House Speaker Nancy Pelosi takes on product safety

Yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) held a news conference on Capital Hill on Democratic efforts to promote product and food safety.  I was also invited to give remarks (see page 2) in a speech I called “The Year of The Recall.” 

As the only non-elected official invited to speak, I was certainly honored to participate in an event that caught such media attention.  The headlines today reported the most newsworthy subject of the press conference: Speaker Pelosi’s call for Nancy Nord, the embattled acting chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission to resign.  Representatives Rush and DeLauro echoed the call.

Should Nord resign, and she said today she has no intention of doing so, the CPSC would lose quorum.  That means they would not be able to mandate recalls, levy civil penalties against rule breakers, or adopt new safety standards.  That would leave only Commissioner Thomas Moore to head what is supposed to be a three-commissioner agency.  The Bush administration has yet to define a viable candidate for the chairman seat, left vacant when Hal Stratton quit abruptly in June 2006.   

The CPSC needs strong leadership to help reduce the infiltration of hazardous products into the marketplace as well as our homes.  With all the concern about product safety today we hope the CPSC gains the resources and authority it needs to keep unsafe products off the market in the first place rather than relying on an ineffective recall process once they are already there.   -- Don Mays

(Don Mays' remarks from the news conference follow.)    

Lead-painted Halloween teeth among today's recalls

Sets of Halloween "ugly" teeth painted with lead paint are among recalls made today by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Also recalled were "Elite Operations" military-style action figures and accessories sold at Toys 'R' Us, "Galaxy Warriors" sold at Family Dollar stores and a "Ribbit" board game in which the game pieces are painted with lead. Of these, the recall of 43,000 sets of lead-painted teeth is most worrisome because ingesting lead has been linked to developmental and learning disorders. Of course, these lead-tainted products should be immediately taken away from children. Details of the recalls follow. For refund information, click on the title link.

“Ugly Teeth” party favors
How many: 43,000
Description: The fake Halloween teeth are painted white, black and orange with brown gums. They were sold as party favors in packages of eight. “Ugly Teeth,” “Amscan,” “Party Favors,” “Value Pack Party Favors,” UPC 0-48419-65002-7 and UPC 0-48419-61663-4 are printed on the packaging.
Reason: The surface paint on the teeth contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold by: Various retailers nationwide from January 2006 through October 2007 for about $2.
Made in: China
Importer: Amscan Inc., of Elmsford, N.Y.
Contact: Amscan Inc. at (800) 335-7585 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.amscan.com.

Elite Operations action figures
How many: 16,000
Description: Four military-style Elite Operations toys, including Super Rigs (#1004), Command Patrol Center (#1020), Barracuda Helicopter (#1023), and a three-pack of 8-inch figures (#1024). The product number is located on the toy’s packaging.
Reason: Surface coatings on the toys contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold by: Toys “R” Us stores nationwide and toysrus.com from July 2007 through October 2007 for between $10 and $30.
Made by: Toy World Group Ltd/Chun Tat Toys Factory Limited, of Guangdong, China.
Importer/Retailer: Toys “R” Us Inc., of Wayne, N.J.
Contact: Toys “R” Us at (800) 869-7787 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, and between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.toysrus.com.

Galaxy Warriors action figures
How many: 380,000
Description: The posable spaceman figures are about 4½-inches tall and come with two accessories. They were sold in various colors including yellow, gray, silver, blue, green, gold, black, and red.
Reason: Surface paints on the recalled toys contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold by: Family Dollar Stores nationwide from January 2006 through October 2007 for about $1.
Made in: China
Distributor: Henry Gordy International Inc., of Plainfield, N.J.
Contact: Henry Gordy International toll-free at (888) 790-2700 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

Ribbit board games
How many: 1,500
Description: SimplyFun Ribbit board games. The games are sold with five frog-shaped wooden pieces that act as pawns for movement. The wooden pieces are blue, red, green, yellow and lavender.
Reason: Surface paint on the five wooden pieces contain excess levels of lead.
Sold by: SimplyFun independent consultants nationwide from March 2007 through October 2007 for about $18.
Made in: China
Importer/Distributor: SimplyFun LLC, of Bellevue, Wash.
Contact: SimplyFun toll-free at (877) 557-7767 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.simplyfun.com.

CR and the CPSC on lead test kits: Similar results, different conclusions

Last week, we posted the recommendations from our independent tests of do-it-yourself lead test kits. Our conclusion, that they can be limited but useful screening tools to identify lead in household products, is different from the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recent announcement that consumers should not use these products to find lead in their homes.  Our differences lie not as much in the testing itself as in the interpretation of the data.  Here’s how we came to our conclusions and why we believe parents should consider these kits as a helpful tool for screening household products.

Consumer Reports tested five lead test kits on toys, jewelry, ceramics, and school supplies.  Lead test kits are generally designed to detect surface lead--lead that you can be exposed to by touching or mouthing the product.  We tested for lead on products with surface paint, those made of vinyl or other plastics, and ceramics with colored designs. Overall, we found that the best performing test kits (Homax Lead Check, Lead Check Household Lead Test Kit, and Lead Inspector), while not perfect, are useful tools for consumers who want to screen for lead in their homes.  Our results showed differences among the brands we tested.  The CPSC did not identify the brand names of the kits they tested.   

Because  lead is often hidden beneath the surface, we agree with the CPSC that you shouldn't assume that all items testing negative are actually free of lead. Based on our results, we also agree that a limitation of these kits is that you cannot depend on them to detect lead embedded below the surface of a product.  Where we diverge with the CPSC is in the way  we classify the results.  The CPSC characterized the inability to detect subsurface lead as a “false negative” test result. But because the kits generally don’t claim to test subsurface lead, we think that’s a mischaracterization.  In our view, a false negative is when a kit fails to detect surface lead at levels above its detection limit.  According to this definition, we observed no false negatives for the kits we recommended.  If a product tests negative but you have reason to believe it might contain lead, consider having it tested by a professional.

