Recall Roulette update: Craigslist takes action, Illinois AG Lisa Madigan warns parents
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan unveiled her annual "Safe Shopping Guide" to flag recalled products just days after an I-Team investigation exposed unsafe products for sale.
Last week, the I-Team showed you how easy it is to buy potentially dangerous appliances and toys online. Now, Craigslist has taken some action and there's a reminder from the Illinois attorney general.
"You will be shocked by the levels of recalls that take place in our country," Madigan said.
Madigan said what's inside the 2014 "safe shopping guide" could prevent an injury or death. Recalled items are usually off store shelves, but could be in your home, at a rummage sale or online.
"They are still out there, they are still in circulation and therefore they are still a danger to children everywhere," Madigan said.
Madigan, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Chicago watchdog group "Kids in Danger" estimate that only 5 to 10 percent of recalled items are ever returned. The I-Team exposed the sale of some items on Craigslist and talked to sellers who said they were unaware of the recalls.
"A 2013 recall report analyzing the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of recalls of children's products was highlighted last week by major reporting on ABC showing how easy it is to miss recall notices and end up with dangerous products," said Laura Nikolovska, of Kids in Danger.
Since our joint investigation with ABC News, the CPSC chairman said that our reports appeared "to have contributed to a potential new stance on safety by Craigslist" and "Craigslist added a caution notice."
"It is not only toys that pose danger to children, there are other items in here. As you see, we have a stroller in here, there are cribs, bed, a lot of clothing - drawstrings around the neck can pose a significant problem," Madigan said.
In another development, the craigslist CEO posted a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission saying the recall system is flawed but was "dismayed" that his company was singled out.
Craigslist also told the I-Team that it already had some systems in place to discourage the sale of recalled items.
