When defective or unsafe products hit the market, many people might sustain sickness or injury as a result. There are administrative agencies responsible for identifying such hazardous products and initiating recalls, but that may not always prevent one of those items from entering your household.
You can protect yourself and your family by staying up-to-date on major recalls that might affect the products you tend to purchase. To that end, you should familiarize yourself with how to find product safety recalls as well as the process you should follow if you purchase a recalled item.
Government resources
One great way to monitor recalls is by using Recalls.gov, an official resource that aggregates recalls from multiple federal agencies. The FDA also provides recall information on food products and other items that fall under FDA regulations. If you have concerns about a specific product, these government resources allow you to search for that specific item to see if any safety notices are in effect.
What to do when you purchase an unsafe product
You should always carefully read over the recall notice for instructions on how to handle an unsafe product. This typically entails returning the item to the store for a refund or disposing of the item in a specific manner. If you or a family member suffers a personal injury due to a defective product, then you may have grounds to file a product liability claim and pursue financial compensation.
While it is difficult to check for safety notices regarding every product you purchase, using the available resources to give yourself peace of mind when something seems suspicious is a good practice.