Since these kits don’t always detect lead under the surface or surface coatings, they are generally not a good tool for detecting lead in metal jewelry.  Inexpensive jewelry is often coated with a shiny metal to give it luster but hazardous lead might lurk beneath.  One CPSC study found that 20 percent of children’s metal jewelry has high levels of lead.  Because children can suck on or even swallow jewelry, we think that cheap jewelry presents a risk not worth taking and recommend against buying it. (Visit our gallery of jewelry recalled by the CPSC.)

The CPSC also warned that home lead tests could result in “false positives.”  A false positive result could cause you to throw away items that actually contain no lead.  We agree that false positives can occur but it did not happen in our tests.  In fact, the CPSC  found that this happened in only two out of 104 tests and in those cases the agency acknowledged that both could possibly have been due to interference of a red sample's color with the reaction color of the test kit.

Like CPSC, we also found that not all the test kits are easy to use and we recommend that you carefully follow directions and plan on practicing a little. Getting an accurate reading might take a few minutes, or even a couple of hours in some cases, to allow the color to develop if the initial result is negative.  One type of swab turns pink or red in the presence of lead.  You need to follow manufacturer’s instructions for red and pink items and be careful not to misinterpret pink or red paints that rub off onto the swabs as a false indication of lead presence.  Our report pointed to one kit, Lead Inspector, that might perform better for pink or red items because it does not have a red or pink color change.

Because we are concerned that so many lead-laden products have slipped into our homes, we recommend that you regularly check the CPSC recall list.  If you are concerned about other specific items in your home, especially if you have small children who put things in their mouths, these lead test kits might be a useful tool.  Once a lead test kit tells you that a beloved ceramic bowl or favorite toy might have lead, you can make your own decision about what to do with that item: toss it, send it to a lab for additional testing, or place it out of reach of your children. Though a negative result is no guarantee that the item is lead free, these kits, limitations and all, give you more information than you have today and, more important, allow you to actually do something to help minimize your children’s exposure to a hazardous substance.

And don’t forget that it’s very important to minimize lead exposures from old paint or plumbing and to have your child’s blood tested for lead levels, especially if they are less than 2 years old.

If you use a home lead test kit and get positive results, please share the information with us by clicking on Report a Safety Problem.

More on lead

• CPSC's position on home lead tests
• CPSC recalls page

From Consumer Reports

• Our latest tests find lead in more products
• Five things parents can do to avoid lead poisoning
• Testing the lead test kits
• Lead-tainted jewelry recalls cataloged by Consumer Reports

Is there something fishy about new advice on fish?

Since 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that because of the potential for mercury to harm a developing fetus, women of childbearing age should eat no more than 12 ounces of fish per week, avoid such high-mercury fish as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish altogether, and limit intake of white albacore tuna to 6 ounces per week.   

Consumer Reports, in July 2006, took a look at some new FDA data and concluded that the agency's advice on tuna was not sufficiently stringent.  We recommended that to be on the safe side, women who are pregnant should avoid canned tuna in addition to the other four types of high-mercury fish during their pregnancy.  At the same time, however, we noted that there are quite a number of fish that are so low in mercury that even pregnant women can safely eat them every day.  We urged pregnant women to choose these very low mercury fish, which include fresh wild caught and canned salmon, shrimp, sardines, clams, tilapia and pollock.

But a recent announcement from the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition flies in the face of that advice. The organization recommended that women of childbearing age, including pregnant women, “should eat a minimum of 12 ounces per week of fish like salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel, and can do so safely.”  Consumer Reports would agree that pregnant women can safely consume salmon (as long as it is wild caught, which minimizes exposure to other pollutants) and sardines. But more than 12 ounces a week of tuna? Neither the EPA nor the FDA's expert panels, nor Consumers Union regard such amounts of tuna as safe for pregnant women.

Almost immediately, questions began to arise about this new advice.  While it had been put forward as the position of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies coalition, which includes the March of Dimes and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it turns out that the members do not determine its positions; the group's Board of Directors does.  Indeed, a disclaimer on the HMHB Web site says, “Any statement that is supported by the HMHB Board in no way implies that it has been endorsed by our member organizations.”  And the March of Dimes, for one, does not endorse the new advice on eating fish.

Even the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Web site is inconsistent about the coalition's position.  On the site, Professor James A. McGregor, of the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, endorses the more conservative FDA advice. However, he was one of the 14 panelists who developed the new HMHB advice, and he now supports it on a linked blog.

According to the HMHB Web site, the National Fisheries Institute, an industry trade association, provided honoraria of $1,000 each to the 14 members of the panel who came up with this new advice, and also covered travel, hotel bills and food for a meeting attended by the panelists. In addition, the four-person Executive Committee received an additional $500 each for the time spent in planning the meeting. Both the New York Times and the Washington Post reported that the NFI also gave the Coalition $60,000 for its education campaign on seafood consumption. 

Consumer Reports stands by its original position: Pregnant women and their babies can and should get the nutritional benefits of seafood by consuming low-mercury fish. They can avoid the risks of mercury exposure by not eating high mercury fish, especially shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish and tuna.

Recalls: the Bumbo 'baby sitter' seat and another Britax car seat

Reports of three children fracturing their skulls after falling out of the popular foam Bumbo seats have prompted the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall one million of the so-called "baby sitter" seats. The CPSC has received reports of 28 babies falling out of the seats including the three who were seriously injured. Those accidents occurred when the seats were placed on raised surfaces such as tables or countertops instead of on the floor. The CPSC notice says: "If the seat is placed on a table, countertop, chair or other elevated surface, young children can arch their backs, flip out of the Bumbo seat, and fall onto the floor, posing a risk of serious head injuries."

Made in South Africa, the chairs are constructed from a single piece of molded foam and come in a variety of bright colors. The seat wraps completely around the back of the baby and a crotch post at the center front forms two leg openings. The bottom is round and flat. The recalled seats were sold over the past four years, beginning in August 2003, at Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, USA Babies and at other toy and children’s stores nationwide, including online retailers, for about $40.

On its Web site, Bumbo touts the seat as "a snug and cozy environment for your baby" and recommends the seats for infants as young as six weeks, who can hold up their own heads without assistance, up to babies 14-months-old or weighing as much as 22 pounds. A warning appears on the back of the seat that says:  “Never use on a raised surface. Never use as a car seat or bath seat. Designed for floor level use only. Never leave your baby unattended as the seat is not designed to be totally restrictive and may not prevent release of your baby in the event of vigorous movement.”

