Mattel’s shareholders are upset. A pension fund in Michigan has filed a shareholder lawsuit against the company, claiming that they mishandled product safety procedures and were therefor responsible for 3 toy recalls this summer. The lawsuit also alleges that executives with knowledge of the defects sold $33 million in stock before the recalls were announced.
Transportation & Infrastructure
By 10.10.07
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Submit your email to one of the CPSC’s many subscription lists to make sure you never miss a recall notice. [CPSC]
Do Consumers Actually Participate In Recalls? (No.)
By 10.10.07
Despite all the hand-wringing on our part, we consumers don’t actually participate in recalls at a very high level. This leaves both manufacturers and the CPSC in the dark about whether their warnings are reaching the right people—which is why the House approved a bill this Tuesday that would require manufacturers of certain infant and toddler products to keep registration info on their customers.
Buy All The Toys You Need Now, Because Prices Are Going Up
By 10.10.07
Just buy ’em and scrape off the lead paint. Why? Because toy makers will be passing the cost of higher-quality and better-made toys on to you next year. Says one analyst, “Anything that’s a new introduction, you can make that price point $19.99 rather than $14.99.”
By 10.9.07
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Winn-Dixie Stores Prestige Chocolate Ice Cream (unmentioned almonds).
Dangerous Sealant Recalled, Replaced By Just-As-Dangerous Sealant
By 10.8.07
It’s been more than two years since the CPSC first became aware of problems with the spray-on sealant Stand ‘n Seal—it contained a chemical that can cause extreme respiratory problems in some customers, but was only partially recalled by the manufacturer and then replaced with another product with the exact same chemical—but the CPSC has yet to issue any fines to the company, writes the New York Times. It’s yet another example of how an underfunded, underpowered CPSC fails to protect the public from reckless companies who swap ingredients, lie, and hide important data in order to protect their bottom line.
By 10.8.07
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Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation ground beef (E. coli), More Topps Meat Company ground beef products (E. Coli).
1.6 Million Cub Scout Badges Contaminated With Lead
By 10.6.07
A scout may be trustworthy, loyal, and helpful – but not lead free, according to a recent announcement from the Boy Scouts of America. The scouts are recalling 1.6 million Chinese-made badges contaminated with lead paint. The totem badges were issued to 7 and 8-year-old cub scouts who completed certain tasks, “including memorizing the Cub Scouts’ motto, sign, handshake, and salute, and mastering an elective such as caring for a pet, growing a plant indoors, or making a stencil pattern.”
By 10.5.07
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IonizAir™ Table Top Air Purifiers (fire), Razor® E300 Electric Scooters (detaching handlebars), Campbell’s Chunky Baked Potato With Cheddar & Bacon Bits (chunks of hard plastic).
E.Coli Kills Topps Meat Company
By 10.5.07
Seventeen days after Topps launched the second largest meat recall in U.S. history, the 67-year-old company announced that it’s going out of business. Topp’s COO told American Agriculturist:
“In one week we have gone from the largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen hamburgers to a company that cannot overcome the economic reality of a recall this large… We want to thank our loyal employees and customers who have supported us throughout the 67 years in which Topps Meat has been in business,” D’Urso said. “Topps has always prided itself on providing the utmost quality and safety and never had a recall in our history until now. This has been a shocking and sobering experience for everyone.”
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Walmart, Pathmark, Topps Meat For Selling E. Coli Tainted Beef
By 10.5.07
28 people in 8 states have fallen ill due to e. coli exposure from Topps frozen hamburgers and now a class action lawsuit has been filed against the meat processor and several grocery stores who sold the product. 10 people have been hospitalized. One has hemolytic-uremic syndrome, which causes kidney failure.
Do Baby Einstein Products Make Your Child Stupid? Well, The Lead Tainted Blocks Don't Help
By 10.4.07
Back in August, the University of Washington issued a press release about a study in the Journal of Pediatrics that examined the effect that baby videos (such as the Disney “Baby Einstein” series) had on young children.
By 10.4.07
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Various KB Toys Recalls Wooden Toys (lead), “Pirates of the Caribbean” Medallion Squeeze Lights (lead), Dollar General Frankenstein Tumblers (lead), “Totally Me!” Children’s Decorating Sets (lead), Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks (lead), Dollar General metal keyrings (lead), Antioch Bookmarks and Journals (lead), Sports Authority Alpine Design Aluminum Water Bottles (lead).
By 10.4.07
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Kraft is recalling 23,000 cases of Baker’s Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares after FDA testing “detected the presence of salmonella in some 6-oz. packages.” So far no illnesses have been reported, so if you’re the opportunistic con-artist type, you’ve got a shot at being first-to-media on this one. [Reuters
By 10.4.07
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Honeywell International Gas Valves (fire, burn), Jensen’s Seattle Style Wild Smoked Salmon Spread Lemon Dill and Onion (Listeria), Quong Hop Tofu (Listeria).
eBay's Recall Protocol
By 10.2.07
The recall procedure in the U.S. is pretty streamlined by this point, what with all the practice we get. Pretty much every manufacturer or retailer publicizes its recalls as they happen, and the media then pushes it out to the country in news reports, blogs, etc. So what about eBay? How do defective, tainted, cursed, or otherwise unsavory items get the recall treatment in secondary markets? Today eBay announced that it’s working with the CPSC to “educate consumers” on recent recalls to help ensure a safe and successful buying experience online.”
Thomas & Friends Customers Sent Lead Tainted Toys As Apology For Lead Tainted Toys
By 10.2.07
If you returned a recalled Thomas & Friends toy to RC2, you probably received an apology and a “bonus gift.” We hope you didn’t give the toy to your kid, because some of the “bonus gifts” have been recalled for lead contamination.
By 10.2.07
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Target is recalling 82,000 plush rattle baby toys shaped like baseballs, footballs, and basketballs. The plush toys can break open, according to the CPSC, and release the beads used for filler, and therefore pose a choking hazard. The toys have a tag reading “Reg. No. PA5706(CN), Distributed by Double Nice Co Ltd. 3f-2 No. 325, Wu Chuan Road, Taichung, Taiwan, Made in China.” [CNN Money]
