Intermatic recalls digital timers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on February 5 a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Intermatic DT17 Heavy Duty Digital Timers

Units: About 200,000

Importer: Intermatic Inc., of Spring Grove, Ill.

Manufacturer: Computime Ltd., of China

Hazard: The recalled timers can have a faulty ground connection, posing a shock hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled Intermatic DT17 heavy-duty digital timers are lamp and appliance timers. They were packaged as the “DT17C Heavy Duty Digital Timer” and the “DT17C8 Heavy Duty Digital Timer.” The timer is white-colored and measures 3 3/8” tall x 2 5/8” wide x 1 5/8” deep. Only products with date codes of “40Z” through “52Z” or date codes ending in “A,” “B” or “C” are included in the recall. The brand name “Intermatic” is molded on the front of the timer, and the model number (“DT17”) and date code are printed on the back of the timer.

Sold at: Retailers and electrical distributors nationwide from September 2005 through December 2008 for between $15 and $25.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should unplug the timer immediately and contact Intermatic to obtain a free replacement including shipping.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Intermatic at (800) 704-3585 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.intermatic.com

The Land of Nod Recalls to Repair Cottage Bunk Beds Due to Fall Hazard

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the Land of Nod in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Cottage Bunk Beds

Units: About 750

Importer: The Land of Nod, of Northbrook, Ill.

Hazard: When screws are missing from the upper bunk’s guardrails, the vertical slats on the guardrails can detach and pose the risk of children falling when getting in or out of the upper bunk.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm received two reports of vertical slats detaching from the upper bunk guardrails. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The Cottage Bunk Beds can be configured as bunk beds or as twin beds. The assembled bunk bed dimensions are 81.5 inches (length) by 43.5 inches (width) by 74.5 inches (height). The beds were sold in both white (model #s 236-519 and 188-174) and pine/honey finishes (model #s 459-410 and 172-596) and included a long and a short upper bunk guardrail, each of which should be secured to the inside of the upper bunk bed’s side rail with screws. Stickers bearing the model numbers are located on the inside of the lower bunk headboard.

Sold by: The Land of Nod catalog, Web site www.landofnod.com and at The Land of Nod stores in Illinois and Washington state from January 2006 through January 2009 for about $1,100.

Manufactured in: Brazil

Remedy: Consumers should check that all screws that attach the guardrails to the upper bunk have been installed. If the screws have not been installed, stop using the beds as a bunk bed immediately and contact The Land of Nod to receive new screws free of charge. All known purchasers have been notified of the recall.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact The Land of Nod at (800) 933-9904, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

Playland International Recalls Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on February 4 a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Arch Swing Sets

Units: About 700

Manufacturer: Playland International, Carrollton, Ga.

Hazard: The metal around the weld at the top of the swing frame can fail, causing the top bar to fall, posing a fall and impact hazard to the user or by-standers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm received one report of a child who suffered a head injury as a result of being struck by the top of the bar on the swing.

Description: The recalled includes swings sets with a 3.5 inch arch swing frame and a 3.5 inch top metal bar. The recalled swing sets come in red, orange, yellow, blue, tan, white, black , brown, teal, green, fuchsia, burgundy and purple.

Sold by: Playland International dealers nationwide from September 2001 through May 2006 for between $800 and $2300.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled swing sets and contact Playland for instruction on receiving and installing a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Playland International at (800) 356-4727 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.playland-inc.com, or e-mail the firm at swingrecall@playland-inc.com

Safety 1st Stair Gates recalled due to fall hazard

On February 4, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gates

Units: 100,000

Importer: Dorel Juvenile Group USA, of Columbus, Ind.

Hazard: The hinges that hold the stair gate in place can break, posing a fall hazard to children if the gate is placed at the top of the stairs.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall involves the Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gate with model number 42111, which is printed on a sticker under the handle panel. The gates, which were manufactured before December 31, 2007, are white metal with a gray handle and a motion sensor nightlight that illuminates on approach. The manufacture date is located below the gate’s handle as a date wheel imprinted in the plastic; an arrow indicates the month, and the year is stamped inside the circle. The manufacture date is also printed on a sticker inside the battery door.