As a remedy, Bumbo is offering parents new instructions and a more-strongly worded warning label sticker that says: “WARNING – Prevent Falls; Never use on any elevated surface.” The company says the seats do not have to be returned. However, they are being temporarily removing them from store shelves until the packaging can be updated.

In our view, it was completely foreseeable that parents or caregivers would place this seat on a chair or table.  Similar-looking booster seats often have straps to attach them to the chair and a belt to secure the child.  This has neither.  A warning label placed on the product itself may not solve the problem.  We hope that the CPSC will closely follow injuries associated with the Bumbo to see if a simple sticker will significantly reduce the number of falls.

"With 28 such incidents of children falling out of this chair, a warning is necessary," said Julie Vallese, a spokeswoman for the CPSC. "The agency is requiring the company to make the warning stronger and larger and the instructions clearer."

"The product shouldn’t be used on an elevated surface no matter how tempting and pictures that may show babies in social settings on raised surfaces will be removed from the company's marketing," she added.

For more information contact Bumbo International at (877) 932-8626 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.bumbosafety.com.

Britax Marathon recall
In another child-safety recall, Britax annouced the recall of a batch of Marathon child restraint seats because the top tether hook may open and release under certain circumstances when the seat is being used by a child weighing 50 pounds or more. (Consumer Reports listed this seat as one suitable for obese children in an earlier report.) The seats in question were made between May 23, 2006 and July 28, 2006 and have the model numbers E9L06, E9W06 and E906. The top tether hook is stamped with lot number KGR 01 A.

Britax is sending all registered owners of the seat a top tether replacement that is suitable for children weighing up to 65 pounds. Parents who own the seat but did not send in the registration card can register online. On its Web site, Britax is also offering a video and visuals to help parents install the replacement tether correctly. Parents can also call Britax at 800-683-2045.

Simplicity finally has repair ready for dangerous cribs

Four weeks ago, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the largest crib recall in its history.  One million Simplicity and Graco cribs were recalled because they have a design flaw that could cause the drop-side to detach, creating a dangerous gap that can entrap and suffocate infants. The September 21st recall notice advised consumers with affected cribs to contact Simplicity for a free repair kit.  Unfortunately, as many consumers have learned, an approved repair kit was not available. 

Today, the CPSC and Simplicity finally announced that an approved repair kit is ready. However, some parents may not be happy with the announced fix because it involves immobilizing the drop-side. “After an intensive effort to develop a repair that would allow safe use of the drop-side, CPSC staff and Simplicity have determined that the safest repair option is to immobilize the drop-side,” the CPSC said in its press release announcing the fix. We hope that won't deter parents from going ahead and repairing their cribs even if it means giving up the convenience of using the drop-side.

Despite the possible inconvenience, this is a serious hazard that needs to be eliminated. The agency says it now knows of three infant deaths, seven entrapments and 56 incidents associated with these cribs.

Parents should register on Simplicity’s Web site or call the toll-free hotline: 1-888-593-9274  to get the free repair kit. The company will have operators available to provide technical assistance to consumers as well as a video version of assembly instructions. Simplicity will also send crib owners a rebate coupon for a future purchase if they send in a reply card indicating successful installation of the repair.

So far, Simplicity says more than 45,000 customers have requested a repair kit. Compared to the one million affected cribs out there, that is a dismal response to the first recall notice, particularly considering all the media attention surrounding this huge recall. That means there are a lot more parents and caregivers who need to follow up and fix their cribs. The first recalled crib models were sold in January 1998 and the last of the models were sold in May 2007. For a full list of the cribs involved, visit Simplicity’s Web site.

Recall roundup: Diego, jewelry, Halloween pails and more

In what has become almost a weekly event, the Consumer Product Safety Commission today recalled a variety of children's toys, jewelry and holiday products because they contain lead. Among the recalls are 38,000 toy boats by Fisher-Price featuring the popular cartoon character Diego in the driver's seat. Also recalled were 308,000 pieces of children's jewelry, 142,000 Halloween pails for trick-or-treating, 80,000 bobble-head cake decorations and a third recall of 97,000 children's gardening tools that expanded two recalls made this summer. The recalled items should be taken away from children immediately. Here are the details. Click on the title links for photos and refund information.

Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boats
How many: 38,000
Description: An orange and yellow boat that squirts water. Cartoon character Diego is in the driver’s seat. “Fisher Price,” product number K3413, and a date code between 137-7HF and 223-7HF are marked on the toys.
Reason: Surface paints contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Retail stores nationwide from June 2007 through October 2007 for about $15.
Made in: China
Importer: Fisher-Price Inc., of East Aurora, N.Y.
Contact: Fisher-Price at (888) 299-0579 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.service.mattel.com

Beary Cute, Expressions, and Sassy & Chic Children’s Metal Jewelry
How many: 198,000
Description: Beary Cute, Expressions, and Sassy & Chic children’s jewelry (necklaces, bracelets and earrings) with items number 855589, 873091, 873097, or 903950. The item number can be found on the reverse of the packaging.
Reason: The jewelry contains high levels of lead.
Sold at: Dollar Tree, Dollar Bill$, Dollar Express, Greenbacks and Only $1 stores nationwide from December 2005 through July 2007 for $1.
Made in: China
Importer: Greenbrier International, Inc., of Chesapeake, Va.
Contact: Dollar Tree Stores Inc. at (800) 876- 8077 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dollartree.com

WeGlow Children’s Metal Jewelry
How many: 110,000
Description:  WeGlow children’s flashing rings. The character-themed rings were sold in Shrek the Third and Spiderman 3 designs. The rings have item number 920422 printed on back of the packaging.
Reason: The jewelry contains high levels of lead.
Sold at: Dollar Tree, Dollar Bill$, Dollar Express, Greenbacks and Only $1 stores nationwide from December 2005 through August 2007 for $1.
Made in: China
Importer: WeGlow International, of Virginia Beach, Va.
Contact: WeGlow toll-free at (866) 934- 5692 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.weglow.com.

