Where to report faulty products

[notyard]

Okay, we all receive bad products from time to time. Following in additional posts to this thread you will find agency webpages and links to report problem products to federal, state, and county agencies where applicable. If you run into some other product problem that isn't answered by these government links and pages, post and I will do my best to find the right agency to which you may report your product issue.

[Cpogie]

Great post Jude. I am going to sticky this one too.

[notyard]

This is the link to the USDA/FSIS's helpful webpage on reporting bad food. USDA/FSIS deals with meat, egg, and poultry products exclusively, so they handle only those complaints actually themselves. However, they do provide many good links to contact agencies that handle other food products, even bad restaurant food experiences:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/Problems_With_Food_Products/index.asp




If you have a problem with a food product...

Separate government agencies are responsible for protecting different segments of the food supply. If you have experienced a problem with a food product, be sure to contact the appropriate public health organization.

For more help, call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline

For additional food safety information about meat, poultry, or egg products, call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854); for the hearing-impaired (TTY) 1-800-256-7072.

The Hotline is staffed by food safety experts weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time. You can listen to food safety recordings 24 hours a day using a touch-tone phone.

What can you do?
For Help With Meat, Poultry And Egg Products:
Call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/USDA_Meat_&_Poultry_Hotline/index.asp) at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).

For Help With Restaurant Food Problems:
Call the Health Department in your city, county or state. View a complete listing of State Departments of Public Health. (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fsis_Recalls/State_Departments_of_Public_Health/index.asp)

For Help With Non-Meat Food Products (Cereals, Fish, Produce, Fruit Juice, Pastas, Cheeses, etc):
For complaints about food products which do not contain meat or poultry -- such as cereal -- call or write to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/problem.html)Check your local phone book under U.S. Government, Health and Human Services, to find an FDA office in your area. The FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition can be reached at 1-888-723-3366.

In order for the USDA to investigate a problem with meat, poultry or egg products, you must have:

The original container or packaging
Any foreign object that you might have discovered in the product
Any uneaten portion of the food (refrigerate or freeze it)Information you should be ready to tell the Hotline on the phone includes:

Name, address and phone number;
Brand name, product name and manufacturer of the product
The size and package type
Can or package codes (not UPC bar codes) and dates
Establishment number (EST) usually found in the circle or shield near the "USDA passed and inspected" phrase;
Name and location of the store, as well as the date that you purchased the product.
You can complain to the store or the product's manufacturer if you don't choose to make a formal complaint to the USDA.If you think you are ill, see a physician.
If an injury or illness allegedly resulted from use of a meat or poultry product, you will also need to tell the Hotline staff about the type, symptoms, time of occurrence and name of attending health professional (if applicable).

The Bottom Line:
If you sense there's a problem with any food product, don't consume it. "When in doubt, throw it out."


Last Modified: April 20, 2004

[notyard]

The FDA handles foods other than meat, egg, and poultry products (see USDA/FSIS post), drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, animal feed, vaccines, veterinary products, human blood, and associated products. Here's the link to their page on how to report a problem with these types of products:

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/problem.html


How to Report Problems With Products Regulated by FDA
Last Revised: December 18, 2006

What products does FDA regulate?
Consumers can play an important public health role by reporting to FDA any adverse reactions or other problems with products the agency regulates. FDA is responsible for ensuring that foods are safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled. It also oversees medicines, medical devices (from bandages to artificial hearts), blood products, vaccines, cosmetics, veterinary drugs, animal feed, and electronic products that emit radiation (such as microwave ovens and video monitors), ensuring that these products are safe and effective.

Why should I report?
The testing that helps to establish the safety of products, such as drugs and medical devices, is typically conducted on small groups before FDA approves the products for sale. Some problems can remain unknown, only to be discovered when a product is used by a large number of people.
When problems with FDA-regulated products occur, the agency wants to know about them and has several ways for the public to make reports. Timely reporting by consumers, health professionals, and FDA-regulated companies allows the agency to take prompt action. The agency evaluates each report to determine how serious the problem is, and, if necessary, may request additional information from the person who filed the report before taking action.

