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| Consumer Reports BLOG | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 11 2006, 01:14 AM (681 Views) | |
| Skookum | Nov 11 2006, 01:14 AM Post #1 |
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"About This Blog Welcome to Consumer Reports on Safety. This blog allows us to provide up-to-date reports of product safety hazards that can imperil you and your family. We'll cut through the ad hype, PR spin, and government rhetoric to give you unbiased insight and analysis of safety issues that are important to you. Our mission: To work for a safe marketplace and to empower all consumers to protect themselves from preventable injury and illness." C.R. BLOG |
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| Skookum | Dec 17 2007, 06:53 PM Post #2 |
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Real or fake? Counterfeit merchandise can threaten your safety and fund crime Whether it’s adulterated medicine that can kill you, bogus batteries that can burn you, or wannabe Guccis that simply wear out fast (though you may look stylish for a while), counterfeit merchandise is everywhere. In 2006, a record year for seizures, 14,000 shipments of counterfeit merchandise were confiscated. Figures for 2007 were high as well. Because today's fakes are not just the usual knockoffs, you need to take special precautions when you shop. A widespread problem "If they make it, they fake it," says Caroline Joiner, executive director of the Global Intellectual Property Center, run by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "Every product in every industry is vulnerable." Fakes include truly unsafe merchandise. Investigators have seized brake pads made of kitty litter, sawdust, and dried grass; power strips, extension cords, and smoke alarms with phony Underwriters Laboratories (UL) marks; medical test kits that give faulty readings; toothpaste made with a chemical found in antifreeze; and cell-phone batteries that could explode. Online drugstores claiming to operate from Canada but actually based in other countries have peddled "Lipitor" and "Celebrex" pills stored under uncontrolled conditions and containing the wrong active ingredients. That's just for starters. Among the counterfeit merchandise is some you would suspect: handbags, clothes, watches, and amusingly renamed colognes such as Essey Miyami instead of Issey Miyake. But there are also surprising fakes: golf balls, oil filters, and baby formula, for example. With some, the low price is a giveaway (a $2,000 Prada purse for $35?). Others are priced close to retail to fool you. Vendors still peddle counterfeit merchandise on city streets, of course. When we sent a reporter to see what he could find in New York, he ended up in a decrepit building with false doors, movable walls, and 20 or 30 women sewing clothes. It was there, and on nearby streets, that he bought some of the fakes pictured in this report. In large part, though, "the days when you bought a fake watch from a guy with an open raincoat are part of the past," says Vaughn Volpi, president of the PICA Corp., a loss-prevention and consulting company that trains government inspectors to spot counterfeit merchandise and goes undercover to catch the sellers. A Yahoo search for "cheap Gucci handbags" returned almost 1 million results, including ads touting prices too good to be true. Truth is, Gucci discounts only at its factory outlets and rarely at its regular stores. Counterfeit merchandise is also sold where people meet in person: flea markets, salons, swap meets, college campuses, libraries, and "purse parties" in private homes, at which a dealer shows merchandise. Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, says that it's rare for counterfeit merchandise to be sold in well-known walk-in stores. "The one area of concern in recent years," he says, "has been lithium-ion batteries." Some counterfeit batteries, he says, have made their way to legitimate distributors. It's not a crime to buy fake goods, but counterfeiting and piracy of intellectual property are crimes, policed by a complex partnership of manufacturers and federal agencies, including the departments of Homeland Security, Commerce, and Justice; the State Department; and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Customs and Border Protection officers and import specialists target and seize counterfeit merchandise at the nation's 326 ports of entry and mail facilities. Counterfeit merchandise is estimated to cost legitimate businesses up to $250 billion in yearly sales. When offenders are snared, they face fines of up to $5 million, imprisonment of up to 20 years, seizure of anything that was used in the commission of the crime, and seizure of the proceeds. Civil penalties can also be assessed. Targeted companies are eager to tell investigators what flaws to look for when inspecting imports, but few are willing to talk on the record, says Rob Holmes, chief executive officer of IPCybercrime.com, which conducts sting operations with industry and government partners to shut down counterfeiters. They fear that any mention of their company's name in the same breath as "counterfeit" will harm the brand's image. Indeed, some companies we contacted, including Prada and Chanel, didn't answer requests for comment on counterfeit merchandise. http://tinyurl.com/25c9nq ============== Examples & Pics |
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| circledancer | Dec 18 2007, 01:14 AM Post #3 |
