[Recalls Page]

May 2010 Recalls and Product Safety News

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) riders to take precautions to stay safe this holiday weekend and riding season. For the 4-day period surrounding the 2009 Memorial Day holiday, CPSC is aware of 27 fatalities, with two under the age of 16, averaging almost seven deaths a day.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Maxfield and Oberton LLC, of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 175,000 Buckyballs® High Powered Magnets Sets. The high powered magnets sets were labeled "Ages 13+" and do not meet the mandatory toy standard F963-08 (effective August 17, 2009) which requires that such powerful magnets are not sold for children under 14. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Lollytogs Ltd., of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 23,000 Rim Rocka Boys' Hooded Jackets and Pelle Pelle Girls' Hooded Jackets. The jackets have a drawstring through the hood and the vests have a drawstring through the waist which can pose strangulation and entanglement hazards to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Cost Plus Inc., of Oakland, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 14,000 Moroccan tea glasses. The Moroccan tea glasses contain excessive levels of lead in the exterior coloring. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Hoover Inc., of Glenwillow, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 108,000 Hoover® WindTunnel T-Series™ Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaners with Cord Rewind Feature. The power cord is not properly routed or securely seated in the cord rewind assembly allowing the power cord to be pulled loose. This poses fire and shock hazards.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted (5-0) to issue a final mandatory rule under section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) for infant walkers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, S. Rothschild & Company Inc., of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 13,500 girls' coats. Drawstrings on the detachable cape can pose a strangulation hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Colleen Karis Designs LLC, of Los Angeles, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 380 All-Star Basketball Chair and Ottoman Sets. Surface paints on the lettering on both sides of the basketball chair could contain excessive levels of lead which is a violation of the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Hind Fashions, of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 200 boys' Hooded Jackets. The jackets have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is releasing today the names of the drywall manufacturers whose drywall emitted high levels of hydrogen sulfide in testing conducted for the agency by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). There is a strong association between hydrogen sulfide and metal corrosion.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Cummins Power Generation, of Minneapolis, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 550 portable generators. Fuel can leak through the carburetor during normal usage, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corp., of Lake Forest, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 750 of the 830B and 830D Voltaire Swivel Chairs. The chair frame can separate from the seating section of the chair, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Pelican International, of Quebec, Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 250 utility sled tow hitches. The screw(s) in the hitch can become loose and fall off due to vibrations when items are being towed, allowing the sled and hitch to detach from the towing vehicle. This poses an injury hazard to the user and bystanders.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today kicks-off the Pool Safely campaign (www.poolsafely.gov), a first-of-its-kind national public education effort to reduce child drownings and non-fatal submersions, and entrapments in swimming pools and spas. At a press conference at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex today, Olympic swimmers Jason Lezak and Janet Evans joined Inez Tenenbaum, Chairman of the CPSC; U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL); and Nancy Baker, mother of Virginia Graeme Baker, to officially launch Pool Safely and release the CPSC's annual submersion and entrapment reports.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Hewlett-Packard Co., of Palo Alto, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 54,000 (70,000 units were previously recalled in May 2009) Lithium-Ion batteries used in Hewlett-Packard and Compaq notebook computers. The recalled lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Chocolate Soup, of Raytown, Mo., is voluntarily recalling about 70 Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings. The sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood that can pose a strangulation hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Target Corp., of Minneapolis, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 350,000 Woven Storage Trunks. The lid of the trunk can drop suddenly when released, posing a strangulation hazard to small children opening or reaching into the trunks.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Walmart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark., is voluntarily recalling about 900,000 General Electric®-branded 12-cup digital coffee makers. The coffee maker can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal safety standard for infant bath seats. The vote on the final rule was 5-0.The federal standard for infant bath seats is the first mandatory standard issued by CPSC as required under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) for a range of infant and toddler durable products.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Primal Vantage Co., Inc., of Randolph, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 17,800 Ameristep Plastic Strap-On Tree Steps. The plastic portion of the step can break, posing a fall hazard to the user.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Rashti & Rashti, of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 44,000 Giraffe Security Blankets. The balls on top of the giraffe's horns can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, MOA Entertainment Co. LLC, of Bloomington, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 1200 (11 sold) Sandy the Squirrel Plush Toys. Young children can remove and ingest the squirrel's nose, which poses a choking hazard.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with Family Dollar Stores Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., is announcing the voluntary recall of 1.8 million toy dart gun sets, due to an aspiration hazard. CPSC and Family Dollar have received reports of two asphyxiation deaths involving a 9-year-old boy in Chicago, Ill. and a 10-year-old boy in Milwaukee, Wis.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. Inc., of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling Tommy Hilfiger Sweatshirts, about 400 in the U.S., and 1,300 in Canada. The sweatshirts fail to meet federal flammability standards for wearing apparel, posing a risk of burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Junk Food Clothing Co., of Los Angeles, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 24,000 Children's hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings. The hooded sweatshirts have a drawstring at the neck which can pose a strangulation hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, The Children's Place Services Company LLC, of Secaucus, NJ, is voluntarily recalling about 29,000 Denim Cargo Shorts. The denim shorts' metal snaps could detach from the shorts, posing a choking hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Niner Bikes of North Hollywood, California, is voluntarily recalling about 750 Bicycle frame. A welding deficiency can cause the bicycle frames to crack along the welds of the front triangle of the bicycle. This can cause the rider to lose control and crash.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Rome Snowboards Co., of Waterbury, Vt., is voluntarily recalling about 2,900 (in the United States) and 220 (in Canada) Snowboard Boot Bindings. The snowboard binding’s base plate can break at cold temperatures, posing a fall hazard to snowboarders.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Step2 Company, of Streetsboro, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 2.5 million Push Around and Whisper Ride Buggies. A pin attaching to the yellow knob on the handle of the buggy can loosen, causing the handle to detach from the buggy. This poses a serious risk of injury to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Imagine Nation Books Ltd./Books Are Fun, of Boulder, Colo., is voluntarily recalling 46,000 “Fly Dragonfly” (also called “Queen Bee”) Remote-Controlled Helicopters. The rechargeable battery inside the helicopters can overheat, igniting the helicopter and posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Claire's Boutiques Inc., of Hoffman Estates, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 19,000 "Best Friends" Charm Bracelet Sets. The heart lock charms attached to the bracelets contain high levels of cadmium. Cadmium is toxic if ingested by children and can cause adverse health effects.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act's (P&SSAct) State Grant program is now accepting applications for funding from eligible states. The P&SSAct intends to enhance the safety of pools and spas by reducing child drownings and suction entrapment incidents and educating the public on the importance of safety devices and constant supervision of children in and around water. CPSC is the lead agency in implementing and enforcing the Act, which was signed into law in December 2007.

