Consumerist
videos
-
poison control
Don't Drink Lamp Oil Or You'll Die
Lamp oil manufacturers have issued a new warning: don't drink lamp oil. The TV says someone died recently after doing so. Not sure what the story is, but like other household products, it's important to keep them in their proper containers. For instance, some colored lamp oils can look like cranberry juice. Here are some other poisons and the foods they can look like. -
toxic toys
Mattel Losing Money As Manufacturing Costs Rise
Mattel is losing money as manufacturing costs in China rise, according to Bloomberg:
Sales of Barbie fell 12 percent in the U.S. as the 49-year- old doll faced competition from Hannah Montana and Ganz's Webkinz. Mattel, which recalled more than 21 million Chinese-made products in 2007, expects Chinese manufacturing costs to rise further. The yuan has climbed 10 percent against the dollar over the past 12 months, and inflation in China is near an 11-year high.
More » -
manufacturing
Poison: The High Cost Of Cheap Batteries
Cadmium batteries are cheap and safe to use, but hazardous to manufacture. They'll save you money—about $1.50 for the average cadmium-powered toy, says the Wall Street Journal. More » -
be careful
Accidental Deaths On The Rise: Poisoning Deaths Increasing Quickly
People! You are accidentally poisoning yourselves! What the hell? Stop it. More » -
chinese poison train
New Zealand And Australia Recall Chinese-Made Formaldehyde Tainted Blankets
The formaldehyde-tainting scandal over in New Zealand and Australia continues today with a recall of Chinese-made blankets that are so full of formaldehyde that they could cause skin or respiratory irritation, according to the Associated Press.Wholesale firm Charles Parsons said the level of formaldehyde in the Superlux brand of blankets 'may cause short-term skin or respiratory irritation.'
More » -
chinese poison train
The Softer Side Of Lead Paint
Foreign manufacturers use lead paint not because they want to poison American children, but because lead paint is, "bright, durable, flexible, fast-drying, and cheap." The domestic use of lead paint in residences, hospitals, and children's products was banned in 1978, though lead paint is still widely used. Slate explains: More » -
-
finger-pointing
Thomas The Poisonous Tank Engine Recall Fallout Continues
Today's New York Times has an interesting article about the process of assigning blame in the recent Thomas the Tank Engine recall debacle. Whose fault is it? The company that outsourced the manufacturing to China, RC2? The company that holds the rights to Thomas the Tank Engine, HIT Entertainment? Both? Neither? More » -
colgate
Colgate: Phony Toothpaste Poses Little Health Risk
Colgate has released a statement on the four-state counterfeit toothpaste scare, saying that the quantities of diethylene glycol (a chemical more often used to give flavor to antifreeze) are not high enough to pose a significant health risk. Diethylene glycol is the same chemical, sources say, found in toothpaste imported from China that was recalled just two weeks ago. According to MSNBC News, "consumers who have purchased 5-ounce toothpaste under the Colgate label can return them to the place of purchase" to get their ninety-nine cents back. More » -
-
chinese poison train
Two Hospitalized After Eating Deadly Mislabeled Chinese Pufferfish
Two Chicagoans have been hospitalized after eating poisonous pufferfish that was imported to the US mislabeled as harmless monkfish. Pufferfish is a delicacy in Japan, but"Chefs must be licensed and usually undergo at least two years of training on how to safely remove the toxic parts of the fish.
More »