How do I report an emergency?
If the situation is an emergency that requires immediate action, such as a case of food-borne illness or a drug product that has been tampered with, call the agency's main emergency number, staffed 24 hours a day, 301-443-1240.

You also can report emergencies, as well as non-emergencies, to the FDA consumer complaint coordinator (http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html) in your geographic area.
Situations that do not require immediate action--such as a non-emergency adverse reaction to a food product or an over-the-counter medical device that doesn't work as advertised--can be reported either to the appropriate consumer complaint coordinator or to the FDA office that handles the product.

How do I report non-emergencies about food?
To report problems, including adverse reactions, related to any food except meat and poultry, contact the district office consumer complaint coordinator (http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html) for your geographic area.
If the problem involves meat or poultry, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, call the USDA hotline at 1-800-535-4555.

How do I report non-emergencies about medical products: medicines, medical devices, blood products, biologics, special nutritionals?
MedWatch -- The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program (http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/index.html) allows healthcare professionals and consumers to voluntarily report serious problems that they suspect are associated with the drugs and medical devices they prescribe, dispense, or use. These problems include serious adverse reactions and events, product quality problems, and product use errors. Reporting can be done online (https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/), by phone, or by submitting the MedWatch 3500 form by mail or fax. Visit the MedWatch How To Report (http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/how.htm) page for more details.

How do I report non-emergencies about vaccines?
Adverse reactions and other problems related to vaccines should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, which is maintained by FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For a copy of the vaccine reporting form, call 1-800-822-7967 or get a copy of the form from the FDA Website. (http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaers/vaers.htm)

How do I report non-emergencies about blood transfusions and donations?
You can make initial notifications of transfusion-related fatalities and donation-related deaths to FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. (http://www.fda.gov/cber/transfusion.htm)

How do I report non-emergencies about animal feed/food?
To report problems, including adverse reactions, related to any food for animals, contact the district office consumer complaint coordinator (http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html) for your geographic area.

How do I report non-emergencies about veterinary products?
Report any problems with veterinary drugs and devices for animals to FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine at 1-888-FDA-VETS (1-888-332-8387). You can also find the reporting form (http://www.fda.gov/cvm/adetoc.htm) on the center's Website.

How do I report non-emergencies about cosmetics?
People can report a bad reaction to face paint, novelty makeup, or any other cosmetic product to:

Your nearest FDA district office (http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html). Their phone numbers are on FDA's Web site and in the Blue Pages of the phone book under United States Government/Health and Human Services.
FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS) by phone at 301-436-2405 or by email at CAERS@cfsan.fda.gov (CAERS@cfsan.fda.gov).How do I report non-emergencies about products sold online?
If you find a Website you think is illegally selling human drugs, animal drugs, medical devices, biological products, foods, dietary supplements, or cosmetics over the Web, you may report it to FDA using the form on this Website (http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/buyonlineform.htm).

What should I include in my report?

Report what happened as soon as possible. Give names, addresses and phone numbers of persons affected. Include your name, address and phone number, as well as that of the doctor or hospital if emergency treatment was provided.
State the problem clearly. Describe the product as completely as possible, including any codes or identifying marks on the label or container. Give the name and address of the store where the product was purchased and the date of purchase.
You also should report the problem to the manufacturer or distributor shown on the label and to the store where you purchased the product.What kinds of problems doesn’t FDA handle and where can I report them?
Reports and complaints about the following should be made to the agencies listed. Phone numbers can be found in your local phone directory:

Restaurant food and sanitation--Local or state health departments
Unsolicited products in the mail--U.S. Postal Service
Accidental poisonings--Poison control centers or hospitals
Pesticides or air and water pollution--U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Hazardous household products (including toys, appliances, and chemicals)--Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1-800-638-2772
Alcoholic beverages--Department of Treasury's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Drug abuse and controlled substances--Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration
Hazardous chemicals in the workplace--Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Warranties--Federal Trade Commission
Dispensing and sales practices of pharmacies--State board of pharmacy
Medical practice--State certification boardHow can I get information about the products FDA regulates?
If you have a general question about an FDA-regulated product, call toll-free 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332). But please don't report problem products or adverse reactions to this number. Instead, contact FDA's consumer complaint coordinators (http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html).