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You can get fake 'anything' in Atlanta, as in all the big cities. The local flea markets are overrun with it too. I can see how some things would pose safety issues. Thanks! |
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| Skookum | Dec 18 2007, 01:25 AM Post #4 |
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Yeah. Sean ~ don't know if it's something you use or not, but on that second link is a faked "OneTouch" Diabetic strip. |
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| Sean_ | Dec 18 2007, 10:50 AM Post #5 |
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That "One Touch" strip is really old. That was our first meter. About ten years ago. My pharmacist wouldn't carry counterfeit stuff anyway. That's probably something done by on line pharmacies. |
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| Maverick | Dec 18 2007, 02:15 PM Post #6 |
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You have to be really careful and the old saying "you get what you pay for" is very true in many cases. Years ago when the dollar stores opened up in our city. I thought to myself why should I pay $5 for a package of AA batteries when I can get the same package for $1 at this store. I purchased a package and put the batteries in my walkman. About a week later that battery leaked all over the inside of the compartment and I had to throw out my walkman. :angry: |
| Don't take life too seriously .. no one gets out alive! | |
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| Skookum | Apr 14 2008, 07:00 PM Post #7 |
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April 01, 2008 NHTSA offers tire and safety seat recall alerts Hats off to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency has just made it easier for people to get important safety information about child seats and tires. Consumers can now sign up with NHTSA to receive automatic e-mail alerts when there’s a government recall of tires or safety seats. Before introduction of the alert system, consumers had to rely on press reports or a notice from a manufacturer to learn about recalls and they only got the latter if they filled in and then mailed the registration card when buying a car seat or tire. Sadly, recall completion numbers indicate that this is usually not the case. Fewer than one-third of affected consumers respond to tire recalls, while less than half of affected consumers respond to child seat recalls. By contrast, 70 percent of vehicle recalls are completed, says NHTSA spokeswoman Elly Martin, because owners names are on record. To sign up for the electronic recall notice, simply visit www.safercar.gov. You will be sent all tire and car seat recalls, but there are not so many that they will clutter your in-box—about 20 tire recalls and eight child restraint system recalls a year. Safercar.gov has also added a feature to make it easier for consumers to register car seats directly with manufacturers. It’s a service we encourage all care-givers to use. And in further good news, NHTSA’s Martin says the agency plans to extend the automatic e-mail notification service to passenger-car recalls in the future. Hear. Hear. LINK |
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| Skookum | Apr 14 2008, 07:07 PM Post #8 |
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(They don't mention which of these products are made in China......I'd venture a guess they all are.) === March 11, 2008 Don't get burned by these recalled countertop appliances Three countertop appliances have been recalled over the past five days by the Consumer Product Safety Commission because the small appliances pose a fire hazard. The largest recall included 482,000 Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters because they can remain "on" after popping up and cause nearby items to ignite. JCPenney recalled 27,000 deep fat fryers with faulty heating elements and QVC and Tristar pulled back 13,500 electric grills that can ignite if used with cooking oil or spray. At least three burns have been reported in connection with the fryer and grill. Owners of any of the recalled items are advised to stop using them and follow the remedy outlined in the CPSC's recall notices at the links below. Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters How many: 482,000 Description: The recalled toasters are black, red, white, chrome or brushed chrome with 2-slice or 4-slice openings. Hamilton Beach or Proctor-Silex is printed on the side of the toasters. Only specific series codes of each model are included in this recall. The model number and series code are printed on the bottom of the toasters. (The non-sequential model numbers include: 22145B, 22145BC, 22450, 22559, 22625, 22627C, 22635, 22657, 22658, 22779, 22900, 22903, 22903H, 24450, 24559, 24657, 24779.) Why: The toasters can remain “on” (energized) after popping up, and can ignite flammable items covering or in contact with the toaster. Incidents: Hamilton Beach has received at least 63 reports of toasters that remained “on” despite being in the “up” position. There have been no reports of injuries or fires. Sold: At department stores, mass merchandisers, grocery stores, home center stores, and other retail stores nationwide, and various online retailers from August 2007 through February 2008 for between $13 and $40. What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled toasters and contact Hamilton Beach for instructions on how receive a free replacement toaster at (800) 574-6800 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.hamiltonbeach.com