Agency
CPSC oversees more than 15,000 categories of consumer products — toys, juvenile gear, electronics, recreation equipment — and announces recalls jointly with manufacturers.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) oversees the safety of more than 15,000 categories of consumer products — toys, baby gear, kitchen appliances, furniture, recreational equipment, electronics, batteries, and most household goods. CPSC excludes anything covered by another federal agency: food, drugs, cars, firearms, boats. If it's something a household buys and uses, and no other agency owns it, CPSC owns it.
Unlike FDA and USDA, the vast majority of CPSC recalls are voluntary corrective actions negotiated between the agency and the manufacturer. CPSC publishes the joint announcement on its press-release feed; that's what The Recall Desk ingests. Hazards skew toward fire risk (especially lithium-ion batteries and small appliances), choking risk for juvenile products, fall risk for furniture and infant carriers, lead-paint violations on imported goods, and recently a rising count of magnet-set ingestion recalls.
The announcement always lists the model number, the date range of affected units, where the product was sold, and the remedy — usually a free replacement, a refund, or a free repair kit. If you bought a recalled product, save the receipt and check the manufacturer's website for the claim form before disposing of the item.
CPSC is recalling Mica Tree Candleholders sold by Coldwater Creek because flames can ignite the holder, posing a fire and burn risk.
Home Interiors & Gifts is recalling Snow Play Candleholders because flames can ignite the rope linking the snowmen. No injuries or property damage have been reported.
Club Car Inc. is recalling 158 Lynx hunting vehicles because front suspension steering connections can come loose, posing a risk of losing control.
Bachtold Brothers is recalling 63,600 weed and brush cutters because the rotating blade can contact the operator, posing a serious injury hazard.
SCI Promotion Group and Scripto-Tokai Corp. are recalling 448,000 mini-flashlights because the battery compartment can overheat, posing a burn risk.
Barnett of the Caribbean is recalling 17,400 Sintex showerhead hot water heaters sold in Puerto Rico due to electrical and fire risks.
LTD Commodities is recalling two-piece fleece pant sets because the long waist drawstring on the jacket can catch on objects, posing a risk of injury or death.
Lakeside Collection is recalling 3,628 two-piece fleece pant sets because the long waist drawstrings on the jackets can catch on objects, posing a risk of injury or death.
abcDistributing is recalling two-piece fleece pant sets because the long waist drawstring on the jacket can catch on objects, posing a risk of injury or death.
American Greetings is recalling 122,700 DesignWare Zipper Pulls because the plastic butterfly attachments may detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
American Greetings is recalling 17,000 DesignWare Crazy Bounce Balls because they can break apart and pose a choking hazard to young children. No injuries have been reported.
American Greetings is recalling 500 cloth Santa decorations sold at Wal-Mart because the beaded nose could detach and pose an aspiration hazard to young children.
Meijer is recalling about 7,500 Falls Creek Army Flight Jackets for children because the hood drawstrings pose a strangulation risk. No injuries have been reported.
Toys R Us is recalling 50,000 packages of sidewalk chalk sold nationwide from March to November 2003 because the product contains high levels of lead, posing a poisoning risk to young children.
May Department Stores is recalling 57,660 girls' hooded fleece jackets because the zipper pull could detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Merit Furniture Distributors is recalling 524 bunk beds because large openings in the guardrails could allow a child to become trapped and strangled.
Planet 3 is recalling Cherry Bentwood television stands sold at Circuit City because they can tip over, posing a risk of injury or death.
Deere & Company is recalling 4,600 Gator Utility Vehicles because improper brake cable crimping could cause braking failure. No injuries have been reported.
Schylling Associates Inc. is recalling 300 Bear Jack-In-the-Box toys because a red bead on the crank can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Cub Cadet is recalling Series 7000 compact tractors because the shift lever may pop out of gear on slopes, posing a loss-of-control risk.
SecureAlert is recalling GPS2000 MobilePAL+GPS phones because the test button can drain the battery, preventing emergency calls. No injuries have been reported.
Target is recalling 'Double Dipp'n Fun' multicolored sidewalk chalk because it contains high levels of lead, posing a poisoning risk to young children.
Polardreams International Ltd. is recalling 50,600 candle gift sets sold at BJ's Wholesale Clubs because the tealight candles can produce a larger-than-normal flame, posing a fire hazard.
Fisher-Price is recalling Lightning PAC Scooters and MX3 Mini Bikes because motor control circuits can malfunction, causing the vehicles to continue running after the power button is released.
Polaris is recalling 14,000 ATVs because a damaged fuel tank grommet can cause a fuel leak, posing a serious fire hazard.