Consumer Reports Parent Company Settles Privacy Lawsuit
December 18, 2018, Westchester Magazine
The publisher of Consumer Reports, the prominent nonprofit dedicated to providing unbiased consumer product reviews, has settled a class-action lawsuit, paying $16.375 million.
Don Ruppel, a resident of St. Charles, MI, sued Consumers Union of Yonkers in 2016 for selling his and other subscribers’ personal information — including data like address, age, ethnicity, gender, income, name, political affiliation, and religion — to “list brokers,” middleman companies that buy subscriber list data and then resell it to third parties for advertising purposes, either in whole or by specific demographic.
Electronics and product compliance: the perils of complex supply chains
December 20, 2018, Burges Salmon LLP
It is an alarming scenario for any consumer product manufacturer seeking to manage a complex international supply chain: a minor supplier changes a material used in a single component, neglects to pass on that information, and inadvertently introduces a restricted substance into your consumer product which is then put on the market in multiple jurisdictions.
What you need to know about the Britax jogging stroller settlement
December 18, 2018, Consumer Reports
Britax, the maker of BOB jogging strollers, recently agreed to address a front wheel issue that has led to dozens of injuries, though the settlement doesn’t involve a recall as federal regulators and consumer advocates had urged. The problem involves nearly 500,000 BOB jogging strollers manufactured between January 1, 2009 and September 30, 2015, as well as an unknown number of strollers imported from 1997 to 2009.
High levels of carcinogenic chemicals found in everyday consumer products
December 19, 2018, Phys.org
High levels of the carcinogenic chemical cadmium can still be found in everyday household products like second-hand plastic toys, drinking glasses, alcoholic beverage bottles, ceramics and artists’ paints, according to new research by the University of Plymouth. Writing in Science of the Total Environment, scientists also suggest it is unintentionally finding its way into glass and other items through the recycling process.
FDA warns about safety risks of teething necklaces, bracelets to relieve teething pain or to provide sensory stimulation
December 20, 2018, Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerted parents, caregivers and health care providers to the safety risks that jewelry used for relieving teething pain pose for children. The agency warned that they should not be used to relieve teething pain in children or to provide sensory stimulation to persons with special needs, such as autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Test of connected toys shows parents should be cautious
December 19, 2018, Consumer Reports
When children unwrap holiday gifts these days, they may find internet-connected robots and talking teddy bears alongside classic board games or Lego sets. These digital products can be fun and even educational, but they also present some privacy and security risks you don’t find in old-fashioned toys. “Any product with a WiFi or Bluetooth connection potentially can get hacked, whether it’s meant for children or adults,” says Robert Richter, who leads privacy and security testing at Consumer Reports.
Consumer Protection bill 2018 to provide protection to consumers
December 20, 2018, CanIndia
The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 which was passed in Lok Sabha on Thursday will provide protection of the interests of consumers and establish authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumer’s dispute. The Bill replaces the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, enforces consumer rights and provides a mechanism for redressal of complaints regarding defect in goods and deficiency in services.
How do you know a product is safe?
December 18, 2018, Choice
An Australian pediatrician and director of an injury surveillance agency addresses the question of product safety: “It would probably surprise most Australians to realise that of the many thousands of products available on the market, most have no voluntary safety standards and only 42 have mandatory safety standards – where sections of the voluntary standard have been enforced in legislation. So how can we rely on a product to be safe to use?”
Toys ‘R’ Us wins approval to sell Asian operations for $760 million
December 18, 2018, Retail Touchpoints
Toys ‘R’ Us has won approval in bankruptcy court to sell the majority stake of its Asian operations, which includes more than 450 stores in 10 markets, to a joint venture that includes Fung Retailing for $760 million. The retailer is planning to expand its Asia business next year with 68 additional stores (approximately 50 in China) with a focus on building smaller shops.
