The Wall Street Journal says that that beef industry representatives have been talking with federal food-safety regulators about possibly “narrowing the scope” of the recent record-breaking beef recall that stemmed from an undercover video showing slaughter house workers hitting sick cows with forklifts and forcing them into the slaughter box. Cows that can not stand are not allowed into the food supply because they pose an increased risk of “mad cow” disease.
Transportation & Infrastructure
![CPSC Recalled Play Stove For Tipping, Ignored Real Ones?](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dangerstove.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
CPSC Recalled Play Stove For Tipping, Ignored Real Ones?
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.
![USDA Recalls 143 Million Pounds Of Beef](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/how-now-recalled-cow.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
USDA Recalls 143 Million Pounds Of Beef
The U.S. Department of Agriculture initiated the largest meat recall in U.S. history today, recalling 143 million pounds of beef from a macabre California slaughterhouse that chopped up downer cows—a rich source of mad cow disease—and sold them to school districts across the nation. The massive recall affects all beef produced by the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company after February 1, 2006.
![Pokemon Valentine's Day Lollipops Should Not Contain Razor Blades](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/tainted-pop.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Pokemon Valentine's Day Lollipops Should Not Contain Razor Blades
A 10-year-old elementary school student found a razor blade in the Pokemon lollipop he was about to hand to his sister. Dollar General, which sold the lollipop for $1, immediately recalled the remaining Pokemon Valentine Cards and Pops from its 8,300 stores, but they are concerned that “most of this candy has already been purchased.”
Recalls
A Life of Faith Charm Bracelet Sets (lead), Polaris All-Terrain Vehicles (fire), Soft Air USA Remote-Controlled Helicopter Toys (Fire and Burn), GE Gas Clothes Dryers (shock), Trek MT220 Girls Bicycles (frame failures), eeBoo Corp Sketchbooks with Colored Spirals (lead).
![Icy Hot Heat Therapy Products Recalled For Too Much Hot, Not Enough Icy](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/icyhot.jpg?w=170&h=191&crop=1)
Icy Hot Heat Therapy Products Recalled For Too Much Hot, Not Enough Icy
Chattem, Inc., the manufacturer of Icy Hot products has issued a recall of their “heat therapy” products due to reports of skin irritation and first, second and third degree burns. Ouch!
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RECALLS: Children’s toy rakes (lead), Children’s sketch books (lead), Campbell Hausfeld and Husky Air Compressors (fires),Car Charging Units (included with LL Bean Airbeds) (bursting batteries),Sterling Silver Teethers (choking), Marshalls velour jackets (strangulation), Baby Einstein Crib Toy (choking), Classroom Reading and Math Aids (lead)
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Former electric heater company Vornado will pay the government a civil penalty of $500,000 and deny any wrongdoing for failing to report incidents of heater fires from 1993 to 2004, says the CPSC.
![Members Of Congress Implore Mattel To "Do The Right Thing," Recall Lead-Tainted Toy Blood-Pressure Cuff](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/robert-eckert.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Members Of Congress Implore Mattel To "Do The Right Thing," Recall Lead-Tainted Toy Blood-Pressure Cuff
56 Members of Congress want to know why Mattel CEO Robert Eckert refuses to issue a nationwide recall for a toy blood-pressure cuff that is contaminated with lead. The affected blood-pressure cuff, sold as part of the Fisher-Price Medical Kit, was recalled exclusively in Illinois after Mattel received a complaint from State Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Legislators want Eckert to stand by a pledge made to reassure a jittery public before the holiday buying season that Mattel would ‘earn back our trust with deeds, not just with words.’
![Dealer Sells Car Touting Safety Features It Doesn't Actually Have](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/noparachute.jpg?w=178&h=215&crop=1)
Dealer Sells Car Touting Safety Features It Doesn't Actually Have
Ben writes:
A friend of mine bought a 2005 Toyota 4 Runner for about $25000. When he went to the dealer, he told them that safety was a big concern as he has small children, and he wanted to get as many safety features as he could on the vehicle he was going to buy. The saleswoman showed him the 4 Runner he ended up buying and pointed out that it had side and curtain airbags, which were listed on the sticker. He bought it, and a week later he took it to get inspected. It turns out that it does not have the side and curtain airbags that are listed on the sticker. He went back to the dealership and spoke to the manager who offered him a few free oil changes, and tried to tell him that that year didn’t even come with those airbags so what was he complaining about. What should he do? They already got rid of the truck he traded in, and is thinking that the dealer owes him some cash back on the deal.
