Members of the National School Safety Coalition

Subscribe to School Safety Alert Program

ConsumerReports.org

ClickCheckandProtect.org

May 25, 2012

ACURA / TL 2007-2008

Vehicle Make / Model:       Model Year(s):
ACURA / TL                       2007-2008

Manufacturer:
HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)

Component:
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, and Connections

Potential Number of Units Affected:
52,615

Summary:
Honda is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Acura TL vehicles. Prolonged under-hood and power steering fluid temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely, resulting in cracks and power steering fluid leakage.

Consequence:
If this occurs, power steering fluid can leak onto a hot catalytic converter, leading to smoke and possibly an under-hood fire.

Remedy:
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a new heat resistant power steering hose, free of charge. The Safety Recall is expected to begin on, or about, June 15, 2012. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009.

See the full article »

May 25, 2012

CHEVROLET / MALIBU 2013

Vehicle Make / Model:    Model Year(s):
CHEVROLET / MALIBU    2013

Manufacturer:
GENERAL MOTORS LLC

Component:
Electrical System:Software

Potential Number of Units Affected:
4,304

Summary:
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from October 24, 2011, through March 31, 2012. After an event of hard braking, the Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) may reset itself.

Consequence:
If this occurs during an aggressive turning maneuver, and then afterwards a potential vehicle rollover event is sensed, the roof rail airbag may unintentionally deploy. Additionally, the air bags and/or seatbelt pretensioners may not deploy during a severe crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy:
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on June 1, 2012.

See the full article »

May 24, 2012

North Carolina Firm Recalls Chicken Breast Product Due To Misbranding And An Undeclared Allergen

Mt. Airy Meat Center, a Mt. Airy, N.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 100 pounds of a frozen, raw chicken breast product because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The product contains wheat, a known allergen that is not declared on the label, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall are:

  • Individual vacuum-sealed packages of “MT. AIRY MEAT CENTER MESQUITE CHICKEN BREAST RAW READY TO COOK,” weighing approximately 1.5 pounds each.


The packages bear the establishment number “P-17690” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The product was sold to consumers at the company’s retail store.

The problem was discovered by FSIS during a routine label review. Mt. Airy Meat Center receives this product from a supplier and repackages it for individual retail sale, and the problem may have occurred due to a change in suppliers. FSIS and the company have not received reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers and reporters with questions about the recall should contact the company’s owner, Gray Gwyn, at (336) 786-2023.

See the full article »

May 24, 2012

Oregon Firm Recalls Smoked Bratwurst Product Due To Misbranding And Undeclared Allergen

Zenner’s Quality Meat Products, Inc., a Portland, Ore. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,660 pounds of a bratwurst product because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The product contains soy protein, a known allergen, not declared on the label.

The products subject to recall are: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

  • 2.25-lb. packages containing “Zenner’s Smoked Brotwurst” with a sell by date through 7/17/12


The products bear the establishment number "EST. 6080" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced between April 13, 2012, and May 21, 2012, and were distributed to hotels and one distributor in Las Vegas, Nev.

The problem was discovered during a routine food safety assessment and may have occurred as a The product bears the establishment number “EST. 6308” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced through May 16, 2012, and distributed to wholesale establishments in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

The problem was discovered during a routine label review by FSIS. FSIS and the company have not received any reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of the products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers and reporters seeking more information about this recall should contact either Mike Conchuratt or John Kenwisher of Zenner’s Quality Meat Products, Inc. at (503) 241-4113.

See the full article »

May 24, 2012

Honeyville Honey Farm Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Anchovy in Honeyville Honey Barbecue Sauce

Bbq
Honeyville Honey Farm of Durango, CO is voluntarily recalling bottles of Honeyville Honey Barbecue Suace manufactured after August 1, 2011 because they contain undeclared anchovies in the Worcestershire sauce used in production.  People who have allergies to anchovies run the risk of serious or life threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The recalled product is identified “Honeyville Honey Barbecue” with a net weight of 15 ounces and were distributed through retail internet sales and in retail stores from August 1st, 2011 to May 21st, 2012.  The products are identified with UPC 0-3880171212-9 and DO NOT have an add-on sticker reading CONTAINS ANCHOVIES.  The bottles are not identified with a lot code or expiration date. 

This product was distributed nationwide through wholesale and internet sales.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The recall was initiated after an onsite FDA inspection in May 2012 which revealed that anchovies were contained in the Worcestershire sauce used in production of these products and labeling did not reveal the presence of anchovies.