Purple Halloween Pails with Witch Decorations
How many: 142,000
Description: Purple Halloween pails with a picture of a witch figure silhouetted against a green moon. The pail measures about 6 1/2 inches high. “Distributed by Family Dollar, Inc,” SKU number 1033953, and UPC number 017845000591 are printed on a label on the pail. Orange Halloween pails with black jack-o-lantern decorations are not included in this recall.
Reason: The green paint on the pails contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Family Dollar stores nationwide from August 2007 through October 2007 for about $1.
Made in: China
Importer: Family Dollar Stores, of Charlotte, N.C.
Contact: Family Dollar at (800) 547-0359 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.familydollar.com.

Football Bobble Head Cake Decorations
How many: 80,000
Description: Plastic miniature football bobble heads with green bases only, which were sold for placement on a cake. The bobble heads represented at least 15 major teams in the NFL.
Reason: Surface paint on the body of the bobble head contains lead
Sold at: Bakeries and ice cream stores nationwide from January 2006 through October 2007 with the purchase of a cake or ice cream.
Made in: China
Manufacturer: DecoPac Inc., of Anoka, Minn.
Contact: DecoPac Product Safety at (800) 536-6558 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.decopacproductsafety.com.

Children’s Toy Gardening Tools
Earlier recalls: September and August.
How many: 97,000
Description: This recall involves the Robbie Ducky children’s leaf rake, hoe, broom and spade from the “Robbie Ducky Garden Collection,” which is printed on a tag attached to the handle. The tools measure between 27 and 29 inches long.
Reason: Surface paint on the handle of the toy gardening tools can contain excessive levels of lead paint.
Sold at: Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores nationwide from January 2007 through September 2007 for about $7.
Made in: China
Importer: Jo-Ann Stores Inc., of Hudson, Ohio.
Contact: Jo-Ann Stores Inc. toll-free at (888) 739-4120 ext. 7 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email the firm at guest.services@jo-annstores.com or visit the firm’s Web site at www.joann.com.

Testing the lead test kits

Three of the five home lead-testing kits we tested at Consumer Reports were useful though limited screening tools if you are worried about specific items in your home. The kits detect surface, or “accessible,” lead. They don’t detect lead embedded below the surface. If an item tests positive, remove it from use. For exact lead levels, have it screened professionally.

Homax Lead Check, $8
Lead Check Household Lead Test Kit, $18.45
These two kits consist of cigarette-shaped swabs, made by the same company, that turn pink when they detect lead. They were the easiest to use and identified accessible lead in toys, ceramic dishware, and vinyl or plastic. If lead concentrations are low, these swabs can take up to two hours to change color, but in our tests high concentrations produced immediate results. The eight-swab Lead Check Household Lead Test Kit pack is a better bargain than the Homax two-swab pack. Its packaging was less susceptible to being crushed.

Lead Inspector, $13
Swabs turn yellow, brown, gray, or black if lead is detected. It can take up to 10 minutes for a color change to occur at low lead levels. The kit, with eight tests, identified accessible lead and might be a good choice for painted metal jewelry. It also might be superior for pink or red items, because if those shades of paint bled onto a Lead Check swab, it might falsely appear to be positive. Have good ventilation and wear gloves to protect skin from chemicals.

First Alert, $13
The four test swabs provided are similar in design to those used in Lead Inspector. But we experienced some false negatives for accessible lead.

Pro-Lab Lead Surface, $10
This kit was less sensitive and more difficult to use. Two small pieces of treated paper are cut to create six tests. The paper is moistened and rubbed on the object, but we found the paper often fell apart before the two-minute rubbing time was over.

Latest recalls from the CPSC and FDA

For updated information on all U.S. recalls, go to recalls.gov.

Shedding a little daylight on trick-or-treating

This year with Daylight Savings Time ending after Halloween instead of before, trick-or-treaters will benefit from having more light as they travel from house to house that evening. Motorists and homeowners will also be able to better see the ghosts, goblins and superheroes prowling about.

Even so, you should keep safety in mind as you plan your family's costumes. The leading danger on Halloween isn't tainted candy; it's the risk of pint-sized pedestrians tripping over their costumes -- or getting hit by cars that fail to see them in their dark cloaks and gowns. Costume flammability remains an issue as evidenced by a cape recalled last season for not meeting flammability standards. And fire from unattended candles can result in a Halloween horror. We've covered these tips before but they bear repeating each season.

And while we don't want to give you a fright about all your holiday preparations, we'd like to remind parents about ways to safely carve a pumpkin, which can be tricky if you use the wrong tools. At Consumer Reports, we tested several kits and found they can reduce the risk of accidentally getting cut.

Nanotechnology has consumers talking: join the conversation

Our story on the growing use of nano-sized materials in consumer products in the July issue of Consumer Reports clearly got  people thinking about these ultra-tiny materials. Since we published the piece, there's been a lot of media attention focused on sunscreens in particular, with manufacturers and other organizations voicing various opinions about the relative safety of different sunscreen ingredients  -- some nano-sized and some not.

But sunscreens aren’t the only nano-formulated products that have caused a buzz. There's growing consumer interest in these new materials and concern over their effect on the body and on the environment. And consumers are justifiably questioning what processes and regulations are needed to ensure that nano particles are managed safely throughout the chain of commerce.

To expand the dialogue and learn more about consumer perspectives on nanotechnology, Consumers Union is collaborating with the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies on a two-day online event, Consumers Talk Nano, on October 23rd and 24th. The aim is to enable consumers to communicate online with expert panelists and with each other about this important topic. Register to participate in the dialogue or visit the project's web site to find more resources.

To learn more about nanomaterials, read the FAQ on nanoparticles in sunscreens that follows.

Study of older drivers challenges conventional wisdom

For years, the common assumption has been that older drivers are unsafe drivers. But a new study from the Rand Institute for Civil Justice challenges that notion, concluding that young drivers (15 to 24) are more likely to cause accidents.

The study -- using high-quality data on counts of two-car fatal accidents involving drivers of different ages -- found that drivers 65 and older are somewhat more likely, specifically 16 percent more likely, than adult drivers (those 25 to 64) to cause an accident.  “While that difference is significant, it is perhaps far smaller than the conventional wisdom, fueled by anecdote, would imply that it would be. And it is nowhere near the risk that younger drivers pose to the public,” the study said, noting that young drivers are 188 percent more likely than adult drivers to cause a crash.

