If you’re online these days, you’re most likely on Facebook in one way or another. Whether it’s connecting with friends on another coast (or country) or playing your favorite Zynga game (my current favorite is Scramble with Friends), you’ve ‘liked’ your share of pictures, comments, and companies. On May 18, 2012 the frenzied questions around Facebook’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) will finally be answered.

As a consumer, what does this mean for you?

Some of the larger companies will consider pulling their advertisements off Facebook.  Others believe it is vital to social strategy in marketing. Are you going to lose connections to the brands you hold near and dear? Probably not.

Chances are, if you’re a loyal customer of one brand, Facebook presence is irrelevant because you’ll buy the product anyway. But Facebook has changed, and will continue to change, the game of advertising.

One aspect that many users are concerned about is their privacy.  In order to bring in advertising revenue, specific user data will be necessary, which entails monetizing consumer data: Who is buying what products, and why are they buying them?

The one upside to the IPO in this regard is that any decision to change privacy settings (which they have done many times) will be public knowledge as they will have to share that information with their stockholders.

What you won’t have to worry about, though, is that, whether the product is on Facebook, at your local grocer, or on an ecommerce site, ConsumerBell will still be here to keep you informed about product safety. We work hard at Making Safety Easier so you don’t have to.

It will be interesting to see how Facebook, as one of the largest “countries” in the world, will do as a public entity. Everyone is itching to see if the IPO will get Mark Zuckerberg out of his hoodie. If I were to guess, I’d say he’ll just buy a few more with his new fortune. That’s what I would do.

(Photos by Sean MacEntee and Robert Scoble)

Five retailers jointly announced a stop sale and recall of crib tents by Tots in Mind Even after Tots in Mind went out of business following a recall two years ago.

The crib tents can pose an entanglement hazard and are associated with 27 incident reports from the last 15 years, including one serious injury and one death. The dome portion of the tent can invert itself as well as detach unexpectedly.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the stop sale and recall, in which the following retailers are participating:

• Amazon

• Walmart

• Bed Bath & Beyond / Buy Buy Baby

• Toys R Us and Babies R Us

• Burlington Coat Factory

Since Tots in Mind, Inc. is out of business, retailers who sold these products have stepped up to offer refunds or store credit to consumers.

Tots in Mind recalled the play yard tents in July 2010 and offered a repair kit that is no longer available. The company is no longer in business and has stopped all sales. CPSC staff urges parents and caregivers to stop using these crib tents and play yard tents immediately. Do not attempt to repair these products.

See complete product details for this recall in our marketplace.

Thoughts or questions about the recall? Sound off in the commenets.

The following is a guest post by Marcella White Campbell, Social Media Specialist at Citrus Lane. 

Summer travel is coming—and, with it, the traditional family car trip! If you’re going to be putting in road miles with your children in tow this summer, now is a great time to check in with your child’s car seat and make sure it’s still fitting her needs.

Check your child’s height and weight against the manufacturer’s requirements. You may be surprised to discover she’s already outgrown her infant or baby car seat!

Visit a Child Seat Inspection Station to make sure your seat is installed properly. (They’re available in all 50 states.)

Make sure your child’s seat is facing the right way. The NHTSA now recommends children use rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, or until they outgrow the height or weight limit recommended by the manufacturer. This may be up to 3 years of age.

If your child’s getting toddler-aged, you may want to buy an inexpensive car seat buckle cover—just in case. When she gets the idea to try unbuckling the harness on the highway, you’ll be prepared!

So you’ve checked your car seat for safety, and you’re all ready to go. But there’s just one glitch: your child won’t ride in the car seat at all! Of course, you aren’t going to drive with your child outside the car seat—but driving with a screaming child is miserable for everyone. Here are a few pointers for dealing with the reluctant road tripper.

Comfort. It sounds silly, but have you checked to see if there’s something uncomfortable about the car seat? For example, metal buckles can really heat up in direct sunlight.

Distraction. Use all the tools at your disposal. Many parents keep car-only toys for toddlers, so they’re always new and exciting. For smaller babies, music or car mirrors can work wonders…and maybe even soothe them to sleep.

Regular Breaks. Even adults get tired of sitting in the car for long stretches. If you plan regular breaks (even for a baby or child who doesn’t need potty breaks) you may be able to head off a car seat meltdown. And, if your child is already mid-meltdown, the break may be just what she needs.

And, when all else fails:

Stick To Your Guns. It’s tough listening to your child cry, and can put a definite damper on a road trip. You can have the consolation of knowing you’re keeping your child safe…whether she likes it or not. And, as many a parent has said before, this phase is temporary. She really will grow out of it!

