Since 2010, most consumer products recalled in the U.S. have been household goods, according to a recall index compiled by Stericycle ExpertSOLUTIONS during this year’s third quarter.
The report, Recalls Hit Home: Household Goods Drive Consumer Product Recalls, concluded that the products, such as appliances and furnishings, aren’t more likely to break down as soon as they leave the store shelves. In fact, it’s the exact opposite—household items tend to last longer than most consumer products. While the longer shelf life presents a benefit, the longevity is one of the key reasons that the products are being recalled. Since 2010, a number of household products manufactured in the 1990s were recalled because they were more likely to cause a fire—the most popular reason why consumer goods are recalled. (Fifteen million appliance units have been recalled due to fire concerns over the last five years.)
“It’s evident from the Q3 Index that age and deterioration should be a key consideration for all household goods manufacturers,” said Stericycle VP Kevin Pollack, in a press relase. “Products in this category are also growing more technologically complex. These advances give manufacturers the opportunity to design early-warning systems, but with more bells and whistles, there is also more that can go wrong. Given this trend, it’s essential that companies have a plan for executing a recall — and continually update it to keep up with the latest advancements.”
Perhaps one of the more disheartening findings stemming from the report is the discovery that household goods catered toward children and infants are recalled with consistency. Children’s products made up for 12 percent of the consumer recalls in the last quarter. Additionally, more than half of the clothing recalled since 2010 was made for children and infants. So what are the reasons that children’s clothing is so often recalled? According to the report, it’s often something as simple as a drawstring or other form of lacing—which routinely become entangled in objects, causing strangulation or dragging-type accidents. Over the last five years, such accidents have caused 26 reported deaths.
Compounding the issue is the resale market associated with children’s clothing and products. According to the report, the resale of these products makes it harder for retailers to stay ahead of recalls. Don’t expect governing bodies to sympathize with the difficulties retailers face, though.
“The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) can levy financial penalties against businesses that have sold a recalled product, even if it was unintentional. With recalls frequently initiated more than 10 years after the original sale, navigating this environment requires significant time and resources for both the manufacturer and the retailer,” Pollack said.
For more information on Stericycle’s report, click here.