The study found that older drivers drive far less than adult drivers do, 38 percent fewer miles, while younger motorists drive about 54 percent more than adult drivers. “Together, these findings suggest that younger drivers pose a much greater risk to traffic safety than do older drivers, both because they are likelier to cause a crash and because they drive many more miles,” the study noted. It stated that older drivers, who represent 15 percent of all licensed drivers, cause 7 percent of all two-car accidents while younger drivers, who represent 13 percent of all licensed drivers, cause 43 percent of all two-car accidents.

Why?  The study suggests that many older drivers stop driving or compensate for their impairments by changing their behavior: driving less frequently, avoiding high-speed zones and eliminating night-time driving. “While driving ability declines with age for most people, those seniors who continue to drive appear to be safer drivers than the general public might think,” said David Loughran, a RAND senior economist who was the lead author of the study. “By far, it is the youngest drivers who pose the greatest risk to traffic safety."

When they do get in accidents, drivers 65 and older are at much greater risk of serious injury or death because they are generally in poorer health and more frail than younger people, according to the study. Senior drivers are nearly seven times more likely than younger drivers to be killed in a two-car accident. “Seniors who drive pose a much larger risk to themselves than to others,” Loughran said.

So what do these findings mean? For one thing, state motor vehicle departments should carefully consider the costs and benefits of imposing stricter licensing requirements on older drivers. “Our results suggest that there are relatively few older drivers who need to be legally prohibited from driving,” the study says.  Attention would be better spent on improving car safety technology, such as airbags and seat belts to reduce injuries among older people. And of course, the study adds, “more public attention should be given to reducing the riskiness of younger drivers.”

Playing with fire: lighters that look like toys

    In North Carolina, a six-year-old boy sustained second-degree burns after playing with a lighter that looked like a toy cell phone.
    In Maryland, playground equipment was set on fire by three five-year-old girls using a gun-shaped lighter.
    In Oregon, one child died and another was permanently brain damaged after a six-year-old, playing with a lighter that looked like a toy dolphin, started a fire. In another incident, a mother was severely burned after her child, playing with a lighter that resembled a Christmas tree, ignited the mother’s bed.
    In Arkansas, two young boys recently died after their apartment caught fire. News reports said the children had been playing with a motorcycle-shaped lighter in which the flame came out of the exhaust pipe. 

There are no hard and fast numbers on just how serious a problem these toy-looking lighters have become. But certainly incidents like these have been disturbing enough to prompt the National Association of State Fire Marshals to call for a ban on the sale and use of these novelty lighters during its annual meeting.

The lighters come in all shapes and sizes and their most common characteristic is that they look like anything but a lighter. They can be made to look like a soda can, a toy car or gun, a ladybug or frog, a felt-tip pen and even a rubber ducky.

The European Union banned the sale of novelty lighters in March 2007; it’s now time for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to follow suit, the fire marshals said in a recently passed resolution. As Oregon state fire marshal Nancy Orr wrote to the CPSC, “there are no good reasons that lighters should be manufactured to resemble toys.”

Current CPSC safety standards, adopted in 1994, require all cigarette lighters to be child resistant.  The cigarette lighter safety standard requires disposable and novelty lighters to have a child-resistant mechanism that makes lighters difficult for children younger than age five to operate.

Fire and industry officials say that some of the novelty lighters meet these standards, some don’t. But even those that do meet the standards are attractive to children because of their fun shapes and bright colors.

The Lighter Association, which represents the major lighter manufacturers, is also opposed to novelty lighters. “We think they serve no purpose and are likely attractive to children,” said David H. Baker, the association’s general counsel.  However, Baker said his members have an even bigger safety concern: the lack of general safety standards for all disposable lighters in the U.S. The lighter association has been pressing the CPSC to adopt such standards since 2001.

“We are the only country in the western world that doesn’t have a general safety standard for lighters,” he said. So far, the CPSC staff has been reluctant to endorse a mandatory standard, saying that the risk of death or injury from lighter malfunctions was low given the number of lighters on the market.

The issue of novelty lighters doesn’t appear to have changed the CPSC’s stance so far. Agency spokeswoman Julie Vallese told us, “We do know that children are attracted to them, see it as a play value, because of their design and shape … That’s why the enforcement of child-resistant lighters is important.” Even more important Vallese added, “parents should ensure children be kept away from these lighters.”

But will the agency consider issuing a ruling on these lighters? “At this time, I don’t think so," Vallese said.

Add recalls to the list of Halloween hazards

Halloween always prompts a host of safety warnings. You’ve heard many of them before: Make sure costumes can be seen in the dark; be careful when placing candles and, of course, beware of tainted candy. This year, we’re sad to say, we’ve got one more caution to add to the list: Check out your costumes and accessories,  candy containers and decorations to make sure they have not been recalled because they contain excessive levels of lead.

Already, in the weeks before the holiday, a Halloween product has been caught up in the onslaught of lead recalls. Last week, the agency recalled a Frankenstein cup because its paint contained excessive amounts of lead. We won't be surprised if there are more recalls before trick or treating time.

In fact, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio had 16 Halloween products tested for lead by Ohio's Ashland University. The results: three products, including the Frankenstein cup, significantly exceeded the CPSC's standard for lead. The other two products--a witch candy bucket and a skull candy bucket--have not yet been recalled. UPDATE: 55,000 skull pails were recalled on Oct. 17. The pails, containing a mixture of candy, were sold at retail stores nationwide beginning in September for two dollars.

So as you get ready to carve your pumpkin and buy treats for the neighborhood kids, take the time to sign up to for recall product alerts at the CPSC's web site. And while you’re at it, check your holiday stash from last year to make sure it doesn’t include previously recalled items such as the vinyl Creepy Cape costume sold by Family Dollar (a fire hazard) or the Mr. Potato Head pumpkin decorating kits sold by Target (a choking hazard because the kits contained small parts).

If you spot any of these items on store shelves, make sure you notify the store manager as well as the CPSC.