Marcella White Campbell is the Social Media Specialist for Citrus Lane, a monthly subscription that sends carefully selected boxes of baby and kid products to happy moms.

(Photo s by jmwests and freedigitalphotos.net)

Bluum CEO Markus Rauschnabel

When it comes to product safety and information, “Making safety easier” is our motto, and now our friends at Bluum feel the same way.

This spring, ConsumerBell began offering inventory scans, recall reports, and other cool tools for companies to guarantee what they are selling, shipping and making, are great products. That’s why we’re proud to publicly announce our working partnership with Bluum to manage the company’s inventory monitoring process to ensure baby samples shipped to new parents have been verified for safety and consumer protection.

Bluum, a premier monthly subscription service, introduces awesome new products to moms and newborns through its membership-based delivery service and so far, the reviews have been glowing. Every month, Bluum ships four to five product samples, like stretch-mark cream, small toys and baby wipes to thousands of mom nationwide.  Bluum is committed to delivering tested and approved products that have not been recalled, so families can rest assured that they’re getting the best in quality, effectiveness, and safety.

“We recognize that Bluum has a very specific product niche, and any type of recall could be detrimental to their business,” said Ellie Cachette, CEO of ConsumerBell. “As e-commerce companies grow and expand, they need to focus on their core business objectives of curating amazing products. ConsumerBell is devoted to handling any safety unknowns; we provide that extra peace of mind.”

Product recalls are more common than people think – there are more than 2,500 recalls a year in the U.S. alone – and can happen to companies both big and small. Especially in new areas like subscription-based e-commerce, it’s important to combine the latest technology with careful analysis and shipment tracking, to flag any recalled items before a product ships.

“We want every mom, dad and Bluum subscriber to really enjoy their boxes,” said Markus W. Rauschnabel, CEO of Bluum. “All our featured products are carefully selected by our mom experts and collaborating with a reputable company like ConsumerBell provides an extra layer of safety and security.”

Bluum is one of several companies that recently began employing ConsumerBell’s beta inventory scanning program. For more information on Bluum, visit bluum.com. If you’re also in the beta program and would like to share your thoughts, or you’d like to learn more, please contact us at info@consumerbell.com.

(Photo via)

Food safety is no joke and neither are food recalls. We try our best at ConsumerBell to keep you in-the-know on the food recalls affecting you and your family.

In line with that, we’re collaborating with an awesome Safety Team to host a food safety webinar, just for you.

The 411 on Food Safety: How to Protect Your Family’s Plate

We’ve got Susan Reef from U.S. Food Safety, Mareya Ibrahim of Grow Green Industries, Helena Bottemiller from Food Safety News and Derek Lactaoen from ConsumerBell all together to talk about food safety in today’s consumer climate.

Join us! Ask us questions. Get involved in what you and your family are eating. Register for the webinar.

The webinar is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST on Tuesday, May 22.

Register here. Spots are limited.

We can’t wait for you to join us on our webinar! Do you have questions about food safety? Let us know in the comments and we’ll be sure to address them during the webinar.

This week in recalls, we’ve got lots of news for you on the 15 recalls and the 14 brands recalling dog food announced in the past seven days.

For the dog food recalls, see our Complete Guide to the Diamond Dog Food Recalls.

In kidswear, five jackets were recalled for drawstring entanglement hazards:

1. M.M.M. Boy’s Jogging Jackets

2. O’Neil Pluto Hooded Flannel Jackets

3. “YMI” Girls’ Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings

4. Girls’ Winter Jackets with Drawstrings

5. “Goddess” Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings

And the Class Club Children’s Letterman Jacket was recalled because the snaps on the jacket can detach, posing a choking hazard.

Also in kids’ and baby products were the following:

• Banzai Inflatable Pool Slides were recalled by Walmart and Toys R Us stores after reports of serious injuries and one death that occurred when the slide deflated allowing users to hit the pavement underneath the slide. The recall affects 21,000 units.

• 14-foot BouncePro trampolines by Sportspower are being recalled; the safety net can fail to work properly, posing a fall hazard.

• Dorel Juvenile Group is recalling Safety 1st infant car seats. The car seats were sold without the base piece, which, without it, makes securing the seat difficult.

• Also for babies, Kolcraft Tender Vibes & Light Vibes bassinets are being recalled. The latches that secure the bassinet to the metal frame may appear locked when they aren’t actually secure, posing a fall hazard.

