Defective & Dangerous Products

• Mattel Promises To Get Tougher on Toy Safety

  Claude Wyle | September 13, 2007 8:30 PM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  The CEO of toy maker Mattel promised legislators Wednesday that the company is doing all it can to prevent more massive safety lapses like those that forced the recall of millions of toys. Testifying before a Senate subcommittee, Mattel boss Robert Eckert blamed overseas contractors as the major culprits for the lead-tainted toys, and said the company is increasing safety initiatives to prevent...

• Profits Drive Lead Paint Use by Manufacturers

  Claude Wyle | September 13, 2007 2:49 PM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  When Mattell announced its third recall in six weeks because of toxic levels of lead paint in toys, as well as 16 other recent recalls, we said that this was because of China and money. All the dangerous products were made in China. So why would the Chines manufacturers use lead paint in children's' toys?The simplest answer is price. Paint with higher levels of lead often sells for a third of...

• Faulty Spindle-Back Chairs Linked to Whiplash

  Claude Wyle | September 12, 2007 3:50 PM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  The title of this blog is not a typo. Unfortunately, it is true that at least one consumer did suffer whiplash after the wooden chair he purchased at J.C. Penney collapsed beneath him. Other consumers suffered bruising and other injuries from similar accidents. Consumers may contact J.C. Penny for a full refund.For more information on this subject matter, please refer to our section on...

• Children's Clothing Poses "Entrapment" Hazard

  Claude Wyle | September 07, 2007 8:40 AM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  Children decked out in Kmart's Basic Edition Girls' Clothing Sets may be risking more than just bad fashion. Some shirts in this line have especially dangerous drawstrings at the waist, which can pry loose and become entangled in a vehicle door, creating a risk of death or serious injury. Kmart recommends removing the string from the waist to reduce the risk of injury. For more information...

• Dangerous Outdoor Candles Recalled

  Claude Wyle | September 06, 2007 5:27 PM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  Hayes, a manufacture of outdoor products, is recalling three styles of their "Avant Yarde" outdoor citronella candles. These candles burn at such high temperatures, the wax catches fire and transforms these outdoor candles into dangerous torches. The recall was announced after the company received reports of consumers suffering burns.For more information on this subject matter, please refer to...

• More Toys Full of Lead

  Claude Wyle | September 06, 2007 4:05 PM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  In its 3rd Recall, Mattel Announces More Toys Include Lead. Mattel issued another global recall, this time of 848,000 toys last night, the toy company's third recent recall because of dangerous levels of lead paint on toys. This latest recall includes 3 toys sold by Fisher-Price and 8 Barbie accessories, though no Barbie dolls. According to Mattel, most of the recalled toys are Barbie...

• Anti Bacterial Soap Better or Just a Wash?

  Claude Wyle | September 02, 2007 4:23 PM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  According to University of Michigan researchers who reviewed 27 studies conducted between 1980 and 2006, antibacterial soaps that have triclosan as the primary active ingredient are not better at preventing bacterial infections than regular soaps. They also found that these antibacterial soaps could be dangerous products, posing a health hazard because they may reduce the effectiveness of some...

• Why Is Toxic Lead Paint So Abundant in Today's Children's Toys?

  Claude Wyle | August 31, 2007 4:45 PM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  The answer seems to be summed up in two words; CHINA and MONEY! I am getting sick and tired of foreign toy makers sending us dangerous and toxic toys. The Chinese companies who export these dangerous toys to the U.S. know we have laws about lead paint. Is it just another case of profit over people? And why don't the big American toy companies check out their imports more carefully, before they...

• Sherwin-Williams Recalls Hi-Heatâ„¢ Aerosol Coating Cans

  Claude Wyle | August 28, 2007 8:06 PM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  After receiving a report of a consumer who suffered serious head injuries from using an over-pressurized can, Sherman-Williams has issued a recall of Hi-Heatâ„¢ cans. Recently, one can exploded in a consumer's face, shattering an eye socket, knocking out teeth and breaking the jaw and nose. The cans retail for $20.00, yet mysteriously Sherman-Williams is offering only $15.00 refund checks. ...

• Mattel Recalls 9 Million Potentially Deadly Toys

  Claude Wyle | August 27, 2007 7:55 PM | 0 CommentsSan Francisco, CA

  Mattel issued a recall of 9 million dangerous and defective toys this last Tuesday. After one child death and dozens of serious injuries to children, Mattel has finally recalled these dangerous toys containing small, rare-earth magnets. These magnets are twenty times more powerful than most magnets. The magnets can be deadly to children if swallowed because if children swallow more than one,...