Thought Leadership

Advances in technology tend to be mixed blessings for product recalls. They often introduce new product safety vulnerabilities while, at the same time, may offer new capabilities that improve recall efficacy. The impact of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, big data, and others on product recalls are slowly unfolding, but emerging patterns give us some sense about how these technologies might affect product safety and recall management in the future.

In December of 2018, Congress passed the farm bill, which, among other things, broadened the ways in which hemp can be cultivated and transported. While hemp can be used to create a variety of products, the market for cannabidiol, a hemp extract commonly known as CBD, is attracting the most attention by far. CBD is said to promote relaxation without the psychoactive effects of the THC compound found in marijuana, and manufacturers have been adding the compound to everything from beverages to shampoo since the bill passed.

Thanks in large part to aggressive marketing and appealing flavors, smoking e-cigarettes or vaping has rapidly escalated from a fad to an issue that many experts are considering a public health epidemic—particularly for teens and pre-teens. While e-cigarettes have been available since 2007, new manufacturers, offerings and marketing tactics have brought them into the lives of countless young people. According to the FDA, 21% of high school students have used an e-cigarette in the last year.

Most parents know to look out for common dangers in the home that have the potential to injure their child, like household chemicals and cleaners, open windows and staircases. While they might be quick to purchase cabinet door locks and baby gates, parents could be missing a danger lurking in every bedroom of their home—the risk of injury or death from tipping furniture, particularly dressers.

Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration confirmed the presence of asbestos in three products manufactured by Claire’s and Justice, two retailers whose products target pre-teens and teenagers. The contamination was first reported in 2017 and the FDA has now released test results that confirm the asbestos, which has been linked to various cancers and serious respiratory issues.