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Product recall

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For The Office episode, see Product Recall.

A product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product, usually due to the discovery of safety issues or a product defect.

The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence (which can cause costly legal penalties) and to improve or avoid damage to publicity. Recalls are costly to a company because they often entail replacing the recalled product or paying for damage caused by use, although possibly less costly than consequential costs caused by damage to brand name and reduced trust in the manufacturer.

A country's consumer protection laws will have specific requirements in regard to product recalls. Such regulations may include how much of the cost the maker will have to bear, situations in which a recall is compulsory (usually because the risk is big enough), or penalties for failure to recall. The firm may also initiate a recall voluntarily, perhaps subject to the same regulations as if the recall were compulsory.

General steps to a product recall

A product recall usually involves the following steps, which may differ according to local laws:

  • Maker or dealer notifies the authorities responsible of their intention to recall a product. Consumer hotlines or other communication channels are established. The scope of the recall, that is, which serial numbers or batch numbers etc. are recalled, is often specified.
  • Product recall announcements are released on the respective government agency's website (if applicable), as well as in paid notices in the metropolitan daily newspapers. In some circumstances, heightened publicity will also result in news television reports advising of the recall.
  • When a consumer group learns of a recall it will also notify the public by various means.
  • Typically, the consumer is advised to return the goods, regardless of condition, to the seller for a full refund or modification.
  • Avenues for possible consumer compensation will vary depending on the specific laws governing consumer trade protection and the cause of recall.

Highlights of major product recalls (1959-2012)

1959

  • USA 1959-60 Cadillacs. [1]

1982

1986

  • USA (1986): 1986 Excedrin Tampering A few bottles of Excedrin were poisoned with cyanide. 2 people died, and 1 recovered in the hospital. A woman named Stella Nickell was charged with product tampering, attempted murder and murder. She was sentenced to 90 years in prison.

1994

2000

2003

2005

2006

  • Ireland and United Kingdom (24 June 2006): Cadbury-Schweppes announced that there had been a salmonella scare surrounding its products, causing millions of chocolate bars from stores across Ireland and the UK to be recalled.
  • 2006 Sony notebook computer batteries recall:
    • Worldwide:August 2006: Dell recalls over four million notebook computer batteries, after a number of instances where the batteries, made by Sony, overheated or caught fire. Most of the defective notebooks were sold in the US, however some one million faulty batteries could be found elsewhere in the world.
    • August 2006: Following Dell's battery recall Apple Computer also recalls 1.8 million Sony notebook computer batteries. Similar to Dell, most of the notebooks were sold in the United States. However some 700,000 units could be found overseas.
    • September 2006: Matsushita (Panasonic) recalls 6,000 batteries.
    • September 2006: Toshiba recalls 340,000 batteries.
    • September 2006: IBM/Lenovo recalls 500,000 batteries.
    • October 2006: Hitachi recalls 16,000 batteries.
    • October 2006: Fujitsu recalls 338,000 batteries.
    • October 2006: Sharp recalls 28,000 batteries.

