Product Safety Alert: Children’s Giraffe Blanket Recalled Due to Choking Hazard

Approximately 44,000 giraffe blankets have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), due to the balls on the top of the horns detaching, and posing a choking hazard to small children.  The giraffe blankets are sold exclusively at Target Stores.  The full details on the recall can be found by clicking here.  

The recall states that, thankfully, no injuries have been reported, as of this publication.  The product is imported by Rashti and Rashti out of New York, and details on the recall can be found on their website, as well.  As the CPSC recall notice states “Consumers should immediately take the recalled blankets away from children and contact Rashti & Rashti for a full refund.”

Even though no injuries have been reported, let’s keep it that way! Follow the recommendations even if your child may cry for a bit when you take away their ‘security blanket.’ A sad but safe child sure beats the alternative.

Allergic to Dairy? Read Before Eating Those Sunflower Seeds!

Ryt-Way Industries, LLC, a food packaging company, is immediately recalling some of the sunflower seed products that they have packaged, as they contain undeclared dairy ingredients.  The recall, which includes products that have been distributed nationwide, is a voluntary recall, and is being done in conjunction with the FDA:

Ryt-way Industries LLC of Lakeville, MN is voluntarily recalling select BIGS ® Original Salted & Roasted Sunflower Seeds because they may contain dairy ingredients that were not declared on the packaging.  The product is packaged in 5.35oz plastic bags with BEST BY Dates of 30MAY2011 and 31MAY2011 with an individual bag UPC code 896887002196.  People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to dairy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

It was discovered that the sunflower seed packages at issue, as manufactured by BiGS, do not disclose the presence of dairy within them.  Ryt-Way goes on in their announcement to instruct consumers that are allergic to dairy how to handle this situation, should they be in possession of these recalled items:

Consumers who are allergic to dairy and who have purchased the recalled products are advised not to consume the product and are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.  Consumers with questions may contact 1-877-722-7556

So, if you are allergic to dairy and/or have a sensitivity to dairy products, and love those sunflower seeds, please check your home for these recalled products.  As the weather gets warmer and we try to snack on “healthier” items to get that “younger figure back for summer”, don’t let this recall pass you by!

Evenflo Recalls Top-of-Stair Plus Wood Gates Due to Fall Hazard

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has just announced that they are working in conjunction with Evenflo in regard to a voluntary recall of approximately 183,000 wood gates, used primarily to assist in preventing small children from having access to stairs, where they could fall and sustain serious injuries.  Here is some of the important information in regard to the recall:

Name of product: Evenflo Top-of-Stair™ Plus Wood Gates

Units: About 150,000 in the United States and 33,000 in Canada

Manufacturer: Evenflo Co. Inc. of Miamisburg, Ohio

Hazard: The slats on the gate can break or detach, posing a fall hazard to children.

Incidents/Injuries: Evenflo has received 142 reports of slats breaking and/or detaching from the gate. Three children gained access to stairs. One of those children fell through the gate and down five steps; another fell down one step. Injuries included four children who sustained bumps and bruises to the head and seven children who sustained minor injuries including scratches, scrapes and bruises.

Description: The recall involves Evenflo models 10502 and 10512 Top-of-Stair Plus Wood Gates made from October 2007 through July 2009. The model number can be found on the bottom rail. No other Evenflo model numbers or gates are affected by this recall.

Sold at: Toys “R” Us, Burlington Baby Depot, Kmart and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide in the U.S. and Canada, and on the Web at Amazon.com and other online retailers from October 2007 through March 2010 for about $40.

If you have this product at your home, here is the remedy and consumer contact information:

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled gate and contact Evenflo to obtain a free newer model 10503 or 10513 Top-of-Stair™ Plus Wood replacement gate.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Evenflo toll-free at (800) 233-5921 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at safety.evenflo.com

Do It Best Recalls Bicycle Bells Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Approximately 1,000 bicycle bells were placed under a recall this past week by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)  The following are some of the relevant details, and the full recall information can be located at the following link: recall notice.

Name of Product: Bicycle Bells                        

Units: About 1,000

Distributor: Do It Best Corp., of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Manufacturer: Botou Baite Bike Bell Co. Ltd., of Botou City, China

Hazard: The red paint on the bicycle bells contains excessive lead levels, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Description: This recall involves children’s bicycle bells. The bells are red, black and white and has “I ♥ My Bike” printed on the top. The green and white packaging reads “bike bell” and “$1.”

If you or your child has a bicycle bell, please make sure it is not one of the recalled bells.  Thankfully, as of today’s date, there have not been any reported injuries to the CPSC.

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.

Consuming Interests: 1.5 million Graco strollers recalled due to fingertip amputations, lacerations

Let’s start off with a quote from The Baltimore Sun report on strollers that carry the risk of your child’s fingers being amputated.

Families that own Graco Passage, Alano and Spree strollers and travel systems should stop using them until they receive a free protective cover kit from the company, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Graco issued the voluntary stroller recall after receiving seven reports of children hurting their fingers in the canopy hinge, resulting in five fingertip amputations and two lacerations, the CPSC has announced.

About 1.5 million of these strollers and travel systems have been sold at stores like Burlington Coat Factory, Babies “R” Us, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, Sears, Target, Walmart between October 2004 and December.

But not all of these models have the offending hinge — be sure to check your model number on the CPSC site and compare your canopy hinge to the photos above to determine whether yours is affected.

Cribs, strollers, bracelets, jackets – you name it – there’s probably a recall.  For parents concerned -as I’m sure you all are – about what products for children are out there that pose safety risks, we suggest you check out the list on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

You can also follow them on Twitter.  Just type in U.S. CPSC and then do the drop-down to follow them.

Why wait until you read it – possibly too late – in a newspaper account of some other horrible tragedy involving a child.

Did you know that 210,000 children’s jackets with drawstrings manufactured by GTM Sportswear Inc., of Manhattan, Kansas were recalled?

How about children’s greeting cards with bracelets – called Papyrus Brand Greeting Cards with bracelets?  174,000 of them were recalled because they were found to be in violation of the lead paint standard.

Did you know that just under 10,000 toy guns (called Special Forces and Police SWAT Toy Gun Sets) were recalled because the orange tips located at the end of the toy guns’ barrels, which are designed to distinguish them from real guns, can easily be removed from the barrels, posing a choking hazard to children.

You get the point no doubt.

The information on dangers to your children and recalls by the CPSC is all out there.  Even if you don’t ‘do’ Facebook or tweet, check out the CPSC website.  If you’re a blogger, check out their blog page – OnSafety.  Like RSS feeds – that’s there for you as well – just click on one of these links and make your RSS feed connection.

An informed consumer is also a safety-conscious parent.