With Christmas coming and gift-giving on everyone’s mind, consumer advocacy group Choice has warned consumers to check their homes for unsafe products after a year in which product recalls increased by 12%.
“Whether it’s your favourite smartphone, slow cooker, drone or your kids’ pyjamas, hundreds of popular products have been recalled that present a danger to you and your family,” says CHOICE head of Media, Tom Godfrey.
“When a product is recalled in Australia, on average only around half the products will be returned to the company.
“With so many of us shopping online and heading to stores in the lead-up to Christmas, it’s a good time to check your home for recalled products and exercise your rights.
{loadposition peter}“With so many products being recalled each year, it pays to sign up for free to the ACCC’s product safety alerts,” Godfrey says.
And, over the past year since last Christmas, Choice notes that recalls included a wide range of products that could pose a safety risk to children.
Here’s the list of products which Choice says were recalled over the past 12 months:
1. Ozsale kids’ nightwear
Ozsale's Orange Superhero Pajamas do not display the mandatory fire-hazard warning labels. Worryingly, the fabric and the length of the cape present a very real risk of injury, as it could easily brush against a heat source and very quickly catch fire.
2. Swarovski Octa Crystal Pendant Light
The crystal in the light fixture can detach if damaged during shipment and if it detaches and falls, it poses an impact hazard.
3. Flashing Duck with LED Light
The flashing duck, which was sold through Priceline, contains a button battery and LED light which may become dislodged. If this occurs, there is a risk the button battery could be ingested by a child.
4. Kogan’s 3DR Solo Smart Drone Quadcopter
Components of the drone have not been tested or approved by Australian electrical certification.
5. Inflatable frog
Mesco’s & RPC Promo’s inflatable frogs were promoted nationally at agricultural shows but unfortunately the inflation plugs could be removed by a child, presenting a choking hazard.
6. Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphones
Samsung has recalled more than 50,000 Galaxy Note7 smartphones in Australia due to a fire risk. If you had one of the affected smartphones, stop using it immediately and seek a full refund.
7. Metagenics’ NasoClear
Metagenics’ NasoClear is a complementary medicine product that combines a saline solution scented with essential oils. Some products may contain Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as Golden staph. Golden staph can cause life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia, meningitis or blood-stream infections.
8. Breville’s Fast Slow Cooker
Breville has recalled its Fast Slow Cooker due to a risk of scalding from hot liquids. Consumers who have the Fast Slow Cooker in their possession should contact Breville customer service to arrange for a replacement gasket kit.
9. Zoggs Bobin Swim Jacket & Zoggs Swim Jacket
These Zoggs jackets fail to display warning labels on their outer surfaces and do not comply with Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZ 1900:2014 Flotation aids for water familiarization and swimming tuition.
10. Spotlight’s Rustic Cabin Birch Candle
Spotlight’s Bouclair Home – Rustic Cabin Birch Candle has birch surrounding the candleholder, which could catch fire and remain alight longer than permitted by the ban on combustible candle holders. This could result in burns, serious injury or death if the candle catches fire.
11. Kmart – Spiral Vegetable Cutter
Kmart’s spiral vegetable cutter has a manufacturing issue that may cause the blade to break during use. If the defect occurs, blade pieces may become mixed with food, posing an ingestion and laceration hazard.
12. Adairs kids’ bean bag covers and Adairs adult bean bag covers
Adairs Kids’ bean bags and adult bean bags fail to display the mandatory warning that bean bags are not safe sleeping surfaces “for an infant under 12 months of age”.