Café Classics Pesto Chicken with Bow Tie Pasta

UPC code: 1380017117

- and -

Production code (on gray strip on side of package) starts with 82805959
Best Before May 2010

Spa Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean

UPC code: 1380016612

- and -

Production code (on gray strip on side of package) starts with any of the following:

82315959
82415959
Best Before September 2010

82635959
82695959
82745959
Best Before October 2010

82915959
83015959
Best Before November 2010

Dinnertime Selects Chicken Tuscan

UPC code: 1380014890

- and -

Production code (on gray strip on side of package) starts with any of the following:

82345959
Best Before September 2009

82535959
82695959
Best Before October 2009

82925959
82965959
Best Before November 2009

If your product matches any of the above numbers, Lean Cuisine says to "return [it] to the place of purchase for a full refund."

The information above was taken from the Lean Cuisine info line at (800) 993-8625. (To get to the recall info, press 2, then press 1.)

"Nestle Recalls 900,000 Pounds of Lean Cuisine" [ABC News]
"Lean Cuisine recalls frozen chicken meals" [Los Angeles Times]

The majority of the laptops with the dangerous batteries were from HP, but there were also Toshiba and Dell computers included in the recall. The batteries were manufactured by Sony.

For a list of computers, click here.

The recalls involve two types of cribs. The first is for 600,000 drop side cribs. The CPSC says that the crib’s drop side can detach when the spring peg is not engaged, which can cause an entrapment and suffocation risk to infants and toddlers. One death has been reported.

The second is for 985,000 cribs that can be put together without the safety pegs. "CPSC staff is aware of a death of an 8-month-old child who became entrapped and suffocated when the drop side of the crib detached in a reassembled crib where the safety pegs were not installed. CPSC is also aware of two entrapments and nine disengagement incidents in cribs where the safety pegs were missing."

A full list of the model numbers affected by the recall can be found at the links below. To get your repair kit, contact Delta at (800) 816-5304 anytime after 5 pm today or log on www.cribrecallcenter.com to order the free repair kit.

Infant Death Prompts Recall to Repair 985,000 Delta Enterprise Drop Side Cribs; Missing Safety Pegs Can Cause Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards
Infant Death Prompts Recall To Repair 600,000 Drop Side Cribs By Delta Enterprise; Spring Peg Failure Can Cause Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards [CPSC]

"We have received reports of detached blades involving a very small percentage of the adapters sold, but no injuries have been reported," Apple said in a statement.

Spokeswoman Natalie Kerris could not say exactly how many adapters have broken in this way.

The recall affects ultra-compact USB power adapters sold in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Panama and Peru.

Adapters with a green dot on the bottom are safe and do not need to be replaced, Apple said.

Just because the adapters are hazardous doesn't mean Apple has replacements ready. No, you'll have to wait until October 10 for those. Until then, charge your iPhone 3G with either the standard USB adapter with the fold-up prongs, or your computer's USB port.

Apple recalls tiny iPhone 3G adapters [AP]

Recalled brands:

• Pedigree
• Ol' Roy
• Retriever
• Paws & Claws
• Member's Mark
• Natural Dog Food
• Natural Cat Food
• Doggy Bag
• PMI Nutrition
• Red Flannel
• PetPride
• Special Kitty
• Country Acres
• Wegman's Bruiser
• Wegman's Buju & Ziggie

To check whether the package you have is part of the recall, look at the code under the "Best Before" date.

For Pedigree brand food:

Consumers should look for “PAE” on the bottom line – the sixth, seventh and eighth digits. Sample:
Best Before 02/2009
808G1PAE01 12:00

For all other brands:

Consumers should look for “17” as the first two digits of the second line. Sample:
Best By Feb 18 09
17 1445 1

If you find a match, wrap up the product according to FDA guidelines and take it back to the store where you purchased it for a refund.

Mars Petcare September 2008 Recall Information (Thanks to Liz!)
(Photo: Getty)

The recall was announced after an unspecified customer complaint, which we imagine went something like, "Hey, there was a chunk of metal in my bagel this morning, wtf." Luckily, no injuries have been reported.

"Voluntary Recall: Wegmans In-Store Made Bagels" [Wegmans] (Thanks to Jeff!)
(Photo: Getty)

You can get a free in-home repair by calling Wolf Appliance toll-free at (866) 643-6408 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or by visiting www.wolfappliance.com. The model numbers are P48, PS48 and R48.

Until you get the stove fixed... don't use the 18" oven. The rest of the range is perfectly safe.

