[Recalls Page]

March 2008 Recalls and Product Safety News

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kidz World Inc., d/b/a High Energy USA, of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 5,000 Boys’ Hooded Sweatshirts. The sweatshirts have a drawstring through hood which poses a strangulation hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tek Nek Toys Int’l L.P., of Southlake, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 122,000 Rock ‘N Ride Plush Rocker Toys. The base of the rocker can become unstable and allow the rocker to tip forward or backward, posing a fall hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Avon Products Inc., of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 113,000 Cozy Warming Polar Bears. The warming pouch inside the bear can overheat and ignite when heated in a microwave oven, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

As flood waters begin to recede and residents return home, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues a warning to those affected by the floods in the Midwest. When there’s a power outage, NEVER use portable generators inside the home, in an attached garage or in any other partially enclosed space. Generator exhaust contains high levels of colorless, odorless carbon monoxide (CO) which can kill in minutes.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Educational Insights, of Vernon Hills, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 130 Ring Toss Games. The paint on the yellow peg of the toy contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Downeast Concepts Inc., of Yarmouth, Maine, is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 Backyard and Beyond Metal Water Bottles. Surface paint on the metal water bottles contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Plan Toy Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 3,000 Toy Penguin Figures. The head of the penguin toy can detach, exposing connectors with sharp points, presenting a laceration hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S.A., of Cypress, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 7,800 Model Year 2008 Rhino YXR450 and YXR700 Side-by-Side Vehicles. The brake caliper on the left front wheel could have been made incorrectly, resulting in brake fluid leaking. This can cause a loss of braking and control of the vehicle, posing a serious safety risk to the driver and passenger.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., of Oklahoma City, Okla., is voluntarily recalling about 13,000 Camouflage Eggs and Spinning Egg Top Toys. The paint on the toys contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Merchant Media Corp., of Framingham, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 198,000 Toy Puzzle Vehicle Sets. Surface paints on the puzzle pieces and components contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Progress Lighting, of Greenville, S.C., is voluntarily recalling about 1,000 Progress Lighting Outdoor Ceiling Light Fixtures. A weld that affixes a mounting bracket to the ceiling pan can fail, which can cause the fixture to fall and injure nearby persons.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Salton Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 12,000 Electric Toasters. The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), WarmlyYours, of Long Grove, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 200 Comfortplus Under Area Rug Warmers. The rug warmer’s cord can come loose from the plug and cause sparks or flames, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Galison/Mudpuppy, of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 90,000 Wire-O Bound Journals and Calendars. The paint on the metal spiral bindings of the journals contains excessive levels of lead, which violated the federal lead paint standard.

At a Town Hall Meeting held at the Mall of America, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Acting Chairman Nancy Nord met with parents and consumers to listen to their concerns and talk about safety in the home. Acting Chairman Nord briefed consumers on CPSC’s plan to increase staff to pursue consumer product hazards more aggressively. CPSC will be adding staff across the country, creating a new early warning system, and educating foreign manufacturers about US safety regulations.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that a manufacturer of athletic shoes and apparel has agreed to pay the government a $1,000,000 civil penalty. This penalty, which has been provisionally accepted, is the largest for a Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) violation and follows a recall announced by CPSC and Reebok of 300,000 bracelets.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), MEGA Brands America Inc., of Livingston, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 1.1 million Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-school Magnetic Toys. Magnets in the small flexible parts of the animals, vehicles and building sets can detach. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), MEGA Brands America Inc., of Livingston, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 1.3 MagnaMan Magnetic Toy Figures. Small magnets inside the figures can detach. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Battat Inc., of Plattsburgh, N.Y. , is voluntarily recalling about 7,000 Battat Magnabild Magnetic Building Toys or Sets (125,000 other Battat Magnabild Building Systems were recalled on January 23, 2008). Small magnets inside the building pieces can fall out. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Battat Inc., of Plattsburgh, N.Y. , is voluntarily recalling about 22,000 Play Wonder Toy Sundae Sets. The wooden cherries on top of the toy sundae pose a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), S.U. Wholesale Inc., of Vernon, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 5,000 X Force Commander Toy Airplanes and Super Famous Toy Cars and Motorcycles. The recalled toys contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ensto Control Oy, of Finland, is voluntarily recalling about 19,000 Toggle Switches and Rotary Switches. When switched OFF, one electrical pole may remain energized, posing a risk of electrical shock hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Urgent Gear Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 700 Micros Boys’ Hooded Jackets. The garments have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose 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), JCPenney, of Plano, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 27,000 Cooks Deep Fryers. The deep fryer has a faulty heating element which can cause it to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ellaroo LLC, of McKinney, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 1,200 Ellaroo Ring Sling Baby Carrriers. The aluminum rings on the sling carriers can bend or break. This can cause the fabric to slip through the rings and infants to fall out of the carrier.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers free safety information to the public through its Neighborhood Safety Network (NSN), an initiative designed to assist local organizations in providing lifesaving information to underserved members of their community.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced an agreement with the Vietnamese government aimed at improving the safety of consumer products exported to the U.S. from Vietnam.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hamilton Beach Brands Inc., of Glen Allen, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 482,000 Hamilton Beach® and Proctor-Silex® Toasters. The toasters can remain “on” (energized) after popping up, and can ignite flammable items covering or in contact with the toaster, posing a fire hazard.