Classic bait and switch. If your friend wants to take the guy to the mat, he could try to ask for a rebate for what he feels the cash value of those safety features are. I recommend the tactics described in the post, “How To Kick A Scammy Car Dealer In The Nuts.”
![Toy Maker Reluctantly Agrees To Recall Leadly "Jammin Jenna" Dolls](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/jamminjena.jpg?w=178&h=225&crop=1)
Toy Maker Reluctantly Agrees To Recall Leadly "Jammin Jenna" Dolls
A toy-maker who refused to issue a recall for its lead-tainted toys has reversed its position. TY made some “Jammin Jenna” dolls with that were found to have more lead than 600 parts per million Illinois state limit. In response to recall requests, TY said it didn’t have to because they said federal law supersedes state law. However, the state AG and federal CPSC responded that states are allowed to adopt more restrictive laws in the absence of federal regulation. TY will pull the Jammin Jena dolls and replace their leadly shiny red vinyl shoes with cloth ones.
![General Motors Says New Fuel Requirements Will Add $6,000 To Price Of Cars](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/con_gmconferenceroom.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
General Motors Says New Fuel Requirements Will Add $6,000 To Price Of Cars
Bob Lutz, GM’s vice president and product chief, told reporters this week that new federal guidelines that require 35mpg fuel efficiency by 2020 (yes, more than a decade from now) are so stringent that it will end up costing an average of $6,000 more per vehicle. “That cost will have to be passed on to consumers,” he then threatened. We can’t help but feel sorry for GM. After all, this whole “better fuel efficiency” topic was only brought up, what, like two or three months ago? And GM only has twelve years to find cost-effective (we’d say “innovative” but don’t want to put too much pressure on such a backwards, fearful company) ways to lighten cars and improve engines.
![CPSC Boss: Toys "Are Safer Than They Have Ever Been"](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/nancynordattheplayground.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
CPSC Boss: Toys "Are Safer Than They Have Ever Been"
Consumer Reports takes issue with some of the statements CPSC chairperson Nancy Nord said in a recent speech:
![Ford: Photos Of Your Car Are Copyright Infringement](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/mustang.jpg?w=158&h=118&crop=1)
Ford: Photos Of Your Car Are Copyright Infringement
Well, this seems misguided. A group of people who are members of the “Black Mustang Club” wanted to take some pictures of their cars and make a calendar using CafePress. Turns out, CafePress refuses to publish pictures of Ford cars due to claims of copyright infringement:
../../../..//2008/01/12/wisconsin-based-hunting-stand-company/
Wisconsin-based hunting stand company Ardisam Inc. has agreed to pay a $420,000 civil penalty to settle a government lawsuit. In 2004, the company recalled 78,000 hunting tree stands that “unexpectedly detached from trees,” sending hunters tumbling to the ground.
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RECALLS: Kash N’ Gold Tinker Bell Novelty Lamps (lead), A.O. Smith Exhaust Fan Electric Motors (fire), Shims Bargain Pacifiers (choking), TJ Promotions Coin Banks (lead), Lowe’s Torchiere Lamps (fire), Honda ATVs (loss of speed control), Intermatic Digital Timers (shock), Pacific Cycle Children’s Trailer Bicycles (can detach from adult bicycle), Canondale Scalpel Mountain Bikes (crashing), Mark’s Quality Meats Beef (E.coli), New Era Mexican-Style Beans (botulism), Raw Oysters Harvested from the West Karako Bay Section of Growing Area 3 in Louisiana (norovirus), Shangai Chaojimengnan (actually Viagra).
![Walmart Is Still Selling Recalled Lead-Tainted Bibs](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/walmart-bibs-thumb.png?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Walmart Is Still Selling Recalled Lead-Tainted Bibs
Walmart is still selling lead-tainted Baby Connection bibs that were recalled last May. Reader Jeff made the discovery after his wife accidentally purchased two packs of recalled bibs for their 4-month-old daughter while vacationing in the Poconos.