Product safety

'Kids Safe Chemical Act' Would Ensure All Chemicals Used In Every Day Products, Including Those Used in Baby Bottles and Children's Toys, Are Proven Safe

May 20, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representatives Hilda L. Solis (D- CA) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced major legislation to protect Americans, especially children, from toxic chemicals in everyday consumer products.

Baby with bottle: Photo by Frank Tellez (CC)    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue a rule closing a loophole in current law that can result in animals that are too sick to stand entering the food supply.

Cattle at sunset: Photo by Brad Smith (CC)    » read more »

Strengthens Consumer Notifications; Requires Warning Labels for Toys Containing Lead, Magnets and Liquids

May 13, 2008 -- New York Governor Paterson today announced the submission of legislation to keep dangerous toys and other products out of children’s hands.

Galison/Mudpuppy Wire Bound Journals and Calendars Recalled Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

The “Children’s Product Safety and Recall Effectiveness Act of 2008” will protect New York children from unsafe toys and durable juvenile products (such as cribs, car seats, high chairs, playpens or other similar items) that may be available to consumers even after they have been recalled.    » read more »

April 24, 2008 --WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

CPSC Recall Alert: Waxcessories Recalls Electric Simmer Pots

Name of Product: Electric Simmer Pots

Units: About 830,000

Importer: Waxcessories® Inc., of Dracut, Mass.

Hazard: The simmer pots have wire connections that can become loose, posing a risk of fire and electric shock to consumers.    » read more »

Tainted Heparin Linked To 81 Deaths; Blood Thinner Originating From China Contained Deadly Contaminant

April 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC--U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) announced Tuesday he will introduce legislation this week establishing a modern track-and-trace system for all prescription drugs sold in the United States, a move he said would cut down on the contamination of popular patient medicines like the embattled blood thinner, heparin.

Heparin syringe: Photo by flaviab (CC)    » read more »

April 18 , 2008 -- Chicago – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced her office alerted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to dangerous lead levels detected in hip-charm keychains manufactured exclusively for Wal-Mart stores. As a result, the CPSC and Wal-Mart issued a recall this morning, and the company has removed the product from store shelves.

Attorney General Madigan urged parents to take away the “No Boundaries Hip Charm” keychain from their children immediately. Consumers can call 1-800-WAL-MART for additional information, including instructions on how to obtain a refund.    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Push Toys Recalled by Santa’s Toy Corp. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Western Rider Push Toys

Units: About 9,000

Importer: Santa’s Toy Corp., of Los Angeles, Calif.

Hazard: Surface paint on the glove, shirt, and pants of rider toy contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

Minnesota has identified one possible case; other states have more cases

April 11, 2008 -- State health and agriculture officials are investigating whether there are any cases of illness in Minnesota that may be linked to recalled cereal from the Malt-O-Meal company after at least 21 cases of Salmonella agona have been identified in at least 13 states.

Salmonella bacteria

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has identified one case of Salmonella agona in the state that matches the genetic fingerprint of the other states’ cases and the strain of Salmonella found in the cereal that was recalled April 5.    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Michaels Stores Recalls Seasonal Writing Pens Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Flower Writers; Christmas Writers; Easter Writers; and Spooky Writers Seasonal Writing Pens

Units: About 310,000

Distributor: Michaels Stores Inc., of Irving, Texas

Hazard: The seasonal writing pens' surface coating contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

FUNTASTIC Recalls Fake Teeth Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Hillbilly Teeth

Units: About 26,000

Importer: FUNTASTIC, of Houston, Texas

Hazard: The gray surface paint on the teeth contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

OKK Trading Recalls Toy Robots Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Interchange Robot Toys

Units: About 2,000

Importer/Retailer: OKK Trading Inc., of Commerce, Calif.

Hazard: Surface paints on the toys contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

April 09, 2008 -- Following a federal recall of two dietary supplements, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) has issued a health advisory for consumers who may have ingested the products and could be at risk for illness.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday reported that two products of the Total Body Formula dietary supplement line have been recalled due to health concerns: Total Body Formula in the flavors of Tropical Orange and Peach Nectar and Total Body Mega Formula in Orange/Tangerine flavor.    » read more »

Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

April 8, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Magnetic Dart Boards Recalled By Henry Gordy Int’l

Name of Product: Fun ‘N Games Magnetic Dart Boards

Units: About 870,000

Importer: Henry Gordy International Inc., of Plainfield, N.J.    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Cuddly Cousins Plush Insect Toys

Plush Insect Toys Recalled by Dollar Tree Stores

Units: About 300,000

Retailer: Dollar Tree Stores Inc., of Chesapeake, Va.

Importer: Greenbrier International Inc., of Chesapeake, Va.

Hazard: The recalled plush insect toys contain small parts, posing a choking hazard to small children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

April 3, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Children’s ‘Main Street Drag’ Sunglasses Recalled by StyleMark Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Children’s Sunglasses

Units: About 144,000

Importer/Distributor: StyleMark Inc., of Ormond Beach, Fla.

Hazard: Surface paint in the orange lettering on the temples of the sunglasses contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »