[Recalls Page]

February 2006 Recalls and Product Safety News

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J. is recalling about 50,500 iPlay My First Mobile Phones. The toy phone’s yellow antenna can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Unilever, of Trumbull, Conn. is recalling about 438,000 Dove™ SkinVitalizer �" Facial Cleansing Massagers. The cleansing pillows on this device can loosen or dislodge during use and then the SkinVitalizer can cause minor scratches to the skin.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Next Marketing Inc., of Wabash, Ind. is recalling about 22,000 Youth Hooded Fleeces with Drawstrings. The garments have a drawstring through the hood, posing a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), QVC Inc., of West Chester, Pa. is recalling about 180,000 Pro Flying Saucers (Radio Control). The battery charger cord sold with these flying saucers can overcharge and cause the toy to overheat, posing a risk of fire.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Milton Bradley, of East Longmeadow, Mass. is recalling about 461,000 Chicken Limbo Electronic Party Games. The game’s two side poles do not fit into their bases properly making the game unstable. This can cause the game to completely fall apart if touched, hitting children playing the game as well as bystanders.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Barbeques Galore Inc., of Lake Forest, Calif. is recalling about 1,800 Turbo Sport Portable Infrared LP Gas Grills. The grills have faulty regulators that can release too much gas to the burner causing an excessive burner flame. This also poses a risk of gas leaks, fires and explosions if an ignition source is present.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Victoria’s Secret Direct, of Columbus, Ohio and Single, of Los Angeles, Calif. are recalling about 500 Silk Kimono Tops that were manufactured by Single, 57 units having been sold to consumers by Victoria’s Secret Direct. The kimono tops are made of fabric that fails to meet mandatory standards of fabric flammability in violation of the federal Flammable Fabrics Act. The sheer outer shell fabric of the kimono top can readily ignite and present a risk of burn injuries.

An Iowa-based manufacturer and distributor of chemicals used to make illegal fireworks has agreed to get out of the business, after pleading guilty to violating federal law. At sentencing today, Iowa Pyro Supply Inc., of Stanwood, Iowa, which is owned by Mark and Geraldine Mead, was also fined $10,000 and given one year of probation.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Provo Craft & Novelty Inc., of Spanish Fork, Utah is recalling about 29,000 Art Accentz™ Changlz™ Metal Charms. The recalled charms contain high levels of lead, posing a serious risk of lead poisoning and adverse health effects to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Polycom Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif. is recalling about 21,000 Lithium Ion batteries in SoundStation2W wireless conference phones in the U.S. (about 27,700 units worldwide). These batteries can overheat, which could pose a fire or burn hazard.

One of the most important safety standards ever developed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) was approved today. By a vote of 3 to 0, CPSC approved a new federal standard to reduce the severity of mattress fires. The new mandatory flammability standard for mattresses is the first major regulation passed by the CPSC in the agency’s history. A major rule is one that has more than a $100 million annual impact on the economy.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), abc distributing LLC., of North Miami, Fla. is recalling about 8,300 Pilates Balls. The plastic black clips at the end of the rubber tubing can come apart when in use. In addition, the grommet used to hold the black rubber tubing could separate from the nylon webbing. Consumers using the pilates balls could fall and be hit by pieces that separate.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Brass Eagle, of Bentonville, Ark. is recalling about 243,000 Blade Turbo™ Paintball Markers and Paintball Breakout Players Kits™. The carbon dioxide (CO2) cartridges can be forcibly ejected out the back of the paintball marker and break the plastic screw-on cap. This poses a serious risk of injury to the paintball marker’s operator who can be hit forcefully by the CO2 cartridges or the plastic screw-on cap. Overtightening the screw-on cap after the cartridges are pierced can result in a serious impact injury.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Krups, of Medford, Mass. is recalling about 2,100 Orchestro Espresso Makers. The electrical connectors in the espresso machine can erode, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Black Dog Tavern Company Inc., of Vineyard Haven, Mass. is recalling about 9,700 Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings. The garments have a drawstring through the hood, posing a strangulation hazard to children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Korea’s government to improve the safety of consumer products exported to the U.S from South Korea.

After the death of a 19-month baby in Myrtle Creek, Ore., the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Simplicity Inc., of Reading Pa., are renewing the search for recalled Aspen 3 in 1 Cribs with Graco logos. The child died on January 6, 2006, after two of the mattress support slats came out of his recalled crib. He became entrapped between the mattress and the footboard of the crib and suffocated.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lasko Products Inc., of West Chester, Pa., is recalling about 5.6 million Lasko, General Electric, Galaxy, and Air King Brand Box and Pivoting Floor Fans. An electrical failure in the motor can pose a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Strike First Corp., of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada and Strike First Corporation of America (SFC America), of Front Royal, Va., are recalling about 50,900 Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers. The fire extinguishers can fail to discharge properly when the trigger is activated, which puts consumers at risk of fire-related injuries.

The agreement calls for an exchange of information on consumer product safety, cooperation to prevent injuries from hazardous consumer products, the development of training programs dealing with consumer product safety, and an exchange of officials, experts and professionals to carry out consumer safety programs.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), VSM Group AB of Husqvarna, Sweden, and its subsidiary VSM Sewing Inc. (Husqvarna Viking), of Westlake, Ohio, are recalling about 55,000 Husqvarna Viking Designer I Sewing and Embroidery Machines. Electrical arcing can occur in the machine’s power supply, posing a risk of fire.

The American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL) today honored Hal Stratton, Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) by presenting him with the ACIL Public Service Award for 2006.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Cardinal IG Company of Eden Prairie, Minn., and Four Seasons Solar Products, LLC, of Holbrook, N.Y., are recalling about 6,000 Sunrooms containing roof glass or skylights. Sunlight reflecting off of certain sunroom roof glass and skylights onto adjacent cedar shingles or cedar shakes could pose a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), DESA Heating Products, of Bowling Green, Ky. is recalling about 54,500 “40-80,000 BTU Portable Propane Convection Heaters”. The burners on these heaters can “flashback,” which is when fire burns inside the burner tube rather than out the end. This can cause the lower portion of the burner tube to get hot enough to ignite combustible material under the heater.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ace Han Corp., of Jamesburg, N.J. is recalling about 1,000 baby walkers. The walkers can fit through a standard doorway and are not designed to stop at the edge of a step. Babies using these walkers can be seriously injured or killed.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bike Pro, Inc., of Pico Rivera, Calif. is recalling about 50,000 baby walkers. The walkers can fit through a standard doorway and are not designed to stop at the edge of a step. Babies using these walkers can be seriously injured or killed.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), SunTome Trading Corp., of Los Angeles, Calif. is recalling about 600 baby walkers. The walkers can fit through a standard doorway and are not designed to stop at the edge of a step. Babies using these walkers can be seriously injured or killed.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Weil-McLain Company, of Michigan City, Ind. is recalling 1,131 GV Series Boilers. The blower assembly is not properly sealed. Gas can leak during operation and accumulate. If an ignition source is present, a fire or explosion could occur.