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Masks

Four masks shown for comparison

Which is the best mask to prevent COVID-19 and how do cloth, disposable, N95, and KN95 masks compare? How can I stop glasses from fogging?

Masks

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CL Answer

Does heat kill coronavirus (COVID-19)? Can it disinfect face masks and packages?

Find out if heat kills the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 infection. Learn what temperature kills the coronavirus and more. ConsumerLab explains.

Does Heat Kill Coronavirus? -- Women Receiving Food Delivery

CL Answer

What face shield is best to protect from COVID-19 and when should I wear one?

Review of face shields and information about face shields to help protect against coronavirus (COVID-19). If properly made and worn, face shields provide extra protection for close interactions with individual who may be infected.

Face Shield to Protect From Coronovirus (COVID-19) -- Woman Wearing Face Shield, Mask and Gloves

CL Answer

Do UV light sanitizing wands and boxes kill coronavirus (COVID-19)?

UV light is promoted as an effective and convenient alternative to chemical disinfectants, but can it work against the coronavirus? Learn the the pros and cons and see our reviews and comparisons of popular UV devices on the market.

UV Light to Kill Coronavirus (COVID-10)? -- UV Light, Medical Mask and Stethoscope

CL Answer

How are you staying healthy during the coronavirus pandemic?

Tips for staying healthy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Tips from ConsumerLab members for maintaining physical health, mental health and social well-being during COVID-19.

Staying Healthy During the Coronavirus Pandemic -- Couple at Home, Looking Out the Window

CL Answer

Is it safe to fly and how can I avoid getting COVID when flying?

How to fly safely and avoid COVID-19. Tips to help you stay safe and protect others while flying during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is it safe to fly and how can I avoid getting COVID-19? -- Man on Airplane With Mask and Hand sanitizer

CL Answer

I recently bought a CoQ10 supplement on Amazon. The manufacture date was hidden under a sticker, but was 13 months ago. No "Best By" date is listed. Is this product still good to use?

Find out how long your CoQ10 supplement should last, if your CoQ10 is expired, and how long it is good to use. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Is My CoQ10 Expired? -- CoQ10 capsules in hand

Clinical Update

6/09/2023

Best Masks for Wildfire Smoke

With smoky air over parts of the U.S., find out which masks do or don't protect against wildfire smoke. See our Top Picks among N95 and KN95 masks, and a recommended N95 with an exhalation valve.

Clinical Update

1/21/2022

New N95 Top Pick

We evaluated two more N95s masks, and one is a new Top Pick. Get the details in our article about Finding the Best Masks.

Also see our Top Pick among KN95 masks.

CL Answer

Is it okay to crush or break vitamin pills to lower the dose or mix into food?

Learn about the safety of crushing vitamin pills, tablets, capsules or enteric-coated tablets and ingesting the powder with food, as opposed to taking a whole pill.

Is it okay to crush or cut supplement pills? -- Large, broken vitamin pill

CL Answer

How do the COVID-19 vaccines compare in terms of efficacy, safety and side effects? How, when and where do I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Find out how the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna compare and learn how when and where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Older woman getting an injection

CL Answer

Do melatonin supplements reduce the body's own production of melatonin?

Find out if taking melatonin supplements can decrease the body's own natural production of melatonin (endogenous melatonin), plus other factors that can decrease melatonin levels. ConsumerLabcom's answer explains.

Effects of melatonin supplements on the body's own production of melatonin -- melatonin capsules, glass of water, eye mask

Clinical Update

1/21/2022

CDC Mask Guidelines

Be aware that, this week, the CDC advised that properly fitted N95 and KN95 respirators provide the highest level of protection against COVID. So it’s best to use these masks in place of cloth masks. It was also announced that N95s will soon be made available at no charge at community centers and retail pharmacies across the U.S. Get the details.

Clinical Update

8/31/2021

N95 Mask Quality Problem

Federal approval was recently revoked for all N95 masks made by a certain manufacturer. Get the details in our article about the Best Masks to Prevent COVID-19.

Clinical Update

12/07/2021

Beware of Counterfeit N95s & KN95s

Sales of counterfeit N95 and KN95 masks remain a concern according to the CDC. Find out the best way to spot a counterfeit and recent examples of counterfeits. Also see our Top Picks for N95 and KN95 masks.

Clinical Update

4/19/2022

Masks No Longer Required, But Recommended

A federal judge has ruled that masks are no longer required on flights and other forms of public transportation, although wearing a mask is still recommended by the CDC.

CL Answer

Which air purifiers are best for reducing the spread of COVID-19?

Find out if portable air cleaners can remove the virus that causes COVID-19 infection from the air and learn which type air cleaners work best.

HEPA air purifier on bedroom floor

Clinical Update

5/06/2022

Masks When Traveling

Be aware that experts still recommend wearing a mask when traveling. Get the details.

CL Answer

I thought the B vitamins were all water soluble and did not build up in the body, so you would not build up toxic levels. Am I wrong?

Learn more about water-soluble B vitamins including niacin, B6, B12 and folic acid, and why taking too much of these vitamins can be toxic. See the symptoms of overdose and toxicity from B vitamins. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

B Vitamins

Clinical Update

4/21/2023

Facemask Warning

The FDA recently warned that a popular N95 mask should no longer be used. Details are in our article about facemasks, which includes our Top Picks among N95 and KN95 masks.

CL Answer

Can prenatal vitamins have too much folic acid? Mine has 800 mcg, but isn't that more than what's recommended? Is this dangerous to me or my baby?

Is it possible for prenatal vitamins to have too much folic acid? Find out the correct dosage so that it is not dangerous to babies.

