Consumer group protects people from shoddy goods

It is amazing that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has so much to do to keep the American consumer safe from shoddy goods and products, many of which are designed for our children.

With the flood of consumer goods manufactured offshore (think China), this relatively small band of federal employees has the Herculean task of keeping items that can be dangerous out of our hands. In June alone there have been 16 separate products identified, and the month is barely half over. The May figure was 37.

The products listed range from silver earrings that possess a lead hazard to those who wear them to a Troy-Bilt (a division of MTD Products Inc.) recall of children’s gardening gloves. The “Troy-Bilt” name stamped on the back of the gloves can cause lead poisoning in children if they ingest the letters.

Troy-Bilt always has been the gold standard of garden equipment in Maine, particularly the company’s rototillers. It seems like the gold has now turned to lead, the reverse of the medieval efforts of the alchemists.

The Web site www.CPSC.gov is a wonderful online resource for consumers to stay abreast of the avalanche of recalled products.

Another recalled product this month was a youth ATV that has many serious and dangerous design flaws which could injure the intended 6- to 11-year-old riders.

The Meerkat 50 Youth ATV, imported from China by Kazuma Pacific Inc., has been deemed dangerous by the CPSC and at least 2,750 units have been sold. Kazuma Pacific has been uncooperative with the CPSC, so accurate numbers have been difficult to obtain. The company has further refused to provide incident or accident numbers to the agency, further complicating the assessment of the size of the problem.

What is wrong with this product? The ATV is manufactured without front brakes, without a parking brake and the gear shift lever has no light to indicate the “neutral” position. Additionally, the instruction manual does not contain complete safe operation details or adequate maintenance procedures.

If that is not enough, the Meerkat 50 also can be started while in gear, a very dangerous feature. For young riders, the intended users of this machine, which has been sold for between $525 and $825 at Kazuma dealers and online since 2003, surely seems to be an accident waiting to happen. The CPSC recommends that these vehicles be returned for a full refund.

Kazuma Pacific is also continuing the sale of the existing Meerkat 50s that are still in inventory but have been deemed defective. Consumers can call the CPSC hot line toll-free at (800) 638-2772 or Northeast CONTACT at (207) 992-2490.

We Mainers owe much to those who keep us safe from harm. These include our active military and reservists, our police and fire professionals, as well as our EMTs and related medical emergency staffs, among others. These are the few that protect the many.

The police have often been referred to as the Thin Blue Line – the few, dedicated people who keep us out of harm’s way. The members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission might also be referred to as “the thin green line,” the few federal employees who, through regulations and statutes, keep most goods flowing and stop those few that can harm us or our children.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual membership costs $25; business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.