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Glossary

Plain-language definitions of the terms used across RecallWatchUSA.

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
The independent U.S. federal agency that protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury from consumer products. It negotiates and announces most recalls of household products, toys, and equipment, and runs SaferProducts.gov.
Recall
A formal action, usually agreed between a company and the CPSC, to remove a product from the market or fix it because it presents a safety hazard. A recall is an official document with a number and a date, not an informal warning.
Recall number
The identifier the CPSC assigns to each recall (for example 24-123). It is the stable reference for that recall across the CPSC site and this one.
Hazard
The specific danger the product poses — fire, burn, laceration, choking, fall, entrapment, electric shock, lead exposure, and so on. Each recall states its hazard in the CPSC's own words.
Remedy
What the company offers owners of a recalled product: a refund, a free replacement, a free repair or repair kit, or store credit. The recall notice explains how to claim it.
Units
The estimated number of the product sold in the United States that are covered by the recall. It is an estimate provided in the recall notice, not a precise count.
Incidents and injuries
The number of reports the company or CPSC received of the hazard actually occurring, and of injuries, before the recall. Zero incidents does not mean the product is safe — many recalls are issued before anyone is hurt.
Sold at / sold exclusively at
The retailers that sold the recalled product, and the price range and dates. "Sold exclusively at" means one retailer; most products were sold nationwide at several stores or online.
Distributor / importer
The company that brought the product to the U.S. market or moved it through the supply chain. For imported goods the importer is often the entity conducting the recall, even when a foreign firm made the product.
SaferProducts.gov
The CPSC's public database where consumers can report an unsafe product and search existing reports and recalls. Reports submitted there become part of the public record.
Free repair / repair kit
A remedy where the company sends a part or kit, or arranges service, at no cost to bring the product to a safe condition. Using the product before the repair is done is not recommended.
Out of scope: vehicles, drugs, food
Motor vehicles and car seats (NHTSA), food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices (FDA), and firearms, boats and aircraft (other agencies) are recalled by other regulators and are not covered here.

More on sources on the About the Data page and the FAQ.