Last year saw 100 children’s product recalls — the highest number since 2013
A recent study revealed that 2022 experienced the highest number of children’s product recalls in almost ten years.
Advocacy group Kids in Danger reported that children’s items accounted for 100 recalls in 2022, marking the highest number since 2013 and constituting 34% of all recalls last year.
In a statement, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., said, “The latest recall report from Kids In Danger serves as an alarm – we continue to witness deaths and injuries both before and after product recalls.”
Last year saw numerous products recalled, ranging from RockaRoo Baby Rockers and MamaRoo Baby Swings, which presented a strangulation risk and resulted in at least one fatality, to other items such as a weighted blanket, toys, a basketball hoop, clothing, and a popular stroller.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for reporting product recalls. It collaborates with companies to announce recalls and informs the public about other items that may pose potential hazards.
CPSC spokesperson Patty Davis expressed her concerns in an email to NPR, stating, “Whenever we encounter a hazardous product, particularly those aimed at children, we urge companies to recall the product and remove it from the market and consumers’ homes.”
She added, “When a company declines to collaborate with the CPSC on a recall, we independently issue safety warnings to consumers.”
However, critics argue that further action is necessary. Schakowsky specifically criticized the federal law that restricts the commission from disclosing information about potentially dangerous products without obtaining explicit permission from the companies involved.
Schakowsky stated, “In essence, it prioritizes companies over consumers,” and added that she plans to introduce legislation to reinforce the CPSC in the near future.
Nineteen recalls were associated with the risk of lead poisoning, while 32 were related to clothing. The majority of the recalled clothing items did not comply with federal flammability standards, according to KID.
Although the number of deaths and injuries occurring prior to recall announcements decreased in 2022 compared to 2021, the four fatalities and 47 injuries linked to subsequently recalled products were both higher than in other recent years.
It is crucial to note one key detail: While the number of children’s product recalls increased in 2022, the actual number of units recalled decreased. Approximately 5.5 million units of children’s products were recalled last year, compared to over 19 million in 2021.
In 2022, the total number of product recalls reached 293, the highest annual figure since 2016, which saw 332 recalls.
Below are a few of the most serious product recalls from recent years:
- Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper (2019): The recall of approximately 4.7 million units followed reports of over 30 infant deaths related to the product. The inclined sleeper posed a risk of suffocation.
- Takata Airbags (2013-2021): This recall, which affected tens of millions of vehicles worldwide, involved airbags that could rupture upon deployment, causing metal fragments to be propelled into the vehicle. The faulty airbags were linked to numerous deaths and injuries.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (2016): Samsung recalled around 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones due to a risk of overheating and catching fire due to a battery defect. The issue led to several reported injuries and property damage cases.
- Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder (2020): The company voluntarily recalled around 33,000 bottles of its talc-based baby powder after the FDA found trace amounts of asbestos, a known carcinogen. This recall came amid thousands of lawsuits alleging that the product caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
- Philips Respironics Sleep and Respiratory Care Devices (2021): Philips recalled millions of sleep apnea machines and ventilators, as the foam used in these devices could degrade and release potentially toxic particles and gases, posing health risks to users.
CONTACT PARKER WAICHMAN LLP FOR A FREE CASE REVIEW
To find out if you or your loved one can file a product injury lawsuit, call Parker Waichman LLP for a free legal consultation. Call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) or use our online chat feature to speak with our national product liability attorneys, who will help you understand your rights and work hard to obtain the compensation you or your loved one deserves.