Food:

• Alfalfa sprouts by Cleveland Beansprouts could be contaminated with listeria and are being recalled in Ohio.

• Yellowfin tuna by Moon Fishery of India is being recalled; it could be contaminated with salmonella.

• And World Berries Organic Cacao Nibs are being recalled. The product could be contaminated with E. coli.

Other Products:

• 1.6 million step stools by Kennedy International are being recalled along with an additional 64,000 in Canada. The stools can break unexpectedly during use and pose a fall hazard.

• Minimalist bike racks by Salsa Cycles are being recalled. The mounting straps can break during use, posing a fall hazard for the cyclist.

• Sonoma Valley Swivel Top Bar Stools are being recalled by Intercon. The bolts attaching the seat base to the legs can come loose, posing a fall hazard.

• And SinuSense Water Pulsators are recalled by Water Pik. Water can seep into the battery compartment causing the batteries to corrode and lead to possible reservoir contamination.

Are you affected by any of these recalls? Stay safe, and let us know in the comments.

Sportspower BouncePro 14’ Tampolines are being recalled by Sportspower Limited of Hong Kong because the netting surrounding the trampolines can break, allowing children to fall through the netting and be injured.

The recall affects Walmart stores nationwide as they sold the trampolines from February 2009 through February 2012.

Consumers should stop using the trampolines immediately and contact Sportspower to receive the replacement black netting for the trampoline. The current netting is brown and it affects 92,000 units. Find the model numbers affected here.

There have been 17 reports of the net breaking, resulting in 11 injuries including broken bones, back and neck injuries and concussions.

Are you and your family affected by this recall? Let us know in the comments.

Recalls for dry dog food manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods are sweeping the U.S. this week as news of possible salmonella contamination spreads.

The contamination occurred at the Gaston, S.C., facility which manufactures food for a number of other companies. 14 cases of salmonella in humans have been reported in connection to the food, though no dog illnesses have been medically confirmed.

The following brands are recalling food or are otherwise affected by the Diamond Pet Foods recall. Click the link to follow through to complete recall information:

• Apex

• Canidae

• Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul

• Country Value

• Diamond

• Diamond Naturals

• Kirkland Signature

• Natural Balance

• Premium Edge

• Professional

• 4Health

• Solid Gold

• Taste of the Wild

• Wellness

The food distributed is concentrated in the U.S., though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration saysdog food manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods was distributed worldwide.

For your health and your dog’s health, take note of the following from an FDA press release:

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.

Do you have a question or a comment? Not sure if your dog food is recalled? Give us a shout in the comments below? Don’t forget to share this with your friends and family so they know.

(Photo via weheartit)

Solid Gold’s WolfCub and WolfKing varieties of dog food are the latest additions to the ongoing list of dog foods recalled for salmonella contamination.

Solid Gold Health Products for Pets announced the recall on Tuesday, several days after most other dog food brands announced their respective recalls.

This recall is also in connection to the series of recalls stemming from the Diamond Pet Foods Gaston, South Carolina facility where the salmonella contamination occurred.

See the original Diamond dog food recall here.

The recall affects Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food, 4 lb, 15 lb, and 33 lb, with a best before date of December 30, 2012 and batch code starting with SGB1201A31X.

• 4 lb identifying UPC 093766750005
• 15 lb identifying UPC 093766750012
• 33 lb identifying UPC 093766750029

It also affects Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food, 4 lb, 15 lb, and 28.5 lb, with a best before date of December 30, 2012 and batch code starting with SGL1201A32X .

• 4 lb identifying UPC 093766750050
• 15 lb identifying UPC 093766750067

Pet owners should not feed this food to their dogs. See complete details for this recall here in our marketplace, as well as contact information for Solid Gold.

Are you and your pooch affected by this recall? Let us know in the comments.

(Photo via Silver)

Safety 1st brand car seats are being recalled by Dorel Juvenile Group for being sold without the proper base attachments. Are you affected?

Dorel Juvenile Group is recalling two styles of Safety 1st car seats because they were sold without a seat base which enables the seat to be properly secured.

The recall affects the Onboard 35 (IC124FSM) and Comfy Carry (IC123FSM) models of car seats, manufactured from May 2011 through April 2012.

Dorel Juvenile Group says without the base of the car seat, it could be difficult to properly secure the seat, which could pose dangers to an infant in the event of a car crash.

Dorel will contact registered owners and they will provide a free base piece free of charge. If you’re not registered, see this recall in our marketplace for contact information for Dorel Juvenile Group.

Are you and your baby affected by this recall? Let us know in the comments.