MASS. – The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations has released their report of the “Top 10 Worst Products for Massachusetts Consumers List” of 2021.
The products featured on the OCABR list have resulted in legal or legislative action, recalls, and/or other measures to protect the public.
Here are the 10 Worst Products for Massachusetts Consumers in 2021:
#10 – Single-use dryer sheets
From OCABR: “Research from the U.S. National Library of Medicine has identified components of the scented emissions from dryer sheets may be classified as hazardous air pollutants and carcinogens. The scent transferred to clothes may make items more flammable.”
# 9 – Paraffin wax cones for ears
From OCABR: “The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers against ear candling citing reports of burns, perforated eardrums, and blockage of the ear canal.”
#8 – Plastic sword toys
From OCABR: “..This year Snake Eyes G.I. Joe Origins Ninja Strike Sickles came too close to resembling actual weapons. This hazardous toy, among other plastic swords, are handheld imitation weapons that have the potential for blunt force trauma and eye injury.”
#7 – Styrofoam
From OCABR: “More than 50 cities and towns in Massachusetts now ban the use of Styrofoam. In December 2021, two bills were put forth in the Commonwealth to phase out and ban the use of certain plastic containers for takeout food, specifically containers made of polystyrene foam…”
#6 – Baby bath seats
From OCABR: “Bath seats help keep babies still while in the bathtub, but if the seat tips over, it can cause disaster. Infants’ movements are limited while strapped into the bath seat, so they are unable to protect themselves or move out of the water if the seat falls over.”
#5 – Illegitimate CBD treatments or remedies
From OCABR: “Using unapproved CBD products can lead to unintended side effects, ranging from lightheadedness to liver damage in severe cases.”
#4 – Magnetic ball toys
From OCABR: “Often called “Buckyballs” and “Buckycubes,” these toys consist of high-powered magnets that can be attached, pulled apart, and molded to create various shapes. If swallowed, the magnets can pierce the stomach lining, cause intestinal blockage, blood poisoning, or even death. ”
#3 – Aerosol sunscreen with benzene
From OCABR: “Avoid products containing benzene, a toxic chemical found to cause cancer in humans. Benzene was discovered in sprays from manufacturers Johnson & Johnson, and Proctor & Gamble, which led to a large product recall.”
#2 – Vapes
From OCABR: “Despite being marketed towards teenagers and young adults; the Center for Disease Control considers vapes unsafe for consumption by this group.”
#1 – Unapproved prevention and treatment for COVID-19
From OCABR: “While vaccination is one of the best ways to protect yourself from COVID-19, some may be tempted to seek alternative solutions not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Miracle Mineral Solution has been advertised as a drinkable cure to COVID-19. Many individuals have been harmed after drinking this powerful bleaching agent.”
Honorable mentions from OCABR:
- Onions – “This year, almost 900 people fell ill after consuming onions contaminated with salmonella.”
- Portable bed rails – “This year thousands of bed rails were recalled after reports of users becoming trapped between the rail and side of the mattress.
- Posture corrector – “…there is little evidence to show the items significantly help bad posture and may lead to a dependency on the corrector or a decrease in core strength.”
- Lidocaine – “Teligent Pharma Inc.’s Lidocaine HCI Topical Solution 4% was recalled three separate times in 2021 due to batches containing a higher-than-expected potency level. This high concentration could lead to reactions ranging from swelling and burning to cardiovascular collapse and even possibly death.
- Nail guns – “According to the Center for Disease Control, nailers are responsible for about 37,000 emergency room visits every year.”
Photo credit: Ian Sane on Visualhunt
