Methodology Explained

I put up a comment in the blog ThingAMaBaby about my post product recall statistics in US for January 2007 and someone called AJ remarked that my methodology and source were unclear. So here's for you AJ, my bad!

1. The data source is US Consumer Product Safety Commission at recall.gov.
2. I looked at January 2007's data and it reported that there were 29 recalls.
3. Each recall, for instance, Hong Teng Trading (USA) Inc. Recalls Electric Oil Lamps Due To Shock and Fire Hazards, shows information like total units (3,900 units) and per unit cost ($1). The dollar value was calculated by multiplying total units and per unit cost.
   
4. This dollar value was pegged to the country of manufacture.
5. Steps 1 to 4 were repeated for each recall.
6. Total dollar value of recalled products by manufacturing country was then derived.

I should have explained the methodology but better late than never.

Product Recall was Numero Uno Search Term? Wow!

The Official Google Blog says that Product Recalls was a top keyword a few months ago. Well, if they say it then it must be TRUE.

Timely or not but here I'm blogging away about the subject. Expect more news on product recalls.

Product Recall Stats for January 2007 in United States

Amidst all the news of the Mattel toys recall, other product recalls go unnoticed. To address this issue, I have analyzed the product recall stats for January 2007 (I'll post the stats one month at a time) and the following charts say it all.







It is quite clear that in January 2007, the cost of recalled products manufactured in USA was the most by leaps and bounds. So is China merely a scapegoat?

Could Deaths Related to Product Recalls Have Been Prevented?

Thousands of children were put at risk by harmful toys and Zhang Shuhong, the boss of the toy manufacturer was found dead in his factory workshop on Saturday.

Reuters reports that Zhang Shuhong probably did not know that there was lead in the paint. Is Mattel to blame? Why didn't Mattel do thorough tests?

These questions crop up but who is to blame? Maybe, it is just GREED that's at fault here.

Mattel Adds to List of China Made Toy Recall

Mattel recalled 436,000 China made die-cast cars that contain lead paint. This includes Polly Pocket dolls, Batman action figures, Barbie and Tanner playsets and Doggie day care toys. Who is at fault here? Mattel who did not do their due diligence and pushed their Chinese manufacturers into cutting costs and using cheap harmful materials. Or the Chinese manufacturers who are out to make quick and easy money taking advantage of low labor costs and cheap harmful raw materials?

Leave your thoughts in comments and do vote in the poll on the left bar.