2007

  • February 2007: Lenovo and Sanyo recalls 200,000 batteries.
  • North America: March 2007: Menu Foods and several other companies issue numerous pet food recalls.
  • USA:March 2007: Ford Motor Company recalls new 2008 Super Duty after reported tailpipe fires in the diesel version.
  • USA:April 2007: Nestle voluntarily recalled its "Caramel Kit Kat Chunky" bars and "KitKat Cookie Dough Chocolate" bars due to some bits of hard plastic being found in the chocolate.
  • USA:June 2007: Foreign Tire Sales Inc. recalls tires imported from Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., of Hangzhou, China. The tires were not made to safety standards to prevent tread separation, a problem that led to the nation's largest tire recall in 2000 by Ford Motor Company. Foreign Tire Sales Inc., was unable to comply with the recall due to its limited resources. Further, Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber doesn't have accountability for a recall since the company is based solely in China and sells in the US through third-party re-sellers.[3]
  • Worldwide:June 2007: The Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway toys were recalled due to risks of Lead Poisoning from the Paint.
  • USA:July 13, 2007: Gerber recalled Organic Rice Cereal and Organic Oatmeal Cereal after a Tampa, Florida parent, Richard Andree, found approximately 30 hard chunks, some of which were a ½ inch long in the product.
  • Worldwide:August 14, 2007: Nokia recalled 46 Million BL-5C batteries after a primary investigation which revealed faulty manufactured batteries by Matsushita Electric Corporation which could explode after short circuit
  • USA:August 30, 2007: Some organic chocolates made in China recalled because there were worms inside the chocolate.
  • USA:In October 2007 ground beef from the Topps Meat Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey was recalled. As of 2007, this was the second-largest beef recall in United States history.[4]
  • Worldwide:September 2007: Honda Motor Company recalled 182,756 2006-2007 Honda Civic sedans and coupes for wheel bearings
  • Worldwide:October 2007: Alltrade Tools recalls over 800,000 power tool chargers.
  • USA:In October 2007 several U.S. Pharmaceutical companies voluntarily recalled several infant cough and cold medicines due to possible overdosing dangers.
  • Worldwide:November 2007: A popular children's toy, Bindeez (also known as Aqua Dots, in the United States), was recalled when it was discovered that 1,4-butanediol had been substituted for 1,5-pentanediol in the bead manufacturing process. The human body metabolises the substance to form the anesthetic GHB.[5]
  • USA:November 2007: Children's snow and sand castle kits by Paricon recalled due to sharp edges; sold exclusively at L. L. Bean
  • Worldwide:November 2007: About 175,000 Curious George 12-inch plush dolls with plastic faces were recalled due to the risk of lead exposure and poisoning.

2008

  • February 2008: The USDA recalled 143 million pounds of processed frozen beef (the largest beef recall in US history) from the Westland/Hallmark processor in Southern California due to cattle not being inspected before slaughter. There was little chance of any illness in the cattle.[6]
  • April 2008: Malt-O-Meal voluntarily recalls its Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat cold cereal products due to salmonella contamination.
  • 1 April 2008: Malaysia's first nationwide automotive recall was announced due to defects in the Proton Savvy's rear wheel bearing.
  • August 2008: Maple Leaf Foods voluntarily recalled a number of meat and deli products after an outbreak of listeriosis. Four elderly people have died as a result. Affected restaurants include McDonald's and Mr. Sub.
  • September 2008: 440,000 Sony VAIO type T TZ series due to excessive heat production, produced in May 2007 - July 2008 had to be recalled.[7]

2009

2010

  • January - Toyota recalls several million vehicles because of faulty throttle pedals that may cause runaway acceleration and faulty software that may cause braking to be delayed.
    Main article: 2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls
  • May - Johnson & Johnson recalls 43 over-the-counter children's medicines made by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, on April 30, 2010.[10]
    Main article: 2010 Johnson & Johnson children's product recall
  • June - Maytag recalls about 1.7 million dishwashers, including Maytag(r), Jenn-Air(r), Magic Chef(r), and several other brands due to the electrical failure and fire hazards.[11]
  • June - Ikea recalled 3.36 million "roller" and "roman" shades due to strangulation hazards. "IKEA Recalls 3.36-million Roller, Roman, Roll-Up Shades and Blinds Due to Strangulation Hazards" US Recall News
  • June - McDonalds recalled the Shrek Forever After cups due to risks of cadmium poisoning from the cups' paint.
  • June - Kellogg issued a voluntary recall of select packages of Kellogg's Corn Pops, Honey Smacks, Froot Loops and Apple Jacks cereals due to the odd smell. the cereals was reported was Stale, metal, wax, and soap like taste, the recall was identified a substance in the package liners that can produce an uncharacteristic waxy-like off taste and smell.[12] "Kellogg's Cereal Recall Due to Odd Smell" WebMD News
  • August - 228 million eggs are voluntarily recalled by Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa due to a potential salmonella contamination.[13]
  • September - Fisher Price recalls 10-million products, including enough toys to merit this as the largest toy recall in history [14] "Annual Recall Roundup: Biggest Recalls of 2010" US Recall News
  • September 23 - Similac Abbott Laboratories isssued the voluntarily recalling up to 5 million containers of Similac infant formula after finding beetles in the baby formula.[15] ISSUE: Possibility of the presence of a small common beetle in the product. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that while the formula containing these beetles posed no immediate health risk, there was a possibility that infants who consumed formula containing the beetles or their larvae, could experience symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort and refusal to eat as a result of small insect parts irritating the GI tract. The voluntary recall affected milk- and soy-based formulas distributed in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and some Caribbean nations. At least 12 of the recalled products were provided to families through the federal government’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) health and nutrition program. FDA reassured caregivers and families whose babies may have consumed recalled products that drinking the formula will not cause long-term health problems. "Similac Powder Infant Formulas: Recall".