Sold at: Mass merchandise and juvenile product stores nationwide, including Babies R Us and Wal-Mart, from January 2005 through December 2007 for about $60.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled gate and contact the company to obtain a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: Consumers can call the toll-free number 1 (866) 690-2540 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m EDT; complete an online order form on the Dorel Juvenile Group Web site at www.djgusa.com/safety_notice/ to obtain their free repair kit; email the company at Smartlightgate@djgusa.com, or send a fax to (800) 207-8182. Consumers should not return product to retail stores.

Mavic USA recalls bicycles

On February 4, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Bicycles with R-SYS Front Wheel Rims

Units: About 12,000

Importer: Mavic USA, of Haverhill, Mass.

Manufacturer: Salomon SAS, of France

Hazard: The spokes on the bicycle’s front wheel rim can break during use, posing a fall and crash hazard to riders.

Incidents/Injuries: Mavic USA has received one report of an injury involving broken teeth.

Description: This recall includes R-SYS and R-SYS Premium front wheel rims. They were sold as original equipment on various bicycle brands and were also sold separately. R-SYS wheel rims are designed for road bikes. “R-SYS” is printed on the front rim of the wheels. The rims are 22mm in diameter, with 16 tubular, unidirectional carbon spokes.

Sold at: Specialty bicycle retailers from May 2007 through December 2008 for between $700 and $750 for the front wheel of the two-wheel set when sold separately from the bicycle.

Manufactured in: France

Remedy: Consumers should stop using bicycles with the recalled front wheel rims and contact their bicycle retailer for a free replacement front rim.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Mavic USA at (800) 664-9228 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.mavic.com

Lasko Products will pay $500,000 penalty for fialing to report defective fans

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on January 2, 2009 that Lasko Products Inc., of West Chester, Pa., has agreed to pay a $500,000 civil penalty. The penalty (see PDF file here), which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, settles allegations that the company failed to immediately report incidents about its defective portable fans.

These box and floor fans were sold between 2000 and 2004. In February 2006, CPSC and Lasko announced the recall of about 5.6 million fans.

CPSC alleged that Lasko failed to report to the government in a timely manner that fans sold by the firm could overheat, smoke, or catch fire, and pose fire and burn hazards to consumers.

Between November 2002 and September 2005, Lasko received about 42 reports of fans overheating, smoking, melting, or catching fire, which resulted in nine personal injuries and property damage. Lasko did not fully report the incidents to CPSC until September 2005.

Consumers who have the recalled fans can still receive a free fan cord adaptor, designed to shut off the fan motor if overheating occurs. Contact Lasko at (800) 984-3311, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.laskoproducts.com/recall/recall_fans.html

Federal law requires firms to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard, creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates any consumer product safety rule, or any other rule, regulation, standard, or ban enforced by CPSC.

In agreeing to settle the matter, Lasko denies that it knowingly violated the law.

Shindaiwa recalls backpack blowers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Shindaiwa Backpack Blowers Units: About 23,000

Importer: Shindaiwa Corp., of Tualatin, Ore

Manufacturer: Shindaiwa Kogyo Co. Ltd, of Hiroshima, Japan

Hazard: The blower’s impeller (fan) can separate from the base and break apart, causing plastic pieces to be blown out of the machine, and pose a laceration and impact hazard to consumers. The flying pieces also can cause property damage and injury to bystanders. Note: These backpack blowers were previously recalled due to a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Shindaiwa is aware of 13 incidents involving broken impellers. One incident involved a minor head injury and minor property damage to a nearby automobile.

Description: This recall involves Shindaiwa Models EB8510 and EB8510RT. All models up to serial # 7014728 are included. The backpack blowers weigh approximately 24 pounds and include Serial Numbers through February 2007 production (S/N 702XXXX) which are located on the side label. These machines are black and blue with a red and black label that reads, “EB8510, Shindaiwa.”

Sold by: Shindaiwa dealers nationwide from September 2005 through January 2007 for about $600.

