Lead Recall

What is a Lead Recall?

A recall is a business enterprise's or a manufacturer's pull out of a product which the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other product-regulating government agency regard to be in violation of the the laws that the government implement. A lead recall then is the removal of lead-related products from the market after finding out that these products fail or are hazardous to consumers.

For the past two years, most of the recalls have been products containing lead, a substance commonly used in paint, gasoline, toys, furniture, electronic gadgets, and many other items. One unforgettable recalled product that became a topic in the news for weeks is Medtronic's Sprint Fidelis defibrillator lead. This product used lead in its insulating wires which bring electric impulses to the heart of patients who suffer from heart diseases, assessing the patients' irregular heartbeats. Medtronic pulled out its Sprint Fidelis lead due to its very high failure rate.

Another lead-containing recalled product that caused shock to consumers are children's toys. As mentioned, lead is also a common substance in paint, which is subsequently used in finishing children's toys and accessories. As these toys are used or get worn out, the lead they contain have a high chance of spreading, not mentioning that children have the strong tendency to put things in their mouths. A small amount of swallowed lead is enough to harm a child's body.

That's why it is important to be always aware of consumer care news, as there are instances when products in the market turn out to be a source of health hazards.