I inquired about the availability of a specific product at a company that was listed as a distributor and initially I was told "we are retailers not suppliers/distributors".
After I pointed out they are listed as a distributor the answer was that the information was wrong and their sister company should have been listed.
Then, after an additional message I was advised to contact them directly.
I would have expected the contact person to do this, at least forward my message, after all it is their sister company :) but anyway.
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Product Recalls
Product recalls seem to happen more often than before or perhaps I was not paying attention, as statistics might disapprove my assumption (see the article The World Is Not Falling Apart with the subtitle 'Never mind the headlines. We’ve never lived in such peaceful times').
In my case first it was the Tanaka airbag and the fire extinguishers Kidde. The car dealer sent me a letter, but anyway I would have found about the recall due to the scale of it.
However it is a different story with the fire extinguishers. I happened to be at home and heard on the radio about the recall, and I don’t listen to the radio very often. What if I had not been listening to the radio? I would still have the defective extinguishers.
I have also learnt about the ‘Kidde Recalls Talking Combination Smoke and CO Alarms’, a recall from November 10, 2016 that I did not know of, but I do not have this model.
Another case in point is the Samsung top loader washer recall, that only recently did I learn about it as I was "researching" the subject of product recalls (the recall was in November 2016, 'Samsung recalls washing machines over injury reports from malfunctioning units'). I have a Samsung washer, but a front loader.
Also, I went once to a walk-in clinic and there a notice said:
“The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is warning consumers that Hepatitis A virus has been detected in a sample of Western Family brand fresh pineapple chunks sold in ready-to-go cups.”
It was first time I had learned about this food recall so I got curios about the food recalls and Save-on-Foods' Products Alerts is “scary”. I wonder how many people, who shop at Save-on-Foods, check the report (24 pages) - I don't - or even know about it.
In my case first it was the Tanaka airbag and the fire extinguishers Kidde. The car dealer sent me a letter, but anyway I would have found about the recall due to the scale of it.
However it is a different story with the fire extinguishers. I happened to be at home and heard on the radio about the recall, and I don’t listen to the radio very often. What if I had not been listening to the radio? I would still have the defective extinguishers.
I have also learnt about the ‘Kidde Recalls Talking Combination Smoke and CO Alarms’, a recall from November 10, 2016 that I did not know of, but I do not have this model.
Another case in point is the Samsung top loader washer recall, that only recently did I learn about it as I was "researching" the subject of product recalls (the recall was in November 2016, 'Samsung recalls washing machines over injury reports from malfunctioning units'). I have a Samsung washer, but a front loader.
Also, I went once to a walk-in clinic and there a notice said:
“The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is warning consumers that Hepatitis A virus has been detected in a sample of Western Family brand fresh pineapple chunks sold in ready-to-go cups.”
It was first time I had learned about this food recall so I got curios about the food recalls and Save-on-Foods' Products Alerts is “scary”. I wonder how many people, who shop at Save-on-Foods, check the report (24 pages) - I don't - or even know about it.
And true scary:
Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.
Symptoms can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness.
My suggestion: Consumer Card
The customer would have their card scanned every time they purchase something (like a reward card) - of course if they want to - and what they have purchased will be sent and stored on ... government servers, consumer organization, FDA? This is to be determined as it will be a very sensitive topic.
The stored data will only be used in case of product recalls by automatically sending emails/SMS to the registered consumers.
This way people will not miss any product recalls.
In Canada, and something similar must exist in the U.S. also, you can register to receive a notice on the day that the recall is posted. I registered but after a while I un-registered, as there were too many emails, for example(not to mention I have not purchased any of those products):
- Village des Magi-Prix (9237-7415 Quebec Inc) recalls plastic squeeze toys Screams of Animal kingdom and Angry Birds
- Northern Souvenirs recalls Kids' Full Zip Hooded Jacket with drawstring at the hood
- Novelty Imports Inc. recalls Fish Shaped Bath Toys
- NETGEAR, Inc. recalls Power Adapter for Arlo Pro Outdoor Cameras
- Ravin® Crossbows Recalls Nocks Used with Ravin® Crossbows
- Metabo USA recalls Rat Tail Angle Grinders
- Jackfield - Distribution Eugène Gagnon Inc. recalls Jackfield work boots
- International Specialty Services, Inc. recalls Evercraft and NAPA 800 pound low profile transmission jacks
Earny is a very interesting app. It syncs with your inbox and identifies receipts (I hope it does not save/use anything else that is not related to receipts). It then keeps track of price changes and follows through to get your money back in case of a price drop within a certain period that varies from seller to seller.
I wrote to them suggesting they use the system for product recalls as well.
The replaced fire extinguishers (left the old ones, right the new ones):
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Cocoa beans from the Dominican Republic and Ecuador, chocolate made in Switzerland, sold by Canadian company
COCOA NIBS & VANILLA
73% Dark Chocolate is made from bean to bar using 100% organic & fairly-traded cocoa beans from Dominican Republic and Ecuador.
http://zazubean.com/chocolate/nakid/
The supply chains are well established, I suppose it is more efficient to make the chocolate in Switzerland from beans brought over from the other side of the world.
Colloidal Silver Remineralizing Toothpaste
"Colloidal Silver: Considered by many experts to be the best natural antibiotic ever discovered, Nelson Naturals uses colloidal silver which we produce to enhance the natural benefits of our toothpaste. Not only does colloidal silver combat against harmful bacteria and pathogens in the mouth, but it also aids in healing which lowers the risk of these bacteria and pathogens entering the bloodstream orally."
From Nelson Naturals
All the other good, healthy ingredients are listed there.
However, I am weary of their claims (my bold) as they do not list any study.
"The result is Nelson Naturals Mineralized Toothpaste, using simple and high quality ingredients including colloidal silver and hardwood xylitol we have created a unique product that is not only as effective but better than any other toothpaste available."
How come big companies don't make toothpaste using the same ingredients if they are so good? The problem is that even an ingredient is natural it does not mean it is healthy. Unfortunately I stopped using this toothpaste as I trust research by Big Pharma more !?!
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