The issue on melamine-contaminated milk products coming from China has prompted neighboring countries to conduct milk products’ recall in their respective markets. As a consumer safety move, the Philippines, through the Department of Health’s Bureau of Food and Drugs has recalled late last week, milk and milk-containing products which are now subjected to testing for melamine content.

As of yesterday, BFAD has already removed four popular dairy products from the initial list of food items to be tested for possible melamine contamination. Manufactured in New Zealand and distributed locally by Fonterra Brands Philippines, these four products include Anchor Lite Milk, Anlene Milk Low Fat, Anmum Materna, and Anmum Materna Chocolate.

The delisting of the four milk products leaves 52 more that are to be tested by BFAD for melamine contamination and partial results of the tests on some other milk brands will come out hopefully this week.

This latest product recall has created somewhat of a puzzle yet to be resolved and for some panic, especially to mothers, who, according to latest market researches and studies, are said to be the most powerful consumers of all time considering their decision-making power as far as buying consumer products are concerned. And milk, being the food staple of non-breastfeeding kids is definitely one of these products.

In situations where product recall is happening, what is the best to do? How do mothers take on the issue? Debbie LaCroix, a parent and proactive consumer advocate gives us a handful of suggestions and tips on what to do if products that we happen to buy for our kids gets recalled and how to avoid buying items that may be recalled in the future:

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You purchase an item, bring it home, and take it out of the packaging only to hear it’s been recalled! Now what? Do you return it or just ignore the warning?

A product recall is when a manufacturer of an item finds something wrong with the product and removes it from the shelf or are they are asked by government authorities to remove it because of safety or health concerns. This usually happens if a product is defective, someone has gotten hurt, or a potential danger is recognized. If you have already purchased an item that was recalled, the company is required to either buy it back from you or fix the problem.

What gets recalled?
Anything can get recalled: cars, toys, food, children’s products, clothing items, outdoor products, household products, or sporting equipment. Anything on the market may be recalled at some point.

Why are items recalled?
The why can range from a small part breaking off causing a safety issue, to a problem found in a car or toy by one or more consumers. Though most products should undergo testing before they hit the consumer market, not all problems are caught by the testers.

Often times, some dangers or glitches are found by the consumers who are using the products in daily use. Most products are recalled before anyone is hurt.  Some common causes of recalls include: fire safety issue such as flammable items on clothing or overheating, choking or strangulation hazards, non-compliance on safety standards, danger to the user, lead poisoning, parts breaking off, mislabeled items (often with allergy related items).

What to do?
When a company recalls an item, you may get a letter or read about it on a consumer site. If the recall is serious enough, it will often be on the news. Follow the directions provided by the company. In some cases, you may be asked to return the item. In other cases, they will mail you a kit that you can use to fix the problem. You will not be required to pay anything to get the recall fixed.

What types of recalls are there?
There are two different types of recalls, voluntary and mandatory. A voluntary recall is when the company voluntarily offers to buy back a product or fix it. There may or may not be a direct danger in using the product. A mandatory recall means the company has been ordered to remove it from the shelf.

How can I avoid recalled items?
If you are making a large purchase, do your research. If a particular brand or company has a history of recalls, you may want to avoid purchasing an item from them.

In many cases, when a new product comes out in the first year, something will be found that does not work correctly. This happens often on cars. When looking at vehicles, if you want a brand new model, be aware that you may have to take it in a few times as glitches are found. If recalls bother you, be sure to look at models that have been out for a few years.

Look for companies that do not have a history of recalled items. Though for many products there are guidelines and criteria that must be met before an item can hit the market, some companies go above and beyond this and their products spend more time in the testing area before being released.

When shopping for toys, use your instincts. If there is a string attached, look to see if it could be easily wrapped around a child’s neck. Also look for small parts or pieces that look like they may break off. Also look for sharp edges. Cheaply made toys are more likely to break.

Do realize that you may not be able avoid a recall altogether.

When your purchase a new product, you may find a postcard to fill out and mail to the company. One purpose of this card is so company can contact you in case of a problem. Be sure to fill it out and mail it in right away.

These are common when you purchase items such as strollers and car seats.
If something you own has been recalled, do not panic.

Just follow the directions and let the company take care of you. If you find something wrong with a product, be sure to let the company know. You are may not be the only person experiencing that problem.

(this article is also posted at The Filipino Mom Blog–because Motherhood is a journey best travelled with friends)