Consumer worries spur new product-recall database

Health Minister Tony Clement unveiled a new website on Wednesday combining food and children's product recalls, with the aim of informing concerned consumers about potential safety problems.

"Recent events have called into question the safety of various products such as food for our families and toys that our children use," Clement said at an Ottawanews conference Wednesday.

The online database combines information from Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency with information on recalls dating back to 1995.

Clement said consumers have expressed serious concerns about the skyrocketing number of recalls involving a range of products from organics to natural health products. He also noted Health Canada is continuing to review the recall and inspection process.

"The tools available to me are long in the tooth and, quite frankly, haven't been revised in decades and don't mirror the pace of globalization today," he said.

While the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has the power to force a recall, Health Canada does not.

Clement also said he has been in contact with Chinese authorities about a host of product safety issues.

The latest announcement follows a series of recalls and product safety investigations relating to Chinese imports, including products ranging from pet food to toothpaste and children's toys.

In early October over 500,000 products including bookmarks, flashlights and blocks were pulled from the marketplace for exceeding safe lead limits. Over the summer more than 18 million Mattel toys were recalled because of dangers associated with small magnets or lead paint.