Wolf Appliance Recalls Gas Ranges Due to Burn Hazard [CPSC]

Asserting that government and industry safety rules don't protect children from the hazard, Toys "R" Us is dictating stricter tests and design standards that cribmakers have balked at for years. The company, which also owns Babies "R" Us, has the clout to do so because it sells so many cribs—hundreds of thousands annually.

Toys "R" Us is specifying the trees its suppliers can use, the way they attach spindles to crib railings and even the type of glue. Manufacturers that don't follow the new rules can't sell cribs in its stores.

The move by Toys "R" Us shows that major retailers, responding to parents' concerns, are using their purchasing power to redefine the safety of children's products—more quickly and more stringently than government regulators and groups that set standards for the industry.

Toys R Us says that it can speak for consumers when the government won't.

"We saw that there were products that passed the existing standards but had problems in the real world," Toys "R" Us chief executive Gerald Storch said. "Something needed to be done, so we did it. . . . We think that it will spread to the market as a whole."
...
"Clearly a consumer is not going to say, 'You need a slat integrity test,' but they want to feel confident shopping for products," said Storch, the Toys "R" Us CEO. "What we try to do is stand up for the consumer and say, 'What would they do if they had the facts?' "

Toys 'R' Us gets tough with cribmakers [Chicago Tribune]
(Photo: What Rhymes With Nicole )

Sony Recalls Notebook Computers Due to Burn Hazard [CPSC]

The Chicago Tribune, heady with the power of Illinois' badass toy laws, stormed into some stores and bought two of the deadly bassinets.

In fact, a Tribune reporter on Thursday bought two bassinets at Baby Depot at Burlington Coat Factory on the West Side. Before the reporter left the store, an employee checked the model numbers to see whether those versions contained the deadly flaw. She told the reporter they did not.

But she was wrong. Both had the dangerous design.

Whoops. The Trib says that although the company that bought Simplicity (after it went bankrupt due to a previous crib recall) is denying responsibility for the bassinets, they say their bassinet had a shipping label with the new company's name on it.

SFCA countered by saying Simplicity products are not its responsibility. "The products in question were manufactured and distributed by Simplicity Inc., a company that is no longer in business," SFCA said in a written statement. "SFCA purchased Simplicity's assets at auction after Simplicity Inc. went out of business and has no legal liability for any products distributed previously by Simplicity."

But one of the deadly bassinets the Tribune purchased Thursday carried a shipping label with the name "SFCA Inc." This seemed to contradict the written statement SFCA issued Thursday: "The CPSC product alert does not involve any product manufactured and distributed by SFCA Inc."

Asked to explain this discrepancy, SFCA spokesman Paul Nathanson would not comment directly. Instead, he wrote in an e-mail: "As far as I know none of these model numbers were manufactured and distributed by SFCA."

To read a full list of the model numbers affected by this recall and to see a list of retailers who are cooperating with the CPSC, click here.

We wondered why the CPSC is still unable to issue involuntary recalls, but were unable to find a straight answer anywhere. Consumer Reports says that the CPSC told them that they were using some of their special new powers to deal with the situtaion — namely the ability to skip a 30 day waiting period before issuing a consumer warning about a dangerous product.

"The CPSC is continuing to seek all options with SFCA to ensure there is recourse for the consumer," said agency spokeswoman Julie Vallese. "However, this is a very complicated case and there is a question whether SFCA has legal liabilities for products manufactured by Simplicity."

Consumer Reports suggests that when you try to return the product, that you print out the CPSC's warning and bring it with you to the store. We think that's a good idea.

900,000 bassinets targeted [Chicago Tribune]
Six Retailers Agree To Stop Sale and Recall Simplicity Bassinets Due To Strangulation Hazard [CPSC]
Two deaths trigger safety alert for Simplicity bassinet [Consumer Reports]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the defect is responsible for at least three car blazes, maybe even nine.

The recall involves the 2007-2008 model year Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Avalanche and Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT, GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL and Saturn Outlook; 2006-2008 Hummer H2, Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne; and the 2008 Buick Enclave.

GM will fix the problem by installing a "wire harness with an in-line fuse," which is car-speak for "system that won't catch fire."

For more information, call:
Buick: (866) 608-8080
Cadillac: (800) 982-2339
Chevrolet: (800) 630-2438
Saturn: (800) 972-8876
GMC: (866) 996-9436
Hummer: (800) 732-5493

General Motors Recalls Vehicles for Fire Hazard [NEWSInferno]
(Photo: Jef Poskanzer)

The recall is for 54-ounce, 12-pack cartons of Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza with the following printed on the sides of each carton: “8157544614D,” “EST 7721A” and “BEST BEFORE JAN2010.”

