New App Called Whystle is a Recall Database: Could it Save Lives?
A new app called Whystle has been developed to let the public know of up-to-date recalls on products and food. Lauren Bell, a former Department of Justice prosecutor and mother of four, launched the app she named Whystle, to be a single source of information consumers can access daily recalls.
“We think someone is going to let us know that a product is dangerous, but that’s not the case,” says Lauren Bell, CEO of Whystle. “While working at the Department of Justice, I saw firsthand the tragedies that happen when people aren’t informed about dangerous products. Whystle provides users with peace of mind and gives them one less thing to worry about in their busy lives.”
Whystle will compile the recalls from a variety of verified sources such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) all in one easy to use app accessible from your phone.
The Whystle app is available purchase at a monthly fee of $3.99 or $2.00 a month with an annual subscription. Bell explains that the user can set up a profile within the app with personal parameters like parents who are expecting, pet owners, as well as specific food allergies that will organize recalls that fit the user’s needs. Whystle can sent safety recall alerts which can then be share easily with family and friends.
Another feature of the Whystle app is the “what to do” section which will help the user understand how a recall affects them and what to do with a recalled purchase. Many consumers do not know how to access product recalls and instead wait for the new to come to them. Providing up to date information of recalled products is vital to the safety of the consumer. Staying on top of the information is the best way to stay protected. An app like Whystle will help compile all the information out there into one place.
According to Ron Simon, a national food poisoning lawyer, this is a good idea. “People need to know what foods to be cautious about – a notification, like an Amber Alert, on a person’s phone might make that easier. I would caution, however, that most of the victims of food poisoning we represent had no idea that the food they were eating was dangerous, nor could they have know, as identification of the dangerous food was a result of their illnesses. When sick people seek proper medical attention and have a stool culture performed, that is when many foods are identified a s potentially deadly for the first time.”
