According to a new poll by consumer watchdog Consumer Reports, one-fifth of U.S. adults knew that they had purchased something -- food, medication or a product (besides a car) that has been recalled within the past three years.
"Time and time again we've seen incidents of recalled products including bassinets, window blind cords and toys, killing or injuring children," said Don Mays, Senior Director, Product Safety, Consumer Reports. "Among the most effective steps to protect yourself is to get your name on manufacturer's recall contact lists so that you can be notified when something you purchased is recalled. You can do that by mailing in product registration that come with many products or registering online."
According to the magazine's findings, less than one quarter of Americans researched a product they purchased to see if it was recalled and more than half of Americans said they never or rarely filled out the registration cards that come with products.
As part of the poll, Consumer Reports analyzed all the public recalls announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission from October 1, 2009 to September 30th, 2010. Their findings:
- Fisher-Price had the most recalls; five notices involved 11.38 million products. Various toys and high chairs were included.
- The largest single recall involved McDonald's Shrek-themed glasses with decals containing cadmium. Twelve million glasses were recalled.
- Items intended for children represented 73 percent of recalled products. There were 177 recalls of children's products amounting to 54.2 million items.
- Strangulation was the hazard most often associated with the recalled products. That danger was common to all recalls of corded window coverings and of children's outerwear with drawstrings.
The full survery will appear in the February issue of Consumer Reports, on sale January 4.
To stay up-to-date on toy recalls, check out this list of recent toy recalls with recall toy pictures and visit the toy recall information center.
Have you ever purchased a toy that was recalled?