IKEA has issued a global recall of 23 million lamps (more than 3 million in the U.S. and Canada alone) after the death of a 16-month-old child who became entangled in the lamp’s cord while in their crib, and another incident involving a 15-month-old who nearly strangled on the lamp’s cord. [More]
Quality & Safety
What Should I Do If No One Accepts My Chobani Recall Coupons?
By 12.12.13
Remember the Chobani yogurt recall this past fall, when fungal contamination led to sour-tasting, occasionally-exploding yogurts distributed nationwide? Chobani made it up to their customers by sending coupons so they could replace their contaminated products. The problem with that is that some grocers won’t accept these coupons. [More]
Coby Electronics TVs Recalled: Might Go Down In Flames Just Like The Manufacturer
By 12.12.13
You might remember Coby Electronics, the manufacturer of low-priced gadgets that always seemed to be on half-price sale at your local drugstore. The company went out of business a few months ago, and a well-known liquidation firm took over its assets but not its liabilities. One of the company’s TV models may have a faulty component, which could cause the set to catch fire. [More]
Chromebook 11 Charger Measured At A Toasty 140 Degrees
By 12.12.13
You probably didn’t need more proof that you should stop using the charger that came with your Chromebook 11 from HP. First we heard reports from Consumerist’s own editorial offices, then Google itself told customers to quit using the charger. Now Consumer Reports happens to be testing Chromebooks, and measured the surface temperature of the charger: 140 degrees. [More]
FDA Politely Asks Drug Companies To Voluntarily Stop Providing Antibiotics For Animal Feed
By 12.11.13
In the face of numerous reports indicating that the practice of using medically unnecessary antibiotics to bulk up farm animals is leading to millions of people getting sick each year from drug-resistant pathogens, the Food & Drug Administration drew a line in the sand today and put an end to the practi– oh wait, I meant that the FDA has politely asked drug companies to voluntarily phase out sales of these drugs to farmers. [More]
December Recall Roundup: Tablets Of Fire
By 12.9.13
In this month’s Recall Roundup, wheels break, fire bowls turn into fiery explosions, and chargers and refrigerators alike might overheat and catch fire. It’s a dangerous world: that’s why we bring you these recall listings.
Walmart To Pay Out $25 Million Over Exploding Gas Cans
By 12.9.13
Even though Walmart does not manufacture plastic gasoline cans, it does sell more of the cans than any other retailer in the country and it has been named as a defendant in dozens of lawsuits regarding exploding cans. And so the retail giant has reportedly agreed to fork over $25 million to cover its portion of a $161 million settlement that would close the book on a number of unresolved claims. [More]
New 23andMe Customers Will Only Have Access To Hereditary Information
By 12.6.13
Two weeks after being told by the FDA that it needed to stop marketing its at-home genetic testing kits, and several days after it stopped marketing the disease-diagnosing aspects of the product, Google-backed 23andMe is finally letting customers who had paid for the $99 kit know what is going on. [More]
Los Angeles Might Treat Sale Of E-Cigarettes Like Regular Smokes
By 12.5.13
It’s not just has-been actors like Stephen Dorff and Jenny McCarthy who smoke electronic cigarettes. They have become increasingly popular not just with smokers trying to quit but with people who want the fun of smoking without the whole “ashtray lung” after effect. Additionally, e-cigs don’t come with most of the pesky sales limitations of their tobacco counterparts, making them easier to buy and sell for some folks. But if the Los Angeles City Council gets its way, electronic cigarettes will soon be treated exactly the same as the unplugged versions. [More]
23andMe Stops Marketing Of Genetic Test Kits, But What About Everyone Who Already Has One?
By 12.4.13
Shortly before Thanksgiving, the Food and Drug Administration ordered that Google-backed 23andMe stop marketing its at-home genetic testing kits because the company had failed to get regulatory clearance for many of the product’s advertised uses. On Monday, the company announced it was abiding by that decision but hopes to work something out with the FDA, but has yet to tell any of its current customers what is going on with their kits. [More]
How To Not Suck… At Lowering Your Utility Bills
By 11.27.13
Stick what in my toilet? Let what hang out? Recycle… what? So many questions and so many odd suggestions, all in the name of trimming your utility bills. There are plenty of things you can do to cut costs. And with the cold weather coming — or already here for many of us — it’s a great time to see what you can do to stay warmer and save some cash. [More]
Recall: Baby Monitors Should Monitor Babies, Not Strangle Them
By 11.25.13
The entire purpose of a baby monitor is to keep an ear or an eye on your baby while it sleeps in a different room. The Angelcare monitor adds an extra component to that: a pad that monitors movement and rests under the mattress. Sounded like a great idea…until two babies got hold of the cord and were strangled to death. [More]
FDA Orders Halt To Marketing Of 23andMe DIY Genetic Test Kits
By 11.25.13
Alleging that the makers of the popular, Google-backed 23andMe at-home genetic testing kit are violating federal law by marketing the product for things like disease diagnosis without regulatory clearance, the FDA has ordered an immediate halt to sales of the kits. [More]
Customers In Gree Dehumidifier Recall Start Receiving Checks, Are Upset With Amounts
By 11.21.13
Earlier this week, we shared a note from a reader who sent away for a refund when her dehumidifier was part of a massive recall because dehumidifiers aren’t supposed to catch fire. She wondered why her refund check was taking so long to arrive, and got even more confusing information when she called the recall hotline. Could we help? We could try. [More]
FDA Scientists Find Amphetamine-Like Ingredient In 9 Diet Supplements… So Where’s The Warning?
By 11.19.13 — Updated: 2.8.17
Scientists from the Food and Drug Administration have found nine “all natural” dietary supplements that contain a “non-natural” amphetamine-like compound. But then why hasn’t the FDA itself issued any kind of warning to the public about using those products? [More]
Hey, Gree Electric Appliances, Where’s My Recalled Dehumidifier Refund?
By 11.18.13
A few months ago, we reported that 2.2 million dehumidifiers sold under a variety of brands had been recalled after a few units sort of… started fires. Customers with affected units were to send back the unit’s name plate, dispose of it safely after cutting off the cord or otherwise rendering it unusable, then sit back and wait for their refund checks. And wait… and wait… and wait. [More]
November Food And Supplement Recall Roundup: Puréed Ew
By 11.15.13
In today’s food, supplement, and drug Recall Roundup, we learn that Listeria could be everywhere, and that blue raspberry flavored apple slices are apparently a thing. So is “natural blue raspberry flavor.” [More]
FDA Ruins Everyone’s Weekend With French Fry Health Notice
By 11.15.13
Like many of you, I plan on enjoying yummy french fries this weekend, because they taste good. But in doing so, I’ll have to ignore the downer of a reminder from the FDA about how fries and other fried foods may contain an animal carcinogen called acrylamide. [More]
