Consumer Federation of California

Consumers Union * CalPIRG * Consumer Action * MOMS* Consumer Federation of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          Contact:   Jennifer Fuson,  202-462-6262 or Morgan Jindrich 512-809-7771

Friday, November 30, 2007 

San Francisco, CA-
Consumers Union, CalPIRG, MOMS, Consumer Action and the Consumer
Federation of California will join consumers in San Francisco for the
culmination of the nationwide 12 Days of Safe Shopping Campaign,
calling on manufacturers, retailers, and government agencies to develop
effective measures to prevent unsafe products from reaching store
shelves.

What: Twelve Days of Safe Shopping; volunteers will be handing out "safe shopping" coupons at retail establishments

When:Tuesday, December 4, 2007; 10 am

Who:Consumers Union, CalPIRG, Consumer Action, MOMS, the Consumer Federation of California and consumers

Where:Union Square by Victory statue 

Background:This
year, dubbed "the Year of the Recall," there have been at least 25
million toys recalled due to lead paint, small magnets, or toxic
chemicals, 175 million pieces of children’s jewelry made with hazardous
levels of lead, as well more than a million cribs that have entrapped
and strangled infants.The "12 Days of Safe Shopping"
effort is designed to put retailers, manufacturers, and the government
on notice that consumers are concerned over the safety of products,
particularly toys. "Safe Shopper" coupons tell retailers how they need
to do more to keep consumers safe this holiday season. Volunteers will
also be given "Get the Lead Out" T-shirts and stickers that they can
wear while shopping.

Part of the campaign also includes an animated video, and Consumer Reports’ twelve tips for buying safe toys, both available at https://www.notinmycart.org/.Customers are encouraged to check for recalled products at the website, or sign up for recall alerts at https://www.recalls.gov/ .The
twelve day campaign kicked off the day after Thanksgiving, with groups
gathering in Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York City, and
concluding in San Francisco. Throughout the campaign
thousands of consumers have volunteered to hand out the "coupons"
asking for better notification of recalls and other suggestions to
retailers to help keep unsafe products out of consumers’ homes.In
addition, 325,000 letters were sent to Congress asking for legislative
action to help strengthen the current product safety system.

For more information, please visit: https://www.notinmycart.org/.