[notyard]

The CPSC handles consumer products, but not food, medical, automobile, car seat, and other products associated with those categories. For food issues, see the USDA/FSIS and FDA posts for information on how to report. If it's auto or car seat related see the NHTSA post (coming next).

If it's a lead contaminated product, a toy that poses a choking hazard, a tree stand or exercise equipment that dumps you on your head, a heater that starts smoking, a pan that the handle falls off of, unsafe baby furniture, and that sort of thing, the CPSC is your agency to which to report:

http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html



Report Unsafe Products

You can use the on-line forms below to report an injury, file a complaint about an unsafe product, or give feedback regarding this web site to us. There are some other forms geared towards health care professionals and businesses.

Note: Please be aware that these forms will not work if active scripting is disabled in your browser.


For consumers:
report (https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx) an injury, death, or unsafe product to us

For Fire, Police and Insurance Investigators:
report (https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/fpinc.aspx) an injury, death, or unsafe product to us

For physicians and health care professionals:
report (https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/hcpinc.aspx) a PATIENT ONLY injury or death
printable poster (pdf) (http://www.cpsc.gov/poster.pdf) for you and your patients

For manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers:
report (https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/sec15.aspx)a potentially defective or hazardous product


For coroners and medical examiners: file MECAP reports (https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/mecap.aspx).


Tell us what you think (https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/feedback.aspx) of our site

IMPORTANT: CPSC does not have jurisdiction over the following (use the links below to file a complaint with the proper agency):

Automobiles (http://www.cpsc.gov/tires.html) (including tires, trucks and motorcycles)
Car seats protecting children in on-road vehicles (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/)
Foods, medicines, cosmetics, and medical devices (http://www.fda.gov/)

(CPSC has authority for child-resistant packaging)
Dissatisfaction with business practices (http://www.ftc.gov/)
Certain other products: list of agency jurisdictions (http://www.cpsc.gov/federal.html)Note: Please do not use these forms to ask questions or request information. You can contact us using our on-line form (http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/info.aspx) with your question or request.



Important: For the forms on this page, information exchanged is encrypted for privacy during transit. Clicking on the Verisign logo above displays CPSC's specific server ID information and verifies that this is a legitimate Verisign Secure Site. If your browser doesn't support secure transmissions or can't access the secure forms, you can access the forms in nonsecure mode (http://www.cpsc.gov/talkns.html). When submitting a form to CPSC, a "cookie" will be sent containing a session ID, a random variable not based on any information from you. Disabling cookies will not affect your ability to send us information.

[notyard]

The NHTSA handles about all complaints for automobiles, trucks, RV's, motorcycles, and child seats used in vehicles--everything from the vehicles themselves, manufacturer and after-market parts for the vehicles, child seats, tires, wheels, and those types of items. Here's the link to their page where you may file a complaint:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/


Form Approved: O.M.B. No. 2127-0008

WHAT TYPE OF COMPLAINT DO YOU HAVE?

Certain information is required depending on your complaint type.

Complaint Types

Vehicles (http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/#vehicles)
Tires (http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/#tires)
Child Restraints (http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/#childrestraints)
Equipment (http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/#equipment)FAQ

What will NHTSA do with my complaint?

Your complaint information will be entered into NHTSA's vehicle owner's complaint database and used with other complaints to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists. Click here for more details (http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/#gen_info).

How long will this take?