Manufactured in: Japan

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the backpack blowers immediately and contact Shindaiwa for the closest dealer location to schedule a free inspection and impeller replacement. Consumers who have registered their equipment should have already received correspondence from Shindaiwa about this recall.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Shindaiwa at (800) 521-7733 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.shindaiwa.com

Aqua Dots in the news again; lawsuit alleges injury

Every parent's nightmare, in Texas:

A month after the public recall of Aqua Dots toy craft kits, Eddie and Summer Gerrald's 1- year- old ingested the product and required emergency medical treatment for vomiting and experiencing states of unconsciousness. The parents state that since ingestion, the toddler continues to suffer from sleeplessness, fevers and vomiting.

The Houston residents filed suit against the toy's distributors Spin Master Inc. and Target Corporation on April 4 in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas.

Aqua Dots is a craft toy kit that contains small, colored liquid-filled beads that when sprayed with water become adhesive and fuse together in a plastic tray. In November 2007 and in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Spin Master recalled 4.2 million Aqua Dots sets.

The toys, manufactured in China, were supposed to be made with a nontoxic compound found in glue, but instead the Aqua Dots beads were coated with an industrial solvent, 1, 4 butanediol. If the solvent is ingested, the body converts it into GHB, also know as the "date rape" drug.

More here.

Hazardous Levels of Selenium in dietary supplements

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on April 9 that it has found hazardous levels of selenium in samples of certain flavors of the dietary supplement products "Total Body Formula" and "Total Body Mega Formula." The FDA has received 43 reports of persons from nine states who experienced serious adverse reactions using these products.

On March 27, the FDA warned consumers not to purchase or use "Total Body Formula" in flavors Tropical Orange and Peach Nectar and "Total Body Mega Formula" in the Orange/Tangerine flavor of these products after receiving reports of adverse reactions in users in Florida and Tennessee. The adverse reactions generally occurred after five to 10 days of daily ingestion of the product, and included significant hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain, deformed fingernails, and fatigue.

Selenium, a naturally occurring mineral, is needed only in very small amounts for good health. Selenium can boost the immune system. Generally, normal consumption of food and water provides adequate selenium to support good health. Excessive intake of selenium is known to cause symptoms to include significant hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain, fatigue, loss of finger nails and blistering skin.

Presently, FDA has 43 reports of adverse reactions including cases from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Analyses of samples of the products by FDA laboratories have now found most of the samples contain extremely high levels of selenium--up to 40,800 micrograms per recommended serving, or more than 200 times the amount of selenium per serving (i.e., 200 micrograms) indicated on the labels of the products.

The FDA continues to investigate the matter to determine how excessive amounts of selenium were added to the products.

FDA is advising consumers to stop using "Total Body Formula" in flavors Tropical Orange and Peach Nectar and "Total Body Mega Formula" in the Orange/Tangerine flavor and discard them by placing them in a trash receptacle outside of the home. "Total Body Formula" products are sold in eight-ounce and 32-ounce plastic bottles. "Total Body Mega Formula" is sold in 32-ounce plastic bottles. Both product lines are distributed by Total Body Essential Nutrition of Atlanta, which is listed on the products' labels.

Consumers who have been taking the products and have experienced adverse reactions should consult their health care professional. Consumers and health care professionals are encouraged to report adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program at 800-FDA-1088 or online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/how.htm.

The sole distributor of the "Total Body Formula" and "Total Body Mega Formula" products has voluntarily recalled the affected products. According to the company, the products were distributed nationwide.

Cracker Barrel issues allergy alert

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. is recalling 5-ounce bags of chocolate-covered almonds and 5-ounce bags of chocolate double-dipped peanuts because the packaging is labeled incorrectly. The product labeled as containing chocolate-covered almonds may contain chocolate double-dipped peanuts and the product labeled as containing chocolate double-dipped peanuts may contain chocolate covered almonds. People who have an allergy or a severe sensitivity to peanuts or almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Products were available at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations in 41 states. Products were packaged in a clear 5-ounce polybag with a red and white diamond pattern on the label.

No illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported to date. No other candies or packaged food items are a part of this recall, and there is no health risk for consumers who are not allergic to peanuts or almonds.

The recall was initiated after the issue was reported by Cracker Barrel store management upon receipt of the product. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the supplier’s labeling and packaging processes. This labeling error was limited in scope and no other food products were involved.

Consumers who purchased these products are urged to return them to any Cracker Barrel location for a full refund. Consumers with questions about the recall should call Cracker Barrel at 800-333-9566.

Source: FDA