July 16, 2009

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By Product Safety Letter staff

Health Canada’s July 15 announcement of Elfe Juvenile Product’s recall of more than 4,500 Simplicity drop-side cribs continues that brand’s recall saga. The action follows a related U.S. recall, and the company received criticism in the Canadian press about its initial action, including calls for Health Canada to act, which it did.

That agency wrote in its recall announcement:

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In an effort to address the hazard posed by this product to consumers, Elfe Juvenile Products indicated in an advisory on the company's website (www.elfe.net) that it intended to make available a metal repair kit. Health Canada has assessed this retrofit kit in cooperation with Elfe Juvenile Products and it has determined that the metal retrofit kits do not adequately correct the hazard posed by these crib drop sides. Working collaboratively with Health Canada, Elfe has since advised Health Canada that the retrofit kits will not be made available.

The agency also explained that the company is working with retailers to get credit to Canadian consumer who return the cribs.

Last week, we opined that the Simplicity situation makes a ready-made story for the popular press, but we concluded:

This isn’t just a problematic recall – it’s a problematic recall with a saga behind it (with retailers to the rescue and the Illinois Attorney General filing suit last year). There’s a story to tell versus the usual recitation of company-product-problem-remedy. It’s not just, yawn, another recall. The problem is getting reporters to notice that. Old habits are hard to break, and, well, it IS another recall, and for the most part, that's the way reporters are treating it.

It seems the story is continuing, and it got notice in Canada.