If you have some of the recalled product, spit out that plastic and call Nestlé Consumer Services Center at 1-800-350-5016.

"215,660 pounds of Hot Pockets recalled" [Lexington Herald-Leader] (Thanks to Dariush!)

•1) Why was Whole Foods selling meat that was supposed to be recalled?
•2) Why was Whole Foods buying meat from Nebraska Beef Ltd., in the first place?

Whole Foods website is filled with all sorts of promises. Here is one that seemed to be a bit ignored:

Products - Our Quality Standards

We carry natural and organic products because we believe that food in its purest state — unadulterated by artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings, and preservatives — is the best tasting and most nutritious food available.

Our business is to sell the highest quality foods we can find at the most competitive prices possible. We evaluate quality in terms of nutrition, freshness, appearance, and taste. Our search for quality is a never-ending process involving the careful judgment of buyers throughout the company.

Here are some other questions for Whole Foods (after they answer the first two):

• 1) Were you aware of Nebraska Beef’s litigation history against the USDA in 2003 and a church in upstate Minnesota in 2007?
• 2) Had you ever reviewed Nebraska Beef’s Non-compliance Reports?
• 3) Had you ever visited the Nebraska Beef plant?
• 4) After being linked to an E. coli outbreak in California in 2006, what safety measures did Whole Foods employ?

The bacterial beef was sold in: Alabama, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Washington D. C.

Consumers can return to Whole Foods with a receipt or beef packaging for a full refund. For more information, call (512) 542-0878. While on hold, take a moment to wonder if you ever cook your meat to 160 degrees.

Whole Foods E. coli cases Traced to Nebraska Beef Ltd., Meat? [Marler Blog]
Whole Foods recalling possible E. coli contaminated beef [AP]
PREVIOUSLY: More Beef Recalled For E. Coli
(AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)

Maya asks:

Remember last year the aqua dot toys that had GHB drugs on them? well they returned with a different name, Pixos. The same commercial is being shown on Disney Channel but with the different name. I checked their web site www.buypixos.com but it does not say anything about the ghb. Are these toys safe now?

Well, Maya, if by "safe" you mean, "Did the company stop outsourcing their products to manufacturers who think nothing of sneaking a powerful chemical that turns into a recreational drug when swallowed into a children's toy?" Well, it's hard to say.

The Australian company responsible for the toy, Moose Enterprises, says they've switched factories and changed the name of the toy in order to "protect" consumers from the recalled product.

"Moose's primary focus will continue to be the safety and welfare of children," a spokesperson said.

"By rebranding and re-educating consumers on the differences, we can protect consumers from the recalled product."

I guess it's just up to you to decide whether or not you believe him.

Bindeez are back, but now drug-free

[News.au]

Nebraska Firm Recalls Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination [USDA]
Ground Beef Recall [Kroger] (Thanks to Kimberley!)
E. Coli Illnesses Prompt Beef Recall [NYT]
(Photo: Getty)

Accept it, folks. The tomatoes are going to systematically destroy us. There are 82,000 of these things out there, waiting to attack at any moment.

QVC Recalls Version Of Topsy-Turvy Tomato Planters [KDKA] (Thanks, keith!)

Scotts has agreed to recall the fertilizer. The EPA says:

[We] ordered Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., located in Marysville, Ohio to stop selling and distributing four pesticide products. Two of these products are illegal because they were never registered with EPA and display invalid registration numbers on the labels. The other two products are currently registered with EPA. However, Scotts sold and distributed these products before they were registered, which is a violation of federal law. The labels on these two products make false or misleading claims or fail to provide adequate safety instructions to protect people and the environment.

Check your Scott's products for the following EPA numbers:

Each registered pesticide must have an EPA registration number on its label that is specific to that product. That number may appear anywhere on the label, but is typically found near the bottom of the label on the front or back of the product. It is often designated as EPA Registration No. XXX-XXX or EPA Reg No. XXX-XXX.

If you see the following EPA registration numbers, you have an unregistered or improperly labeled pesticide:

* 62355-4 (garden weed preventor & plant food products)
* 538-301 (weed & feed and fire ant killer product)
* 538-299 (turf builder plus weed and feed product)
* 538-304 (lawn service fertilizer with .28% Halts Pro products)

If you have purchased any of these products, you should stop using them and follow Scotts recall instructions

The recall instructions are located here.

