Nine kids have been injured when a end cap dislodged from an “exersaucer” activity table, causing the play center to fall, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced. One child in Canada suffered a broken collarbone; the other received bumps and bruises.
About 213,000 of the Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun activity centers are affected in the recall. The products, made by Evenflo Co. Inc. of Ohio were sold nationwide from October 2006 through this month. Consumers are advised to stop using the activity table in the “stage 3 position.” Contact the company to receive a free replacement end cap at (800) 233-5921 or visit its Web site.
Two children nearly choked on pieces of a toy tool set that unexpectedly detached. About 20,000 of the Playouse Disney “Handy Manny” tool sets were sold nationwide at the Disney Store from October 2007 until January. Consumers are advised to return the toys, made in China, to the Disney Store for a full refund. Additional information is available from the company at (866) 902-2798 or its Web site.
Will peanut butter snacks ever be trusted again?
On Friday, companies started recalling all peanut products made at a west Texas plant since the factory’s 2005 opening. More than 100 companies are involved. This adds to the long list of products already recalled since hundreds of people began getting sick from salmonella poisoning in January. Click here for an updated recall list.
It’s not only school lunches that are being affected. Those Easter baskets are going to be quite light this year. Many businesses, slammed with recall costs, have already decided not to bother making chocolate-peanut snacks for the holiday, the Associated Press reported.
The plant in Plainview, Texas, had many of the sanitary problems as the one in Blakely, Ga. — dead rats, excrement and bird feathers. Unfortunately, there’s little recourse for the thousands of farmers, consumers and businesses hurt by Peanut Corp. of America, which allegedly shipped products knowing that they were tainted. The company declared bankruptcy on Friday, which will shield it from liability lawsuits filed by consumers, CNN reported.
Earlier this week, PCA president Stewart Parnell was summoned up to Congress, where he refused to testify by invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. He also refused to eat any peanut paste. At least nine people have already died from his company’s products.
About 100,000 Safety 1st SmartLight Stair Gates are being recalled. The affected gates were made before December 2007 and have a model number of 42111, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.
The gates, made in China for importer Dorel Juvenile Group USA of Indiana, were sold nationwide at major retailers from January 2005 through December 2007. Consumers should call the company for a free repair kit at (866) 690-2540 or complete an order form at this Web site.
About 25,000 sets of Tony Hawk skateboard-themed boys’ pajamas are being recalled because they fail to meet federal standards for being flame-resistant.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that no injuries have been reported, but consumers should return the items for a full refund. The sleepwear, imported from Cambodia from Mad Dog Concepts of New York, were sold at Kohl’s department stores nationwide from September through October.
Sizes ranged from 4 to 14 and the recall includes four designs. For more info on refunds, contact Mad Dog Concepts at (888) 623-3640.
The bacteria was found in one package of Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter, made by Kellogg Co.
A company spokeswoman told the Associated Press that she wasn’t clear how many packages of Kellogg snacks had been tested and if other products would also be checked. The discovery was confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration, which declined to give more info. Last weekend, the FDA warned consumers to stop eating peanut butter cookies, crackers, ice cream and candy. Many companies, including Kellogg, the Little Debbie snack maker and Meijer grocery stores, have stopped selling their products.
Six people have died and more than 470 have gotten sick from eating tainted peanut butter items. Federal authorities have traced the source of contamination to a Georgia peanut processing facility but haven’t narrowed down the products that might be affected.
Officials say it’s still safe for parents to make their kids PB&J sandwiches. The Georgia facility doesn’t produce small, consumer-size jars of peanut butter. Read previous Minor Troubles postings about the salmonella scare here.
People should stop eating peanut butter products until government officials determine which items are contaminated with salmonella bacteria, the Food and Drug Administration announced this weekend.
The extraordinary decision was made as authorities became more aware of how much tainted food could be out in stores. Peanut butter linked to the salmonella outbreak was found in a Georgia facility that made peanut butter and paste for 85 businesses. Companies such as Kellogg, which makes Keebler, Austin and Famous Amos branded snacks, have halted shipments of new products and asked stores to pull items from shelves. Peanut butter sold in small jars at supermarkets should be fine because they are not made at that plant.