The average time to complete the minimum requirements of this form is eight to ten minutes. It is advised you gather the necessary information for your complaint type before completing the complaint form.

To help us evaluate your report, you should be prepared to provide certain information, depending on the type of complaint:

Vehicles (including, but not limited to, passenger cars, heavy trucks, RV's, motorcycles, emergency vehicles & buses)

Manufacturer
Make
Model
Model Year
Other essential information - Although not required, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is critical to proper evaluation of a vehicle complaint. This can be found on your registration or insurance card, driver side dash viewable through the windshield, or driver door jamb.Tires

Tire Manufacturer
Tire Brand
Tire Line
Tire Size
(see http://www.safercar.gov/tires/pages/TireLabelPassVeh.htm (http://www.safercar.gov/tires/pages/TireLabelPassVeh.htm) for more detail)
Component (Tread, bead, sidewall, etc.)
DOT Code; also called Tire Identification Number, 9-14 characters on one or both sidewalls
(see http://www.safercar.gov/tires/pages/TireLabelPassVeh2.htm (http://www.safercar.gov/tires/pages/TireLabelPassVeh2.htm) for more detail.)
To complete your tire complaint, please be sure to include information about the vehicle the tire was mounted on.Child Restraints

Manufacturer
(example: Dorel Juvenile Products, Evenflo, Britax, etc.)
Model Number
(this is found on the manufacturer's label on restraint)
Date of Manufacture
(this is found on the manufacturer's label on restraint)
Restraint Type
(example: rear facing infant, booster, convertible, etc.)
Part of restraint causing concern
(example: harness, padding, carry handle, base, etc.)Equipment

Replacement equipment such as oil filters, alternators, wipers, RV accessories, lights, and floor jacks.
What will NHTSA do with my complaint?

Your complaint information will be entered into NHTSA's vehicle owner's complaint database and used with other complaints to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.

If a safety-related defect exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment, the manufacturer must fix it at no cost to the owner. Your complaint is the first step in the process. Government engineers analyze the problem. If warranted, the manufacturer is asked to conduct a recall. If the manufacturer does not initiate a recall, the government can order the manufacturer to initiate a recall.
We do not have to receive a specific number of complaints before we look into a problem. We gather all available information on a problem. Your complaint is important to us.All the information that you submit to NHTSA will be transmitted using secure mechanism.

The Privacy Act of 1974 - Public Law 93-579, As Amended: This information is requested pursuant to the authority vested in the National Highway Traffic Safety Act and subsequent amendments. You are under no obligation to respond to this questionnaire. Your response maybe used to assist the NHTSA in determining whether a manufacturer should take appropriate action to correct a safety defect. If the NHTSA proceeds with administration enforcement or litigation against a manufacturer, your response, or statistical summary thereof, may be used in support of the agency's action.

[notyard]

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) investigates complaints and issues recalls on problems related to boats, boating parts & accessories, lifesaving equipment like emergency rafts and personal flotation devices (PFD), and other marine related products. Here's the link to their complaint page:

http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/overview.htm



Safety Defect Report Overview

The Coast Guard investigates consumer complaints about recreational boats and related equipment when the situation meets the following criteria:

The complaint relates to a boat or associated equipment that is less than 5 years old.
The condition described is a violation of federal regulations OR is safety related (that is, it is a defect that creates a substantial risk of personal injury).
The defect causes a failure or dangerous condition that occurs suddenly (that is, substantially without warning).To report such a possible safety defect, use the online Boat Owner's Report - Possible Safety Defect (http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/owners_report.aspx).



USCG Investigation and Action

The Coast Guard evaluates each potential safety defect report on a case-by-case basis. If we determine there is a "substantial risk" defect, we then contact the manufacturer of the boat or associated equipment and notify them of our preliminary findings.