As part of its commitment to ensure safe sleep for young children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is once again warning parents and caregivers about deadly hazards with drop-side cribs. In the last five years, CPSC has announced 11 recalls involving more than 7 million drop-side cribs due to suffocation and strangulation hazards created by the drop side.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, MIM-PI USA LLC, of Orlando, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 80 Girls’ hooded sleeveless vests. The garments have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Conair Corp., East Windsor, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 291,000 Compact hair dryers. The spinning fan within the hair dryer can break apart, striking the hair dryer’s plastic shell. This causes the plastic to shatter, creating a laceration hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, C&T International/Sorelle, of East Rutherford, New Jersey, is voluntarily recalling about 170,000 Drop-Side Cribs. The cribs’ drop-side hardware can disengage from the tracks, causing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop-side partially detaches, it creates space between the drop side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space, which can lead to strangulation and/or suffocation. Complete detachment of the drop sides can lead to falls from the crib. In addition, slats can detach from the sides of the cribs. Infants and toddlers can then become entrapped, strangle or fall out of the crib.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Nirve Sports Ltd., of Huntington Beach, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 725 Chopper-style bicycles. The bicycle stem on the handlebars can crack and cause the rider to lose control, posing a risk of serious fall and injury.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Roberta Roller Rabbit by Roberta Freymann, of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 9,200 Roberta Roller Rabbit Children’s Kimono Robe, Lounge Sets and Slumber Short Sets. The recalled sleepwear fails to meet the federal children’s sleepwear flammability standard, posing a burn hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Specialized Bicycle Components Inc., of Morgan Hill, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1,350 2010 26” Epic and 26” Era Bicycles. The shock absorber mount can break and the shock absorber can make contact with the wheel spokes, posing a fall hazard to the rider.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Klean Kanteen Inc., of Chico, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1.2 million (in the United States) and 102,000 (in Canada) Sport Cap 2.0 water bottle spouts. The firm has received six reports of incidents of the water bottle spouts breaking or cracking in children’s mouths as they were drinking from the bottles. No injuries have been reported.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Blair LLC, of Warren, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 5,600 Roman Shades. Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, JD Fine & Company, of Concord, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1,700 Children's Hooded Velour Sweatshirts with Drawstrings. The hooded sweatshirts have a drawstring at the neck which can pose a strangulation hazard to children.