CPSC: Meijer resold recalled items

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Meijer is under investigation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for reselling recalled products - many of which pose a safety risk to children - on the stores of other stores.

This isn't the first time Meijer has been cited by the CPSC for a similar issue, and the company could get slapped with a substantial fine.

Affected items include fish tanks, a vacuum and several children's toys. (Complete list of recalled items is at the bottom of this article.)

The CPSC said the items were recalled at some point in 2010, but due to an error, Meijer resold them to dollar stores, liquidation firms, flea markets and thrift stores until July 2011. The CPSC said it's illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Among the items that pose a significant risk to children is a Safari Lamp, recalled because it could catch fire.

But placing blame in the Meijer investigation isn't so cut-and-dry.

CPSC spokesperson Alex Filip told 24 Hour News 8 they are trying to sort out whether or not Meijer made an agreement where third-party stores would be responsible for making repairs to the recalled products before they sold them to the public.

"Our first concern was to get the announcement out there so people are aware that these products may be in their homes," he said. "We're still trying to find out how many stores have them, what places they went to and what was the agreement between all the parties."

When the recalls were issued, Meijer pulled the products off their store shelves. And that's when, Filip said, the public is most likely to act on a recall.

"If we go down the road farther, and they end up in other stores, being sold at a different time, the opportunity for people to be aware that these are recalled products is diminished," he said.

In a statement, Meijer Director of Public Relations Frank Guglielmi said, "Meijer always focuses first and foremost on the safety of our customers and team members. Upon discovering this issue, we immediately responded and are fully cooperating with the CPSC."

All but one of these products were originally recalled in 2010. But in 2011, Meijer was cited for reselling hazardous window shades to third-party retailers.

CPSC officials said they will take into account prior incidents as part of their current investigation.

Because new consumer protection laws passed in 2008 increased penalties in similar cases, CPSC officials said Meijer could face fines in the thousands or millions of dollars, depending on the determination.

Recalled items:

• Innovage Discovery Kids™ Animated Marine and Safari Lamps
• Infantino "SlingRider" Baby Slings
• Hoover® WindTunnel T-Series™ Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaners with Cord Rewind Feature
• Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders™ Kick & Crawl™ Aquarium (H8094)
• Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand 'n Play Rampway
• Fisher-Price Barbie Tough Trikes (Model: M5727)
• Munchkin Bathtub Subs
• Sassy Refreshing Rings Infant Teethers/Rattles

See full recall details and photos of the recalled items at the CPSC website.