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.
J.C. Penney is repairing about 2,700 six-inch bench grinders sold between 1973 and 1975 due to a potential electric shock hazard.
Weed Eater and Montgomery Ward are recalling Grass Getter edger/trimmers due to damaged electrical insulation that could cause electric shock. No injuries have been reported.
Sears and Vernco are recalling 72,000 portable electric fans manufactured in 1973 and 1974 because they may overheat and catch fire. Consumers should stop using the affected units and return them for free repair.
J.C. Penney is recalling approximately 33,500 bicycles sold in 1977 and 1978 because defective pedal cranks may break, posing a risk of serious injury to riders.
McGraw-Edison is repairing about 16,000 six-inch bench grinders sold under various brands due to a potential electric shock hazard caused by worn wire insulation.
Knickerbocker is voluntarily recalling 500,000 stuffed toys because the ink used for lettering contains excessive lead. No injuries have been reported.
Huk-A-Poo Sportswear is recalling approximately 30,000 women's sweatshirts that may not meet federal flammability standards. No injuries have been reported.
Black and Decker is recalling specific extension-cord adapters packaged with hedge trimmers in 1978 due to a potential electrical shock hazard.
Sears is recalling approximately 7,500 five-foot aluminum stepladders sold in 20 states because the top cap may split, causing the ladder to collapse.
Bernina is voluntarily correcting Type 213 foot pedals on sewing machines made between late 1969 and January 1976 due to overheating and fire risks.
Collier-Keyworth is repairing 5,600 car seat/stroller conversion kits because a design defect could cause the seat to disengage, throwing the infant forward.
CPSC warns that specific Coast King bicycles sold in 26 states may have pedal cranks that could break, posing a risk of serious injury to riders.
American Electric is recalling two styles of Great American Frying Machine mini deep fryers due to a potential electric shock hazard.
Huffy Corp. is recalling approximately 54,000 lightweight bicycles sold under Huffy, J.C. Penney, Omega, and Coast King brands because pedal cranks may break without warning.
Red Devil and Sears are recalling electric paint removers sold between May and October 1977 due to a wiring defect that poses a potential shock hazard.
Sperry Remington is repairing approximately 119 women's rechargeable electric shavers due to a potential electric shock hazard caused by pierced insulation.
CPSC recalls 4,150 Gap and 22,000 San Francisco Shirt Works sweatshirts that fail federal flammability standards and could ignite rapidly.
Jack Eckerd is recalling electric ceramic hot pots sold in nine states because they may pose a shock hazard to users.
Bassett Furniture Industries is recalling approximately 6,000 Mandalay style cribs because the headboard and footboard design may allow infants to become entrapped and strangle.
C & S Trading is recalling Magic Curl Professional hand-held curling irons because the handle casing can separate, posing a risk of burns or electric shock.
The CPSC warned consumers that certain G.L. Electric Flasheat portable water heaters may cause serious electric shock. The agency authorized proceedings to remove the products from the marketplace.
CPSC warns that manually operated gas valves imported from Taiwan since 1976 may leak, creating a risk of fire or explosion in homes.
CPSC recalls specific upright pedestal sump pumps with solid black plastic float switches due to electric shock risk. Consumers should disconnect power and seek a free repair.
San Francisco Shirt Works is recalling 22,500 ladies' sweatshirts that fail federal flammability standards and could ignite rapidly.
The CPSC warns that unguarded automatic baseball pitching machines can fire unexpectedly, causing severe injuries. Consumers should lock these machines away and disconnect the pitching arm cable.