It seems that product recalls are becoming routine, and even our most trusted companies may be involved in bad business practices or come under question due to safety alerts or scams. What can the wary consumer do?
Here are some government websites to help you sort through all the scary talk.
Recalls.Gov (www.recalls.gov)
A "one stop shop" for U.S. Government recalls, with links for consumer products, food, medicine, motor vehicles, and more.
U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov)
You can check Recalls and Product Safety News, by the month, by product type or company name and even subscribe to an RSS feed for categories such as Child Products (including Toys) or Household Products, etc.
Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov)
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. Check these videos to learn about common scams and how to file a complaint.
New York State Consumer Protection Board (www.nysconsumer.gov)
The NY State site includes information on consumer debt, identity theft, home ownership and data security. There is also a kid's page and a kid's newsletter.
Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs (www.nassaucountyny.gov)
Find the Office of Consumer Affairs in the Agency Directory listings under the home page heading, "Departments," or by clicking on Agency Directory under the home page heading "Most Visited Pages." Call the main office in Mineola (516) 571-2600 or one of the other departmental numbers.