2011

  • January - Nature's Promise Giant Food of Landover, Md. issued a voluntary recall of several Nature's Promise organic bagged salad items due to the potential for listeria contamination. there were reported a pregnant woman around in her 20s was rushed into the hospital after eating tainted salad. no deaths reported.[16]
  • February - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall 20,000 of Sniglar Cribs, distributed by IKEA Home Furnishings due to the detach and collapse of the Mattress, creating a risk of entrapment and suffocation to a child in the crib.[17]
  • February - Honda Motor Co issued a voluntary safety recall of 700,000 cars due to the failure. The spring was placed improperly in a small box inside the engine, so that, in some cases, the problem could cause the engine to stall. No crashes or injuries have been reported related to this defect.[18]
  • February - Study on Medical device recall by Dr. Diana Zuckerman and Paul Brown of the National Research Center for Women and Families, and Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that most medical devices recalled in the last five years for “serious health problems or death” had been previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) using the less stringent, and cheaper, 501(k) process.[19]
  • March - Toyota Motor Corp issued a recall about 22,000 sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks over tire-deflation monitoring systems that could cause failure. No such crashes or injuries were reported.[20]
  • March - Dairy Crest recalled one batch of its FRijj Thick and Fresh Strawberry Milkshake due to low levels of listeria.[21]
  • May - Nestle Philippines recalled two batches of Maggi beef and chicken noodles after it was reported that it was contaminated with salmonella.[22]
  • June 28, 2011 - McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., recalled at the retail level one product lot (60,912 bottles) of Tylenol, Extra Strength Caplets, 225 count bottles, manufactured in February 2009 and distributed in the U.S. McNeil took this action following a small number of reports of musty, moldy, or other odor. The uncharacteristic smell has been linked to the presence of trace amounts of a chemical known as 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA). Tylenol, Extra Strength Caplets, 225 count Lot # ABA619 with UPC Code 300450444271. "Recall of TylenolL® Extra Strength Caplets". Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  • USA August - National Beef Packing Company recalled about 60,424 pounds of ground beef products contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 (the most well-known of the enteropathogenic strains).[23]
  • USA December - Tyson Fresh Meats (part of Tyson Foods) recalled 40 thousand pounds of ground beef in sixteen states. A sample of the 80/20 Ground Beef Chuck produced on 24 October tested positive for E. coli at the company's Nebraska plant.[24]

2012

Product recall agencies by country

Australia

Canada

Europe

  • unsafeproducts.eu - Unofficial Product safety in the EU, lists recalls relevant to citizens of Europe.
  • RAPEX - Official EU Searchable Journal of Non Food Product Recalls.

Germany

Ireland

The Netherlands

United Kingdom

United States

Recalls by Industry

Automotive Industry

In general, the number of recalls has been increasing - with an exception during the economic crisis 2009-2010 – due to time, cost and market pressure. Per year, global automotive warranties are estimated as USD 40 billion, 3 -5 % loss in sales. Low priced production often leads to minor quality, and outsourcing leads to a shift of knowledge concerning techniques and processes. This way, technical failures are more likely to occur due to communication problems between the different parties engaged in the supply chain and missing definitions for technical interfaces. Since most of the failures are introduced within the production phase, an early failure analysis can prevent from high recall costs and image loss. Usually, it takes 12 months from failure detection to correction. An image loss is then bound to happen and will require new, costly marketing efforts to improve it.[28]

Consumer electronics

Regarding the number of household accidents and product-related injuries, household appliances are also highly regulated and product recalls are very common for consumer electronics. According to a US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) statistics report, over 3000 electrocutions associated with household consumer products were registered between 2002 and 2009, mostly small household appliances. This is why, to ensure consumers’ safety, every product is tested before it is allowed to be sold, imported or exported on a market. Although it is in the manufacturers’ interest to ensure that their products comply with all safety legislation and requirements, the U.S. Governments’ mandate is to enforce and ensure compliance so that defective products are less likely to enter the market. [29]. Product recalls for household appliances have been the second most recalled products in the US in the mid 2000s.