EPA orders Scotts to stop selling certain pesticides [EPA](Thanks, Greg!)

Consumers should take these toy phones away from young children immediately and contact the firm for instructions on obtaining a free replacement.

For more information call Kids Station toll-free at (888) 620-0930 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kidsstationtoys.com

Kids Station Toys Recalls Little Tikes Toy Cell Phones Due to Choking Hazard [CPSC]

Honda and Acura 6 Speed Manual Problem Addressed - TSB Released [Automotivearticles](Thanks to Mark!)

PREVIOUSLY: Honda Ignores Civic SI Owners' Complaints About Faulty Transmissions

Sales of Barbie fell 12 percent in the U.S. as the 49-year- old doll faced competition from Hannah Montana and Ganz's Webkinz. Mattel, which recalled more than 21 million Chinese-made products in 2007, expects Chinese manufacturing costs to rise further. The yuan has climbed 10 percent against the dollar over the past 12 months, and inflation in China is near an 11-year high.

Also mentioned were the costs that Mattel incurred due to their lead and magnet recalls:

The recalls of Sesame Street vehicles with paint containing excessive amounts of lead and Polly Pocket dolls with magnets that may detach and get swallowed by children cost Mattel $110 million in 2007 for toy returns and legal, advertising and testing expenses.

Mattel Posts Loss as Chinese Production Costs Rise (Update4) [Bloomberg]
(Photo:Dust Storm)

The recalled products were distributed nationally under the Malt-O-Meal brand name as well as under private label brands including Acme, America's Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw's, ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality. The cereals have "Best If Used By" dates from April 8, 2008 (coded as "APR0808") through March 18, 2009 (coded as "MAR1809").

Consumers should throw out any product in their homes from these recalled lots.

Salmonella Illnesses in Multiple States Linked To Cereal [FDA]

Hey Consumerist,
 
I've been using Apple products for years. I've always been satisfied with their customer service and exceptional products. Naturally, I was upset when I noticed the MagSafe power adapter on my Intel Core Duo Macbook (ca. 2006) was fraying by the magnetic port, rendering it mostly useless (or at least, useless if I didn't want to set my house on fire charging my Macbook with exposed wires).

Cursing my luck, I tried to reconcile making myself buy a new charger when it was just this small part of the product that was faulty and wondered how this could have happened after extremely meticulous care of my notebook (to the extent that I can count on my hands how many times it's left the house). I went to Apple's online store to check the price ($79) only to discover that there appears to be literally hundreds of complaints from people claiming to have used their adapters for even shorter periods of time, or at least very carefully, before being forced to replace them, and demanding that Apple address the issue of its poorly fortified MagSafe ports.
 
Forcing that many people who have already invested a large amount into a reliable product to buy replacement parts so soon seems like an easily resolved situation that would save Apple a lot of headaches in the future and, more importantly, goes against their image as a company that sells sturdy, easily managed products.
 
Please help! I've resigned myself to the fact that I have to spend that money so I can actually use my notebook but would sleep sounder knowing that the money was going toward something that would last me longer than a Dell charger would. I certainly feel like I've paid for that privilege.

Right now I am typing this trying not to move my computer too much so the 2 steel wool thin wires that are still attached will charge my computer. I am in love with this computer... with power. I smell melting plastic too.
 
The Magsafe adapter on my MacBook Pro, unlike the one on my deep fat frier, has an extremely limited life span. The one on my frier has a reinforced neck where the wire meets the adapter.
 
the adapter never laaves the house.....however, base connecting point of the AC adapter's nifty magnetic head just started to smell of melted rubber; now it is looking melted and i can see the wires inside!

From Costco's recall:

Four-pack of 12-ounce packages of "Discover Cuisine ™ Red Curry Chicken & Jasmine Rice." Each package bears the Canadian establishment number "Est. 302" inside the Canadian Food Inspection Agency mark of inspection as well as a "Best By" date of "12 18 08." The item number "2880" also appears by the UPC code on the package.

13,000 easter egg tops and camoflage easter eggs are contaminated with lead paint and pose a poisoning hazard to children who handle them.

Consumers should immediately take the recalled Camouflage Eggs and the Spinning Egg Tops away from children and contact Hobby Lobby to receive a $3 exchange card that can be used toward the purchase of any other products sold at Hobby Lobby stores.

Hobby Lobby Stores Recalls Easter Egg Containers and Spinning Egg Tops Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard [CPSC]

(Thanks to Robert!)

