Thursday, March 20, 2008
[legal] Reebok Pays $1 Million Two Years After Recall
Consumer Help Web
warned consumers about lead in a child's bracelet nearly two years ago. One of the earliest very public recalls linked to products produced in China, toxic levels of lead in the bracelet were linked to a child's death. The bracelets were sold for two years at a price between $33 and $50.
Now the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that Reebook will pay a record $1 million penalty related to the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA).
As part of the settlement, Reebok denied any wrongdoing or violating federal law despite the company's recall of 300,00 of the bracelets that the consumer watchdog group claimed had too much lead.
Labels: China, CPSC, recall, Reebok, safety
Thursday, September 27, 2007
More Child Recalls This Week - Add Playpens to Cribs
Again forgetting the recriminations for today, we ask that you please help spread the word about Kolcraft play yards, what you and your parents called "playpens".
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has already linked the death of a 10 month old boy to the units. The strap across the changing table apparently poses a strangulation effort.
As with the infamous Graco/Aspen crib recall, Kolcraft is sending consumers a kit to fix the strap and eliminate the danger. Pundits say that a similar style of recall was insufficient for the crib manufacturer.
Consumer Help Web understands the financial burden parents of a new child face. These are relatively expensive units that cost between $50 and $130.
If you have any doubt in your ability to properly fix the playpen, please dispose of it safely by dismantling it. Your child's safety is worth $130 or not having a playpen for a short period of time.
Reports are surfacing across the Internet that recalled goods are also surfacing at garage sales and even on eBay and other Internet auctions. "It's a natural and likely benign issue," said Consumer Help Web Chief Operating Officer George Bounacos. "If a parent doesn't learn about the recall and their child is not hurt, there is a booming unrecorded market in baby items passed among friends and relatives or sold at yard sales. Doing so is being a good consumer, but the buyer must research the item first."
The play yards recalled now were manufactured in China over a 6 year period. Kolcraft has received multiple reports of children rolling into unsafe positions in these units. The company says that consumers should immediately stop using the changing tables and rocking cradle and contact the firm. They should also immediately cut off and remove the existing changing table restraint strap. Consumers should always remove the raised changing table and cradle or bassinet before placing a child in a play yard.
For additional information, call Kolcraft at (888) 655-8484 anytime, or visit the firm’s web site at
www.kolcraft.com.
All of that is good advice, but we remain committed to our advice to parents. If you feel like the repair is beyond you, dismantle the unit so no one else uses it and buy something safer. Please don't guess.
Also please remember to pass the word about the
massive crib recall several days ago. Consumer Help Web will continue helping parents who face difficulties fulfilling the terms of this recall and waive our complaint resolution fee.
Labels: children, China, Kolcraft, play yard, playpen, safety
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Don't Catch This Fish
Seafood lovers may find their choices more limited at the supermarket after the Food and Drug Administration said some fish imported from China could be harmful. The government agency said that farm-raised fish from China being sold in the United States contained anti-bacterial drugs not approved for use in this country.
The FDA singled out popular seafood like shrimp and catfish, as well as basa, dace and eel. The levels of drugs found in the fish were low, but the FDA issued an "Import Alert" that gives the agency the authority to stop import shipments and test them for the drugs. Food companies are able to apply for exemptions if they meet certain criteria.
Trade between the U.S. and China has suffered this year after recalls affecting
toys,
automobile tires,
laptop batteries and
pet food.
Labels: China, fish, food, safety
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thomas Railroad Toy Made In China Recalled, Will Cost Up To $8 Million
More than a million toys based on a popular kid series have been recalled after the company and Consumer Product Safety Commission determined that the exteriors were decorated with lead-based paint.
RC2 Corporation reported no children were injured after playing with the toys made in China. The company said the recall could cost up to $8 million and pledged to implement strict quality control measures.
The recall involves wooden vehicles, buildings and other train set components for young children listed in the chart below. The front of the packaging has the logo “Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway” on the upper left-hand corner. A manufacturing code may be located on the bottom of the product or inside the battery cover. Toys marked with codes containing “WJ” or “AZ” are not included in this recall.
Consumers who have one of the affected toys can call RC2 toll-free at (866) 725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday and between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. CT Friday.
Labels: China, CPSC, RC2, recall, safety, Thomas
