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Blumenthal Statement on the Recall of Peloton's Tread+ Treadmill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, released the following statement after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of the Peloton Tread+ treadmill. The treadmill has been tied to more than 70 incidents of children, pets, and objects being pulled underneath, causing severe injuries including broken limbs, brain injuries, and the death of a 6-year-old child.

“This recall is the right step— though dangerously delayed. Peloton unacceptably put consumers at risk, obstructed the CPSC’s investigation and its consumer warnings. It resisted clear evidence of a serious design flaw resulting in dozens of seriously hurt children and one death. The company’s actions significantly slowed building Americans’ awareness of the real dangers of this product and stood in the way of getting it off the market, putting other families at risk.”

“As Chair of the Consumer Protection Subcommittee, I am committed to strengthening the CPSC and ensuring companies like Peloton no longer get to call the shots on consumer safety. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance my Sunshine in Product Safety Act to restore transparency to product safety for the sake of consumers.”

Last month, Blumenthal introduced the Sunshine in Product Safety Act to strengthen CPSC’s ability to communicate vital health and safety information about potentially dangerous products to consumers without risking retaliation by the manufacturer. The bicameral legislation, led by U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Bobby Rush (D-IL) in the House, was introduced in the wake of alarming reports that Peloton obstructed CPSC’s investigation into the safety of the Peloton Tread+ treadmill and hindered the Commission from being able to warn consumers. The bill would repeal Section 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, and allow CPSC to share critical information about hazardous products quickly.

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