Almost a decade after the Consumer Product Safety Commission was ordered to study the potential health affects of phthalates — chemicals often used in plastic products for children — and make recommendations on what further steps should be taken, the agency has voted to approve a final rule that prohibits manufacturers from selling items that have more than a minimal level of five of these chemicals. [More]
product safety
IKEA Investigating Reports Of Shiny Serving Bowls That Can Set Food On Fire
By 6.21.17
These days, most products involved in sudden fires involve malfunctioning batteries, or poorly built fuel lines. But then there’s the IKEA bowl — and the flaming fruit contained therein — that serve as a reminder that you sometimes only really need the sun and the right shiny surface to start a fire. [More]
Nintendo Switch Cartridges Taste Awful So Kids Won’t Eat Them
By 3.2.17
While it’s baffling to imagine any rational adult intentionally deciding to lick a video game cartridge, a few gamers doing just that with Nintendo Switch cartridges were surprised to find the things taste absolutely awful. Turns out, that’s for a very good reason. [More]
After Note 7 Debacle, Samsung Tells Galaxy S7 Users Phone Is Perfectly Safe
By 11.21.16
After Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 exploding smartphones debacle, the company is more than ready to move on, and is hoping it can convince customers its other phones — like its flagship Galaxy S7 — won’t explode or set fire to your bedroom. [More]
Company Recalls Children’s Water Bottles Sold At L.L. Bean For Containing High Levels Of Lead
By 7.20.16
A company called GSI Outdoors is recalling about 6,700 kids’ insulated water bottles sold exclusively at L.L. Bean stores. Why? Because children shouldn’t be handling toxic lead. [More]
Company Recalling 180K Pacifiers & Clips Due To Choking Hazard
By 5.9.16
As any parent knows, pacifiers have a way of disappearing from the mouths of babies and winding up lost or coated in a fine layer of yuck under the couch. So clips that tether the soothing devices to their users can be very convenient — as long as all the pieces involved in the clip stay where they should. [More]
Walmart Recalling 330,000 Electric Griddles That May Serve Up A Shock
By 1.13.16
You might shock yourself while cooking by how many ways you can figure out to melt cheese into and onto things, but you shouldn’t actually receive an electrical shock in the process. That’s Walmart’s cue to recall 330,000 electric griddles that could pose a shock hazard to home chefs. [More]
Family Claims “Hoverboard” Scooter Exploded, Burned Down House
By 11.30.15
You’ve probably seen all the videos on Facebook, Vine, and YouTube of people cruising around on “hoverboard” scooters (that don’t actually hover at all, in spite of the nickname). While the product might be a hot item for the holidays, one Louisiana family says their not-actually-a-hoverboard caused a fire that burned down their home. [More]
Recaro Recalling More Than 173K Car Seats Over Strap That Can Break, Leave Seat Unsecured
By 9.16.15
Recaro Child Safety initiated a recall this week of more than 173,000 car seats after finding a strap that holds the seat in place can detatch in the event of a crash. [More]
Big Data Is Here To Stay. So Can We Use It To Make Recalls Actually Work?
By 3.16.15
Sometimes products are unsafe. From bacteria-filled food to shrapnel-shooting airbags, on occasion even the most conscientious company will find itself needing to recall a product if it turns out to be harmful to consumers. But recalls are a big pain in the butt all around. One of the biggest issues? Actually letting consumers know that the stuff in their hands or on their shelves has, in fact, actually been recalled. [More]
More Dead Infants Prompt Re-Recall Of Simplicity Bassinet
By 8.20.09
The CPSC has issued a second recall of convertible “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets made by Simplicity after learning of two additional infant deaths since the bassinets were recalled last August. Here is a Consumer Reports video explaining the dangers of the recalled bassinets.
Obama Picks CPSC Head So They Can Finally Do Their Job
By 5.5.09
Obama nominated Inez Moore Tenenbaum as Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) head and Robert Adler as commissioner. He is also also Congress for $107 million more in funding and plans on beefing up the total number of commissioners to five. [Reuters] (Photo: ashi)
These Martha Stewart/Kmart Lounge Chairs Keep Cutting Off Fingertips
By 4.2.09
Holy $#!@, this lounge chair will eat your fingers! Fox5 New York has a video report on dangerously unsafe lounge chairs sold at Kmart under the Martha Stewart brand. Naturally (we’re not making this up), the chairs are designed to complement the Martha Stewart Spontaneously Shattering Glass Patio Tables also sold at Kmart.
Consumer Groups To Obama: Please Put Someone With A Brain In Charge Of The CPSC
By 1.30.09
There’s been a lot of talk lately about how the upcoming implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The law requires that all children’s products be tested for lead and has caused a major freak out amongst librarians (who don’t really want to test their books for lead, or ban children from the library) and thrift stores (who can’t afford to test used toys for lead). Apparently, according to consumer groups that support the bill, the CPSC is supposed to be monitoring this situation and adding exceptions as needed, but has been ignoring the issue. Now those groups are asking President Obama for a change of leadership within the CPSC. Read their letter inside.
Hooray! CPSC Agrees To Exempt Some Natural Items From Product Safety Act
By 1.8.09
Step back from the ledge, makers of lovingly hand-carved wooden dolls: the Consumer Product Safety Commission has lurched into action and tentatively agreed to exempt some materials and items from the lead-testing requirements in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
Got Kids? Glass Coffee Tables Can Be Crazy Dangerous
By 12.16.08
An 11-year-old girl from Providence, R.I. recently died after falling into or jumping on a glass table. She suffered a severe puncture wound and died of uncontrollable bleeding.
Tales Of Consumer Reports Employees Injuring Themselves With Products
By 11.5.08
Nobody is perfect, it seems, not even the folks at safety-conscious Consumer Reports. They’ve put together a group of stories from employees who managed to injure themselves with various products.
Video: Fireworks Are Fun Until They Blow Up In Your Pants
By 7.4.08
Enjoy yourselves out there this 4th, folks, but do remember to be careful with those fireworks, as seen in this edited version of the CPSC fireworks safety video set to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. It’s funny when mannequins blow up. Your hands, jeans, or the desk in front of your face, not so much.
