The FBI is warning Americans that Al-Qaeda may be planning to bomb shopping malls in Chicago and LA. Fisher-Price is recalling yet another batch of toys for toddlers. And Aqua Dots, a toy on Wal-Mart's top 12 toy gifts list, are being recalled because they contain a date rape drug. It's so unbelievable you'd think it was an Onion headline.
So what's a mommy to do? I've already got a short-than-usual shopping season ahead because Chanukah is early this year. Last year I said the hell with presents and made donations to Heifer in honor of all of our adult family members, and I'm tempted to do the same this time around. As for the children on my list, I will be shopping for quality books and toys online and at local mom-and-pop shops like Geppetto's Toy Box and Berwyn's Toy Trains. I'll look to the Cool Mom Picks Safer Toys guide and the Lead Free Toys list maintained by fellow Chicago Moms Blogger Marcie Pickel.
And I just may join the Consumers Union's Get the Lead Out Advocacy campaign, which I heard about from my friends at Parent Bloggers Network. This grassroots effort is designed to let store owners and Congress know after a year of scary recalls, we need to get serious about toy safety. And food safety too, but that's a whole 'nother post!
Showing posts with label recalls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recalls. Show all posts
Friday, November 09, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Bumbo Baby Seat Recall
I was just about to buy the Bumbo Baby Sitter seat for Baby A. Perhaps that's not such a good idea given this recall.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Another Mattel recall
Apparently Mattel is set to recall even more Chinese-made toys later today. Stay tuned and keep an eye on your kids' toy boxes.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Another massive recall
Cheap jewelry, Thomas the Tank Engine trains and now this. Mattel is recalling nearly 1 million popular toys due to lead paint. I'll bet you can guess where the dangerous toys were manufactured.
Check this list of recalled toys and make sure none of the Dora, Elmo or Cookie Monster playthings are in your home.
Can we say enough already?
Check this list of recalled toys and make sure none of the Dora, Elmo or Cookie Monster playthings are in your home.
Can we say enough already?
Friday, March 23, 2007
A scandal for branding?
It looks like rat poison contamination is behind the kidney failure and related pet deaths associated with wet food processed and packaged by Menu Foods. As an animal lover, I am shocked and saddened by this news story, but I think there is a bigger consumer marketing story that isn't being covered by any of the media organizations.
This recall, together with the E-coli peanut butter recall of a few weeks ago, has demonstrated to the American public that many of the brands they see as differentiated are actually prepared and packaged by one manufacturer. That wet pet food from Wal-Mart and Kroger private labels ("the cheap stuff") to more premium food like IAMS are essentially the same stuff should be shocking. After all, there are major price differences among the 100-odd brands listed on the Menu Foods recall list.
Will these recalls raise consumer questions about who actually makes their favorite consumer packaged goods? Will they start asking precisely who is manufacturing the detergent, body lotion, breakfast cereal or mascara they pay a premium for? Will they be shocked to learn a budget brand rolls off the same production line as a more expensive product? Are the ingredient lists that different? How will we feel about ourselves if we learn that the upscale brands with which we associate ourselves are little different from their private label cousins?
How are you reacting to these recalls? Do they change how you think about brands, or have you always been a skeptic?
UPDATE 3/26/07: P&G sent this message to their Pet Care email list on March 21, "You may wonder why some 'wet' food was produced at Menu Foods. In fact, virtually every pet food company commonly uses outside partners for special or small volume items. Nonetheless, the different branded products made by Menu are not "the same". Our Iams and Eukanuba pet foods have unique recipes and important ingredient differences that distinguish them from other pet food brands."
This recall, together with the E-coli peanut butter recall of a few weeks ago, has demonstrated to the American public that many of the brands they see as differentiated are actually prepared and packaged by one manufacturer. That wet pet food from Wal-Mart and Kroger private labels ("the cheap stuff") to more premium food like IAMS are essentially the same stuff should be shocking. After all, there are major price differences among the 100-odd brands listed on the Menu Foods recall list.
Will these recalls raise consumer questions about who actually makes their favorite consumer packaged goods? Will they start asking precisely who is manufacturing the detergent, body lotion, breakfast cereal or mascara they pay a premium for? Will they be shocked to learn a budget brand rolls off the same production line as a more expensive product? Are the ingredient lists that different? How will we feel about ourselves if we learn that the upscale brands with which we associate ourselves are little different from their private label cousins?
How are you reacting to these recalls? Do they change how you think about brands, or have you always been a skeptic?
UPDATE 3/26/07: P&G sent this message to their Pet Care email list on March 21, "You may wonder why some 'wet' food was produced at Menu Foods. In fact, virtually every pet food company commonly uses outside partners for special or small volume items. Nonetheless, the different branded products made by Menu are not "the same". Our Iams and Eukanuba pet foods have unique recipes and important ingredient differences that distinguish them from other pet food brands."
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