Inez Tenenbaum, the chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, had some harsh words for manufacturers who blame the victim when their products are recalled. In her keynote address to the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization, Tenenbaum said her agency is cracking down on the makers of defective products, especially children's products.

Tenenbaum pledged that the CPSC would issue a new, safer crib standard sometime this year and "not let special interests hijack the process," according to the Washington Post.

"While we are on the subject of cribs, I have a message for manufacturers, a message that actually applies to makers of any consumer product," Tenenbaum said at Wednesday's meeting. "I say no more to the tired tactic of blaming parents in the press when CPSC announces a recall that involves a death. Take responsibility and show respect to the grieving family, yes, even if they are pursuing litigation. Those who tread into this arena when CPSC has found your product to be defective will be called out."

As we've reported, the CPSC has recalled millions of drop-side cribs over the past two years because of faulty hardware and defective slats. At least a dozen children have died in the recalled cribs. At Consumers Union, we’ve been seriously concerned about durability issues and the number of crib recalls associated with drop sides. So much so that we recommend that consumers in the market for cribs look for models with stationary sides until more stringent and comprehensive safety standards can be developed.

At the ICPHSO meeting, Tenenbaum also promoted her agency's Safe Sleep initiative, which answers parents questions about hazardous cribs.

—Mary H.J. Farrell