New set of lead recalls includes three from J.C. Penney

This week's round of recalls for lead from the Consumer Product Safety Commission includes three from retailer J.C. Penney: a Winnie-the-Pooh play set, an art set and ornaments. Recalled from other retailers were a second art set, bendable dinosaurs and a small collectible racing helmet. All of the more than 90,000 items violate the federal lead standard.

Largest among the recalls was the 23-piece Winnie the Pooh play set with 49,000 sets in circulation. Parents are advised to take the lead-tainted items away from their children immediately as exposure to lead can cause developmental and learning disorders. Here are the details of the latest recalls. For refund information and photos, click on the title link.

Disney Deluxe Winnie-the-Pooh 23-Piece Play Sets
How many: 49,000
Description: The recalled play set consists of 23 pieces including: either a white or black baby doll and assorted Winnie-the-Pooh themed items such as a diaper bag, blanket, playpen, highchair, swing, stroller, and carrying bags.
Reason: Surface paints on the play sets contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: The J.C. Penney catalog, Web site and outlet stores nationwide from August 2005 through August 2007 for about $40.
Importer: J.C. Penney, of Plano, Texas
Contact information: Call J.C. Penney toll-free at (888) 333-6063 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.jcp.com

The other J.C. Penney items include:
Deluxe Wooden Art Sets
How many: 19,000
Description: The art set consists of a wooden box with several pull-out trays containing 177 different art items, including paints and brushes.
Reason: Surface paint on the outside of the wooden box contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: The J.C. Penney catalog and Web site from September 2005 through August 2007 for about $40.

Breyer 2006 Stirrup Ornaments
How many: 2,400
Description: A stirrup-shaped ornament with a white prancing horse and blue ribbons. “2006” is stamped on the rim of the ornament.
Reason: Surface paints on the ornaments contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: The J.C. Penney catalog and Web site from August 2006 through August 2007 for about $18.

The three other recalls include:

• 2,500 Riddell Collectible “Jeff Gordon” Mini Helmets
• 10,000 Kipp Brothers Bendable Dinosaur Toys
• 7,800 Cracker Barrel Princess Magnetic Travel Art Set Lap Desks

New study confirms dangers of bumper pads to babies

One of the most successful safety campaigns in recent history has been the Back to Sleep program, designed to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The campaign--as its name indicates--advises parents to place healthy babies on their backs to sleep because research has shown that babies who sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS. As the percentage of infants placed on their backs to sleep increased dramatically since the early 1990s,  the rate of SIDS has declined by more than 50 percent.

But a new study just published in the Journal of Pediatrics suggests there’s even more parents can do to reduce the risk of crib death. And that is to stop using bumper pads in cribs and bassinets. Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, has long discouraged the use of all soft bedding including bumper pads.

According to the study done by Washington University's Department of Pediatrics, “crib  and bassinet bumpers are dangerous.” The study makes that case by reviewing the Consumer Product Safety Commission database of crib-deaths from 1985 to 2005. The study found 27 cases of infant death involving bumper pads or similarly padded bassinets. The most deaths, 13, occurred when the infant became wedged between the bumper and another object; 11 deaths occurred when the infant’s face was against the bumper and 3 deaths were the result of the bumper tie around the infant’s neck. In theory, bumpers are designed to prevent a baby’s head from hitting crib bars or to keep extremities from projecting through the bars. But the study says that these benefits are outweighed by the risks of death.

The report "raises serious concerns about the safety of bumper pads and highlights the dangers of all soft bedding in cribs," said Nancy Cowles, Executive Director of Kids in Danger. Jack Walsh, executive director of Keeping Babies Safe  added:  "It’s appalling that the fatalities associated with bumper pads have gone unreported for so long. In light of this report, we need to consider whether the sale of bumper pads should be banned.”

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, which represents the leading makers of infant bedding and cribs, had a different reaction to the study. The group said that the CPSC has not shown any direct causal connection between infant fatalities and properly made traditional crib bumpers. CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson said the 27 fatalities cited in the Journal of Pediatrics study is not an official agency number. He said there may have been other factors involved, including crib-integrity issues such as the width of the slats, that have been addressed by newer safety standards.

Our advice: Remember, bare is best.  Don't buy puffy or padded bumper guards,  sleep positioners, pillows, quilts, duvets or stuffed animals for your baby's crib. Experts have long recognized the suffocation risk inherent in such soft crib bedding.

Cub Scout recognition badge gets demerits for lead

The manufacturer of 1.6 million kits issued to Cub Scouts over the past seven years has recalled a recognition badge because it contains high levels of lead, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The badge was sold at Boy Scouts of America retail outlets nationwide from January 2000 through September 2007.

Parents are advised to remove the badges from scouts' uniforms immediately. The manufacturer, Kahoot Products Inc., of Roswell, Ga., is offering replacement badges. Kahoot can be contacted at (770) 552-2921, or via the firm’s Web site at www.kahoot.com.

The plastic recognition patch was issued to 7- and 8-year-old boys at the "wolf" and "bear" levels of Cub Scouts. The made-in-China plastic "totem" badges are painted blue and yellow with the words "Progress Toward Ranks" and were included in the Cub Scout Immediate Recognition Kit, Item 01804.

The not so simple Simplicity crib recall

On Sept. 21,  we wrote about the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall of 1 million Simplicity cribs because of a design flaw that could lead to an infant’s entrapment, suffocation and death.

Unfortunately, we have discovered the Simplicity recall is far from simple. The CPSC press release urges consumers who have the crib to call Simplicity for a repair kit. But it turns out there is no repair kit ready to send to consumers. Instead, callers are told they will receive a kit within three to four weeks.

So what’s the deal? Why did the CPSC issue a major recall, without any ready remedy for concerned parents and caregivers? Could it possibly be that the agency was about to be criticized by The Chicago Tribune for failure to address the crib problem sooner? The newspaper was preparing a major story detailing the April 2005 death of a 9-month-old and how it wasn’t until two years after the death—following the paper’s inquiries—that the CPSC sent an investigator to finally retrieve the crib and examine its flaws.

“It is an unusual step for the agency to announce a recall without an approved remedy in place,” acknowledged CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese. But she added, “the hazard and possible outcomes were such a concern that the agency felt it couldn’t wait to alert the public.”