The manufacturer is given 30 days to rebut these findings or to begin correcting the problem. If we agree with a manufacturer's rebuttal, we close the case. If we believe there is a "substantial risk" defect, we can require the manufacturer to:

Determine what boats have the defect.
Notify first purchasers of the defect and its potential consequences.
Notify first purchasers of how the defect will be corrected.
Undertake to correct the defect.If the manufacturer makes a good faith effort to correct the problem and the consumer refuses the offer, the Coast Guard will take no further action and close the file. Also, if the manufacturer has corrected the problem identified, but the consumer is still not satisfied, the Coast Guard will take no further action.

The Coast Guard has no authority to require a manufacturer to give a consumer a new boat or refund a consumer's money. The Coast Guard will also not get involved in a civil suit between a consumer and a boat manufacturer.



Warranty Problems

The Coast Guard does not deal with defects or conditions that are not considered a "substantial risk" defect. For boat/equipment issues that do not constitute a safety defect, please contact one of the following organizations:

Your state consumer protection agency (usually operated in the State Attorney General's Office).
The Federal Trade Commission. For information about the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975, visit www.FTC.gov (http://www.ftc.gov/) or call 202-326-3650.
The Consumer Protection Bureau (for Members of BOAT/U.S.) at www.BOATUS.com (http://www.boatus.com/) or 703-461-2856.

[notyard]

After less than caring responses twice from the CPSC in a month, I must strongly recommend two more places to report defective or unsafe products. I still will report dangerous items to the CPSC, even though I feel it's like talking to a rock or spitting into the wind, in hopes that they might eventually have sufficient resources to do their job. The CPSC doesn't think that a child's toy of the same brand and style, but purchased from a different outlet, as several hundred thousand found to have lead, is worthy of even checking into--they told me to pay to test it myself (umm, I didn't ask you to test it, you should test the stuff before it goes to the public!!!--I asked why the same identical item sold through a different outlet isn't also recalled), there aren't many lead recalls (oh really?--there might be a lot more if you tested stuff before it went to the public--the number found now is certainly not comforting to most people), and not all children's toys contain lead (DUH!!!). The CPSC also doesn't think that a children's clothing item, where a metal trim piece shattered into small, sharp, jagged metal pieces after one wearing, is worthy of their time, either. Maybe they could at least send an adhesive bandage for the cut on my finger? Our tax dollars at work, NOT!


Check with your state attorney general's office about reporting defective or unsafe products. At least in Illinois, our state attorney general Lisa Madigan is very active on product safety issues, particularly for children's items, even regularly publishing recall guides with photos and descriptions of recalled items. Here is a link to a very useful listing from the National Association of Attorneys General, including every state, attorney general name, address, phone number, and website link: http://www.naag.org/ag/full_ag_table.php



The Better Business Bureau takes complaints on bad service and bad products. What's also nice is their website allows you to look up the history of a company before you deal with them. Their main website will direct you to the appropriate member bureau to file a complaint: http://welcome.bbb.org/

[LadySmilie]

wouldn't Good House Keeping be one of those places to report some of this stuff

They buy and test the products over and over and over. They test everything.

when a business has their seal you know it is a good product.

[notyard]

wouldn't Good House Keeping be one of those places to report some of this stuff

They buy and test the products over and over and over. They test everything.

when a business has their seal you know it is a good product.

Good Housekeeping does perform thorough testing, as does Consumer's Digest. Both provide helpful consumer purchasing guides for several types of products. Are they set up to handle individual complaints on products from everyone? Not really, with the exception of Good Housekeeping's guarantee on items with their seal as you've mentioned, or items advertised in their magazine. But, your point is well taken--any bad press on a product, whether an e-mail or letter or phone call to the manufacturer, a magazine, a TV station, or report to a standards or government agency, might get you some results on a problem product or service. The squeaky wheel gets the grease sort of thing.

Good Housekeeping does back up items that are advertised in their magazine or bearing their seal, though with exceptions. Items advertised in their magazine, but not actually bearing their seal, are guaranteed refund or replacement for two years, provided you purchased the product within one year from the issue date of the magazine with the advertisement. Items bearing their seal are guaranteed refund or replacement for two years from date of purchase.


