Many Recalled Children’s Products Remain in Homes After Recall

Kids In Danger (KID), a non-profit organization based in Chicago, has provided annual reports about the recalls of children‘s products since 2002. In its 2013 report, KID reveals that only 10% of recalled children’s products were “corrected, replaced or returned” as directed in a recall in 2012. The 2013 report also found:

Recalls of children’s products were up 18% from 2012 to 2013.
Deaths from recalled products went up 22% in 2012, but in 2013, incidents were down 38% and injuries were down 16% as compared to 2012 levels.
In 2013, clothing and nursery items accounted for more than half of children‘s product recalls and 52% of the reported injuries.
Recalled furniture intended for children was involved in four out of eleven deaths in 2013. The remaining fatalities involved nursery products.
In 2013, 1,566 incidents, 196 injuries and 11 deaths occurred prior to recalls.
When manufacturers keep control of the remaining inventory of any recalled product, the success rate of recalls is higher. Once a recalled product is in the hands of consumers, however, the success rate goes down dramatically.
In 2012, 584 incidents and 39 injuries reported after announced recalls.
In 2013, 63 manufacturers of recalled products had public Facebook pages and Twitter accounts, but only nine manufacturers announced a product recall via Facebook. Eight announced recalls via Twitter.
Statistical regression models showed that it takes an average of 1,000 pieces of direct mail and/or 2,500 airings of an announcement on television to increase awareness of product recalls.

In the Executive Summary of their 2013 report, KID applauds the data that show that incidents and injuries were down, but also maintains that the numbers are still far too high. KID recommends that the USCPSC and manufacturers take further action to announce recalls to consumers, and also appeals to consumers to take personal responsibility and check their products against existing recall lists. This information should be available on http://www.recalls.gov/ and manufacturer and retailer websites.