According to an article posted on USAToday.com, there has been growing concern among U.S. regulators, manufacturers, and retailers that the recent surge in the number of product recalls is causing the public to ignore or unintentionally disregard them, potentially endangering health and safety.
In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated a total of 2,363 recalls for consumer products, food, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. This amounted to approximately 6.5 recalls every day and represented a 14 percent jump from the 2,081 recalls conducted in 2010. This increase, according to experts, is due to a combination of factors, including improved testing procedures, increased regulator oversight, and the use of social media.
Various government agencies may have established standards and different methods for announcing recalls. With so many recall notices coming from different sources, it may be difficult for consumers to be kept aware of all. Although government agencies and retailers are exploring additional and alternative methods of communicating with the public, such as Twitter and Facebook, the national and private company recall systems do not function as well as they could. According to the vice president of quality assurance and food safety at Costco, retailers and consumers would benefit from one uniform recall system.
Product manufacturers and retailers are responsible for the safety of their products and the timeliness of their recalls. Oftentimes, recalls are disorganized and information is disseminated in an untimely manner, increasing the risk of injury or illness.
If you have been injured by a defective product in New Jersey, the experienced NJ product liability lawyers at Blume Forte may be able to help investigate your potential claim and its merit. To learn more about your options, call us at 973-845-4421.