Product Recalls: Granola bars – Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars

I suspect that many of you love to grab that ‘healthy’ and ‘quick fix’ granola bar.  Well before you do, you may want to   check which one it is you are getting ready to bite into.  This notification just in from the FDA of a voluntary recall by Trader Joe’s on it’s product – Chocolate Chip Chewy Coated Granola Bars –Product Recalls: Granola bars.

[I]t has 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, 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 FDA’s press release advises that there have been “no illnesses . . . reported to date in connection with this product.” Forewarned is a good policy – so be  forewarned!

For details on contact information on the product’s recall, see the FDA announcement.

Consumer Product Safety Commission vows to crack down on defective cribs – washingtonpost.com

An announcement last week by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will hopefully prevent future catastrophic injuries and deaths of infants from crib defects, through tougher federal legislation regarding cribs.  The chairman of the organization, Inez Tenenbaum, made a powerful statement in a recent Washington Post Article in this regard:

While we are on the subject of cribs, I have a message for manufacturers, a message that actually applies to makers of any consumer product,” Tenenbaum said. “I say no more to the tired tactic of blaming parents in the press when CPSC announces a recall that involves a death. Take responsibility and show respect to the grieving family, yes, even if they are pursuing litigation. Those who tread into this arena when CPSC has found your product to be defective will be called out.

The article also details the number and type of crib recalls to date by the CPSC:  

The CPSC has recalled more than 6 million cribs since September 2007, many due to failures related to drop sides, hardware and wooden slats. Consumer advocates and health professionals have long complained that federal safety requirements governing cribs do not address the durability of drop-sides on cribs and related hardware, as well as wood strength and quality and other issues.

Let’s hope that these actions send a powerful message to crib manufacturers and retailers alike, to put safety first, especially when it comes to our little ones.  What could be more important?  We will monitor developments within this and other related recalls.

Contributor: Rodd Santomauro

Consumer Product Safety Commission Recall: Discovery Kids™ Animated Marine and Safari Lamps

On February 9, 2010, the CPSC, with the cooperation of the manufacturer, Innovage, LLC, issued a recall of  Discovery Kids™ Animated Marine and Safari Lamps.  According to the recall notice, approximately 360,000 of these lamps were manufactured.  Needless to say, this is a serious safety hazard warning – fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Hazard: A defect in the lamp’s printed circuit board can cause an electrical short, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Innovage has received nine reports of incidents, including seven reports of lamps catching fire, one involving smoke inhalation injury to a child and three involving minor property damage.

Description: This recall involves the Discovery Kids™ Animated Marine Lamp with model number 1627121 or 1628626 and the Animated Safari Lamp with model number 1627124 or 1628626.All models have batch numbers beginning with “2”. The decorative lamps are silver in color and feature rotating films with marine or safari scenes. “Discovery Kids” is printed on the front top left corner. The batch number is an 11 digit number located on the bottom of each unit. The model number can be found on the bottom of the packaging.

This product was distributed nationwide – online and through direct sales for $10 – distribution occurred between July 2009 and January 2010.

Consumers are warned to stop using the product immediately.  You can refer to the recall notice for further information and how to report any incidents or for returning the product for a refund.  You can also obtain further information from the manufacturer – Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Innovage toll-free at (888) 232-1535 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, visit the firm’s Web site at www.lamprecall.org or emailinfo@lamprecall.org

Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS” Drop Side Crib Brands Recalled; Three Infant Deaths Reported

This just came out today – Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS” Drop Side Crib Brands Recalled; Three Infant Deaths Reported.

Here we go with yet another wonderful crib design.

What is it that these manufacturers don’t get?  Recall after recall.  Can’t they figure out by now what it is about the design that makes these cribs potentially lethal to babies?

Yesterday we posted a blog on our site – Eye Opener – that provided a number of useful links to keep up with all the product recalls that seem to be coming out in a never-ending stream when we talk about children’s product safety.

Here’s the link to that blog – check the links in it and save them to your favorites/bookmarks bar.