Macy's To Pay $750K For Selling Hoodies With Drawstrings
When I was a young thing, the drawstring on your hooded sweatshirt was something to chew on or play with while being bored to death in school. But as of 2006, such drawstrings have been considered strangulation hazards in children’s clothing. That, however, didn’t stop Macy’s from selling hoodies, jackets and other kids’ clothing with drawstrings, which is why the retailer now has to pay a penalty of $750,000.
The penalty is part of an agreement between Macy’s and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which had alleged that the retailer had knowingly failed to report to CPSC that it had sold children’s sweatshirts, sweaters and jackets with drawstrings at the neck — all of which had been recalled — between 2006 and 2010.
From the CPSC’s website:
Federal law requires manufacturers, distributors and retailers to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard, creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or fails to comply with any consumer product safety rule or any other rule, regulation, standard or ban enforced by CPSC.
Though it agreed to the settlement, Macy’s denies the allegations that it knowingly violated the law.
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