May 2019 Consumer Product Recalls Analysis
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recalls Analysis
In May 2019, there were 22 recall notices issued for consumer products by the CPSC. Three recalls were carried out by the CPSC in conjunction with Health Canada.
Household items accounted for about a quarter of the recalls. We’ve highlighted some of the recalls relevant for the softlines and hardlines industries below.
| May 2019 – CPSC | |
| Product | Reason/Hazard(s) |
| Clothing – Children’s Sleep Sacks | The children’s sleep sacks fail to meet the flammability standard for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children |
| Clothing – Children’s Sleepwear | The children’s sleepwear fail to meet the flammability standard for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children |
| Furniture – 3-drawer Chest | The chest presents tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children |
| Furniture – Entertainment Hutches | Top shelf of the hutch can fall, posing an injury hazard to consumers |
| Furniture – Sit-Stand Office Workstations | The workstation can malfunction, causing the gas cylinders to separate and forcefully discharge, posing an injury hazard |
| Household Item – Cooler | Stainless-steel latch can automatically lock when the lid is closed, allowing a person to become locked inside the air-tight container, posing entrapment and suffocation hazards |
| Household Item – Mugs | Mugs were mislabeled as microwave safe, however if microwaved, the metallic print on the mug can spark, posing a fire hazard |
| Household Item – French Fry Cutter | Blade can detach, posing a laceration hazard |
| Household Item – Pineapple Corer & Slicer | Metal blade of the slicer can detach, posing a laceration hazard to the consumer |
| Household Item – Coffee Presses | Plunger knob of the coffee press can break and expose the metal rod, posing a laceration hazard |
| Sports/ Fitness – Bicycle | Straps that fasten the bag to the bike seat can detach and get entangled in the rear wheel of the bike, posing crash and injury hazards to the rider |
Read more: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls
Health Canada Recalls Analysis
In May 2019, there were 19 recall notices issued for consumer products by Health Canada, which was nearly half the number of recall notices issued for consumer products in April 2019 (32 recall notices).
There continued to be recalls for children’s sleepwear for not meeting the sleepwear flammability regulations. This month there were two recalls, following six recalls for April 2019. There were also three recalls each for durable nursery products and furniture. We’ve highlighted some of the recalls relevant for softlines and hardlines industries below.
| May 2019 – Health Canada | |
| Product | Reason/Hazard(s) |
| Clothing – Children’s Sleepwear | The infant sleepers do not meet the flammability requirements for children's sleepwear under Canadian law |
| Clothing – Children’s Sleep Suit | The sleep suit does not meet the flammability requirements for children's sleepwear under Canadian law |
| Jewelry – Necklace Set | The necklace set contains lead and cadmium in excess of allowable limits |
| Durable Nursery Products – Rock ‘n Play Sleeper | Sleeper does not meet the requirements for bassinets under the Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations |
| Durable Nursery Products – Cribs and Bassinets | Products have not been tested to the Canadian Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations and may not meet the safety requirements |
| Furniture – 3-drawer Chest | The chest presents tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children |
| Furniture – Gaming Chair | Armrest of the chair may detach when placed under a load or force, resulting in the risk of the user falling out of the chair |
| Furniture – Bookcases & Glass Cabinets | The shelves within the recalled bookcases & glass cabinets may fall as some of the provided shelf supports may not be long enough, posing an injury hazard |
| Household Item – Mugs | The mugs may crack when hot liquid is poured into them, posing a burn hazard |
| Household Item – Mugs | The electroplating on the mugs may cause sparks and fire if placed in the microwave, posing a fire hazard |
| Household Item – Coffee Presses | Plunger knob of the coffee press can break and expose the metal rod, posing a laceration hazard |
| Household Item – Espresso Maker | The espresso maker's handle can ignite from the flame of a gas stove, posing fire and burn hazards |
| Sports/ Fitness – Bicycle | The bicycle stem can break, posing a crash hazard to the rider |
| Sports/ Fitness – Bicycle | If the saddle (seat) mounting screw is tightened beyond the recommended setting, there is a possibility the over-torqued screw will bend and may break, posing an injury hazard to the rider |
Read more: http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/index-eng.php?cat=4
EU RAPEX Recall Analysis
In May 2019, there were 60 relevant product recall alerts issued through the EU’s Rapid Alert System (RAPEX), down from 70 recalls in the previous month. Toys accounted for the overwhelming majority of product recalls with 36, followed by clothing & accessories with 13 recalls, childcare articles with 7 recalls, kitchen equipment with 3 recalls and hobby and sports equipment accounting for 1 recall. We’ve highlighted the recalled product categories and hazards below.
| May 2019 – EU RAPEX | |
| Product Categories | Reason/Hazard(s) |
| Childcare Articles | There were several recalls for baby carriers due to a risk for injury |
| Clothing and Fashion Accessories | The majority of recalls were for drawstrings that do not comply with EN 14682, as well as chemical recalls for non-compliance for Chromium VI in leather and nickel release in jewellery |
| Hobby and Sports Equipment | The single item recalled was for phthalate content in a children’s swimming aid |
| Kitchen Equipment | The recalls include an electrical fault on a grill pan and faults on pressure regulating devices on pressure cookers and similar that do not comply with the Pressure Equipment Directive |
| Toys | There were a number of recalls this month for battery operated toys where the solder on the battery contacts was found to have excessive lead content and also cadmium in some cases, which is considered as an environmental hazard; the other chemical failures were due to phthalate content in toy items and also boron content in ‘slime’ type toys; and there were also recalls due to small parts choking hazard |
