FACT

There are more "recall alerts" than ever before

Q1 - What sort of products are withdrawn / recalled?

In recent times all sorts of consumer products have been recalled from toys to TVs and from bread to beach balls. You could say that there are no consumer products that could be excluded from the possibility of a recall.

Q2 - What causes product withdrawals / recalls?

Poor controls at the product design stage
Unrepresentative prototypes / samples
Ineffective supplier approval and monitoring programme
Lack of robust testing programme for components / ingredients and finished products
Poor manufacturing practices in own factories and 3rd parties
Lack of hazard analysis and control
Errors on labelling and instructions
Manufacturing error or failure
Cross contamination
Criminal intervention
Silly mistakes

Q3 - How do you prevent a product withdrawal / recall?

Robust product development procedure
Effective, risk-based supplier approval programme
Well designed testing programme executed in competent laboratory
Improve standards via effective auditing and continuous development
Implement a hazard analysis system
Ensure labels are signed off and approval prior to use
Ensure all personnel have sufficient training for their role
Operate strict process controls where applicable (e.g. nut free factory)
Implement measures to deter malicious threat
Ensure standards are maintained by effective internal and independent auditing programme

Q4 - Have you done enough?

Surely most people in the consumer products manufacturing business would be confident that they have implemented sufficient measures to prevent a product recall. But...

FACT - There are more "recall alerts" than ever before

FINAL ANSWER - Don't assume - make sure!

Case Studies

Product Recall Solutions
food industry

Product Apples Incident Insecticide Country Finland Date 15/06/2009	The insecticide azinphos-methyl has been found in fresh apples (0.12 mg/kg - ppm) from Argentina. The product was destroyed.
Product Pies Incident Plastic Country United Kingdom Date 04/06/2009	Certain batches of various brands of frozen pie products have been recalled due to possible contamination with small pieces of white plastic on top of the products. The implicated products are being recalled. Product recall notices have appeared in stores. These notices alert customers to the recall and advise them of what actions to take if they have purchased the product(s).

Product Apples
Incident Insecticide
Country Finland
Date 15/06/2009

The insecticide azinphos-methyl has been found in fresh apples (0.12 mg/kg - ppm) from Argentina. The product was destroyed.

Product Pies
Incident Plastic
Country United Kingdom
Date 04/06/2009

Certain batches of various brands of frozen pie products have been recalled due to possible contamination with small pieces of white plastic on top of the products.

The implicated products are being recalled. Product recall notices have appeared in stores. These notices alert customers to the recall and advise them of what actions to take if they have purchased the product(s).

Product Recall Solutions
consumer products

Product Machete Incident Risk of cuts Country Germany Date 03/07/2009	A machete or cutting knife from China has been voluntarily withdrawn from consumers by the manufacturers. The blade may become detached from the handle during use.
Product Laser pointer Incident Damage to sight Country Greece Date 03/07/2009	Laser pointers from China have been withdrawn from the market by order of the authorities. The pointers contain Class 3 lasers that are not permitted for use by consumers. There is a risk of damage to sight if light from the laser enters an unprotected eye, either directly or reflected off a surface.

RQA Europe Limited
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