Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said most recalled products are still in use. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Lisa Madigan)

By Jim Anderson/Illinois Radio Network

CHICAGO – Efforts to get dangerous products away from children have been paying off, but there’s still a problem, advocates say.
 
The number of children’s products recalled by the Consumer Products Safety Commission was 75 last year, down from 114 the year before, and the lowest number since 2003, according to the annual report by the group Kids in Danger.
 
The trouble is the recalled products are still in use, said Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

“Although the number of recalls decreased substantially in 2014, we know that the vast majority of products that were recalled remain in homes or other facilities that serve children,” she said.
 
It’s actually illegal in Illinois for licensed day care centers to keep recalled products, but they stay in homes and are sold on Craigslist and at garage sales and are handed down.
 
Advocates say manufacturers must do a better job of notifying those who bought their product if it’s recalled for safety.
 
The full Kids in Danger report: www.kidsindanger.org/2015/02/09/new-report-from-kid-shows-strong-regulations-improve-product-safety.