Hundreds of people nationwide have been sickened by salmonella and six people have died. The FDA has a list of possibly affected products here. More info about the outbreak, including frequently asked questions answered by the FDA, is here.
Growing fears of salmonella infection has forced Kellogg Co. to stop selling Famous Amos and Keebler brand peanut butter cookies and 14 other snacks. Previously, the company had recalled peanut butter crackers, but on Friday, it expanded the list.
Kellogg’s is one of several dozen companies that gets peanut butter or paste for its products from a Georgia facility where authorities have found salmonella bacteria, the Associated Press reported.
Six deaths have been linked to contaminated products, and hundreds of others nationwide have been sickened. Authorities still have not pinpointed the exact products that are tainted. Peanut butter processing has been halted at the Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America.
The deaths have occurred in Minnesota, Virginia, Idaho and North Carolina. All but one were elderly people, who tend to be more at risk because of weakened immune systems. Common symptoms of salmonella, the leading cause of food poisoning in this country, include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.
About 131,000 “Grabby” rattles are being recalled because the tail piece on the items can detach and pose a choking danger to babies. Ten people have reported the piece detaching; no injuries occurred, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The baby rattles, shaped like a lion or lamb and made in China, were sold at major retailers between May 2007 and September. Contact manufacturer Infantino LLC of San Diego for a replacement by calling (888) 808-3111 or visiting the firm’s Web site.
Children’s sunglasses imported from China by Axiom International of Montana may contain more lead paint than federal law allows. About 5,300 of the two-tone sunglasses, which have a spider web etched between the eyes, were sold from May 2007 through August.
Consumers can return them to the place of purchase for a refund. More info is available by calling Axiom at (800) 262-0599 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visiting its Web site.
About 500 rolling toy xylophones sold at Land of Nod stores have pegs that can break and pose a choking hazard. The Illinois company has received 22 reports of broken pegs, but no one has been injured. The toys, made in China, were sold from October 2007 through March.
Consumers can return the xylophones to the company for a credit of the purchase price and a $10 gift card. Contact Land of Nod at (800) 933-9904 or through its Web site.
At least 1,350 people have reported that one or more rails collapsed on the Rainforest Portable Play Yards, causing kids to fall or be entrapped.
About 200,000 play yards, made by Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc., are being recalled, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Thursday. Dozens of children have been injured, suffering bumps and bruises. There also have been reports of a broken nose, broken wrist, a mild concussion, a cut to the hand that required stitches and a chipped tooth.
According to the consumer commission, the manufacturers have been unresponsive to customer complaints on their hotline and Web site. Simplicity, which issued a massive recall of cribs last year, has gone out of business; SFCA Inc. purchased the company’s assets.
The portable play yards, made in China, were sold nationwide from January 2007 through this month. Specific model numbers are listed here.
Fisher-Price Inc. did not make the play yards, but is voluntarily assisting with the recall. Consumers should contact the company to get a replacement product. Call (800) 432-5437 or visit this Web site.
Austin and Keebler brand peanut butter snacks are being pulled off store shelves as a precaution while officials investigate a nationwide salmonella outbreak. Kellogg Co., which makes the snacks, on Wednesday also encouraged customers who have the products at home to refrain from eating them, Reuters reported.
Tainted peanut butter is being blamed for sickening more than 400 people nationwide. Officials said this week that one death in Minnesota and two in Virgina are linked to salmonella infection.
Federal authorities say that peanut butter made by Peanut Corp. of America could be the source of contamination. The Lynchburg, Va., company makes peanut butter for bulk distribution to food services and private label food companies. Last weekend, King Nut Co., which distributes the peanut butter, announced a recall of its products, which are served in institutions such as schools and nursing homes.
Peanut butter paste from PCA is used in Austin and Keebler products. The snacks that could be affected are Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Crackers, Cheese and Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers and Peanut Butter-Chocolate Sandwich Crackers.
Find out more about salmonella and see a map of the outbreak here.