Recalled Products Pose a Danger to Your Children

Every year, millions of consumer goods are recalled due to safety hazards. The laws governing products for children are particularly strict, for obvious reasons. Each year, companies issue more than 100 recalls for children’s products.

However, unless you register your ownership of every product you buy, you won’t be contacted about these recalls.

Consumer Product Safety Commission

So how can you find out if the products you buy are recalled? For the most part, items made for children will be covered by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you have kids in the house–and honestly, even if you don’t–it’s a smart idea to get alerts from the CPSC about recalls.

Otherwise, you might miss out on a potentially deadly manufacturing defect or design flaw.

For example, over the last two years a huge number of inclined infant sleepers were recalled by their manufacturers. The recalls covered hundreds of thousands of these bassinets, which were sold both online and in retailers like Target and Walmart. Tragically, the CPSC linked more than 30 infant deaths to the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleepers alone.

Registering Products and Shopping Secondhand Stores

Unless you make a habit of reading the news closely, though, you might have missed the announcement. Manufacturers too often do the bare minimum to inform their customers–and even then, only registered customers get contacted.

Many of us don’t fill out those annoying cards or go online to register the things we buy. Furthermore, many parents pick up children’s items at thrift stores, garage sales, or as hand-me-downs from relatives. It’s illegal to sell a recalled product, but the burden of diligence falls on the consumer.

With kids in the house, it’s also important to stay on top of food recalls. Right now, a massive recall of fresh, pre-sliced fruit is underway in multiple states. The fruit could be contaminated with listeria, a deadly food-borne pathogen that is particularly harmful to children, the elderly, and pregnant women.

In the United States, the Food & Drug Administration handles most food recalls. The FDA also covers medicine recalls. However, in the case of meat products, the USDA may also be involved.

And to make things even more confusing, car seats fall under the domain of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration!

Visit This Website Once a Month

Feeling confused and overwhelmed yet? The good news is that the government operates a clearinghouse website called Recalls.gov with all the recall information in one place.

Make it a habit to check the site regularly for the latest recalls. It’s the best way to keep you and your family safe from recalled consumer goods, foods, and vehicles.