[Recalls Page]

January 2011 Recalls and Product Safety News

A review provided to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health finds that there is no evidence linking exposure to problem drywall and 11 reported deaths. The CDC review confirms the results of previous reviews conducted by CPSC into these deaths, which also found no link to problem drywall.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Sassy Inc., of Kentwood, Mich., is voluntarily recalling about 37,000 Refreshing Rings infant teethers/rattles. Small pieces of the plastic ball can detach as a result of children chewing on the teether/rattle, posing an ingestion hazard.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Raynor Marketing Ltd., of West Hempstead, N.Y., has agreed to a civil penalty of $390,000. The penalty agreement has been accepted provisionally by the Commission.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, KEE Action Sports LLC, of Sewell, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 1,400 BT SA-17 Paintball Gun/Markers. When users attempt to pierce the CO2 cartridge by closing the lever to the cartridge chamber, the cartridge can fly out of the marker, posing an injury hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, The Land of Nod, of Northbrook, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 300 Rosebud drop-side cribs. The drop-side rail hardware on the cribs can break or fail, allowing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop side detaches, a hazardous gap is created between the drop-side rail and the crib mattress in which infants and toddlers can become wedged or entrapped, posing risks of suffocation and strangulation. In addition, children can fall out of the crib when the drop-side rail falls unexpectedly or detaches from the crib. Drop-side rail failures can also occur due to incorrect assembly or with age-related wear and tear.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Steelcase Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich., is voluntarily recalling about 165,000 Cachet swivel chairs. The front seat support part of the chair can crack and fail, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Hong Kong and Australia to improve product safety.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Kang Sheng Group, of Lexington, N.C., is voluntarily recalling about 1,440 Butterfly Push Toys. The plastic balls on the butterfly's wings can break, causing small metal balls inside to come free. These metal balls pose choking and aspiration hazards to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Family Dollar Stores Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., is voluntarily recalling about 67,000 remote-controlled toy tanks. The tank's controller can overheat and melt, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, phil&teds USA Inc., of Fort Collins, CO, is voluntarily recalling about 22,000 (in the United States) and 7,200 (in Canada) Jogging Strollers. When folding and unfolding the stroller, a consumer's finger can become caught in the hinge mechanism, posing amputation and laceration hazards.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Dillon Davis, of South San Francisco, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 38,000 Frontgate Closet Ladders. The ladders can unexpectedly break, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Husqvarna Professional Products Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., is voluntarily recalling about 600 Poulan Pro Generators. The carburetor can fail allowing gasoline to leak, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, IKEA Home Furnishings, of Conshohocken, Pa., is voluntarily recalling RUND about 13,000 clear glass mugs (an additional 115,000 were sold outside the U.S., including 3,000 in Canada). The inner walls of the double-walled glasses can break during use, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, The Metal Ware Corporation, of Two Rivers, Wisc., is voluntarily recalling about 4,800 NESCO American Harvest Gardenmaster food dehydrators. A defective capacitor in the electronic control module can overheat, posing a smoke and fire hazard.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) are urging consumers to play it safe as winter weather blankets the United States.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Aux Sable Liquid Products, of Morris, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 700 rail cars of propane (LP) gas sold in portable cylinders and delivered to storage tanks. Some of this propane does not have sufficient levels of the odorant that is added to propane to help alert consumers to a gas leak. Failure to detect leaking gas can present fire, explosion and thermal burn hazards to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Vacless Systems Inc., of Sylmar, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1,600 Pool Safety Vacuum Release Systems. Improper plastic material found inside the recalled product has been attributed to vacuum release failures which create an entrapment hazard to swimmers and bathers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Eco-Story, of Portland, Maine, is voluntarily recalling about 42,000 LED Lamps. When used without a Class II transformer, the lamp can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Arctic Cat Inc., of Thief River Falls, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 16,500 snowmobiles. The front lower suspension arm can crack during use which could lead to loss of control, posing a risk of severe injury or death.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has voted unanimously to lift the stay of enforcement on certification for compliance with the flammability standards for non-children's products in the following categories: vinyl plastic film, clothing textiles, carpets and rugs

