English CC by Charles Baluyot (PH)
Rebecca: No need to think twice about it,
you won't be use it again anyway.
Welcome to WatchMojo.com,
and today we're counting down our picks,
for the 'Top 10 Infamous Product Recalls'.
For this list,
we're taking a look at products that were taken off from the market,
after irking the public and stirring controversy.
Because products are typically recalled out of necessity for safety and health reasons,
and those products are rarely seen again,
we're also considering how this affected the companies that manufactured them.
Introduced in 1963,
the 'Easy-Bake Oven' was immediately appealing.
Kids getting into make tasty treats, what's not to like?
In 2007, however,
Hasbro recalled its latest model of the toy,
after they received numerous substantial complaints...
...of children getting their fingers stuck in the oven's door.
Hasbro issued an involuntarily recall,
and made available of free 'U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission' approved guard...
...for all those who still wanted to keep the oven.
Except, it didn't work.
The 'CPSC' report revealed of approximately 250 more cases,
of getting children's fingers getting caught in the door,
and nearly 80 cases of burns.
With one girl's burn being so bad,
her finger was amputated.
This brought on another recall,
in the end, the recall affected nearly 1 million 'Easy-Bake Ovens'.
Back in 2015,
the 'U.S. Environmental Protection Agency',
charged 'Volkswagen' with breaching the 'Clean Air Act'.
A 1963 law that tries to ensure exactly what its name implies.
The investigation revealed, that 11 million 'Volkswagen' vehicles,
that had turbocharged direct injection diesel engines,
were programmed using defeat devices,
to keep emissions at a approved levels during testing periods,
but would forgo those controls afterwards,
thereby releasing unapproved levels of nitrogen oxide into the air.
As a result,
'Volkswagen' made plans to invest over 18 billion dollars ($18+ B),
to refit affected models across the globe,
and reduce their emissions.
As you can imagine, their reputation also took a bit of a hit.
Remember in 2008, when there was that salmonella outbreak?
If you don't, then you should.
The 'Center for Disease Control and Prevention',
reported 9 deaths and over 700 cases of food poisoning,
as a result of negligence.
After an extensive collaborative investigation between the 'CDC' and the 'FDA',
the outbreak was traced back to a 'Peanut Corporation of America' plant in Georgia.
Reports on that facility,
as well as the one in Texas,
revealed unsanitary conditions, such as dead animals and moldy ceilings.
Reports also accused the plant and company's CEO,
of approving the sale of products that had already tested positive for salmonella.
The scandal's recall was the largest pertaining to food in U.S. history,
and it forced the 'Peanut Corporation' into bankruptcy.
In action movies,
it's not uncommon to see a car explode, after even the smallest impact.
Starting as early as 1973,
there were cases stating that the 'Ford Pinto' might be volatile.
It wasn't until the next year, that something official came about,
with a petition put forth by 'Center for Auto Safety' to recall the car make.
Apparently, the Ford Pinto's gas tank was poorly positioned,
between the rear axle and bumper.
And intended to catch fire, when it touched the shock absorber in the back of the car,
and thus would frequently explode in rear end collisions.
Ford faced a slew of legal battles and accusations...
...criticizing it's decision-making both before and during the scandal.
Ultimately,
'Ford' issued a massive recall,
and in 1980,
they stopped producing the 'Pinto' altogether.
Chances are not bad, that you've sat in a car with 'Takata' corporation airbags,
given that they've been manufactured since 1988,
and covered 20% of the airbag market.
However in 2013,
complaints against the company came pouring in.
citing issues that may have spanned the previous 10 years.
'Honda' asserted that their product costs 8 deaths,
and approximately 100 injuries.
Claiming that, even minor collisions,
'Takata' airbags propelled deadly shrapnel upon deployment.
An investigation revealed, it was the 'Takata' production plant in Mexico,
that it inappropriately assembled the less stable parts of the air bags.
Over the course of the controversy,
several recalls were issued,
necessitating a recall of millions of vehicles from brands,
including 'Ford', 'Toyota', 'Chrysler' and 'BMW'.
The exact number of deaths and injuries due to this product can be debated,
as use of roman blinds is so widespread.
But what cannot be argued is the fact that in 2009,
all roman-style blinds were recalled from the market.
What does all constitute?
Well around 50 million units.
The 'United States Consumer Product Safety Commission' pulled roman-style blinds,
when several children died from strangulation,
after becoming entangled in the shades exposed inner cord.
Ultimately,
the report recommended, consumers stop using roman-style shades altogether...
...if they were not equipped with updated safety precautions.
In 2010,
over 1 million sling style 'Infantino' brand baby carriers, were recalled from the market.
The 'Consumer Product Safety Commission' determined,
there was a risk of asphyxiation for those babies being carried.
After 3 infant deaths occurred,
an investigation was launched.
Which revealed, swing style carriers could block air passages,
resulting in the tragic death of these infants.
The risk was especially great,
for those under the age of four months.
In March 2010,
the 'CPSC' issued a report linking 14 deaths to the product.
Dating back as far as 1990,
and just weeks later,
the recall was issued.
Back in 2008,
China recalled approximately, 9,000 tons of powdered baby formula.
It was revealed,
the China's largest producer of baby formula had issued products cut with melamine.
A dangerous chemical used for plastic,
but it can also be used, to falsely indicate high protein levels when added to milk.
According to reports,
it was this misleading nutritional information,
that led to the deaths of at least six infants from complications with their kidneys.
Ultimately,
the scandal affected 300,000 thousand victims, including 54,000 infants.
Two men were sentenced to death,
by 'Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court',
for their role in selling the contaminated powder.
This pain reliever was pulled from the market in October 1982,
after it was linked to the murders of seven people.
Reports determined, 'Tylenol' in Chicago and its surrounding areas,
had been tampered with and laced with potassium cyanide.
'Johnson & Johnson',
Tylenol's parent company,
promptly issued warnings,
suspended production,
and, set in motion a full nationwide recall.
In total,
'Tylenol' pulled, nearly 100 million dollars worth of product from the market,
and the entire pharmaceutical industry developed special packaging to prevent tampering.
Interestingly,
no culprits in this case wherever caught,
but in the wake of the crisis,
the public was scared by several copycat offenses.
The company faced yet another recall in 2010,
but this time, initiated due to mildew in its products.
Before we unveil our number one pick,
here are some honorable mentions.
Back to cars and crashes.
In 2000,
after a warning from the 'National Highway Traffic Safety Administration',
'Ford' launched an investigation into the quality of the 'Firestone Tires',
that it used on its vehicles.
They determined that several 'Firestone' models failed far more often,
than what's considered normal.
And after more tests,
found, that (Ford) Explorer's fitted with these tires, tended to roll over when they failed.
One possible reason for these problems,
before the 'Explorer' was first put on the market...
'Ford' discovered, it was inclined to roll over in accidents.
Instead of a complete redesign,
they opted to reduce air in the tires.
However,
low tire pressure can lead to accelerated deterioration of the rubber.
Reports vary,
but these 'Firestone' tire failures are thought to have caused 250 deaths,
and, 3,000 injuries.
The recall, ultimately pulled over 14.4 million tires.
Do you agree with our list?
What do you think is the most infamous product recall?
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