Vallese added: “There is no repair at this time” to address the problem that has lead to at least two deaths and 55 incidents. The issue: the  drop-side of the crib can detach and create a dangerous gap, leading to entrapment and suffocation. The drop-side failures result from both the hardware and crib design, which allows consumers to unintentionally install the drop-side upside down.

The recall involves many different models, including some cribs sold under the Graco brand. Simplicity says it is working closely with the CPSC to find a retrofit kit. “Finding a repair suitable for all models is proving to be a challenge,” Vallese said. The agency hopes to have a repair  “worked out and approved within the three to four weeks that Simplicity has promised,” Vallese added.

Now if you’re someone who likes to keep count, that means that more than two weeks have already passed since the recall was announced.

So what’s a parent to do while waiting for the repair? “We are recommending that parents and caregivers explore the alternative of using other sleep environments, like portable play yards or borrowing equipment from friends and family members.” Make sure the substitute items have not been the subject of a previous recall -- such as the Kolcraft play yard. To find out, visit the CPSC's web site. One option we’d strongly recommend against: Don't let your baby share your bed. In addition to the risk that you might roll onto your baby, adult beds pose other hazards. Your baby could get trapped between the bed and a wall, headboard, bed frame or other object. Accidental suffocation in soft bedding is another danger, or the baby could fall off the bed.

“The top priority of the agency at this time, to get parents a workable solution,” Vallese said. We certainly hope so.

Most recent recalls for lead include familiar brands and retailers

The Consumer Product Safety Commission today issued eight more recalls covering more than 550,000 items that contain excessive amounts of lead. Items from the recalls were made in China including decorating sets sold at Toys 'R' Us that were made in Hong Kong. The recalls included not only such toys as a soft  Baby Einstein block and wooden blocks from KB Toys but an  Eveready flashlight and water bottles sold at Sports Authority. Also in the mix were tumblers and key chains sold at Dollar General stores and journals sold at gift stores. In all cases, consumers are advised to stop using the products immediately. No injuries have been reported. Details on today's recalls follow. Click the title links for photos and refund information.

Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks
How many: About 35,000
Description: The blue block included with the Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks, Model 30726 and Model 30881. The blocks are made of soft textures and come in different colors. Only date codes of GE7, GF7, and GG7 are included in this recall. The model number and date code are printed on the labels affixed to the green-colored block.
Reason: Surface paint on the blue block contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Various retailers and specialty stores nationwide from June 2007 through September 2007 for between $10 and $13.
Distributor: Kids II Inc., of Alpharetta, Ga.
Contact information: Contact Kids II toll-free at (866) 203-6788 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kidsii.com

'Pirates of the Caribbean' Medallion Squeeze Lights
How many: About 79,000
Description: “Pirates of the Caribbean” medallion squeeze light, which is gold-colored and about 1¾-inches across. It is attached to a leather strap with a metal clasp.
Reason: Surface paints on the leather strap attached to the light contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Various retail stores and Web sites nationwide from September 2006 through October 2007 for between $4 and $6.
Importer: Eveready Battery Co., of St. Louis, Mo.
Contact information: Contact Eveready at (800) 925-0628 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.Energizer.com

Wooden Pull-Along Alphabet & Math Blocks Wagons
Wooden Pull-Along Learning Blocks Wagons
10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts
Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks
How many: About 10,000
Description: Painted wooden blocks in a wagon and painted letters of the alphabet on a flip board.
Reason: Surface paints on the toys can contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: KB Toys stores nationwide. The Pull-Along Wagons were sold from August 2005 to August 2007 for between $9 and $13. The 10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts were sold from August 2006 to September 2007 for about $30. The Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks were sold from August 2006 to September 2007 for about $7.
Importer: KB Toys, Inc., of Pittsfield, Mass.
Contact information: Contact KB Toys toll-free at (888) 843-9www.recall520 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.recall.kbtinfo.com

Frankenstein Tumblers
How many: About 63,000
Description: Green, plastic, Frankenstein head-shaped tumblers.
Reason: Surface paint on the center of the eyes of some of the cups can contain high levels of lead,
Sold at: Dollar General stores nationwide in September 2007 for about $1.
Importer/Distributor: Dollar General Merchandising Inc., of Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Contact information: Contact Dollar General at (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dollargeneral.com

Key Chains
How many: About 192,000
Description: Key chains with a coiled cord and a metal charm with one of the following engraved words: “wisdom”, “truth”, “believe”, “love”, “hope”, or “dream”. The key chains were sold on a cardboard tab with floral designs and the words “Metal Keyring” and “$1” on the front.
Reason: The key chains contain high levels of lead.
Sold at: Dollar General stores nationwide from June 2005 through August 2007 for about $1.
Importer/Distributor: Dollar General Merchandising Inc., of Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Contact information: Contact Dollar General at (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dollargeneral.com

Children’s Toy Decorating Sets
How many: About 15,000
Description: These Totally Me! – Funky Room Décor Sets are designed to make various room décor projects and include a clock, clock movement, satin fabric, round box, door hanger, mirror, paper mirror frame, glitter glue, sticker sheet, foam shapes, sequins, seed beads, elastic cord, fabric flowers, and gem stones.
Reason: Surface paint on the back of the mirror contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Toys “R” Us stores nationwide and toysrus.com from May 2007 through September 2007 for about $10.
Importer/Distributor: Toys “R” Us Inc., of Wayne, N.J.
Contact information: Contact Toys “R” Us toll-free at (800) TOYSRUS/869-7787 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.toysrus.com

Bookmarks and Journals
How many: About 150,000
Description: Various designs of bookmarks and journals from Antioch Publishing’s Signature Collection. The character-themed bookmarks and journals include a Winnie the Pooh design as well as floral themes.
Reason: Paint on the spiral metal bindings of the journals, clip of the bookmarks and the clear coating on the marquis bookmarks and bracelets contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Book, card and gift stores nationwide from March 2005 through October 2007 for between $4 and $14.
Importer/Distributor: Antioch Publishing, of Yellow Springs, Ohio
Contact information: Contact Antioch Publishing at (800) 543-1515 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.antioch.com

UPDATE: On October 17, Antioch expanded this recall to include 200,000 clip-on bookmarks because of surface paint. The bookmarks were sold at book, card and gift stores nationwide from April 2003 through October 2007 for about $4.