Consumers who have purchased Honeyville Honey Barbecue Sauce containing this UPC or have these products that do not have the CONTAINS ANCHOVIES sticker on them, are urged to return them to the place of purchase or discard them immediately.  Consumers with any questions should contact Honeyville at 800-676-7690 (9-5 MST) or info@honeyvillecolorado.com.

See the full article »

May 24, 2012

Kitchen Table and Chair Set Recalled by Stoneberry Due to Fall Hazard

Tableandchair
Name of Product:
Kitchen table sets

Units: About 200

Importer: Vantage Sales, Inc., of Lake Zurich, Ill.

Distributor: Mason Companies, Inc., of Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Hazard: The chairs can collapse during normal use, causing a fall hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves three-piece oak table and chair sets. The table is square-shaped with four straight, rectangular legs. The chairs have a white padded cushion seat and a slatted backrest. Both the table and the wooden parts of the chairs are a light pine color. The set has the style number 404285 however this number does not appear anywhere on the set.

Sold at: Through the Stoneberry catalog and website from January 2012 and March 2012 for about $160. Stoneberry is owned by Mason Companies.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact Stoneberry for instructions on returning the product for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Stoneberry at (800) 704-5480 between 6 a.m. and midnight CT Monday through Friday, or visit Stoneberry's website at http://www.stoneberry.com. Stoneberry is contacting its customers directly.

See the full article »

May 24, 2012

Select Brands Recalls Kitchen Selectives Blender Due to Laceration Hazard

Blender
Name of Product:
Kitchen Selectives® 6-Speed Blender

Units: About 4,069

Importer: Select Brands Inc., of Lenexa, Kan.

Manufacturer: Select Brands, of Lenexa, Kan.

Hazard: While in operation, the plastic pitcher can separate from the blade assembly, leaving the blade assembly in the base and exposing the rotating blades. This poses a laceration hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Select Brands has received no reports of incidents or injuries involving Kitchen Selectives® 6-speed blenders.

Description: The recalled products are Kitchen Selectives® 6-Speed Blenders, model BL-15. The model number is located on the bottom of the base. The blender consists of a six-inch tall, white electrical base with five, white speed-selector buttons labeled 1 through 5, one gray button labeled "Pulse/Off" and the logo "Kitchen Selectives®" in black letters on the front; a clear plastic pitcher with a handle with U.S. and metric volume measurement markings; a white plastic lid with a removable clear plastic lid stopper; and a white plastic blade assembly with two angled, stainless steel blades.

Sold at: Midwest retail stores Pamida and Sutherlands from June 2009 to April 2012 for about $20.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the blenders and return them to the retailer where purchased to receive a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Select Brands Customer Service at (866) 663-4500 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit Select Brands website at www.selectbrands.com

See the full article »

May 24, 2012

New CPSC Data Show Child Drownings In Pools and Spas Still A Leading Cause of Death

Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) kicked off the summer swimming season and the third year of the Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives campaign.

This year, Pool Safely's focus is on populations most at risk of drowning, including children younger than 5 years old who represent nearly 75 percent of child drowning fatalities and African American and Hispanic children between the ages of 5 and 14 who drown at higher rates than white children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Data from USA Swimming indicates that 70 percent of African American children and 62 percent of Hispanic children cannot swim, making them especially vulnerable populations.

"CPSC's Pool Safely campaign has worked to prevent countless drownings, and we will continue to work to save even more lives this year," said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Drowning is still the leading cause of unintentional deaths with children younger than 5. That's why the Pool Safely campaign is encouraging all parents and caregivers of children, especially African American and Hispanic children, to help them learn to swim and to take water safety seriously."

New statistics released by CPSC today include:

  • An annual average of 390 pool or spa-related drownings for children younger than 15 occurred from 2007 to 2009; about 75 percent (293) of the reported fatalities involved children younger than five.
  • An estimated annual average of 5,200 pool or spa-related emergency department-treated submersion injuries for children younger than 15, from 2009 to 2011; children younger than 5 represented 79 percent, or 4,108, of these injuries.
  • Children between the ages of 1 and 3 (12 months through 47 months) represented 66 percent of estimated injuries for 2009 through 2011 and 67 percent of the reported fatalities for 2007 through 2009 involving children younger than 15 years.
  • The majority of the estimated emergency department-treated submersion injuries for 2009 through 2011 and the reported fatalities for 2007 through 2009 were associated with pools.
  • Approximately 51 percent of the estimated injuries for 2009 through 2011 and 73 percent of the fatalities for 2007 through 2009 involving children younger than 15 years old occurred at a residence.
  • Residential locations dominated incidents involving victims younger than 5 years of age (54 percent for injuries and 85 percent for fatalities).
  • Approximately 58 percent of fatalities (annual average of 226) occurred in in-ground pools. Portable pools accounted for 10 percent of the reported fatalities (annual average of 40) to children younger than 15 years of age.
  • There were no reported entrapment fatalities for 2011. CPSC received seven reports of entrapment injury incidents during 2011.