Apparently, Steve "The Cows Needed A Pick-Me-Up" Mendell was shocked, horrified and sickened by the undercover video that showed cows that were too sick to walk being lifted and prodded with forklifts.

"I was shocked. I was horrified. I was sickened," Steve said.

Testifying before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Mendell, who appeared only after being subpoenaed, assured lawmakers that despite his lack of knowledge about conditions at the plant, sick animals were not slaughtered for food, so no safety issue existed.

But Mr. Mendell retracted the statement when shown a second video in which a "downer" cow was shocked and abused by workers trying to move it to the "kill box," then finally shot with a bolt gun and dragged by a chain to the processing area.

When Mr. Mendell told the committee he was unaware of the abuses, Mr. Stupak asked him, "What's your curiosity, as president and C.E.O. of the company you're responsible for?"

Mr. Mendell replied that after he had seen the first video, he concluded that "it was a regulatory violation, for sure, it was inhumane treatment, for sure," but that he did not believe it was a food safety issue until he saw the second video on Wednesday.

Mr. Stupak asked if one could conclude from the video that the cow dragged into the killing area had gone into the food supply.

"That would be logical, sir," Mr. Mendell replied.

Meat Packer Admits Slaughter of Sick Cows [NYT]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said today drug counterfeiters may have added a foreign ingredient into Chinese shipments of Baxter's blood-thinner heparin which has been linked to 19 deaths and 800 illnesses.

As much as 25 percent of the material in the nine suspect lots of the blood-thinning drug, sold by Deerfield-based Baxter are a foreign substance that is similar in chemical make-up to heparin, said Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting director of the FDA's center for drug evaluation and research.

Conventional quality and safety testing performed by Baxter and its supplier, Scientific Protein Laboratories of Waunakee, Wis., did not show any variation because the foreign substance is so similar to heparin. "It acts like heparin in this test, so it looks like everything is fine in the test," Woodcock said.

"We don't know if this occurred by some error, by some biological process, or if this occurred deliberately," said Woodcock.

The FDA said that the contaminant is present in the active pharmaceutical ingredient originating from Scientific Protein's plant in Changzhou, China, but it also is possible that the foreign substance could have been introduced at the company's Waunakee, Wis. plant or at Baxter's Cherry Hill, N.J., processing facility.

It you wanted an easy job, Doctor, why are you the commissioner of the FDA?

FDA finds contaminant in Baxter's blood-thinner heparin [Chicago Tribune] (Thanks, Andrew!)

Attempts by Consumerist to locate this press release failed, as it seems to have been taken off the store's website. Pepsico, parent company of Quaker Oats, also had no information about the recall. Same with the FDA. So what's up with the pancake mix?

Quaker Oats Company said they could not yet say exactly what is wrong with the mixes.

"We are currrently working with regulators on what we can say," spokeswoman Candace Mueller said this afternoon.

Schnucks said Quaker Oats said only that, "there is a potential health risk associated" with the recalled products.

Do let us know what you learn.

Grocers pull pancake mix from shelves [Post-Dispatch](Thanks, Joseph!)

Everyday Living Bleach, sold exclusively by Fred Meyer and QFC, should not be returned to the store.

From Fred Meyer:

The Everyday Living Bleach involved in the recall was on the shelves beginning January 17. It includes 96 oz. bottles of the regular, citrus and mountain blend bleaches as well as 128 oz. bottles of the regular bleach.
If you purchased the product, you should put the bleach in a garbage bag, and place it in a second bag if the container looks bulged.

Please don't attempt to take this item back to a store. Instead, move the item to an area where it won't cause damage and contact the manufacturer, KIK Customer Product, at 800-479-6603 ext. 656.

Please be ready to provide the UPC number, description, size and sell-by date on the bottle.

Arrangements will be made for the manufacturer to come and pick up the bagged bleach.

If the UPC number or the sell-by date cannot be viewed without touching the bottle, but was purchased after January 17, simply bag the product and call the manufacturer.

Yikes.

Fred Meyer, QFC recall bleach with potential to explode [Seattle Times]
PRODUCT RECALL: Everyday Living Bleach [Fred Meyer]
(Photo:Getty)

Gorton's said it ordered the recall as a precaution while a laboratory conducts tests to determine the nature of the pills. Those tests should be complete early next week.

"Obviously product alteration is a very serious matter," said Jud Reis, vice president of marketing for the Gloucester, Mass., company. "We are conducting a full investigation into the source of the problem."

