Get the scoop on product recalls

If you’re feeling very unsafe with the products you buy lately, you’re not alone. Whether it’s lead in children’s toys, lettuce with E. coli or vehicles that catch fire, more and more of the products we use and consume have problems.

One key to safer living is knowing where to go for information. Here are a few Web sites that can help you learn more about past and current recalls.

“U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( www.fda.gov)

Search by brand, product and company, or review the list of recalls by date. Sign up to get e-mail alerts for new recalls. Recall information includes name of product, where and when distributed, how the product was packaged and the possible health implications for consuming recalled food or using the recalled product. Learn how to report problems with food, vaccines, cosmetics, animal feed and medical products.

“ Food Safety and Inspection Service ( www.usda.gov)

Search FSIS for current open federal cases, past recalls and the latest alerts. Sign up for email alerts when a new recall is issued.

“ Food Safety ( www.foodsafety.gov)

Check here for safety alerts and information on microbes and pathogens that contaminate your food. Look for information on how to report food-borne illnesses.

“U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ( www.cpsc.gov)

This site has a drop-down calendar to search for product recalls going back to 1973. Product information runs from A to Z: air conditioners to mouse traps to well pumps. You can search by product type, company name or product description. Research results will tell you the name of the item, how many were produced, where and when they were sold, contact information and more. Some have photos of the recalled item.

“ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( www.nhtsa.dot.gov)

Click on Recalls on Vehicles and Equipment for checks of vehicles and service bulletins, equipment, child safety seats and tires. Plug your information into the drill-down search box. The site also has good information on odometer fraud, teen drivers and seat belts.

“U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( www.epa.gov)

The site has recall information on insecticides, pesticides and pet collars, as well as fact sheets on their use.

“ Other Government Sites (recalls.gov)

This is an umbrella site that includes links to many of the above recall sites as well as others.