There are so many recalls and safety alerts on different products, it can be hard to keep on top of it all. Here are some tips to help parents when it comes to the safety of household goods and services.
How to Keep Up to Date on Recalls
As parents, we want to make sure that the food and products we use in our homes are healthy and helpful for our kids, yet there are numerous items from sandwich meats to teething toys which have gone on recall lists in Canada due to safety concerns.
Respected news stations run stories about recalls and safety alerts as soon as they find out about them and some even have dedicated health sections on their websites where they keep these stories posted either in video or written format. Reporters generally get their information for these stories from a press release sent out by the makers of the offending product or from Health Canada which is a branch of the federal government. So if you aren’t sure if that crib or train set is safe, go to the source yourself. You can get a list of the latest recalls for products offered or sold in Canada as well as a list of all recalls for the year, by going online to Health Canada's Advisories and Warnings Webpage.
Application for Recalls and Advisories in Canada
With everyone living off their cell phones these days, there is now of course an app you can download as well to get the latest health warnings and recalls from Health Canada. The government site has applications available for Android (version 2.1 and up), Apple (which includes iPhone, iPad, iPod touch versions 3.1.3 and higher) and Blackberry (Torch, version 6.0 and up). You can download the apps by going to Health Canada’s Recalls and Safety Alerts Mobile Applications page. There is also a nice feature where you can filter the notices sent to you so that you are sent only ones relating to kids products from toys to food. The recall apps are free as well.
Go to the Company Website for Recall Details
If you heard a rumor that a certain toy is recalled, then find out who makes it and check out the company’s webpage. Also, if you shop a lot at certain stores or are a loyal customer of specific brand names toys or products, another good habit is to periodically check their official website. Most big companies have a recall section (although some are easier to find then others on their network of links), and will provide details of what is entailed in the recall and what you should do with the product. The other good thing about checking with the company is that you can find out if there is any way to be compensated with either cash or a replacement product. And if you want more details or have any questions, you can find their email and customer service phone line under the ‘Contact Us’ heading too. Sometimes it can be nice to speak to a live human to understand why an item was recalled, how bad the health risks are and to get the lowdown on how long it will take a replacement part to be shipped to you (remember of course you are speaking to the company who made the product, so they likely have a ‘spin’ on how they want customer service representatives to speak on the issue).
To keep up to date on recalled products, keep an eye (or an ear) on the news, check Health Canada’s recall page or download an app from Health Canada to keep you up to date on the latest recalls. It’s also a good idea to check the websites of companies where you buy a lot of products to see if there are any recent calls. These sites are also good for giving consumers the details they need about the safety advisory and if there is any compensation.
Tami Nicholson - Tami is the Topic Editor for Parenting Methods at Suite101. She is a mother of two with a background in education and journalism.
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