Repair & Improve

Take Offensive On Product Safety

by Tom Kraeutler

What do Snuggle® Teeny Bean Bears and Child Craft changing tables have in common? They all can be dangerous!

Each has been recalled by their manufacturers because of safety risks. Some 150,000 Bean Bears, given away with Unilever fabric softener, sport a yellow pom-pom that poses a choking threat for young kids. Improperly glued joints in 4,300 changing tables may come apart, making baby fall.

Does that mean that everyone who got a free Bean Bear found out about the hazard?  Absolutely not. Last year alone, more than 1,000 products were recalled in the U.S. for safety reasons, according to SafetyAlerts.com. But just because a product is removed from the market, it doesn’t mean that owners find out about it.

Seek Out Info
Headlines about Firestone tires made“recall” a common word, but most of us don’t question the safety of a product once we have purchased it. In fact, we usually don’t fill out owner registration cards on new items because we think they are irritating marketing tools. And the millions of used goods bought through flea markets, eBay and other auctions rarely come with any means of tracking ownership. So, how do you know if you have risky products in your home?

A good offense, as the adage suggests, is the best defense. At the very least, when you purchase a new item, make sure you complete and return the owner’s registration card. No, you don’t have to fill out the irritating questions about your hobbies, age, income and all that. They are marketing surveys. Just send in your name and contact information, along with the requested information about the product you bought. This way, you will be part of an electronic database that is notified if there are any problems with the product.

But this only protects you on the products that seek owner registration. What about pre-owned items, or things like vitamins and Snuggle® Bean Bears, that don’t come with such cards?

There are web sites, a telephone hotline and even a free internet newsletter that offer up-to-the-minute information about product recalls. Make it a practice to check these regularly:

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): This independent federal agency is charged with protecting the public against unreasonable risks and deaths associated with consumer products.  From coffee makers to children’s toys, the CPSC has jurisdiction over 15,000 types of consumer products.

To find out about product recalls, call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772 (for hearing/speech impaired, 1-800-638-8270), or visit the web site at www.cpsc.gov. You can also sign up for CPSC’s email subscription, where you automatically will receive press releases with product recalls and other safety information.

• SafetyAlerts.com: Some products are not covered by CPSC, so even though there may be consumer warnings, you would not find out through that agency. For instance, Friendly Ice Cream was recalled in 20 states in May because it contained undeclared egg whites, an allergen. Salmonella contamination caused the recall of Nature’s Plus Digestive Aid Dietary Supplements in May. Both of these are covered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which oversees food, drugs and cosmetics.

Likewise, the May recall by Chrysler of 2000 and 2001 Neons to replace a brake booster vacuum hose, falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation. You can check the web sites of these federal agencies for consumer warnings on the products they cover, or, better yet, visit ww.SafetyAlerts.com. This comprehensive web site lists the latest product recalls and offers a wealth of tips and information on product safety. You can even sign up for SafetyAlerts by email, a free internet newsletter.

• Consumer’s Union: The non-profit consumer watchdog, Consumers Union, also lists recalls by category and dates at www.consumerreports.org. The site offers prevention tips and risks associated with consumer products.

So, whether you’re drawn to that bargain-priced coffee maker at a yard sale, ready to bid on an bicycle on eBay, or buying retail, it is well worth a quick call or online visit to check whether the product has been recalled for safety reasons. You could literally save a life!

Print Version

Search Related Topics: Safety...