Children's toys account for almost a third of products recalled in the EU in the past four months according to latest data from Consumer Focus Labs. The Recalled Products website has recorded the recall of 680 faulty products in the EU since its launch by Consumer Focus Labs last May, at an average of 34 products per week.
Consumers from more than 70 countries around the world have so far used the site, which collects product recall data from the UK and the European Commission and publishes them via weekly or monthly email alerts and RSS feeds.
Joe Cicero, Web Systems Developer at Consumer Focus Labs, said: "Defective products can pose a real danger to consumers who are often unaware that they should be returned. When you consider that faulty or dangerous toys make up the greatest proportion of recalls, this becomes a big problem for consumers with children.
"The battle against faulty and dangerous products lies at the birth of the consumer movement. By bringing 21st century technology to bear on the problem, consumers can get much easier access to information which can protect themselves and their families.
"Traditionally, consumers become aware of recalls through chance - glimpses of notices in newspapers and shops and occasional checking of existing online listings services. CF Labs' Recalled Products solves this problem by offeringconsumers the ability to stay up to date with recalls through email alerts and RSS feeds."
The site also provides consumers with advice of what do to if they purchased any of the items that have been recalled.