DadTalk

Food Recalls Malt-o-Meal Recalls Puffed Wheat, Rice

While sick with the flu, I let slide a recall of cereal contaminated with salmonella. How Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat cereals could become contaminated with salmonella is something of a mystery to me, but reports of illnesses continue to spread two weeks into the recall.

At least 21 cases of salmonella agona in 13 states have been reported, according to All American Patriots. So far, the mainstream media, beyond TV News, has not made much effort to cover this recall.

The cereal, which is being recalled by Malt-O-Meal, is sold under a variety of brand names and packaging styles. See the link above for details on recall specifics: there are hundreds of UPC codes listed.

Recalls Magnets Pose Danger in 870,000 Dart Boards

I’ve been quiet on this front for a while, but it’s hard to ignore when 870,000 dart boards are recalled because the small magnets can fall out and be eaten by children. Although there have been no reports of injuries with this toy, magnets can rip through intestines after being swallowed.

Similar dart boards were recalled in February and in March, MEGA Brands recalled 2.4 magnet toys, according to Consumer Reports.

The Chinese-made toys in this week’s recall were sold from September 2002 through March 2008 at Family Dollar stores nationwide, reports the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Food recalls FDA Expands Recalls of Honduran Cantaloupes

When we moved to California in 1998, we quickly gave up cantaloupe and honeydew melons. Why? Because those two fruits have become the white-bread of the melon world.

Instead, we feasted on Crenshaws, Ogens and Santa Claus melons. One taste of those and our interest in over-commercialized cantaloupes and honeydews quickly disappeared.

Sadly, I live in Chicago now. This winter I finally gave in and bought a cantaloupe two weeks ago and a honeydew this week. They tasted sugary, yet flavorless.

At least I did not get salmonella poisoning. Cases of the illness have been linked to a Honduran grower named Agropecuaria Montelibano, which has been fighting massive recalls in this nation and Canada. (Fortunately for me, the cantaloupe and honeydew I ate were from Guatemala.)

Honduras enlisted its President, Manuel Zelaya, to prove they are safe, reports CNN:

Recalls CPSC, Mega Brands Recall 2.4 Million Magnetic Toys

It took more than a year, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission finally persuaded Mega Brands to recall an additional 2.4 million magnetic toys, reports The Chicago Tribune. Some of the toys being recalled this go-around were replacements for previous sets.

The magnets are so powerful they can connect inside a child’s intestines, causing significant damage. To date, more than 10 million Mega Brand toys have been recalled, reports The Tribune.

The CPSC posted two separate press releases to cover the recalls:

• MEGA Brands Recalls Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-School Magnetic Toys; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards
• MEGA Brands Recalls MagnaMan Magnetic Action Figures; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

Battat also added 7,000 magnetic toys to an earlier recall of 125,000 magnetic building toys. Here’s the link:

• Battat Recalls Additional Magnetic Construction Sets; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

Recalls Senate Passes Bill to Improve Toy Safety, But Will It Survive?

The U.S. Senate approved a plan this week to completely revamp product safety in the United States, reports The New York Times. The bill actually increases funding for the Consumer Product Safety Commission and increases its ability to fine and punish those who dump dangerous products on unsuspecting Americans and their children.

The bill also would allow state prosecutors to take action if the federal government fails to effectively protect consumers. And in the no-duh department, the bill also would create a product complaint database accessible to the public.

In fact, the bill is so superior to the one approved by the House, it would seem a no-brainer. And perhaps that explains why the bill is disliked by some Republicans and  a White House that seems intent on dismantling the CPSC once and for all.

Recalls CPSC Leader Suddenly Notices All Is Not Well in Toyland

Suddenly, she’s angry and not taking it anymore from toy companies. “I will not tolerate this industry ... not complying with our regulations,” Nancy Nord told attendees of the annual American International Toy Fair in New York, according to The Associated Press.

Nord, who is the acting chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said she “was ‘very angry’ about recalls involving lead paint because they showed a breakdown in quality control,” writes The Associated Press.  The CPSC leader even faulted her own agency for responding too slowly to eliminate hazardous products.

Nord would be more convincing if she hadn’t spent so much time defending the toy industry’s ability to police itself. At times, she even seemed against legislation to strengthen the CPSC.