Smoke alarms are proven life savers. There are more than 300,000 residential fires every year, so when there is a fire, smoke alarms buy families valuable escape time. Unfortunately, about two-thirds of fire deaths take place in homes with no smoke alarms or with non-working smoke alarms. The most common reasons why alarms did not work were missing, disconnected, or dead batteries. Consumers need to make sure that they have a working smoke alarm. For better warning of fire, consumers should install smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms. Replace batteries annually, and test the smoke alarms monthly. A good time to remember to replace batteries is when turning clocks ahead for daylight saving time on Sunday, March 9.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Advance Stores Co., d.b.a. Advance Auto Parts, of Roanoke, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 64,000 Strike Force™ Portable Air Compressors. The compressor’s motor can overheat and ignite the protective cover, posing a fire hazard to consumers. Also, the cover might not prevent internal components from being touched, which poses an electrical shock hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Pier 1 Imports, of Fort Worth, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 Silver Square Tealight Candle Holders. The spacing of the holes in a concentrated pattern allows the holder to heat-up. This can cause the tealights to burn unexpectedly fast and with a higher flame height than normal, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), QVC Inc., of West Chester, Pa., and Tristar Products Inc., of Fairfield, N.J., are voluntarily recalling about 13,500 Electric Contact Grills. Cooking oils or sprays applied to the grill’s cooking plates before preheating can cause the oil to ignite and/or flare up. Cooking sprays can ignite and/or flare up if used on the grill at any time.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Infantino LLC, of San Diego, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 2,000 Infantino Lamb Grabby Rattles™. The tail-piece on the rattles can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Rebelette International Trading Corp., of South El Monte, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 4,800 Girls’ Hooded Sweatshirts. The sweatshirt jackets have a drawstring through the hood which poses a strangulation hazard to children.

Each year, hundreds of millions of toys, fireworks, cigarette lighters, clothes and other consumer products are imported into the United States. In an effort to address the increase of imports, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing new import strategies and a greater presence at the ports.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A., of Irvine, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 200 Kawasaki KLX140 Off-Road Motorcycles. One or more of the motorcycle’s frame welds could be missing or made incorrectly allowing the frame to crack or break, posing a risk of serious injury to riders.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), LDR Industries Inc., of Chicago, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 50,000 LDR 1200 Series Gas Connectors. The gas connectors can leak propane or natural gas, posing a fire and explosion hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Polaris Industries Inc., of Medina, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 11,300 Select "Outlaw IRS" ATVs, Model Year 2006-2008. A retention bolt can come loose causing the rear wheels to lock up, which poses a risk of serious injury to the rider.

The Acting Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced the hiring of Cheryl Falvey as the agency’s new career General Counsel effective March 3, 2008.