Mobile Recall Application Reduces Recall Risks for Consumers

By Mike Rozembajgier

With the busy holiday season upon us, we’ve already seen recalls of toys, Christmas lights, candles and walnuts – some of the very things we may have under our trees, decorating our homes and on our tables in the coming weeks. During this busy time of year, consumers who are traveling or entertaining may not hear about a critical recall. But the latest communications technology is coming to the rescue. Both the government and private sector have rolled out new tools to help keep consumers informed of recall announcements and updates.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have teamed up to offer a mobile phone app that lets consumers search by product name to get information about recent recalls. Consumers can also sign up to receive instant text messages when new recalls are announced. For consumers who prefer to get their updates over the computer, both the FDA and CPSC offer email updates, RSS feeds and special recall widgets.

These are all a big step forward in consumer communication, but a company called eProducts LLC recently announced an even more exciting new mobile phone application for shoppers. RecallRecall, allows consumers to scan product barcodes right on the shelf and instantly receive information about whether the products they are considering buying have been recalled.

With this information shoppers will be able to determine whether retailers have removed all recalled products from their shelves, a new rule regulatory agencies are looking to strictly enforce. Consumers will be able to use the application to make decisions about what to purchase and which brands should earn their loyalty.

While the expansion of new recall-related technology may not do all that much to manage recall fatigue, consumers will have the ability to customize recall news to suit their individual needs and make it more relevant to their lives. Most important, the RecallRecall application reaches consumers right when they are making a purchase.

Companies managing a recall will have more at stake when consumers have instant, point-of-sale access to recall information. Not only will consumers be able to rely heavily on recall information to make buying decisions, but their use of the new applications will significantly influence their long term brand loyalty. As they track recalls and recall response for their most-purchased items, consumers will get a true, real-time sense of a company’s commitment to consumer safety.

 Stericycle ExpertRECALL™ is the industry leader in recall logistics and regulatory compliance for consumer product, pharmaceutical, medical device, juvenile product, and food and beverage recalls. ExpertRECALL’s professionals are experts in recall management who can help you streamline the entire product recall process.

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