On Friday, the makers of Banana Boat sunscreen recalled a slew of products over concerns that they could possibly ignite on a users’ skin. And while the idea of flaming sunscreen scored its share of giggles, the image here shows it’s no laughing matter. [More]
Transportation & Infrastructure
Banana Boat Sunscreen Recalled Because Your Skin Isn’t Supposed To Be Set On Fire
By 10.19.12
Considering that Banana Boat sunscreen products are supposed to keep you from getting sunburn, it’s a bit surprising that the stuff is being recalled because it could ignite while still on your skin. [More]
At Many Minnesota DMVs, Wait 2 Months Or Get In Line At 4 A.M. For Driver’s License
By 10.18.12
Oh, the dreaded Department of Motor Vehicles, where hopes are raised and dashed, where snaking long lines and confusing paperwork contribute to an atmosphere hellish enough to discourage even the most stalwart driver. If there’s a way for a DMV to be even more awful, Minnesota’s in the running for that dubious honor. Hopeful drivers-to-be in the state are apparently stuck either waiting two months to take a driving test or have to show up as early as 4 a.m. to take their shot behind the wheel. [More]
Great Peanut Butter Recall Of 2012 Now Includes Bagged Nuts, Ice Cream, Candy
By 10.18.12 — Updated: 8.21.14
The Great Peanut Butter Recall of 2012 is now the Great Peanut Recall of 2012. What began with salmonella illnesses traced back to a few varieties at Trader Joe’s has expanded to include foods including peanuts processed by Sunland, but made by a variety of manufacturers. These products include candy, ice cream, and other tasty peanut-including treats. [More]
October Recall Roundup: High Chairs, Herring, And Metal Shards
By 10.16.12
In this months’ recalls: wood cleaner sprays users in the face, wooden porch swings collapse, there’s Listeria everywhere, and an unusual number of herring products are recalled for unrelated reasons That number: two. [More]
8 Horrifying Things We Learned From Bloomberg Report On Inept, Ineffective Food Inspectors
By 10.11.12
During recent mass recalls of eggs and cantaloupe because of salmonella and listeria contamination, you heard a lot about FDA inspectors not catching this or that, and “How could no one notice all that filth?” Now a new report in Bloomberg Markets Magazine sheds a huge light at the sad state of food inspection in the U.S. [More]
Camaro Owner Claims He Recorded Mechanics Joy Riding In His Car Then Blaming Him For Damage
By 10.10.12
A Camaro owner in South Carolina say he had previously had questionable experiences with getting his car repaired at the local Chevy dealership, so when he took the car in to have its grinding gears checked out, he left an audio recorder in the door pocket. What he claims to have recorded has the Internet up in arms. [More]
Toyota Issues Recall Of 7 Million Cars Worldwide For Faulty Window Switch
By 10.10.12
In one of its biggest recalls yet, Toyota is recalling 7.43 million vehicles from around the United States, Japan and Europe — all because of a faulty power-window switch in about a dozen models that didn’t get greased up enough when the cars were built. That could cause friction in the switch and at times, even smoke. [More]
While Regular Gas Prices Shoot Up, Honda Dangles $3K Fuel Discount On Natural Gas Civics
By 10.9.12
In the midst of the California gas hullabaloo (really, gas prices are a nationwide worry), Honda is dangling quite an attractive carrot in front of drivers: Anyone who buys a natural-natural gas powered Civic by Jan. 2 will get a $3,000 debit card good for purchasing natural gas at any of the Clean Energy chain of stations. Mmm, free gas. [More]
10 Examples Of Why Companies Should Just Avoid Twitter Altogether
By 10.8.12
People talk about the risk posed by the immediacy of the Internet. Items can be posted with little thought about consequences, or made public by accident, and no matter how much deleting or editing you might do, the truth — as the kids say — is out there. Nowhere is this danger more evident than the Twittersphere. [More]
Tainted Smoked Salmon Blamed For Salmonella Outbreak In U.S. & The Netherlands
By 10.2.12
I remember asking my mom when I was little after being warned not to eat raw eggs, “But how can I get salmonella if I’m not even eating salmon?” The answer back then didn’t make sense, but now my 7-year-old self would nod at the inevitability of salmon actually being linked to salmonella. In this case, it’s smoked salmon that’s reportedly sickening hundreds in the Netherlands and the U.S. [More]
The Death Of The Great American Automotive Bench Seat
By 10.1.12
Many of my earliest memories are sitting three or four abreast in the front seat of the family’s powder blue Chevy Nova. Years later, I remember packing friends onto the bench seats of my ’71 Malibu (a lovely hand-painted pickle green) for hours of terrorizing the streets of suburban Philadelphia. So it’s with a tear in my eye that I hear today about the disappearance of this American icon. [More]
Honda & GM Both Recalling Vehicles As No One Wants To Have Their Car Catch Fire
By 10.1.12
It’s one of those days where car recalls are abounding and it seems that fuel leaks are to blame in both cases: General Motors has issued a recall of almost 41,000 vehicles from the 2007 to 2009 model years after discovering a possible problem with cars sold in warm weather states. And then Honda blows that recall out of the water by issuing an alert for 573,000 Accords from model years between 2003 and 2007. [More]
5 Major Rental Car Companies Agree To Stop Renting & Leasing Recalled Vehicles
By 9.27.12
You know what’s a scary thought? Renting a vehicle from a car rental company and then finding out that it’s part of a recall, but was never brought in for the necessary repairs. Then there you are, driving a potentially dangerous vehicle. We’re kind of surprised it took this long, but now Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Dollar Thrifty and National have agreed to stop leasing vehicles under safety recalls. [More]
Great Peanut Butter Recall Of 2012 Began With Trader Joe’s, Now Includes 17 Brands
By 9.26.12
The Great Peanut Butter Recall of 2012 started relatively small, with Valencia peanut butter sold at Trader Joe’s. Thirty individuals in nineteen different states became ill from salmonellosis, and the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified that product as the likely source of the infections. Sunland, the company that actually manufactures peanut butter sold under the Trader Joe’s label, took the precaution of recalling other products manufactured on the same product line during the same period. That includes products sold under Sunland’s own label, as well as 15 other store and niche brands. [More]
September Recall Roundup: The Care Bears Will Choke Your Baby
By 9.18.12
In this month’s Recall Roundup, light fixtures plummet from the sky, bikes fall apart while you ride them, coffee makers explode from steam pressure, and the Care Bears try to comfort your baby, but could end up choking it instead. [More]
Whole Foods Recalls Riccotta Sold In 21 States Because People Shouldn't Be Paying A Premium For Listeria
By 9.13.12
While Whole Foods might have prices that prevent some people from buying their groceries there, it’s not immune to the wee pathogens that wreak havoc on the digestive tract’s of both the rich and the poor. Thus, Whole Foods has had to issue a recall on Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand cheese sold in 21 states and Washington, D.C., because it may be contaminated with Listeria. [More]
Third Time Is Far From The Charm For The Once Again Recalled 2013 Ford Escape
By 9.5.12
Another day, another 2013 Ford Escape recall: After issuing recalls for scary fires and gas pedals that wouldn’t quit in July, Ford is issuing a third recall for its sport utility vehicles, this time citing a fire hazard in the engine compartment. On the bright side? There were no Escape recalls in the entire month of August. [More]
