Consumer and Product Safety Update

In this age of technology and the Internet, consumers do not have an excuse when it comes to product safety knowledge. They should be aware of any unsafe products that may be on the market or have been recalled. How can they do this? It’s simple. There are two very important sources.

The first source is the Consumer Union. They have a web site called Consumer Reports Online. The CU’s mission is to test products, inform the public of its findings, and protect consumers. They buy all of the products off of the store shelf just like we do and receive no special treatment from manufacturers or retailers. They also have 50 labs to test products in. Thus, you, as a consumer, can rest assure the information you are receiving is good information! To buy a report or learn more about the Consumers Union, visit their web site.

The second source is the CPSC. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) protects people from unreasonable risks of injury or death from over 15,000 types of consumer products under it’s jurisdiction. As a consumer, you can report dangerous products to the CPC and get information regarding recalls and safety information.

Let me show you what I mean. With Christmas having just passed, the CPSC launched a new campaign to get dangerous toys out of people’s home. Despite recall notices and public announcements, they found that many of the toys were still in use my consumers. In addition to this, CPSC teamed up with the American International Group (AIG) to launch a public service announcement on toy safety. The list of dangerous, recalled toys can be obtained on the CPSC web site or by calling toll free, 1-800-638-2772.

I have provided a brief list of the toys below. If you have any of them or know of someone that does, please contact the CPSC for information on how to proceed.

1. Pokeman Balls – 25 million were distributed by Burger King. They may pose a suffocation hazard to children under 3. 2. Sky Dancers Flying Dolls - 8.9 million sold through 2000. They can fly rapidly and in unpredictable direction. It can cause eye, teeth, mild concussions, etc. 3. Wiggle Waggle Caterpillar – This toy presents a choking hazard. 4. Battery Powered Toy Riding Vehicles – Depending on the model, the battery charger for these vehicles can overheat presenting a fire hazard. The foot pedals can also stick and children can be injured when vehicle fails to stop or strikes something.

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