A series of recalled products linked to more than 100 infant deaths are still being sold on Facebook despite warnings from health authorities, two Democratic members of Congress said on Wednesday.
Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) and Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to the company calling for an immediate halt to all sales of the recalled products. The letter also makes three other requests, including a request for internal documents and information related to company policies and procedures concerning the sale of recalled products.
The recalled products, according to the lawmakers, include baby slings, cribs, sleepers, and cradle swings which have all been linked to infant deaths or injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned against using the recalled products, yet they are still being sold on Facebook’s Marketplace and in third-party seller store-fronts.
There is no indication that Facebook has taken any action to remove these products from its platform. The company does have a policy that bans the sale of products “that have been recalled due to a safety issue” but it is unclear if that policy is being enforced.
Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The recall notices came from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which has linked the products to 110 infant deaths and over 600 injuries since 2003. The recalled products were made by several different companies including Graco, Fisher-Price, and Baby Matters.
The representatives said in the letter that the continued sale of the recalled products raises serious concerns about Facebook’s ability and commitment to protect users. They also point to the impact the products have had on families who have experienced the loss or injury of an infant.
Krishnamoorthi and Maloney wrote that they are troubled by the lack of action taken by Facebook in response to the warning from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. They said in the letter that “[Facebook’s] refusal to take this simple step is baffling and unconscionable.”
The lawmakers are asking Facebook to take immediate action to remove these recalled products from their platform. They are also requesting that the company provide documents by June 2, 2021, to better understand the issue.
The recalled products remain a threat to infants and families and must be removed from Facebook’s platform. It is unclear at this time if Facebook will take any action in response to the lawmakers’ request.