Alpine Design Aluminum Water Bottles
How many: About 11,200
Description: Alpine Design aluminum water bottles sold at Sports Authority. The water bottles were sold in different colors and measure between six and 10 ½ inches tall. The water bottles are silver, blue, red, blue with pink flowers, red with the depiction of a mouse, or blue with the depiction of a zebra. “Alpine Design” is painted on the water bottle.
Reason: The surface paint on the water bottle contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Sports Authority stores nationwide from April 2006 through September 2007 for between $5 and $8.
Importer/Distributor: Sports Authority, of Englewood, Colo.
Contact information: Contact Sports Authority at (800) 360-8721 any time, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.sportsauthority.com

CU testifies to presidential import safety group

The steady stream of recalls over the past year has made it clear that our country's product safety net has a gaping hole. We, at Consumers Union (the publisher of Consumer Reports) are glad that President Bush has appointed a task force to address the onslaught of hazardous imports, but we’re disappointed with the progress it has made so far. 

A September 10th interim report by the President’s Interagency Working Group on Import Safety presented almost no concrete ideas but only vague generalities about a new strategic framework which, from our point of view, won’t stop lead-painted toy trains or contaminated seafood from entering the United States. And the report makes no mention of the additional resources needed by our federal watchdog agencies. We think that’s a critical omission.

At an October 1st public meeting, Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Levitt, who chairs the Working Group, said that "we can't inspect our way to safety." We respectfully disagree. As one measure to close the gap in the the safety net, we need more inspections -- by the manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers, as well as government watchdog agencies, to make sure that goods are safe before they reach consumers. The Food and Drug Administration inspects less than one percent of the foods we import and the Consumer Product Safety Commission has only 15 inspectors to cover hundreds of ports of entry. We need to strengthen the entire supply chain and make sure there is adequate policing of our ports. 

CU's testimony to the Working Group laid out an 8-point action plan to help ensure the safety of our imports:

1. Provide increased resources to government safety agencies to prevent unsafe products from crossing our borders.
2. Hold importers, distributors and retailers, as well as manufacturers, accountable for bringing unsafe products to the market by requiring pre-shipment inspections and testing to ensure product safety.
3. Develop U.S. government-administered, third-party safety certification programs for all products.
4. Develop a product traceability program for both country-of-origin labeling for food and consumer products, as well as for all components and ingredients.
5. Require that importers post a bond to ensure they have sufficient resources to recall their products should they prove dangerous or defective.
6. Give all agencies with enforcement authority the power to levy meaningful civil penalties for manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers who fail to comply with regulations, and criminal penalties for the executives of those companies who knowingly and repeatedly jeopardize public safety.
7. Authorize mandatory recall authority for all government agencies.
8. Require all government agencies to publicly disclose information pertaining to safety investigations and reports of adverse events.

Don Mays, senior director of product safety planning and technical administration for Consumers Union, testified, “The number of foreign-made products being recalled in the U.S. has doubled in the last five years, helping to drive the total number of recalls in this country to an annual record of 467 last year. Chinese-made products account for 60 percent of all consumer-product recalls, and 100 percent of all toy recalls so far this year. Clearly, we need to find a better way of preventing unsafe products from crossing our borders and ending up in the homes of consumers.”

CU repeats call for single food safety agency in wake of huge beef recall

As more illnesses have been linked to a strain of the E. coli bacteria found in beef produced by the Topps Meat Company, Consumers Union is reiterating its call for the creation of a single agency to ensure the safety of our nation's food supply. CU, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, also calls for mandatory recall authority for both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), power which is currently lacking.

At least 27 people in eight states have been sickened after reportedly eating meat produced by the New Jersey company. On Saturday, Topps  recalled 21.7 million pounds of beef manufactured over the last year and bearing a “sell by” or “best used” date between Sept. 25, 2007 and Sept. 25, 2008, along with the USDA designation EST 9748. The beef -– mostly frozen hamburger patties -- was sold under a variety of brand names (see list below).

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

In August, people began to get sick from the beef in question, yet it took nearly six weeks before the first recall was issued.  “Both the FDA and USDA need mandatory recall authority.  The safety of our food should not be dependent on voluntary action by companies,” said Jean Halloran, CU’s Director of Food Policy Initiatives. 

“The system is broken. Recalls and inspections have failed miserably,” said Halloran.  “Clearly we need a single food agency with the tools, resources and leadership to focus on one clear mission -- food safety.”

Topps advises consumers to look for these products in their freezers immediately. If you have a product marked with the above information remove the sell-by date and UPC code and send it to: Attn: Recall Coordinator, Topps Meat Company LLC, P.O. Box 219, 1161 E. Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207 for a full refund. It is important to dispose of the remaining product immediately.

Topps has established a toll-free hotline (888-734-0451) to answer questions concerning this recall. Consumers may also visit www.toppsmeat.com

The recalled meat was sold in two-pound to 10-pound boxes under the following brand names: Butcher’s Best, Kohler Foods, Mike's, Pathmark, Rastelli's Fine Foods, Roma–Topps, Sam's Choice Backyard Gourmet, Sand Castle Fine Meat, Shop Rite, Topps and West Side.

In a national Consumers Union poll in 2004, 97 percent of respondents agreed that the government should have mandatory recall authority for contaminated meat. This latest recall shows that the food safety system needs a drastic overhaul.

Navigating the Kolcraft site for recall information a circuitous journey

“Seek and ye shall find” is a fine approach to spiritual harmony, but a lousy one to keeping your child safe.

Kolcraft recently recalled 12 styles of play yards for strangulation and suffocation hazards. Parents who heard of the recall might understandably have headed straight for the Kolcraft Web site  for the details. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission directs them there, Consumer Reports directs them there, and Kolcraft’s own toll-free number 888-655-8484 directs them there.

But when we went to the Web site to check the details of the recall, as we routinely do, we had to follow a winding path to the actual recall notice, which has specifics on the names and model numbers affected. It was there, but we believe it takes too many clicks to find it. We’d much rather see a link placed directly on the home page, as many companies now do. It shouldn’t take so much hunting to get critical safety information into the hands of consumers -- especially when they are busy parents.