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Is Product Recall Deteriorating In America

Is Product Recall Deteriorating In America?
Rhonda Johnston

Is Product Recall System Deteriorating In America?
Despite talk, years ago about consolidating recall authority, there is no single recalls czar with the power to banish all problem products from the marketplace immediately. Instead, there still remains a complex, decentralized system granting recall authority to six federal agencies, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, for food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for vehicles, tires, and child safety seats. U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, for everyday products from clothes to coffee makers. U. S. Department of Agriculture, for meat, poultry, and egg products, and finally, U.S. Coast Guard, for boats and boating equipment. The agency has its own rules and procedures.
August issue uncovers how recalls works and how consumers can get the latest information, by Hackett, & Rojas (2004), emphasizes that a dangerous defective, or unhealthy product could remain on the road and in the home and in recent years, the number of products that have been subject to government recalls has risen significantly. Whether the reason is better policing, more diligent reporting of problems to agencies, or worse products, the rise of recalls does not necessarily mean that more faulty products are being repaired or returned to stores (Hackett, & Rojas, 2004). "A company might not report a problem or might protest a recall order because it contends that its product doesn't [sic] pose a unique hazard, because if fears negative publicity, or because it recoils at the expense" (Hackett, & Rojas, 2004, p. 1).
Companies are not required to search through bank or credit card records. Clearly, it is beneficial to alert people but we need to respect privacy rights and the law. Some drug recalls are also wide publicized. Pharmacies are required to review records and contact patients only for Class 1 recall,...