List of Mattel toys recalled based on model names and product numbers according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Polly Pocket recall notice
B2632 Polly Pocket! Polly Place Hangin" Out House
B3158 Polly Pocket! Polly Place Treetop Clubhouse
B3201 Polly Pocket! Spa Day
B7118 Polly Totally! Polly Place Totally Tiki Diner
G8605 Polly Pocket! Quik-Clik Boutique
H1537 Polly Pocket! Quik-Clik City Pretty Playset
H1538 Polly Pocket! Quik-Clik Sporty Style Playset
H3211 Polly Pocket! Totally Zen Playset
55503 Polly Pocket! Happenin" Pet Station
B2631 Polly Pocket! Polly Place Magnetic Additions Assortment
B3203 Polly Pocket! Activity Lunchbox
B3204 Polly Pocket! Activity Locker
B3207 Polly Pocket! Collectible Lip Gloss
B3209 Polly Pocket! Collectible Make Up Powder Puff
B3210 Polly Pocket! Dip N' Dive Pool
B3396 Polly Pocket! Birthday Surprise
B7078 Polly Pocket! Dazzlin' Pet Show Divine Dogs
B7082 Polly Pocket! Rick's Magic Show
B7125 Polly Pocket! Sweet Treats
B7127 Polly Pocket! Birthday Mailbox
B7128 Polly Pocket! Stretch Polly Disco Lamp
B7129 Polly Pocket! Jewelry Box Purple
B8478 Polly Pocket! Polly Magnet Bus
B9521 Polly Pocket! Collectible Caboodle
B9522 Polly Pocket! Activity Lunch Box Pink
B9523 Polly Pocket! Activity Locker Orange
B9525 Polly Pocket! Polly Glitter Puff
B9578 Polly Pocket! Collectible Caboodle Purple
B9929 Polly Pocket! Fashion Boutique on the Go
C0504 Polly Pocket! Birthday Mailbox Pink
C0505 Polly Pocket! Jewelry Box Yellow
C1341 Polly Pocket! Disco Lamp
C1342 Polly Pocket! Disco Lamp Purple
G8602 Polly Pocket! Mermaid Stars
G8606 Polly Pocket! Quick Click Playset
G8612 Polly Pocket! Snow Cool Hotel
G8614 Polly Pocket! Quick Click House of Style Playset
G8615 Polly Pocket! Polly by Me Totally Beadiful
G8616 Polly Pocket! Quick Click Penthouse
H1553 Polly Pocket! Quick Click Movie Time Playset
J1659 Polly Pocket! Pollywood Limo-Scene Vehicle
J1661 Polly Pocket! Pollywood Dial A Style Lila
J1662 Polly Pocket! Pollywood Dial A Style Lea
J1670 Polly Pocket! Stick N' Style
J1681 Polly Pocket! Pollyworld Rockin' Theme Park Playset
J1687 Polly Pocket! Pollyworld Dress N' Drive Lounge Playset
J1695 Pollyworld Theme Park Party Quick Click Doll and Fashion
J4169 Polly Pocket! Pollyworld Quick Click Polly Doll
J4170 Polly Pocket! Pollyworld Quick Click Crissy Doll
J4171 Polly Pocket! Pollyworld Quick Click Lea Doll
J4172 Polly Pocket! Pollyworld Quick Click Shani Doll
J9305 Polly Pocket! Pollyworld Costume Art Lea
J9306 Polly Pocket! Pollyworld Gift Shop Lila
J9648 Polly Pocket! Twirl and Swirl Beauty Case
J9965 Pollyworld Dial a Song Polly Fashions
J9966 Pollyworld Dial a Song Polly Fashions
K3460 Pollyworld Rockin' Tour Bus
H1554 Polly Pocket! Quick Click Pool Party Playset

Doggie Day Care recall notice
H1532 Doggie Day Care Coco
H1533 Doggie Day Care Sparley
G4461 Doggie Day Care Lula and Baby
G4462 Doggie Day Care Crockett and Baby
G4464 Doggie Day Care Taffy and Baby
G4459 Doggie Day Care Snack Time with Cookie
G4460 Doggie Day Care Diaper Change with Ginger
H1530 Doggie Day Care Ice Cream with Ranger
G9703 Doggie Day Care Puppy Park with Dixie
G4457 Doggie Day Care Dream House Nursery with Honey
G4458 Doggie Day Care Bath Time with Beau

Tanner recall notice
J9472 Barbie and Tanner play set
J9560 Barbie and Tanner play set

Sarge recall notice
M1253 "Sarge" toy car sold alone
K5925 "Sarge" toy car sold in a package of two

Batman recall notice
J1944 Batman Magna Battle Armor Batman figure
J1946 Batman Magna Fight Wing Batman figure
J5114 Batman Secret ID figure
J5115 Batman Flying Fox figure
J4142 One Piece Triple Slash Zolo Roronoa figure

Orvis Company Recalls Children's Stuffed Horse and Fairy Doll Toys

Another recall. Another China manufactured product. What's new? This time around, Orvis recalled about 220 stuffed horses and 1300 fairy doll toys (see pictures) because the plastic button eyes of the stuffed horse and the pompom nose of the fairy doll toy easily detaches posing a choking hazard to young children. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

2007 Raleigh Cadent Bicycles Recalled

China made products continue to be recalled. Is Chinese product quality any good? Is it hazardous for consumers? Questions like these are likely to be raised again as Raleigh America Inc voluntarily recalled about 1200 Chinese made bicycles.

According to the report from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, these bikes sold nationwide for prices between $660 to $1,300 has caused injuries like dislocated shoulders, a concussion and a broken jaw from the 3 separate reports received. These bikes are manufactured by Carbonage Technology, of Baoan, China.