Thursday, May 24, 2007

Where to Find Consumer Product Information Online

At US Recall News we want to make sure consumers have access to all the information that is available to them online from reputable sources. That is why we have created this list of places to find consumer product information online. Some of the sites below are product safety and recall sites, while others are consumer reviews. Either way, they will help you determine if a certain product is safe and does what it is supposed to do.

Other Resource Lists:

Best of The Web Consumer Opinion
This is where you can find a list of great consumer product information review websites to learn what others have to say about a particular product or service.

Yahoo Directory of Consumer Advocacy Sites
This is a list of websites relating to consumer rights and product information. It is further broken down by category.

Dmoz Recall Section

Although seldom updated, Dmoz is still a good place to find some of the older recall information websites.

Consumer Reviews:

Compare The Brands
Brand and product comparisons and reviews in an unbiased format.

JD Power and Associates
We've all heard of them, but who are they? Established in 1968, J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information firm that conducts independent and unbiased surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality and buyer behavior. They are mostly known for giving out auto awards, but they also review other product categories.

Consumerreview.com
This is a good place to find user-generated buying advice for various products and services.

FDA News
This site is similar to US Recall News, but deals mostly with food and drug recalls. It is another quality resource in your quest to become an informed consumer.

US Recall News searches the resources below daily and compiles important recall information on this website. Although we do suggest looking at each website if you have specific concerns, we want you to know that our recall alerts come from the reputable sources below.

Government Resources

econsumer.gov
This is a joint project between consumer protection agencies from 20 nations and is a great resource for those who want to check on multinational companies and products.

Consumer Product Safety Commission
The CPSC is a US government agency responsible for product safety and recall information regarding consumer products not related to those under the jurisdiction of other agencies, such as FDA, USDA, etcetera.

Food and Drug Administration
FDA is responsible for issuing recalls and enforcing laws related to food and drugs, but most may not know that they also handle medical devices, and possibly health supplements in the near future.

United States Department of Agriculture
If it has to do with agriculture, meat and poultry, you can find it at the USDA website.

Environmental Protection Agency
Most consumers probably do not think of the EPA when looking for product safety information, but they have a wealth of data related to the danger of chemicals that you will find in everyday household products. They also have the authority to recall certain products if they are found to be harmful to humans, animals or the environment.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The NHTSA comes to mind when you think of commercials about buckling your seatbelt, but they are also heavily involved in regulating the auto and trucking industries. If you are looking for recalls related to automobiles, this is the place to go. And that is why we have an NHTSA feed on US Recall News so you can find all of the above information in one convenient place.

United States Coast Guard
Most consumers do not realize this, and it is extremely difficult to find on their site (the link above will take you straight to the page) but the US Coast Guard keeps a very large database of recalled boats, marine products, floatation devices and any product having to do with boating.


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Thursday, April 19, 2007

The Citizens Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety

Given that Earth Day is around the corner, we want to encourage our readers not to use pesticides and insecticides on their lawn or in their home unless absolutely necessary. Not only are they bad for the environment, but they are bad for your health, your childrens' health, and your neighbors' health. As the bumper sticker goes, I'd rather have brown spots on my lawn than carcinogens in my bloodstream - or something like that. Instead, first consider some of the more natural alternatives to pesticides, fertilizers and insecticides such as those found on Gaiam's Natural Home and Garden section.

However, despite our best efforts to stay "green" and environmentally conscious, sooner or later we're all pestered by pests and reach the bottom of our rope. Whether it's ants in the kitchen or weeds in the vegetable garden, pests can be annoying and bothersome. So how do we use pesticides safely? When and how should pesticides be used?

Luckily, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a booklet intended to help answer these questions. The questions have no single right answer, but Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety by the EPA gives the information you need to make informed decisions. You should be able to control pests without risking your family’s health and without harming the environment.

The major goals of this booklet published by the EPA are to help you understand the following:
-What steps to take to control pests in and around your home
-What alternatives to chemical pesticides are available, including pest prevention and non-chemical pest controls
-How to choose pesticides and how to use, store, and dispose of them safely
-How to reduce your exposure when others use pesticides
-How to choose a pest control company
-What to do if someone is poisoned by a pesticide

Click here to download the entire book in PDF format from the EPA website.

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