Good Housekeeping maintains good taste and exercises strict editorial judgment as to products it will accept for advertising and in reviewing all of the advertising copy it publishes. These judgments are the basis of the Good Housekeeping Consumers' Refund or Replacement Policy.

WE PROMISE This is Good Housekeeping's LIMITED WARRANTY: If any product that bears our Seal or is advertised in this issue* (with certain exceptions described below) proves to be defective within two years from the date it was first sold to a consumer by an authorized retailer, we, Good Housekeeping, will replace the product or refund the purchase price. This policy covers you, the consumer, whether you bought the product or it was given to you (by the buyer).

WHAT TO DO If you believe such a defect exists, write to: Consumer Services & Seal Coordinator, Good Housekeeping Magazine, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019.

Please inform us of any defect as soon as possible. We will send you a complaint form to return. The form asks you to describe the product and tell where and when it was bought, the price paid, and the problem you had. You may be asked to ship the product to us at our expense. If that is not possible because of size or installation, our representative may call on you and inspect the product. If the product is defective, we will, at your choice, replace it, if possible, or refund to you the purchase price. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights, which vary from state to state. If the manufacturer or retailer of the product has already reimbursed you for the purchase price or replaced the product, we will consider the matter resolved and the warranty will not apply.

EXCLUSIONS This policy does not extend to the following products and services, even if advertised in the magazine: insurance; financial/investment services and products; realty (including housing of any kind); franchise operations; automotive and camping vehicles; public transportation; travel facilities and hotels; catalogs and merchandise portfolios; "Shopping by Mail" items; premiums and prizes; schools, summer camps, and similar organizations; contraceptives, prescribed drugs, and medical procedures, facilities, and some devices (including cosmetic ones); alcoholic beverages; services (such as cleaning and repair services and Internet access providers); unbranded food products and branded deli foods not sold in individual packages; products sold only to the trade; self-diagnostic devices; diet plans; contact lenses; fire alarms and suppressants; carbon monoxide detectors; home security systems and devices; infant/toddler car seats and restraints; swim aids, flotation devices, and pool toys; and institutional advertisements.

Some products must be installed, assembled, used, and serviced as the manufacturer directs to give proper performance. We are not responsible and the limited warranty does not apply when a defect arises from improper installation, assembly, use, or service, or if the product is abused.

This policy covers the functionality of educational and instructional products, i.e., operability of a tape, book, compact disc, or other media, but does not extend to warrant the outcome, learning results, or educational effectiveness to be achieved from use of the products.
Due to the nature of the Internet, no software product can completely protect against exposure to offensive content. Exposure to any such content shall not be deemed a defect under the terms of this policy.
Products that are advertised in Good Housekeeping, and that may bear the Good Housekeeping Seal, are not manufactured, sold, or serviced by Good Housekeeping, unless otherwise expressly indicated.

Good Housekeeping makes no express warranty for state law and provides no guarantee or remedy other than as described here.

*As to products that are advertised in the magazine but do not bear the Seal, the two-year limited warranty applies only if the product was purchased within one year of the date of the issue in which the advertisement appeared.


Considering one of the manufacturers with the Good Housekeeping seal doesn't think it's a problem to sell their probiotic yogurt products off of the shelf TWO MONTHS past the best by date, it's a good thing the actual Good Housekeeping magazine makes good on their promise. Wonder if the we don't care attitude of the manufacturer's customer service is the same as in their purchasing, production, and quality departments--oh, it's okay that the fruit prep, cultures, and milk we plan to make the yogurt out of are two months past the best by date. What's the point of a best by date, if the manufacturer is still sending it to the store two months after the best by date....

This problem is not Good Housekeeping's fault, but I wonder how long this manufacturer will keep the seal when they don't care their best by date on product for sale on the shelf expired two months ago.