In fact, Nord is still working with the Toy Industry Association to develop an industry-imposed certification system. I think it’s a great idea – there will never be enough government money to police these companies – as long as tougher legislation, which is still working its way through Congress, is also passed.

In the meantime, there have been plenty of additional recalls since the beginning of this year. I just can’t keep up with them anymore.

Recalls Southern California Firm Finds Lead in Suitcase Similar to One We Have

As you may have noticed, I’ve stopped reporting on recalls from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It’s not that I think it’s any less important than before, but I wanted to redirect some of my energy to other topics, such as the economic downturn facing Americans.

I still read through alerts that arrive almost weekly. Even after the holiday season, many products have been found dangerous.

At home, we’ve been ever more concerned about product safety because Lael, our 2-year-old, has taken to eating nonfood items such as dinosaurs and foam rockets. I don’t know what the appeal is, but she is getting more adventurous every day. Seth still has the habit of sucking on shirt sleeves and zipper pulls, the latter a common source of lead.

Recently, I was contacted by a California entrepreneur who will test products in the home with a handheld scanner. The service, called Inspect A Toy, is not cheap, but then those scanners cost a fortune and require special training to use. The company charges $149 for the first hour and $50 for each additional hour.

Recalls Should I Continue Recall Lists?

A few months ago, I began reporting on recalls posted by The Consumer Product Safety Commission. I’ve come back with two major lessons from doing this:

First, the CPSC does an abysmal job. Not only has it missed the bulk of problems inside the American toy industry, it doesn’t even do a good job of following up on state and independent agencies that find dangerous toys.

The CPSC is simply incapable of policing the toy industry. Worse, because the agency almost completely relies on importers and manufacturers to self-report dangerous products, it is fundamentally flawed in structure. Even if legislation to increase the agency’s resources and authority passes, it may be years if ever before the agency becomes effective.

Second, and perhaps even more disheartening, is the abject failure of many consumers to care. Sure, most of my readers care greatly, but as a percentage of the population, only 25 percent say they’re concerned, reports The Wall Street Journal. Thirty-one percent of consumers are not worried about dangerous toys Not sure what happened to the rest of the consumers, but having no opinion at all doesn’t bode well.

“There are some customers who, to be honest, couldn’t care less,” said Erik Kolb, an analyst Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services.

And while toy sales are not hopping this season, it seems the real reason has more to do with lack of cash and “must-have” toys rather than safety concerns.

In recent months, many groups have started to publish their own recall lists and databases. These sites are larger and far better funded – think $0 – than myself. So as the holiday season edges toward a close, I’m debating whether to continue covering every toy recall I can find.

I’ll be contemplating my decision as I head off for a few days of rest next week. If you have a strong opinion on the matter, please speak up. I’ll let you know what I decide after the holidays.

Thanks.

Product Safety Does Magnetic Jewelry Pose a Serious Threat to Children?

A few years ago, I asked a young woman how she could have her nose pierced. Her answer: “I didn’t. These are magnets.”

She then proceeded to show me (ugh) that two magnets on either side of her nose held the stud in place. I couldn’t decide if that was better or worse than nose piercing. I was relieved at the time, though, to also learn that tongue studs were usually of the magnetic variety.

But magnetic jewelry may have a darker side, posing a threat to little children, reports The Chicago Tribune. That’s because these magnets are as strong or stronger than the ones found in children’s toys, which can cause serious injuries or even death. Take a look at this chart to see just how strong some of these magnets are in relation to those in toys.

Recalls Fisher-Price Pulls Additional Toys in Illinois, Report Says

Fisher-Price is recalling green blood-pressure cuffs tainted with lead in Illinois only, according to Consumer Reports. The toymaker is taking the action after discovering the contaminated cuffs, which are part of the Sesame Street Giggle Fisher-Price toy medical kits, contained high levels of lead.

The lead was in the PVC plastic instead of the paint, much like the red cuffs from a different set that were recalled in Illinois earlier this month.

The punch-line for American parents is that the company is still refusing to recall the product in other states because it doesn’t officially violate federal regulations. Here is Illinois State Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s press release on the recall.

I don’t know about you, but if Fisher-Price and its parent Mattel can’t act responsibly in a case like this, why should I trust any of their toys?