Spartanburg Personal Injury Lawyer - Defective Products

CPSC Recalls Toy Wrestler Figures for Excessive Lead

Courtney Mills — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:31:47 GMT

The federal government issued a recall today for about 5,600 toy figurines because they violated the federal lead paint standard. These toy figures were sold mainly over Christmas and were made by A.A. of America of East Brunswick, New Jersey.

The CPSC, the U.S. agency charged with the oversight of toy safety, announced the recall in conjunction with the toy company to alert the public to the high lead content of paint on these toy figures. The agency directed parents to remove these toys from children as soon as possible.

The toy figures were sold in the U.S. from January to December 2007 for about $1. Parents can return the action figures, which were sold in sets of four, for a full refund at the place of purchase.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Pet Food Maker Pays $3.1 Million Settlement for Tainted Product

Jenny Albano — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:56:02 GMT

Diamond Pet Foods is paying a $3.1 million settlement to pet owners because they produced contaminated pet food that killed dozens of dogs. The contaminated pet food, which was made at the company's South Carolina plant, contained a mold called aflatoxin. The company is planning to reimburse pet owners for the loss of their dogs, their veterinarian bills, and the cost of unreturned contaminated food.

Diamond Pet Foods, based in Meta, Mo., acknowledged that workers at its Gaston, S.C., plant failed to follow internal testing procedures to ensure its products were safe. The company made the acknowledgment after the Food and Drug Administration released a report showing the company has no record of test results for 12 shipments of corn in 2005, when grain tainted with the deadly fungus slipped into the plant.

The contaminated pet food was recalled when a veterinarian in New York linked a dog's death to the company's dog food. Around 350,000 bags of the dog food was recalled. Diamond is claiming it did nothing illegal and recalled the product as soon as it found out about the problem. The company plans to cooperate with the claimants and feels the settlement shows how Diamond has continued to take care of its customers.

So far Diamond and its insurance company have settled around 1,200 claims. The settlement states that pet owners whose pet died from the contaminated pet food could recieve up to $1000. Owners could also be compensated up to $1,000 for testing and treatment for aflatoxin poisoning and for payment for up to two bags of pet food.

Aflatoxin, a naturally occurring chemical that comes from a fungus sometimes found on corn and in other crops, can cause severe liver damage.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

U.S. Recalls Aqua Dots Toys Because of 'Date-Rape' Drug

Courtney Mills — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:14:32 GMT

Spin Master Toys of Toronto, Canada in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for over 4 million packages of Aqua Dots because the coating applied on these toy beads breaks down in the stomachs of toddlers into GHB, the notorious 'date-rape' drug.

Aqua Dots are chemically-coated toy beads that fuse together once sprayed with water. Known as Bindeez in Australia, the first case of poisoning by toy bead ingestion happened in Australia. Since then, according to media reports at least two American children and three Australian children have been hospitalized because of eating the tiny toy beads.

Aqua Dots, which were originally made in China, were meant to be huge seller for Christmas this year. But the colorful chemically-coated beads fit easily into the mouths of toddlers and, if swallowed, form a dangerous compound in the stomach called gamma hydroxy butyrate, otherwise known as the 'date rape' drug, GHB. GHB induces sedation, respiratory depression, and in some people seizures and death.

If your child has a set of Aqua Dots or Bindeez then it is important to remove the dots from play immediately, as they represent a serious health hazard.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Topps E. Coli Beef Recall Linked to Tainted Canadian Beef

Courtney Mills — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:53:31 GMT

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service announced on Friday that a Canadian meatpacker was the probable source of the Topps large beef recall last month. DNA beef fingerprints had led the F.S.I.S. to the conclusion that Ranchers Beef Ltd of Balzac, Alberta was the source of the contagion.

According to media reports, over 100 cases of E. coli illness have been reported in both Canada and the U.S. because of ingestion of the contaminated beef. The F.S.I.S. urged food preparers not to use Ranchers Beef boneless beef trim just as the group was removed from an approved list of beef exporters.

E. coli bacteria can cause serious stomach illness, especially in young children, the elderly, and the immunosuppressed. Infection with E. coli usually leads to diarrhea, stomach cramping, and sometimes hospitalization and death. Most people do recover within a week of becoming infected.

The outbreak of E. coli in the U.S. led to a huge recall of over 21 million pounds of beef last month, ultimately causing the Topps Meat Company to go out of business.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Baby Crib Bumper Pads More Harmful to Toddlers

Courtney Mills — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:08:51 GMT

The risk of accidentally becoming injured and suffocating as a result of a baby crib bumper pad appears to be much higher than was previously considered. Crib bumpers are soft pads that mothers place inside baby cribs to shield toddlers from bruises and other forms of injury, and were thought to be safe.

