What to do if you bought a dangerous product in a store? UOKiK advises consumers

On Monday, March 13, the Main Sanitary Inspectorate issued a public food alert. Inspectors reported finding Salmonella bacteria in a shipment of salami from Italy. “Product consumption, especially without heat treatment, is associated with a potential risk of food poisoning” GIS warned.

The list of warnings about dangerous products is long.

On Tuesday, March 14, another warning. This time, a batch of lettuce potatoes was recalled due to exceeding the maximum level of the plant protection product chlorprofam. Another day, another warning.

On Wednesday, March 15, it became known that an undeclared allergenic substance, sulfur dioxide, was found in a particular batch of the product. It was eggplant pasta with sun-dried tomatoes. According to the Main Sanitary Inspection, the product label does not contain sufficient information about the presence of this allergenic ingredient. “People who are allergic to sulfur dioxide and sulfites may experience an allergic reaction if they consume the product.” We read in the communiqué.

The reports over the past three days are just the tip of the iceberg and the announced problems that customers have to face after purchasing a dangerous product. The list of GIS warnings is long. There we will find information about many other dangerous foods such as salmonella meats, salads, nuts, pistachios, breads, cakes with metal, pollen, teas, biscuits and nutritional supplements.

Everyday items are also dangerous

In addition to food, there are many goods in stores that are dangerous to the life and health of customers. Last week, the retail chain warned shoppers about selling unsafe jewelry. The stores of this company recalled “rose gold earrings”. The inspectors showed that the nickel content was increased in them. Jewelry can be hazardous to the health of people who are allergic to this metal.

In turn, in February, a well-known all-Russian supermarket chain withdrew four car care products from sale. It was about windshield de-icers and washer fluids. They allegedly contained “significant amounts of methanol”. Contact with methyl alcohol can cause serious injury or death to customers. Representatives of the all-Russian supermarket chain apologized to customers for the embarrassing situation and urged them to stop using these products.

Dangerous items. From baby swings to insect lamps

Other dangerous products have appeared on the market. The trading network preventively withdrew from sale a multifunctional grater dangerous for buyers. Last July, the same chain warned shoppers that insect-killing lamps offered in their stores could electrocute shoppers.

Swings dangerous for children and electronics that do not meet the required standards also got on sale. Children’s toys proved to be very dangerous and presented a choking hazard. On children’s clothing, part of the zipper could break off. Then children can get hurt. In turn, the steering wheel could break on scooters. According to experts, such products should never end up in stores.

Stores refund money for goods. You don’t need a receipt

Companies guarantee that purchased defective goods can be returned to any store belonging to their network. They also guarantee money back for their purchase. They do not require the need to show receipts. However, sometimes this information appears when the goods are fully sold and used by the consumer. This is where the Competition and Consumer Protection Authority comes to the rescue.

“In the event that the purchased product is not safe, the consumer must contact the person responsible for the product (the importer or manufacturer indicated on the product, packaging or instructions) and follow the information received from him,” the UOKiK explains.

UOKiK advises consumers

“On the other hand, an entrepreneur who has received information that a product intended for consumers placed on the market is unsafe must immediately notify the Competition and Consumer Protection Authority. After receiving information about the risks associated with the product, the Office informs the public about them by posting a message on the website. The message includes information on how to handle the product, such as where the consumer can return it. – add experts from UOKiK.

If the President of the UOKiK determines that this product poses a danger to the life and health of consumers, he may, by way of decision, impose certain obligations on its manufacturer or distributor:

• prohibit the placing of the product on the market or require: labeling the product with warnings about the risks it poses;

• warning consumers, for example, by placing advertisements in the press,

• elimination of the threat

• withdrawal of goods from the market,

• product recall from consumers.

According to the auditors, in the event of damage caused by a dangerous product, the consumer can bring a claim for damages in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code on liability for damage caused by a dangerous product.

Here you can check information about hazardous products

Both entrepreneurs and consumers should pay attention to announcements about dangerous products, the publication of which in the all-Russian press and on the websites of entrepreneurs is prescribed by the President of the UOKiK. They may also view websites that contain information about hazardous products. These include, among others:

1. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Recalls platform, which publishes information about hazardous products found around the world.

2. The EU Safety Gate RAPEX system is a tool that allows the exchange of information between Member States of the European Union and the European Commission on measures taken in relation to products circulating on the EU single market that pose a threat to the health and safety of consumers or users.

3. The EU Information and Communications System for Market Surveillance (ICSMS - Web-enabled Information and Communications System for Pan-European Market Surveillance) allows for the coordination of activities between market surveillance authorities in the European Union.

4. Entrepreneurs can submit hazardous product information to market surveillance authorities through the Product Safety Business Alert Gateway.