E-mail alerts help consumers keep up with recalls

Who can possibly keep up with all the recent product recalls? It was big news when manufacturers recently recalled millions of toys because of toxic lead paint and when animals started dying because of tainted pet food. But we don’t hear about most of the 400 products recalled each year, which may explain why few are returned to the manufacturer. Fortunately, government agencies make it easy for you to learn about recalls as soon as they are announced. Your one-stop source for recall information is www.recalls.gov. Read the latest Ask the AG column for tips on how to sign up for e-mail alerts when a product is recalled, advice on what to if you have a recalled item and a warning to consumers who shop for secondhand goods.