| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| May 8, 1978 | |
| Release # 78-033 | |
WASHINGTON, DC (May 8) -- The Jack Eckerd Corporation of Clear-water, Florida, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced the voluntary recall of electric ceramic hot pots marketed under the names, "Wide Mouth Hot Pots" and "Brew Masters," The pots, intended for heating up to 5 cups of liquid such as water or soup, may pose a shock hazard to the user.
According to the CPSC staff, if the heating coil at the bottom of the pot is heated while not immersed in liquid, the coil will be damaged. If a user, while grounded, should subsequently stir the liquid in the pot using a metal article, the user could receive a severe electric shock.
These white ceramic hot pots are decorated with several different types and colors of decals. The box in which the unit is packaged is clearly marked with the Jack Eckerd Corporation name. On the bottom of each unit are imprinted the words, "'120V-350W JAPAN." They have been sold in Eckerd Drug Stores for $1.99-$3.49 in the following states: Florida, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Colorado, Alabama and Tennessee.
Consumers who have purchased their Brew Masters or Wide Mouth Hot Pots at Eckerd Drug Stores are asked to return them to an Eckerd Drug Store (and, if available, a copy of the sales receipt, the box in which the unit was packaged or other documentation of purchase) for a full refund.
Eckerd's removed the electric hot pots from sale in March when it first learned from the CPSC of the potential hazard to users. The Commission is also investigating other importers of this product.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800