Commercial Freezers Used in Grocery Stores Recalled By Unilever Due to Fire Hazard
The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Retail establishments should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Product Involved: Fricon Upright Freezers
Units: About 960
Importer: Unilever, dba Good Humor Breyers United States, of Trumbull, Conn.
Manufacturer: Frigocon – Indústria de Frio e Congelaçăo S.A., of Portugal
Hazard: The controller of the freezer is incompatible with the unit and can overheat and melt the relay, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Unilever has received four reports of fires, resulting in damage to the unit and/or displayed product. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves the Fricon commercial one-door upright freezers with model number VCV1V. These freezers are typically used in grocery stores and other commercial settings. The model number is found either on a label located in the upper, right corner on the back of the unit or on a label located inside the unit on the lower left side.
Leased for: Unilever distributors nationwide from May 2007 through March 2009 for about $105/year per unit.
Manufactured in: Portugal
Remedy: Retailers and distributors should immediately disconnect the freezers and remove them from service. The company has notified all retailers and distributors in possession of the freezers directly and will replace the controller of the freezer free of charge.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Unilever at (800) 800-7900, x3828 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to 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 30 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 @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.