The recall is for Gorton's Six Crispy Battered Fish Fillets weighing 11.4 ounces. The UPC is 44400157770, with a date code of 7289G1 and a best-if-used-by date of April 2009. The fish also was sent to Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Consumers who purchased the fish may call Gorton's at 800-896-9479.

Southern Regional Police Chief James Childs said that, on Friday, he received a call from the FBI and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"They have become the lead investigators," Childs said.

Childs forwarded them copies of his department's report on how Tracy Rowan and her daughter found items they believed were pills inside two Gorton's fish fillets they were eating on Feb. 24.

Rowan's son, who was also eating a fillet, tasted something hard and bitter and spit it out, Rowan said.

Fish recalled after Pa. woman finds pills in it [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Feds take pill-in-fillet case [Evening Sun]

Consumers should stop using the cribs and contact the manufacturer for a replacement set of brackets that will fix the problem.

Here's the info:

The recalled cribs include: Majestic Curved Top cribs with model number 9500; Majestic Flat Top cribs with model number 9000; Essex cribs with model number 7100; Brighton/Sussex cribs with model number 9100 and Captiva cribs with model number 5100. Only cribs with manufacture dates between November 1, 2005 and November 1, 2007 are included in the recall. The crib model number is printed on the white label on the bottom inside of the right side rail. The crib manufacture date is printed on either the white label near the model number or on the white label located on the bottom of the headboard. Cribs with a green sticker on the mattress frame are not included in the recall.

Sold at: Specialty juvenile product stores nationwide from November 2005 through November 2007 for between $400 and $600.

Manufactured in: Indonesia

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled cribs and contact Munire Furniture to receive replacement spring brackets.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Munire Furniture Inc. at (866) 586-9639 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET or visit the firm's Web site at www.munirefurniture.com

Munire Furniture Recalls Cribs Due to Fall Hazard [CPSC]

They seem like pleasant mustachioed fellows.

U.S. sees largest meat recall in history [Yahoo!]

From the WSJ:

In two conference calls this week, industry and USDA officials discussed the possibility of excluding from the recall Hallmark/Westland beef that was mixed with other suppliers' meat and sent to retail and wholesale customers, according to a memo written by an employee of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC. The Washington law firm represents several food companies. The department appears to have since decided against narrowing the scope.

Beef Industry Presses For Reduced Recall [WSJ]

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) did not protect consumers from the hazardous stoves because existing agency regulations require a prolonged dialogue with manufacturers of hazardous products, the consumer groups said.

"Currently, CPSC must give companies 30 days notice, allowing them time to file suit to stop the CPSC from alerting the public about hazardous products. Essentially, it has to get the manufacturers' permission, which is absurd," Claybrook said.

Lawmakers need to end such loopholes and give the CPSC more authority in a consumer product safety reform bill now moving through Congress, she said.

Retailers: Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corp., of Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Hazard: A metal bracket connecting the door to the stove can cause a tip-over when the door is opened. This poses a risk of injury to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Sears has received one report of the product tipping over, resulting in bruises to a child.

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said his department has evidence that Westland did not routinely contact its veterinarian when cattle became non-ambulatory after passing inspection, violating health regulations.

''Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection, Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall,'' Schafer said in a statement.

A phone message left for Westland president Steve Mendell was not immediately returned.

Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after an undercover Humane Society video surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts.

Two former employees were charged Friday. Five felony counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanors were filed against a pen manager. Three misdemeanor counts — illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal — were filed against an employee who worked under that manager. Both were fired.

Authorities said the video showed workers kicking, shocking and otherwise abusing ''downer'' animals that were apparently too sick or injured to walk into the slaughterhouse. Some animals had water forced down their throats, San Bernardino County prosecutor Michael Ramos said.

USDA Makes Nation's Largest Beef Recall [AP]
PREVIOUSLY: USDA Stops Production At Meatpacking Facility After Undercover Video Showed Sick Cows Being Abused
(Photo: flikr)

"I was trying to give my sister some candy and when I looked at it, it had a razor blade in it," said Chris, 10-years-old. His mother asked that we not use his last name.

The Pokemon cards and Valentines Day candy is imported from China by Sherwood Brands. In a recorded message Thursday Dollar General ordered all Pokemon candy and two others removed from store shelves.

"The items are the Pokemon cards and valentines candy. Dog valentine and pops and 20 strip, or 20 count strip Heart pops. Removing these items from the sales floor must become your most important priority today," said the recording from Dollar General Headquarters in Tennessee.

Importer Recalls Valentine Lollipops [AP]
(AP Photo/Polk County Sheriff's Office)