A recently released study by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis weighed Consumer Product Safety Commission reports of crib injury from 1985-2005. Crib bumpers accounted for at least 27 accidental deaths in the study. Routine investigation into the deaths showed that children probably suffocated once pinned between the bumper and the crib wall, or that they were strangled by a crib bumper attachment.

At that young age, children scarcely have the requisite coordination to extricate themselves once ensnared. Parents should be very mindful of this fact when installing crib bumpers for baby cribs.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Banquet Pot Pies Recalled for Salmonella

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:12:34 GMT

ConAgra Foods announced a voluntary recall of Banquet-brand poultry pot pies (expanded to include beef pot pies) after health officials found a link to 139 cases of salmonella contamination across 30 states.

Consumers are advised not to consume any pot pies with the product code P-9 on the side of the box.

While ConAgra contends the pot pies are safe if cooked properly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warns consumers to check their freezers for any recalled products. ConAgra officials are working with health authorities to determine whether any more precautions are necessary.

A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) spokeswoman said, the largest numbers of salmonella cases have been reported in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Missouri.

ConAgra is offering a refund for any recalled pot pies returned to the store of purchase.

Consumers with questions about Banquet or store brand pot pies may call 1-866-484-8671 or contact us online at www.conagrafoods.com/contactus. For more information on food safety, consumers may reference IFIC.org.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Chrysler Recalls 369,000 SUV Due to Brake Problems

Jenny Albano — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:56:13 GMT

Chrysler LLC, an automaker, is recalling almost 369,000 sport utility vehicles because of problems with the brakes going up hill. Also, on some of the vehicles, there are problems with the locks and door latches.

The company is recalling 296,550 vehicles for the brake-related problem. The recall includes the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander SUVs from 2006 and 2007 model years and the 2007 Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Nitro.

Chrysler said a glitch in an electronic control unit could cause a delay in braking when the vehicles are driving uphill. The automaker has had about 20 reports of such problems, said spokesman Max Gates.

So far there has been one accident from the brake glitch. When a driver of an affected Chrysler vehicles stops accelerating when going up a hill, the brake may lose power for a few seconds.

Chrysler is also recalling 73,333 Chrysler Sebrings and Dodge Avenger sedans because they may have problems with the the front door latches on the vehicles.

Chrysler said that affected owners would be contacted later in the month and the problem would be fixed for free.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

Mattel Recalls Barbie Accessories for Lead Hazard

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:05:09 GMT

Mattel announced a voluntary recall of over 674,000 Barbie accessories, manufactured in China, due to the surface paints on the toys containing excessive levels of lead. Lead poisoning can lead to serious adverse health affects, especially in children under the age of six.

Mattel previously announced a recall of 9 million toys due to a choking hazards from small magnets dislodging from the toys. And potential injuries from lead paint.

The recall includes several Barbie accessory toys that were manufactured between September 30, 2006 and August 20, 2007. A complete list of all the recalled Barbie Toys can be found on Mattel's website. The date code and product numbers can be found on the bottom of the largest toy in the set.

Consumers should take the recalled toys away from small children immediately and contact Mattel for a free replacement toy of equal value.

For more information on this topic, please visit our section on Mattel Toy Recalls.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Nissan Altima's Recalled for Fire Hazard

Chrissie Cole — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:28:27 GMT

Nissan announced an auto recall of 140,500 Altima Sedans to replace air filters that could catch on fire, according to company officials.

The voluntary recall affects 2007 Altima's with four cylinders that were produced at its Tennessee and Mississippi plants. A spokesperson for the company said "flammable objects, such as cigarettes, can enter the filter and catch on fire."

Four engine compartment fires this year prompted Nissan to start an investigation, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

While there is small chance this can happen, Nissan feels its best not to take any risks. Nissan will be sending consumers notices.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Food Festival Makes More than 100 Sick with Salmonella

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:12:49 GMT

The Chicago Department of Health is investigating nine confirmed cases of salmonella bacteria after 120 attendees at the Taste of Chicago Food Festival became sick. The culprit is believed to be tainted hummus.

Chicago officials traced the salmonella outbreak to the Pars Cove Persian Cuisine Restaurant where hummus has been removed from the menu. The owners are cooperating with the health department.

This is not the first outbreak that has occurred at a food festival. In 2001, 300 people became ill at an avocado food festival in California.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are over one million reported cases of salmonella poisoning each year.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole