8/7/08

Marshall’s is recalling children’s Bongo Cheetah Girls Jackets because of a strangulation hazard.
   The U-S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the jackets were sold nationwide at Marshall’s and Kids With Character stores for about $25 dollars. The jackets came in sizes 4 through 6X, and can be identified by the style number 8N6003 and RN number 119132 printed on the care label.
   The jackets can be returned to the place of purchase for a full refund.

7/31/08

The Food & Drug Administration says it's found what it calls the smoking gun in the recent salmonella outbreak: Serrano peppers at a farm in Mexico, which were found to be contaminated with the same strain of salmonella that has sickened more than 13-hundred people across the U-S.
   Investigators found the bacteria in irrigation water at the farm. As a result, officials say consumers shouldn't eat serrano peppers from Mexico.
   So far, not one contaminated tomato or contaminated U-S farm.
   FYI: The CDC has more about the outbreak.

7/23/08

New parents, listen up. The U-S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is recalling about 115-thousand It’s My Binky Personalized Pacifiers. The buttons, ring handles and nipple shields can detach, causing a possible choking hazard.
   The affected binkies have “Japlo” imprinted on the front of the pacifier shield at the bottom, center. They were sold at Nordstrom and baby boutiques nationwide, and online at www.itsmybinky.com.
   You should stop using the pacifier immediately if you have one, and return it to the store for a free replacement.

7/22/08

About 470-thousand hot glue guns made in China are under recall because they pose a fire hazard.
   The U-S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says there have been four incidents were the glue guns short-circuited. The Crafters Square Hot Melt Mini Glue Guns were sold at Dollar Tree stores for a dollar each between December 2007 and March of this year.
   The glue guns can be returned to Dollar Tree for a refund.

6/20/08
Some Chinese-made key chains are being recalled because of too much lead. They were sold nationwide at Wal-Mart stores between April of 2005 and this month for anywhere between 50-cents and six bucks.
   The Hip Charm key chains are shaped as buttons, clovers, leaves and hearts. The products can be returned to Wal-Mart for a full refund.

6/16/08

The U-S Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) is recalling about 18-hundred pairs of infant and toddler overalls made by Sara Lynn Togs.
   Buttons on the straps of the Infant and Toddler Gingham and Flannel Shortalls could pose a choking hazard to small children. No injuries have been reported, but to be cautious, you can return them to the manufacturer for a refund. Sizes involved in the recall include six and nine month, 12 month, 18 month and 2T, 3T and 4T.
   The overalls were made in Peru and China, and were sold from March of last year through February of this year at gift shops, children’s stores, college bookstores and other shops nationwide.
   FYI: Contact Sara Lynn Togs at 1-800-426-9377 or saralynntogs.com

6/13/08

About 97-hundred Bosch Hammer Drills are being recalled because they may not turn off even after the trigger is released.
   The U-S Consumer Product Safety Commission says the recall involves blue hammer drills with serial numbers starting with the number seven. The model numbers are 1191VSR and 1191VSRK. The drills were sold from July of last year to April of this year.
   FYI: You can call Bosch for a free repair at 877-472-0007, or visit www.boschtools.com

6/10/08

McDonald's and other restaurant chains are pulling certain tomatoes from their menus until they learn the source of a recent spate of salmonella cases.
   As we reported in yesterday's RBR, nearly 150 cases of a type of salmonella have been reported around the country since April, according to the Food and Drug Administration, including at least 23 hospitalizations. The illnesses have been linked to certain kinds of uncooked tomatoes, namely Roma and round red, but the source of those tomatoes hasn't yet been identified.
   The FDA says cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes are still okay.

6/9/08

Kraft Foods is recalling more than 12-thousand cases of Post LiveActive Mixed Berry Crunch Cereal. The recall is really only of concern to anyone with a nut allergy.
    Some of the boxes contain tree nuts --almonds, pecans, and/or walnuts-- but the label fails to mention the ingredient.
   The affected boxes are 13 ounces, and are stamped with a “Best When Used By” date of 17DEC2008. Anyone with an allergy or severe sensitivity to tree nuts could experience a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they eat the cereal.
   FYI: Consumers can call 1-866-771-1511 for a full refund.

