From the cars we drive to the food we eat, the products we use daily can have a significant impact on our lives. We trust that the products we interact with are safe and fit for human use, but what happens when a hidden defect, unclear instructions, or dangerous operating conditions put us at risk? Usually, an unsafe or defective product will be recalled, once it has been proven beyond doubt that it puts the wellbeing of consumers at risk. Today, we discuss some of the more common types of product recalls in the United States.
What is a Product Recall?
A product is recalled when a consumer watch group or manufacturer discovers a flaw or safety concern that could put its users at risk. According to Kane Dulin McQuinn Young, a product should be considered defective when it “does not work as intended, does not have proper warnings or instructions, or has incorrect ingredients.” Those that already bought or are currently using the product may be asked to replace, exchange, or return it to the manufacturer. Many corporations have an internal product recall team that works to implement quality control procedures and streamline the recall process, when needed.
Consumer Product Recalls
A consumer product recall occurs when a full production run or batch of commercial products need to be returned. Consumer product recalls typically occur due to defects, efficiency issues, or safety concerns. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) works to protect the public from hazardous items that fall under its jurisdiction, which include everything from dangerous substances to children’s toys.
The CPSC typically takes the following steps to identify and reduce the risk of deadly consumer products:
- Monitoring products to identify potential safety concerns
- Contacting the manufacturer of a dangerous product to negotiate voluntary corrective actions
- Using enforcement action against businesses that do not comply with consumer product safety laws
- Reporting significant product safety hazards to the Department of Justice to pursue criminal penalties
Food, Medicine, & Cosmetic Recalls
The producers of foods, medications, and cosmetics must meet federal safety and quality standards meant to ensure that their products will not harm anyone that uses it properly. A cosmetic, medicine, or food recall may be issued if the product:
- Is contaminated: Bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella can cause a consumer to become very ill. However, even if a contaminant is not directly harmful to consumers, the product is treated as contaminated and should be subject to a recall.
- Is mislabeled: When a product has an incorrect expiration date, inaccurate ingredient list, or other form of mislabeling, it can be recalled.
- Has undeclared ingredients: Products with undeclared ingredients are usually subject to a recall, particularly when the extra ingredient is an allergen.
- Is unsafe: Product packaging, improper ingredient ratios, and unsafe manufacturing practices can result in defective products. For example, a medication that doesn’t have child resistant packaging or baby formula that is known to cause necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) will be subjected to swift recalls.
Meat & Poultry Product Recalls
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) within the United States Department of Agriculture is primarily responsible for overseeing meat and poultry recalls. FSIS is responsible for regulating and inspecting egg, poultry, and meat products that are produced within federally inspected plants. As part of the agency’s responsibilities, they must make sure products are wholesome, safe, and properly labeled. When a meat or poultry product is discovered to be unsafe, a recall can be initiated by the manufacturer, distributor, or FSIS. Should a company refuse to recall a product, the FSIS has the legal authority to seize it in commerce.
Motor Vehicle Recalls
A motor vehicle recall is initiated when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or a car manufacturer determines that a car tire, seat, equipment, or entire vehicle fails to meet safety standards or creates an unreasonable risk on the road. When a vehicle or part is recalled, the manufacturer is required to fix the problem by offering a refund, replacing the defective part, repairing the broken part, or in some cases repurchasing the vehicle. The NHTSA recommends checking recall lists at least twice a year, to ensure no parts of your vehicle have been recalled.
Child Safety Seat Recalls
Child safety seats and restraints are essential to keep children safe in the event of an accident. If a child seat is defective, it may cause a choking hazard, fail to successfully restrain a child during a crash, or inflict serious harm during a collision. The NHTSA process for recalling defective or dangerous child safety seats matches the system used for other car parts.
Tire Recalls
Tires can be recalled for a number of manufacturing or design defects. Previous tire recalls initiated by the NHTSA occurred due to the following flaws:
- Sudden loss of air
- Tire sidewall separation
- Failure to meet strength test requirements
- Missing load rate information on sidewall
- Visible cords seen through the inner liner
- Tire belt separation
- Loss of vehicle control from the tire belt separation
- Incompletely cured vulcanizing compound
- Missing date code TIN information on sidewall
Boat & Boating Safety Recalls
The U.S. Coast Guard is tasked with reviewing consumer complaints about recreational boats and nautical equipment. If a vessel part is found to be dangerous or ineffective, the Coast Guard can initiate a recall to protect consumers from risk. As soon as an item is officially marked “recalled” through the Coast Guard program, manufacturers are obliged to fix the issue at no cost. Even if the issue goes undetected for years, the manufacturer is still liable for repairs.
How Can I Keep Track of Product Recalls?
It can be daunting to try and keep track of product recalls in the U.S., particularly given the sheer number of events that occur in any given year. To keep track of product recalls that may impact you, you can monitor Recent Recalls on the official government website. The site tracks recent consumer, motor vehicle, food, medicine, and cosmetic recalls in the country.