See also

References

  1. ^ Mashaw, Jerry L. (1990). "Regulation as Recalls". The Struggle for Auto Safety. Harvard University Press. p. 150. ISBN 0674845307. steering linkage (pitman arm) failed on many cars while making a 90 degree turn at 10 to {{convert|15|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}}; that the arms were made of metal somewhat softer than that usually employed to withstand the stresses of low-speed turns; and that General Motors had sold six times as many pitman arm replacement units during those years than during the preceding and succeeding years. {{cite book}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  2. ^ http://www.tga.gov.au/recalls/2003/pan.htm
  3. ^ Jeffrey Gold, Importer told to recall Chinese tires, AP, June 25, 2007
  4. ^ "Topps Meat Co. folds after beef recall". New York Times. October 5, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-25. Topps Meat Co. of Elizabeth, which is involved in the second-largest beef recall in U.S. history, said today it is going out of business after more than six decades
  5. ^ Perry, Michael (November 7, 2007). "Australia bans China-made toy on toxic drug risk". Reuters.
  6. ^ "USDA orders recall of 143 million pounds of beef - CNN.com". CNN. February 18, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  7. ^ Sony VAIO type T TZ series recall announcement (Japanese)
  8. ^ Andrew Martin and Michael Moss "Salmonella in Pistachios Spurs Recall" New York Times.
  9. ^ Jerry Hirsch "Nestle recalls all of its refrigerated cookie dough" Los Angeles Times
  10. ^ Singer, Natasha (May 1, 2010). "Children's Tylenol and Other Drugs Recalled". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  11. ^ "Recall Information". Repair.maytag.com. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  12. ^ "Kellogg’s - Consumer Alert". Consumeralert.kelloggs.com. 2010-06-25. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  13. ^ "Urgent Nationwide Egg Recall". Fda.gov. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  14. ^ "Mattel and Fisher-Price Consumer Relations Support Center - Product Recalls & Safety Alerts". Service.mattel.com. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  15. ^ "Similac Recall: Bug Parts in Baby Formula Worry Parents - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  16. ^ [1][dead link]
  17. ^ "IKEA Cribs Recalled for Entrapment, Suffocation Hazard". NewsInferno. 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  18. ^ "Honda recalling nearly 700,000 small cars - Business - Autos | NBC News". MSNBC. 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  19. ^ "JAMA Network | Archives of Internal Medicine | Medical Device Recalls and the FDA Approval ProcessMedical Device Recalls and FDA Approval Process". Archinte.ama-assn.org. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  20. ^ Woodall, Bernie (March 7, 2011). "Toyota recalls 22,000 vehicles over tire monitors". Reuters.
  21. ^ "Food Standards Agency - FRijj Strawberry Milkshake recalled". Food.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  22. ^ "Maggi noodles recalled over salmonella scare". ABS-CBN News. 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  23. ^ Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-food-beef-recalltre77e0hb-20110814,0,5478571.story. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. ^ Mayes, Jessica. "Tyson recalls ground beef in KY and IN - wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports". Wave3.com. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  25. ^ "Ricotta salata cheese tied to 3 listeria deaths, 14 hospitalizations - Vitals". Vitals.nbcnews.com. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  26. ^ Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency: safety warnings
  27. ^ Trading Standards Institute: recalls
  28. ^ “From Recall to Prevention” SGS Consumer Information Bulletin, Retrieved 11/15/2012
  29. ^ [2] Always in the spotlight – The safety of electrical household appliances, SGS, Retrieved 02/07/2013
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