Product Recalls for September 2012

Federal Agencies

CPSC - Consumer Product Safety Commission

FDA – Food and Drug Administration

NHTSA – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Safe Kids is committed to keeping you informed about recalls of kids’ oriented products. While it is important to keep aware of all recalls, Safe Kids urges you to pay particular attention to ones in red, as they are associated with one or more deaths. (There are no new deaths in this report.) We also include important news about products and consumer concerns:

Make your views known about the CPSC’s rulemaking recalling rare earth magnet products; here’s how.
Dangers of single-dose detergent pods.
We are also going to highlight Halloween oriented products in orange. Learn more from Safe Kids’ Halloween tips.
Also note that there are a number of recalls relating to salmonella contamination—much from products involving nuts. Prominent ones are listed below but the entire list from the FDA can be found here. Learn more about the symptoms of salmonella poisoning below.

SEPTEMBER RECALLS

FDA 09/30/2012 - The FDA is investigating a multistate outbreak of salmonella infections possibly linked to Trader Joe's Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter.

FDA 09/28/2012 - Justin’s is voluntary recalling its Classic Peanut Butter and Honey Peanut Butter single-serve squeeze packs because of possible salmonella contamination.

FDA 09/28/2012 - Oregon Ice Cream Company is voluntarily recalling Alden's Peanut Butter'n Chip and Cascade Glacier Chocolate Peanut Butter because of possible salmonella contamination.

FDA 09/28/2012 - Grand BK is voluntarily recalling 7 oz units of Black & Mix Crisp and Crisp Mix because it may contain peanuts.

FDA 09/28/2012 - Sunland Inc. is voluntarily expanding a recall to include its Cashew Butter, Tahini and Roasted Blanched Peanut Products because of a possible salmonella contamination.

FDA 09/28/2012 - Jers Chocolates is voluntarily recalling its Gourmet Peanut Butter Bars and Gourmet Jer’s Squares because of a possible salmonella contamination.

FDA 09/28/2012 - The Stop & Shop Supermarkets are voluntarily recalling mini peanut butter sandwich crackers due to possible salmonella contamination.

FDA 09/28/2012 - Whole Foods is voluntarily recalling two bulk bin items (Peanut Butter Power Chews and Treasure Trove Mix) due to potential salmonella contamination.

FDA 09/27/2012 - Harry and David, LLC is voluntarily recalling its Crunchy Almond and Peanut Butter,Creamy Banana Peanut Spread, and Creamy Raspberry Peanut Spread as well as the following multi-component food items which included the above-named peanut butter products: Apple Snack Box, Wolferman’s® Bee Sweet Gift Basket, Wolferman’s® Hearty Snack Gift Basket, Wolferman’s® All-Day Assortment Gift Basket, and Wolferman’s® Father’s Day basket.

CPSC 09/27/2012 - Dillon Importing is recalling the Captain Cutlass Toy Pirate Pistols because of excessive quantities of lead. (Note: Sold as a Halloween toy.)

CPSC 09/27/2012 - ADS is voluntarily recalling its Cyclone swing seats because the seats are breaking, posing a fall hazard.

CPSC 09/27/2012 - Atomic Aquatics is voluntarily recalling its Cobalt Dive Computer, a hand-held device. The lens of the computer can blow off suddenly, possibly causing impact injuries. It can also cause a gas leak and is a drowning hazard. Health Canada is also involved in this recall.

CPSC 09/26/2012 - Wilson & Fisher is voluntarily recalling its log-style garden swings because the wooden seats are breaking posing a fall hazard.

CPSC 09.20.2012 - Hayneedle is voluntarily recalling its Wooden Arc hammock stands because the layers of wood in the stand can separate and fall, causing the stand to break. This causes a fall hazard.

FDA 09/20/2012 - Watson Laboratories, Inc. is voluntarily recalling two lots of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and APAP Tablets. It is possible that some tablets from those lots exceed the weight specification and may contain higher than indicated amounts of the ingredients Hydrocodone Bitartrate and/or Acetaminophen.

CPSC 09/18/2012 - H & M is voluntarily recalling children’s water bottle due to choking hazard. The spout can break off causing the child to choke.

FDA 09/13/2012 - Berkey Creamery at Penn State is voluntarily recalling ice cream and frozen yogurt which may contain small plastic objects.

CPSC 09/12/2012 - Bluestem Brands is voluntarily recalling Ranger Rider Ride-on Toy Cars due to fire and burn hazards.

CPSC 09/06/2012 - Blind Xpress is voluntarily recalling 450,000 window blinds in cooperation with the CPSC, based on the 2009 strangulation death of a Michigan two-year-old. The child was reportedly strangled in the loop of a vertical blind cord.

CPSC 9/4/2012 - Meijer Stores is voluntarily recalling bicycles due to pedals detaching and causing a fall hazard. It involves various models of Huffy, Iron Horse, Mongoose, Northwoods, Pacific, Razor and Schwinn bicycles. (Please note the assembly error is not due to any actions or inactions of the manufacturers.)

Product News

Salmonella Poisoning Symptoms

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. More on salmonella from the Centers for Disease Control.

CPSC Action on Rare Earth Magnets

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a rulemaking notice on its recall of rare earth magnets “Buckyballs.” You are invited/encouraged to comment. Safe Kids supports the CPSC in its action. You can find the notice here and follow simple steps to provide your comment here. Safe Kids favors the CPSC’s actions.

Single-Dose Detergent Pods a Poisoning Hazard for Young Children

In the wake of five incidents in which children were seriously injured after swallowing detergent pods, a group of doctors is calling for improved safety warnings and childproof packaging for single-dose laundry and dishwasher detergents. "This is a significant public health issue," which requires a rethink, the doctors wrote in Archives of Disease in Childhood.