Too Much Folic Acid in Prenatal Vitamins? -- Pregnant woman taking supplements

CL Answer

Which supplements can help treat anemia? Do any supplements cause a low red blood cell count?

Find out which vitamin and nutrient supplements can help prevent and treat anemia in people who are nutrient deficient and learn which supplements may cause low blood cell counts, especially when used in excess.

Woman holding various vitamins and supplements in her hands

Clinical Update

3/01/2022

Check Your Area’s COVID Risk

You can now check if your area in the U.S. is at High, Medium, or Low risk for COVID and the CDC's mask recommendations for your area. Check your community's COVID-19 level.

CL Answer

How Should You Take Care of Yourself After You’ve Had COVID-19?

Find out the best way to care for yourself when recovering from COVID-19, including how long you should quarantine, whether you should get vaccinated, when it is safe to undergo a surgery, and how to spot and, possibly, improve lingering symptoms.

Man in wheelchair talking with doctor after recovering from COVID

CL Answer

At-Home COVID Tests: How They Compare and What You Need to Know

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tests: Where to get COVID-19 tests, including information about free testing, home testing and more. Information about SARS-CoV-2 virus tests, antibody tests and FDA authorized tests.

Home Test COVID

CL Answer

Do any supplements or lifestyle changes reduce the symptoms of tinnitus? Is it true that some supplements can cause tinnitus?

Learn which supplements can ease tinnitus, including melatonin and pine bark extract. Understand which may actually cause tinnitus.

Word blocks spelling out “tinnitus”

CL Answer

Room Carbon Dioxide Monitors: A Good Way to Assess Room Ventilation and Reduce COVID Spread?

Learn about carbon dioxide monitors, including how they work, what to look for when buying a device, tips for using them, limitations, and which device is our Top Pick.

Monitor on a table

CL Answer

Flu Vaccines: How do different flu vaccines compare and which is best for older people?

Learn how flu vaccines differ and find out which may be most suitable for older people, as well as those with egg allergy.

Vial of flu vaccine in front of a syringe and another vial

CL Answer

Do any drugs prevent or treat COVID-19?

Learn more about drugs for preventing and treating COVID-19, including who can receive these treatments, when the treatments should be initiated, and which appear to be effective against Omicron variants.

REGEN-COV

CL Answer

Do any supplements help prevent or reduce eye floaters?

Find out eye floaters (vitreous floaters) be treated with supplements like vitamin C, lutein, ginkgo, milk thistle, collagen or hyaluronic acid, or with products such as VitreousHealth.

How to Reduce Eye Floaters With Vitamins & Supplements -- Close-up of an eye

News Release

April 22, 2004

ConsumerLab.com shares insights from 2 years of testing supplements for athletic banned substances — Athletes and manufacturers urged to learn how to avoid problems

WHITE PLAINS, NY — April 22, 2004 — Two years after initiating the first program to test dietary supplements for substances banned from athletic competition, ConsumerLab.com today released a short advisory summarizing problems uncovered to-date from its testing.

Recalls & Warnings

May 02, 2020

Hopewell Essential Oils Warned for Coronavirus Claims

On April 27, 2020, the FDA issued a warning letter to Hopewell Essential Oils for selling its essential oils with unsupported claims that they can treat coronavirus (COVID-19).

News Release

January 09, 2004

USANA products pass ConsumerLab.com screening for substances banned from Olympics

WHITE PLAINS, NY — January 9, 2004 — ConsumerLab.com announced today that six additional products have passed its Athletic Banned Substances Screening Program. ConsumerLab.com tested the products at the request of USANA, a supplement manufacturer. ConsumerLab.

Recalls & Warnings

February 01, 2022

Complaint Submitted to FTC for doTerra Essential Oil COVID Claims

On January 28, 2022, the website truthinadvertising.org submitted a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against doTerra International, LLC. following a series of Zoom calls from the company titled "Protocols for the Current Climate.

Recalls & Warnings

April 23, 2021

FDA Warns 5 Sellers of Unapproved COVID-19 Tests

Between March 18 and April 6, 2021, the FDA issued warning letters to five companies for selling unapproved, adulterated, and misbranded tests for coronavirus (COVID-19).

News Release

August 20, 2002

ConsumerLab.com announces screening of supplements for banned substances for the United States Olympic Committee — First products to pass now listed on ConsumerLab.com web site

WHITE PLAINS, NY — August 20, 2002 — The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and ConsumerLab.com (CL) announced today that nine products have passed ConsumerLab.com's recently launched Athletic Banned Substances Screening Program. ConsumerLab.

News Release

February 08, 2002

Athletic Banned Substances Screening and Certification Program announced by ConsumerLab.com — Tester of supplements to screen for substances banned in Olympics

WHITE PLAINS, NY — February 8, 2002 — ConsumerLab.

Recalls & Warnings

July 31, 2020

FTC Sues Golden Sunrise for Marketing Deceptive $23,000 Coronavirus Cure

On July 31, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Inc., a California-based company, with deceptively advertising a $23,000 treatment plan as a scientifically proven way to treat COVID-19.

Recalls & Warnings

July 10, 2020

FTC Charges Seller With Falsely Promising Consumers Next Day Shipping of Face Masks and Other PPE

On July 8, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged the online marketer SuperGoodDeals.com, Inc. and its owner, Kevin J. Lipsitz, with falsely promising consumers next-day shipping of facemasks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to use during the coronavirus pandemic.

Recalls & Warnings

June 26, 2006

FDA Warns Candy Maker Making Heart Health Claims

On May 31, 2006, the U.S.