Defective & Dangerous Products

• Commentator Erin Burnett Says China is Our Greatest Friend for Poisoning Our Food and Making Toxic Toys

  Michael Phelan | August 17, 2007 11:08 AM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  It's high time the American public speaks up and let's the media know that we will no longer stand for programming that contains outrageous, shock commentary that is devoid of reason and simply designed to draw attention to the commentator. Ann Coulter is a perfect example. The more outrageous her statements, the more attention she gets. Recently, a CNBC bimbo commentator said that China "is...

• U.S.-Made Toys Safer for Kids

  Michael Phelan | August 15, 2007 2:34 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  It seems like every other week, Mattel is recalling millions of toys or we're hearing about Thomas the Tank Engine toy recalls. That's because 80% of toys sold in the U.S. are manufactured in China, Chinese manufacturers have been using lead-based paint in toys. The latest news is certain vinyl baby bibs sold at Toys R Us are contaminated with lead. Lead is a harmful neurotoxin that causes...

• We Must Get the Lead Out of Children's Toys

  Michael Phelan | August 06, 2007 12:44 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  The Consumer Product Safety Commission tested randomly children's plastic jewelry and found that 20% cotained toxic lead paint. Independent testing done by Massachusetts, Ohio, and other states found much higher percentages of toy jewelry contained lead. Ninety five percent of the jewelry tested by the CPSC came from China. It is now no secret that Chinese firms in the toy supply chain have...

• RC2 Gets the Lead Out of Thomas Toy Trains

  Michael Phelan | July 27, 2007 3:36 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  Kudos to Illinois company, RC2, which sells Thomas & Friends toy trains. It was discovered recently that the trains contained lead-based paint, a known neurotoxin which has been banned in this country since 1978. The risks to toddlers and small children prone to chewing on toys is obvious. These toys were unreasonably dangerous, defective products anyway you slice it. Rather than trying to...

• Child Earrings Recalled in Florida Due to Lead Poisoning Risk

  Jenny Albano | July 17, 2007 4:22 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  The CPSC, in cooperation with Uncas Manufacturing Company, announced the voluntary recall of Sleeping Beauty Crown and Cinderella Star Earrings Set.The earrings were available at Wal-Mart stores in Florida from February 2007 to June 2007 and cost around $5. The earrings were found high levels of lead. This is a major health risk for children, because lead is toxic and if ingested many adverse...

• Chinese Tires Recalled

  Michael Phelan | June 26, 2007 3:10 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  Federal agencies ordered Foreign Tires Sales, Inc. to recall up to 450,000 tires it imported from China and sold to U.S. distributors. The reason for the recall is because the Chinese manufacturer unilaterally decided not to install gum strips into its tires, thus increasing the risk of tire separation. The recalled tires were sold under at least four brand names-Westlake, Compass, Telluride,...

• Don't Buy Chinese-Made Products

  Michael Phelan | June 26, 2007 11:15 AM | 1 CommentRichmond, VA

  I favor free-trade and don't consider myself to be an isolationist, but enough is enough. First we learn that Chinese-made ingredients in pet food are killing our pets. Next we learn that Chinese-made toothpaste is toxic. Recently, we learned that Thomas the Tank Engine toy trains contain enough lead paint to cause permanent brain damage to toddlers who might chew on the toys. Now, the...

• Tainted Contact Lense Solution Recalled

  Michael Phelan | May 29, 2007 3:24 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  Last year, an outbreak of fusarium keratitis resulted in the recall of ReNu With Moisture Loc made by Bausch & Lomb. This past weekend, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked an outbreak of acanthamoeba keratitis to AMO Complete Moisture Plus Multi-Purpose Solution, a contact lens solution made by Advanced Medical Optics of Santa Ana, California. Ancanthamoeba karatitis is...

• Don't Let K-Street Takeover the CPSC

  Michael Phelan | May 09, 2007 12:23 PM | 0 CommentsRichmond, VA

  President Bush's attempt to emasculate the federal agencies tasked with protecting the American people has reached a new nadir. The President nominated Michael Baroody to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). One would think the head to the CPSC would have a track record of promoting consumer product safety. For the past 13 years, Mr. Baroody has been an anti-consumer lobbyist,...

• FDA Requests Recall of ALL Shelhigh Medical Devices

  Michael Phelan | May 03, 2007 3:23 PM | 2 CommentsRichmond, VA

  On May 2, 2007, the FDA issued a formal written request to Shelhigh, Inc. to recall ALL of its medical devices remaining in the marketplace. I blogged in April about the April 17, 2007 raid by U.S. Marshals of Shelhigh's Union, N.J. plant. At the FDA's request, the Marshals seized all medical devices found at the plant because of concerns that the devices were not sterile. During the raid,...