for Hamilton Beach toasters, and www.proctorsilex.com for Proctor-Silex toasters. Cooks deep fryers (JCPenney) How many: 27,000 Description: The Cooks deep fryer has a brushed stainless steel exterior, a wire mesh basket with a handle, a lid with a window and black handles. The deep fryer has a 1/3-gallon capacity. “Cooks” is stamped on the side and model number 22016 is printed on the bottom. Why: The deep fryer has a faulty heating element that can cause it to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. Injuries: JCPenney is aware of five incidents involving the deep fryers, including one report of a minor burn and three reports of damaged countertops. Sold: At JCPenney’s stores nationwide, in the catalog and at www.jcp.com from August 2007 through January 2008 for about $50. What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the deep fryer and return it to the nearest JCPenney store for a full refund. For additional information, contact JCPenney toll-free at (888) 333-6063 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.jcp.com. QVC and Tristar electric contact grills How many: 13,500 Description: This recall involves a dual surface electric contact grill sold under the “Hulk Hogan’s Ultimate Grill” brand. The grills are silver/gray in color, have removable cooking plates, a cassette to catch drippings, and fold for storage or transport. Model number PZ-3012 is printed on a silver label attached to the back of the grills. Why: Cooking oils or sprays applied to the grill’s cooking plates before preheating can cause the oil to ignite and/or flare up. Cooking sprays can ignite and/or flare up if used on the grill at any time. Injuries: QVC and Tristar have received five reports of the grill igniting or flaring up, including two reports of minor burns. Sold: At QVC through its television station, Web page, toll-free number, and its employee, retail and Studio stores; and through Tristar’s Web site www.hulkhogangrill.com, and a direct response television commercial from May 2007 through August 2007 for about $100. What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using cooking oils on the grill prior to preheating. Cooking sprays should not be used on the grill at anytime. Consumers will receive a revised instruction manual with a cooking spray/oil use warning. QVC has sent warning notices to consumers to whom it sold the product directly. Tristar will do the same. For additional information, contact QVC at (800) 367-9444 between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET daily, or visit the company’s Web site at www.qvc.com. Consumers who purchased the grill from Tristar can call (800)718-5135 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.tristarproductsinc.com. LINK |
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| Maverick | Apr 15 2008, 02:44 PM Post #9 |
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Yes I bet they are all made in China, hard pressed now to find anything that isn't! Thanks for the warning Skooks. |
| Don't take life too seriously .. no one gets out alive! | |
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| Skookum | May 14 2008, 02:40 PM Post #10 |
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Manufacturer recalls grill found faulty in CU tests Onward Manufacturing of Canada Wednesday recalled three models of gas grills after the firebox of two samples of the Broil King Signet 90 melted in tests conducted by Consumer Reports. The company's recall, which is expected to be followed shortly by an announcement from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, involves the Signet, Sovereign and Sovereign XL grills with model numbers starting with 986, 987 and 988. The serial numbers start with X, Y and Z. In our routine test to determine how well a grill handles flare ups from fatty foods, a Broil King Signet 90's firebox melted, dripping molten metal onto the area beneath the grill, just missing the hand of one tester who was turning off the gas to the grill. (The space beneath the grill is where the propane tank is stored.) We subsequently tested two other samples of this grill: The firebox of one melted and that of the other grill had begun to crack and deform by the end of the test. Because we believe that the Broil King Signet 90 is dangerous and poses a serious safety risk, we have judged it Not Acceptable. We reported our findings to the company that makes the grill, Onward Manufacturing, the CPSC and Health Canada, a government safety agency in that country. Onward is offering owners of the affected grills a baffle. On its Web site it says: "A baffle has been designed which reduces flare-ups caused by grease and protects the cookbox from excessive heat should a grease fire occur." Owners can get the baffle by registering at the company's Web site or by calling (866) 434-7455. A video posted with the recall notice shows owners how to install the baffle. The model and serial numbers are located on the gas caution sticker, which is either on the bottom shelf near the wheels or on the rear cart support bar on the back of the grill. We applaud Onward Manufacturing and the CPSC for the speed with which they responded. Now that a retrofit kit is available, we hope to test it and report soon on how effective it is in addressing this serious safety problem. LINK |
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| Sean_ | May 14 2008, 03:41 PM Post #11 |
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It melted!!!! What the hell are they making these things out of? Lead??
