ACCC stats suggest our products are getting dodgier.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says there were 670 recalls in Australia last financial year compared to 596 in the previous financial year.

The regulator says there are a range of factors behind the concerning 14 per cent increase in recalls, including cost-cutting by suppliers and outsourcing of production to places with lower safety standards.

Cars accounted for 182 recalls in the last year, but the ACCC says these are fairly easy to trace and were often recalled quickly and smoothly.

One of the steepest rises was in the number of food and grocery recalls, which increased from 71 to 123 this financial year.

The recalls were launched after the discovery of undisclosed allergens, nuts, eggs, bacterias, listeria, e-coli, contaminants, or even foreign objects like metal filings and bits of plastic.

Major media reports have focused on recalls of ‘hoverboards’ and button-battery products, both of which remain major concerns.

The ACCC launched dozens of recalls of hoverboards in the last year, with reports that six house fires have been linked to hoverboard charging in the last year.

The regulator is helping consumers stay on top of the growing pile of dodgy and dangerous products by launching a new product safety website, accessible here.