Today, Chairman Tenenbaum shared simple steps to pool safely and data from CPSC's annual drowning/near-drowning and entrapment reports, at an event at the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Ft. Lauderdale. She was joined by Wanda Butts, a mother who lost her son to drowning in 2006 and formed The Josh Project to help other children learn how to swim; Kim Burgess from the National Drowning Prevention Alliance and the Broward County Health Department's Drowning Prevention Coordinator; and USA Swimming's "Make a Splash" official Kim O'Shea.

"After losing my son, I wanted to do something to help others, so other moms wouldn't have to suffer from the loss of a child drowning," Butts said. "Together, we can make a difference this summer and ensure that our kids pool safely."

"The National Drowning Prevention Alliance has been a partner of the Pool Safely campaign since its inception." Burgess said. "Education is the key to preventing tragic incidents at the pool this summer. We encourage everyone to Pool Safely this holiday weekend and in the months to come."

"The USA Swimming Foundation is proud to lend its research and resources to further the life-saving learn-to-swim message," O'Shea said. "We are incredibly proud to have enrolled more than 1.2 million children in swimming lessons through our Make a Splash initiative, to educate parents and communities across the nation about the importance of learning to swim."

Pool Safely, a national public education campaign, works with partners around the country to reduce child drownings, near-drownings submersions and entrapment incidents in swimming pools and spas. Parents, caregivers, and the media are encouraged to visit PoolSafely.gov or @PoolSafely on Twitter for vital safety information regarding the prevention of child submersions in and around pools and spas.

For the complete reports see: Pool and Spa Submersions 2012 (pdf) and Circulation/Suction Entrapments 2012 (pdf). The years for reported injury and fatality statistics differ due to a lag in fatality reporting.

The Pool Safely campaign is CPSC's public education and information program supporting the requirements of Section 1407 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act), federal legislation signed into law in 2007, mandating new requirements for pool and spa safety.

See the full article »

May 23, 2012

Harris Teeter is Recalling 5 Flavors of Sorbet Due to Possible Undeclared Milk Allergen

Sorbet
Sorbet1
Harris Teeter is recalling HT Traders Sorbet in the following flavors: Lemon, Raspberry, Mango, Coconut and Orange, due to possible undeclared milk protein.

This recall affects the below products:

Product

UPC #

HT Traders Sorbet Lemon

#72036 98196

HT Traders Sorbet Raspberry

#72036 98195

HT Traders Sorbet Mango

#72036 98194

HT Traders Sorbet Coconut

#72036 98197

HT Traders Sorbet Orange

#72036 98193


Product quality and integrity are paramount to Harris Teeter. If you have a milk allergy or are concerned about the recalled product, please return the product to Harris Teeter for a full refund.  For additional information regarding this recall, please Harris Teeter at 1-800-432-6111, Option 2 between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

See the full article »

May 23, 2012

IndonesianFoodMart.com Recalls "Tempeh Starter Yeast" because of Health Risk of Salmonella

Contact:
c/o Attorney for Indonesianfoodmart.com:
A.P. Pishevar, Esq.
Pishevar & Associates, P.C.
600 E. Jefferson St., Suite 316
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 279-8773

Indonesianfoodmart.com of Rockville, MD, is recalling all packages of "Tempeh Starter Yeast" because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recalled " Tempeh Starter Yeast "and “Super Starter Yeast” were distributed nationwide and internationally through direct mail orders. The product was also distributed to the following areas: Australia, Canada, Slovenia, New Zealand, Brunei, Darussalam, Poland and Croatia.

The product comes in sealed, clear plastic packages marked with a small computer printed label. The following sizes were sold: 30gm, 50gm, 250 gm, and 1000 gm

Several illnesses have been reported to date that may be in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after testing by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services revealed the presence of Salmonella in some of the product

Upon being notified of the risk by the FDA, the Indonesianfoodmart.com immediately discontinued their operations. Indonesianfoodmart.com did not manufacture the product which was imported from Indonesia.

The product should not be used. Consumers may securely wrap and return the product to the above address or discard it in a waste receptacle.

Consumers with questions may contact the company’s representative at the above listed address and phone number from 9am-5pm EST.

See the full article »