NewsLocal NewsI-Team Investigations

Actions

Buyer Beware: Recalled items still appearing on Amazon

Items listed as recalled in AG's Consumer Guide
Amazon ups Prime membership monthly rate
Posted at 5:11 PM, Dec 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-02 18:17:47-05

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A heads up for those taking advantage of Cyber Monday deals. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody recently released this year's Holiday Consumer Protection Guide, filled with shopping tips and items recalled over the last year.

I-Team Investigator Kylie McGivern discovered some of those items are still available on sites like Amazon.

CHECK IT OUT: 2019 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide

As the attorney general's guide states. when a dangerous product is recalled, the law requires manufacturers and retailers to remove the products from the shelves. But they can often continue to show up online.

Here's a look at the examples the I-Team found - and brought to Amazon for answers.

In the 2019 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide, a Forky plush toy, from Toy Story 4, is listed as recalled because its googly eyes can detach and pose a choking hazard to kids. The toy is still available on Amazon.

A Cushy Form folding mattress was recalled because it poses a fire hazard. It's still listed as a highly rated product on Amazon.

And Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Noodle Soup Cups are recalled for fire and burn hazards because they're packaged in paper cups that aren't microwave safe. They too are still available on Amazon.

An Amazon spokesperson emailed us the following statement:

"Customer safety is important to us. We screen selling partners before they register or make any offers and require that they abide by all relevant laws and regulations, as well as Amazon’s policies. If they don’t, we take swift action including removal of selling privileges and withholding of funds. We use machine learning and other technologies to monitor our store and our teams are always innovating to expand our tools. When we detect a concern, we remove the product, reach out to suppliers for additional information, or take other actions."

Amazon says brands, manufacturers, or sellers have to confirm their compliance with the terms of a recall before selling a product on Amazon.

As of Monday night, the I-Team found the three products listed above are still for sale on Amazon.