AngryToxicologist is a scientist in the public health sector, knows plenty about toxicology, and is occasionally angry about it all. Drop me a line at There's something rotten in Bethesda
Public Citizen released, and the WaPo reported on, findings that the CPSC manytimes takes six months or more to alert the public of dangerous products. Never fear, says the National Association of Manufacturers, the CPSC only looked at the cases that were in the public record. Oh, well, okay then; I'm sure your secret files make you look great.
The CPSC itself says that 90% of recalls are done within 20 days. First, if something is truely harmful, why does it take 20 days? There doesn't seem to be a good reason for that (I can see a week so the company and the CPSC can work out what people should do with the product, does it efffect other products,...etc). Second, what about those other 10%? New slogan: The CPSC, protecting the American public from 90% of dangerous products!
One more thing about this: In "exchange" for letting the CPSC do the recall quickly, the CPSC doesn't do an evaluation of the product which could harm the company in future law suits. Wait a sec., the CPSC is doing favors for a company which has already produced a dangerous product so that they can do a quick recall? Who the heck is in charge here? Hmmm...I think we all know that.
And don't look now, but the proposed next chairperson of the CPSC is an industry product defense expert. Wonderful, I'm sure this will fix this right up. Great coverage on this over at the Pump Handle.
Weekly Aural Pleasure
If this doesn't improve your Friday, then there is no hope for you. I'm sorely tempted to go spend the rest of the day in a cafe.
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Comments
That's the nice thing about secret files. They can do anything you want. I think they are a derivative of the magic wand! LOL!
Dave Briggs :~)
Posted by: Dave Briggs | February 1, 2008 5:24 PM