Product recalls hit new high in 2010

UK product recalls jumped by 12 per cent from 205 in 2009 to a record 229 in 2010, according to research from City law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, with the car maker Toyota being the most prominent example of the trend.

RPC said the increase was led by a 40 per cent leap in recalls of pharmaceutical and other healthcare products, from 20 recalls in 2009 to 28 recalls in 2010.

But car makers figured high in the listings. Ferrari recalled more than £200m worth of supercars after a design fault led to a fire hazard in several of the £170,000 vehicles.

There were numerous other high-profile car recalls including Toyota, BMW and Rolls-Royce. Toyota recalled millions of vehicles worldwide because of a faulty accelerator pedal design, but faced criticism for delaying the recall.