Chinese state media warned of “major casualties” in the area, prompting Chinese leader Xi Jinping to call for “all-out” search and rescue efforts, though no official casualty figures for the Chinese side of the border had been released as of Wednesday.

4. Sixty hydropower workers remain missing inside a tunnel

Sixty employees of an under-construction hydroelectric project in northern Nepal are missing following the flood, according to Nepali state media. The workers were employed at the 20-megawatt Langtang Khola Hydroelectric Project in Rasuwa municipality, near the Chinese border. According to Nepal’s RSS national news agency, “the project was carrying out concrete construction work inside a tunnel” when the flood struck, adding that “the flood caused severe damage to the project.”

5. Dramatic rescue footage shows helicopters winching people from rooftops

Video released by the Nepali Army showed rescue teams winching stranded residents from rooftops directly into helicopters, with some of those rescued visibly covered in mud and appearing injured after being battered by the floodwaters. Separate security camera footage captured the moment floodwater crashed through the Nepal-China border area, showing people running for safety as the water appeared to sweep away everything in its path.

6. Gyirong port is a major trade hub tied to China’s Belt and Road initiative

The Chinese border crossing hit hardest by the mudslide, Gyirong port, ranks among the most significant land border crossings between China and Nepal. Situated more than 1,800 meters above sea level, the port typically handles hundreds of millions of dollars in annual two-way trade, accounting for nearly a third of total China-Nepal trade volume in 2024, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. Beijing views the crossing as an important node within its broader Belt and Road global connectivity initiative.

7. This isn’t the first disaster to strike the same border crossing

Gyirong port has faced repeated natural disasters in recent years. Floods swept away the bridge connecting the port to Nepal’s Rasuwa Port in July 2025, suspending goods trade there for roughly six months, according to state media at the time. The port was also closed for months following a devastating earthquake in 2015, underscoring the crossing’s persistent vulnerability to seismic and flood-related disasters given its remote, mountainous location.

8. Authorities have closed roads to the port and reported communications outages

Chinese authorities announced Wednesday that roads leading to Gyirong port would be closed to non-emergency vehicles for seven days, according to state media, while local reports indicated ongoing communications and power outages in the affected area, complicating both rescue efforts and the flow of information from the disaster zone.

9. International aid and condolences have poured in from multiple countries

The U.S. Embassy in Nepal said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and urged American citizens in the affected Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan and Tanahun districts to stay away from riverbanks and low-lying areas. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered an “all-out” rescue effort, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged solidarity with Nepal and offered “all possible humanitarian assistance.” The Red Cross has separately deployed an emergency response team with relief supplies, saying it had “activated emergency response teams, mobilised volunteers and is deploying an emergency team with relief supplies,” while urging affected communities to “stay alert and follow official safety instructions.”

10. The disaster presents an early test for Nepal’s new, rapper-turned-prime minister

The floods arrive as a significant early challenge for Nepal’s relatively new government under Prime Minister Balen Shah, 36, a former rapper who took office in March following a youth-led movement against corruption and nepotism that swept aside the country’s establishment political parties. Shah campaigned on promises to reform national politics and expand opportunity for young Nepalis, in a country that relies on remittances from migrant workers for roughly a quarter of its gross domestic product. The disaster will likely require close coordination between Shah’s government and both India and China, a relationship that has at times proven complicated; as Kathmandu’s mayor in 2023, Shah previously canceled a scheduled trip to China after Beijing released an updated map that did not reflect Nepal’s own 2020 political boundaries covering certain disputed Himalayan territories.

With hundreds still missing and search and rescue operations continuing on both sides of the mountainous border, officials in Nepal and China have cautioned that the full scope of the disaster’s death toll remains unknown and is likely to climb further as recovery teams reach areas cut off by damaged infrastructure, power outages and disrupted communications in the affected region.

It is understood government officials are now exploring alternative solutions

Andy Burnham has shelved plans to bring Thames Water under public control amid concerns it could land taxpayers with a multi-billion-pound bill. The Prime Minister had been weighing up placing the beleaguered utility into a special administration regime (SAR), which would enable the Government to assume partial control of the firm until a purchaser was identified.

Burnham had positioned greater public oversight of utilities as a central pillar of his leadership agenda, with Thames Water, which covers a large area of London and the Thames Valley as well as Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, anticipated to be amongst his earliest opportunities to deliver on this commitment.

However, Government officials have expressed apprehension about the taxpayer burden of an SAR regime, The Times reported, with Thames Water estimating the move could require the Government to provide more than £2bn.

The administration costs could have escalated considerably further, with a 2024 analysis by advisory firm Teneo estimating an 18-month SAR for Thames Water at £4.1bn.

Ministers have stepped back from any immediate action due to anxieties surrounding the financial implications and potential legal challenges, and are instead examining whether a “viable option” exists for placing the company into administration, according to The Times.

This assessment is anticipated to take several months, rendering it progressively less likely that Thames Water would be placed into any form of administration by the Government.

“There is no quick or clean solution without an enormous price tag attached. It is very challenging and there are significant legal risks. It’s not off the table, but further work is being done on potential solutions before a decision can be taken,” a Whitehall source told The Times.

On Monday, the creditors competing for control of the utility outlined their proposals for a boardroom overhaul.