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| Maverick | May 14 2008, 04:13 PM Post #12 |
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Thanks for the heads up Skookum. I don't have a Broil King, but maybe family, friends and neighbours might. |
| Don't take life too seriously .. no one gets out alive! | |
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| Skookum | May 14 2008, 05:46 PM Post #13 |
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No kidding!! Don't think I'd even want their baffle...I'd insist on a refund. |
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| Skookum | Aug 21 2008, 06:21 PM Post #14 |
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Candy-like 'fruit bomb' sends three children to the ER They are called "Fruit Bombs" and they come in a square foil pouch with cartoon characters and pictures of bananas, oranges and other fruit on the front. Little dialogue clouds with the word "Poot!" decorate both the front and back of the shiny packages. Sounds like the latest "gross out" candy that will soon be all the rage with the kiddie set, right? Well, not exactly. Fruit Bombs are in fact novelty air fresheners, although it is all but impossible to tell that from looking at the package. Health officials in western New York are now warning parents and retailers about Fruit Bombs after a Buffalo-area convenience store put them out for sale on its candy aisle alongside the Starburst fruit chews and Snickers chocolate bars. Three young girls were rushed to the emergency room after eating some of the 30-cent Fruit Bombs they had purchased at the store. Within 15 minutes of opening one of the pouches and sharing the liquid capsule and powder inside, one of the girls who had eaten the most, vomited and another complained her throat was burning. The third spit hers out because of the nasty taste, according to the Associated Press. There is no manufacturer listed on the Fruit Bomb package or the store display box, nor is there any listing of ingredients. The package does say "Made in Taiwan" and in very small letters on the back are the warnings "Eating Prohibited" and "Please Do Not Put in Mouth." The mother of two of the girls who got sick told the AP that the packaging was to blame. "It was located on a candy shelf. The owner of the store itself mistook it for candy," said Dee Hafi. "There is no way by looking at the package that you would know it’s not candy." Dr. Prashant Joshi, medical director of the Western New York Poison Center, told the AP that the pouches contain a capsule of citric acid that, when broken inside the pouch, mixes with baking soda, causing a chemical reaction that puffs up the bag until it bursts, releasing various odors. Joshi said the local poison control center is trying to find the manufacturer and intends to alert the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission about the item.  Here we go again Lately we have found ourselves writing a lot about products like this aimed at kids, everything from gummy-type fruit chews shaped like Legos (and made by Kellogg's) to Hello Kitty candy perfume. In the good news department, the Lego Group recently let us know that it has "decided to exit the food category altogether—for no reason relating to consumer issues around the Kellogg product." We commend Lego's action, although it would have been better if the company had just said no to the idea of fruit snacks shaped like its iconic building bricks. Such products need to be subjected to more than the usual taste test before being marketed to kids. First and foremost, they need to pass a common sense test. LINK |
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| Sean_ | Aug 21 2008, 06:35 PM Post #15 |
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Infinite One
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Bloody hell. :Voodo: |
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It has happened before. It will happen again. | |
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