Shopping with product safety in mind

With many holiday sales just a click away, Health Canada’s Product Safety Officer Tracey Kennedy would like to remind everyone of simple safety tips when shopping online or when travelling across the border.

Kennedy says that it’s important to know who you are buying from, and to avoid websites which seem questionable.

“Do some research on the vendor, including ratings and reviews from reliable sources, and their company history and return policy,” says Kennedy. “Remember that products bought online may not be as advertised or work as they should, or could be prohibited or recalled in Canada, or have mislabelled safety information. They might also be held at the border and you might lose your money.”

If consumers have further questions about specific issues or products, they may contact Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety program at 1-866-6620666 or hc.prprodinfo.sc@canada.ca.