The London & Valley Water (L&VW) consortium, which includes major investors Apollo and Elliott, announced it would install the former chief executives of Yorkshire Water and BT Openreach as non-executive directors of the firm, as reported by City AM.

They would be joined by Mike McTighe, a turnaround specialist and chair of Openreach who has been advising Thames Water, and Dame Bernadette Kelly, a former Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport.

Thames Water has been grappling with a near-£20bn debt mountain and last month cautioned investors that it faced the prospect of running out of cash before the end of this year.

Former environment secretary Emma Reynolds has previously rejected L&VW’s turnaround plan.

This story about the July 2026 PCE inflation report will be updated with further details.

The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge rose slightly in July as the pace of price growth remained well above the central bank’s target ahead.

The Commerce Department on Wednesday reported that the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index rose 0.2% from a month ago and was up 3.7% on an annual basis in July. Both figures were hotter than the expectations of economists polled by LSEG, who projected readings of 0.1% and 3.6%, respectively.

Core PCE, which excludes volatile measurements of food and energy prices, was up 0.2% on a monthly basis and is 3.3% higher than last year. Both figures were in line with the estimate of the LSEG poll.

FED’S HAMMACK SAYS MULTIPLE RATE HIKES MAY BE NEEDED TO TAME INFLATION

Federal Reserve policymakers are focused on the PCE headline figure as they try to bring inflation back to their long-run target of 2%, though they view core data as a better indicator of inflation. Compared with June’s readings, headline PCE remained at 3.7%, while core PCE also stayed at 3.3%.

Goods prices were 1.3% higher than a year ago in July after declining 0.6% on a monthly basis.

Services prices were 2.5% year over year and increased 0.3% from the prior month in July.

What experts are saying

What does it mean for the Fed and interest rates?

What does it mean for the market?

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Ken Paxton, attorney general for Texas, has launched an investigation into companies that market and sell products labeled as “made with avocado oil” after a study from the University of California, Davis found that such products may contain seed oils or other ingredients not identified on ingredient lists.

“Consumers should not have to worry if they are being deceived by labels when trying to choose healthier options at the grocery store,” Paxton said Aug. 20. “I will not allow companies to fraudulently mislabel products. My office will hold accountable any company that violates the law and misleads Texans about what is actually in their food.”

The study was published online July 11 in Applied Food Research. It evaluated 74 products, including chips, mayonnaise and salad dressings, that were labeled as containing avocado oil or olive oil. Among the avocado oil-labeled products, 89% exhibited compositional patterns that were inconsistent with authentic avocado oil. Ninety-three percent of the chips, 71% of the mayonnaises and 100% of the salad dressings were inconsistent.

“These findings suggest that ingredient-level oil claims may represent an underexamined source of economic adulteration in processed foods,” the researchers said.

Among 20 olive oil products, one failed the authenticity test. While the authenticity of olive oil has been studied, tested and scrutinized for decades, avocado oil has not been monitored at the same level, according to the researchers.

Products cost more

Products promoted for containing avocado oil or olive oil tend to cost more than other products in their respective categories.

In the study, chips labeled with avocado oil ranged from 30¢ to $2 per oz, which compared with 43¢ to $1.70 for olive oil chips and 44¢ to 62¢ for vegetable oil chips. Avocado oil mayonnaises ranged from 30¢ to $1.63 per oz, which compared with 53¢ to $1.07 for olive oil mayonnaise and 24¢ to 75¢ for vegetable oil mayonnaise. Salad dressings labeled with avocado oil ranged from 60¢ to $1.12 per oz, while olive oil dressings ranged from 42¢ to $1.12 per oz.

“Consumers are increasingly paying a premium for products made with avocado oil or olive oil,” said lead author Selina Wang, PhD, a professor of cooperative extension in the UC, Davis Department of Food Science and Technology. “They deserve to get what they pay for, and food manufacturers deserve confidence that the ingredients they purchase from suppliers are authentic.”

Products exhibited compositional patterns inconsistent with authentic avocado oil, characterized by reduced palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, cis-vaccenic acid, beta-sitosterol and clerosterol as well as elevated stearic acid, campesterol, stigmasterol, delta-7-stigmastenol and delta-7-avenasterol. Laboratory frying and emulsification experiments showed minor shifts in authenticity markers, indicating that typical processing conditions did not explain the magnitude of deviations observed in the products, according to the researchers.

“In our experience we’ve noticed natural variables, such as geographic origin and avocado variety, can change these fingerprints,” Wang said. “So, we gave the samples some wiggle room, giving them a 10% margin of deviation to account for that, but 89% of the avocado products still failed.”

Supplier complexity

She said food manufacturers may not know their products contain adulterated oil since they source oils from third-party brokers or from several different suppliers.

Texas has issued civil investigative demands (CIDs) to Primal Kitchen, Siete Foods and Chosen Foods. The office of the attorney general will investigate to determine if the three companies and potentially other companies violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA).

“A recent UC Davis study suggests that two of our mayos and two of our dressings contain seed oils, which is simply not true,” Chosen Foods said. “We never add seed oils of any kind. We believe the testing procedures used in this recent study do not fully account for the unique characteristics of finished products such as condiments and dressings.”

Primal Kitchen and Siete Foods did not respond to request for comment.