5/29/08

Kids may like to mimic mom and dad but talking on a certain toy cell phone may put them at risk for choking.    There's a voluntary recall for about a million Chinese-made Little Tyke Chit 'n Chat toy cell phones, sold nationwide for the last two years. The phones were made by Kids Station Toys International, and sold nationwide for about $8 bucks each. If you've got one of these, check the phone's hinge cover, which is prone to falling off and getting into your child's mouth. The company has received one report of a child choking on a small part.

5/23/08

Magnet recall:

The U-S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is recalling about 23-thousand Shindaiwa Backpack Blowers. The Japanese-made leaf blowers were recalled once before because of a fire hazard. The latest risk involves a fan that may break apart, sending projectiles flying out of the machine.
   The recalled blowers were sold nationwide between September, 2005 and January, 2007. You can contact Shindaiwa or the nearest dealer for an inspection and fan replacement.

5/16/08

Ford recall:
Ford is recalling more than 600-thousand trucks because of a problem with the vacuum hose.
   The recall affects any 2005 or 2006 F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT models equipped with a 5.4-liter, 3-valve engine. Dealers will begin notifying owners over the next month, and will begin fixing the problem in early July.
# # #
Gun recall:
More than 72-hundred air pistols are being recalled because they could discharge unexpectedly.
   The U-S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the recall affects the German-made RWS-5G Mangum Air Pistols, distributed nationwide by Umarex Incorporated. There’s been one injury reported after a pistol discharged. The user was hit in the leg with a pellet.
   The air pistols were sold between July, 2006 and February of this year.
   FYI: You can contact Umarex for information on how to get a free repair. 1-866-633-2910 or UmarexUSA.com
# # #

5/5/08
Meat Recall:

4/29/08

Miracle-Gro Recall:
Just when folks have been buying and applying it, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and the Environmental Protection Agency issued a nationwide recall of the company's Miracle-Gro Shake 'n' Feed with Weed Preventer All Purpose Plant Food. The company says it believes it isn't harmful but consumers are being advised not to use the product, or dispose of it down a drain.

4/23/08

The Food and Drug Administration's acknowledgment that the drug heparin is a problem is the latest example of the growing rift between the United States and China over safety issues.
   The FDA announced that contaminated heparin from 12 Chinese companies has been found in 11 countries and is linked to 81 deaths in the United States. Chinese Embassy officials strongly disputed the claims, saying that the man-made contaminant can't be the real cause of the deaths and suggested the problem may have originated in the United States.
   Even before the FDA made its announcement, the Chinese government had begun what the Wall Street Journal characterizes as a "pushback" against the conclusions. At a press conference, Chinese officials said they want to look into whether the problem was caused in the end stage of the production process. The FDA disputes the Chinese assertion that severe adverse reactions have not been observed in any other countries, although it's unclear whether contaminated heparin is linked to deaths anywhere else.

4/21/08 

Retail giant Wal-Mart is recalling about 12-thousand key chain charms

4/10/08
Chrysler Recall:
Chrysler

4/9/08 

Before you take a swig of your next Samuel Adams beer, check the bottom of the bottle. The Boston-based company has issued a recall after small bits of glass were found in some bottles.
   There haven’t been any reports of injuries, and the problem seems to be isolated to one bottle supplier. The affected bottles are marked with the code “N35” and “OI.”
   FYI: Get more info at www.samueladams.com

4/8/08
Cereal Recall:

The Food and Drug Administration has new information about the source of the nation's salmonella outbreak.
   It seems the smoking gun is a Mexican-grown jalapeño pepper at a Texas plant, contaminated with the same strain of salmonella that's infected 12-hundred people.
   It's not clear with the salmonella problem originated at the farm in Mexico or the plant in McAllen, TX, or somewhere in between but as the investigation continues, the FDA is warning consumers not to eat the hot fresh jalapeño peppers or foods made with them, like salsa.
   Here's the FDA's salmonella page.

6/25/08