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Product safety is a significant issue, and leading industrialized nations, which are largely based on manufacturing, invest considerable time and resources to address product safety-related challenges. The social issues surrounding product safety can directly impact consumers' health and safety, and failing to comply with product safety standards or providing inaccurate information to consumers can infringe on consumer rights. Therefore, product safety must be approached as a social issue with broad societal implications, necessitating government efforts to manage and oversee these concerns. Simplifying the complexities of product safety management and developing a systematic evaluation framework at the government level are essential. Product safety is a socially significant issue, and leading industrialized nations, which are largely based on manufacturing, invest considerable time and resources to address product safety-related challenges. This study developed a product safety evaluation framework for manufacturing companies based on Korean consumers' awareness of product safety. It was designed to comprehensively assess manufacturing companies' technological, procedural, and perceptual levels from a product safety perspective. A total of 101 companies participated, categorized into 43 electrical product manufacturers, 22 daily goods manufacturers, and 36 children's product manufacturers. The primary goal of this evaluation framework is to enable companies to conduct self-assessments and ultimately promote a culture of product safety. Additionally, the framework aims to assist the government in establishing a systematic product safety evaluation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Extracts from the rhizome of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Corydalis yanhusuo (CY) mediate a number of biologic effects that are associated with its content of isoquinoline alkaloids. CY alkaloids have shown analgesic, cardioprotective, and anti-addictive effects in animal models of disease. Since CY alkaloids are available to consumers as dietary supplements we analyzed the content of alkaloids in 14 products including open powders, capsules, and liquid formulations, capturing a majority of the products available online in the US. Methods: Nineteen alkaloids were quantified using HPLC analyses with diode array detection after extraction using a weak cation exchange column. Results: Total alkaloid content was highly variable among the products, ranging from below quantifiable in some to ≈11 mg/g in others. Five of the products had comparable content of alkaloids (9.5 ± 1.6 mg/g), equaling about the amount of alkaloids of an extract prepared from CY rhizome (12.7 mg/g). The other samples had much lower content (1.8 ± 0.9 mg/g), or alkaloids were below quantifiable. One of the products was highly enriched in tetrahydropalmatine (≈5 mg/g), suggesting adulteration from the natural product, and raising concerns about possible toxicologic liability. Discussion: Considering alkaloid content as a key quality criterium for CY supplements, the large variability among the products seems unacceptable and makes it difficult for consumers to select products with an appropriate content of alkaloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]