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Xantrex Technology Inc. - a subsidiary of Schneider Electric, of Livermore, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 25,000 Xantrex Grid Tie Solar Inverters. A component of the inverter can degrade, causing out gassing within the wiring compartment of the inverter. When arcing occurs, gasses could build and force the compartment cover to be blown off. If the cover is blown off with sufficient force it can injure the user or person, or cause damage to property in close proximity to the inverter.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Alpha Industries, of Chantilly, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 900 Children's Hooded Sweatshirts. The hooded sweatshirts have drawstrings through the hoods which can pose a strangulation or entrapment hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Prairie Mountain Inc., of Lockwood, Missouri, is voluntarily recalling about 6,200 Youth hooded wind/rain jackets. The jackets have a drawstring through the hood which poses a strangulation hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, White-Rodgers, of St. Louis, Mo., is voluntarily recalling about 180,000 (in the United States) and 8,300 (in Canada) programmable thermostats. The programmable thermostats constantly charge the backup AA batteries used to power the thermostat's clock. This can cause the batteries to leak, resulting in a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Marker Völkl USA, of Lebanon, N.H. and Kästle GmbH, of Austria, is voluntarily recalling about 5,400 Men's Sherpa Shirts. Steel springs in the heel pieces of the bindings could break, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Discovery Toys LLC, of Livermore, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 2,900 (in the United States) and 700 (in Canada) Toddler Talk Toy Mobile Phones. The clear plastic antenna can break off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Calisson Inc., of Dana Point, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 7,000 Cool-it Soothers by Vulli. If the teething ring is punctured, bacteria and mold can grow inside the teether's untreated liquid. This poses an ingestion hazard to infants and can lead to diarrhea and vomiting.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Kid O Products, LLC of Perth Amboy, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 1,500 Baby rattles. The baby rattle’s beads can come off when the rattle is twisted or pulled forcefully, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Ariens Company, of Brillion, Wisc., is voluntarily recalling about 1,040 SnoThro 30LE Deluxe Snow Throwers. Users trying to clear the collector or discharge chute while the machine is operating could be at risk of a finger or hand injury hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Mejoong Corp. dba Hot Kids, is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 Children's hooded sweatshirts and jackets. The children's hooded sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood and/or waist that can pose a strangulation or entrapment hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Foria International Inc., of City of Industry, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 20,800 men's Sherpa shirts. The shirts fail to meet the federal flammability standard for wearing apparel and pose a risk of burn injury.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. Inc., dba Pajamagram, of Shelburne, Vt., is voluntarily recalling about 800 Hoodie Footie™ Infant and Toddler Footed Pajamas. The metal snaps that attach the hood to pajamas can come off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, GEA Products L.P., of Louisville, Ky., and CEM Global LLC (Professional Series) of China, are voluntarily recalling about 198,000 GE and Professional Series Brand Dehumidifiers. A component in the dehumidifier's compressor can short circuit, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Jean Bourget Inc., of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 16 children's hooded cardigans with drawstrings. The cardigans have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Christmas Tree Shops Inc., of Union, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 430 oven rack guards. The product cannot withstand the high temperatures stated on the packaging and can overheat posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, ITT Water Technology, Inc., of Seneca Falls, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 21,000 sump pumps and effluent pumps. Sump pumps installed without ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection can pose an electric shock or electrocution hazard if touched by the consumer.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Quoizel Inc. of Goose Creek, S.C., is voluntarily recalling about 150 outdoor hanging lanterns. The glass lantern can separate from the top support ring and fall, injuring people who are nearby.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. of Salt Lake City, Utah, is voluntarily recalling about 3,500 Avalung backpacks. The air intake tubing can crack under cold temperatures, causing the unit not to function as intended, posing a suffocation hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Salsa Cycles, a subsidiary of Quality Bicycle Products, of Bloomington, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 6,500 Salsa Handlebar Stems. The handlebar stems can crack or break, posing a fall hazard to the rider.