A Bausch & Lomb plant in South Carolina has cleared inspection after failing last year in an investigation following an outbreak of a rare and dangerous eye infection caused by its MoistureLoc contact solution.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Choking Concerns Prompt Gerber To Recall Organic Rice And Oatmeal Cereals
By 7.15.07
475,000 affected 8 ounce cereal boxes were sold nationwide. Any organic rice with UPC codes 15000 and 12504, or organic oatmeal with the UPC codes 15000 and 12502 are part of the recall; the UPC codes are on the bottom right side of the boxes. Customers can return the cereals and receive a refund by calling Gerber at (800) 443-7237 or (231) 928-3000.
Hybrid Mileage Claims Spur Lawsuit
By 7.7.07
A California man shocked that his Honda Civic Hybrid’s gas efficiency didn’t match EPA estimates has decided to file a class action suit against Honda for false advertising. John True spent an extra $7,000 on the hybrid model after seeing advertisements that claimed average city fuel efficiency of 49 mpg. True was horrified to discover that after 6,000 miles of driving, he only averaged 32 mpg.
The lawsuit claims American Honda Motor Co. has misled consumers in its advertisements and on its Web site. The suit notes that while the Environmental Protection Agency and automobile window stickers say “mileage will vary,” some Honda advertisements read “mileage may vary.” That implies that it’s possible to get the mileage advertised, said William H. Anderson, a Washington, D.C., attorney for True.
Lawsuits: Tyson Ground Beef Sold by Walmart Put Me In The Hospital
By 7.5.07
A woman has filed a lawsuit after ground beef made by Tyson and sold by Walmart put her in the hospital for 3 weeks, she says. From KOTV:
Melinda Pierce says she bought some Tyson hamburger meat at the Muskogee Wal-Mart on June 4th and made enchiladas with it two days later.
Safeway Continues To Sell Contaminated "Veggie Booty"
By 7.5.07
Reader Scott tells us that his Mother-In-Law purchased “Veggie Booty” from the Safeway in Roseville, CA on July 4. Veggie Booty has been linked to 52 cases of salmonella across 17 states, and has been recalled nationwide.
FDA: Veggie Booty Snack Food Contaminated With Salmonella
By 6.29.07
The FDA is warning consumers not to eat Veggie Booty snack food, because there is a risk of salmonella contamination. Reader Ethan asked us to announce this recall because “Pretty much everyone I know who has a toddler buys this stuff.” We’d never heard of it, but Salon.com calls it “crack for babies” and says it smells “funkier than poop.” Ok.
By 6.29.07
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Consumer Reports squarely places the blame for unsafe Chinese products on everyone.
New York Times Reporter Detained By "Thomas The Tank Engine" Toy Factory
By 6.26.07
David Barboza, a New York Times business reporter based in China, stopped by the RC2 corporation’s factory in Dongguan, China to investigate the recent recall of 1.5 million wooden Thomas & Friends toys. He was confronted, accused of trespassing and detained for several hours. Eventually, the police recommended that he write out a confession.
At Least 450,000 Imported Chinese Tires Missing Important Safety Feature
By 6.26.07
An importer of tires based in New Jersey is asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for help recalling 450,000 imported light truck tires from China, according to CNN Money. The tires are the focus of a lawsuit involving a fatal crash “in which two construction workers were killed and a third was severely injured when a van rolled over,” according to the New York Times. The lawyer representing the lawsuit claims that the company only came forward after being named in the suit. From CNN Money:
The tires, made by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., have an insufficient or missing gum strip, a safety feature that helps prevent the tires from separating, the lawyers and a consumers’ group said in a statement. The group, Safety Research & Strategies, is urging retailers and wholesalers to stop selling the tires.
The importer says the tires were sold under the names Westlake, Telluride Compass and YKS.
Automakers Offer Unadvertised Incentives To Recent Graduates
By 6.23.07
Recent graduates shopping for a new car may be eligible for incentives offered by several automakers. The incentives are rarely advertised, unknown even to most dealers.
Thomas The Poisonous Tank Engine Recall Fallout Continues
By 6.20.07
Today’s New York Times has an interesting article about the process of assigning blame in the recent Thomas the Tank Engine recall debacle. Whose fault is it? The company that outsourced the manufacturing to China, RC2? The company that holds the rights to Thomas the Tank Engine, HIT Entertainment? Both? Neither?
Gateway Recalls Batteries For Fire Hazard
By 6.20.07
Gateway recalled laptop batteries that can overheat and pose a risk of fire. Owners of Gateway laptop models 400VTX with battery part number 6500760, and model 450ROG with battery part number 6500761 should discontinue use and submit an exchange request to Gateway.
Every Toy Recalled In The U.S. Shares The Same Label: Made In China
By 6.19.07
The New York Times is reporting that China is responsible for each and every one of the 24 toy recalls issued this year. Chinese manufactures supply up to 80% of the toys sold on the U.S. market. A new record was even set last year after the CPSC yanked 467 Chinese products off U.S. shelves.
China’s own government auditing agency reported last month that 20 percent of the toys made and sold in China had safety hazards such as small parts that could be swallowed or sharp edges that could cut a child, according to a report in China Daily. Officials in China, of course, are fighting back, insisting that its food and other exports are safe and valuable, that new regulations are being put into place and that problem goods account for a tiny portion of all exports.
We wonder if the office of some Chinese official has a framed fortune reading: You shall tell many lies today. Lucky Numbers: 24 80 467 20. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
CPSC Recalls DS-MAX-Made Toy Trucks For Choking Hazard
By 6.18.07
Neither CPSC nor DS-MAX U.S.A. Inc. is aware of any injuries with the toy trucks.
Fake Toxic Colgate Still On Store Shelves
By 6.18.07
The Herald News of New Jersey conducted an informal survey of local dollar stores and found that 4 out of 9 were still selling fake Colgate toothpaste flavored with a toxic chemical more commonly found in antifreeze. The FDA reminds you:
The counterfeit toothpaste can be easily recognized because it is labeled as “Manufactured in South Africa.” Colgate does not import toothpaste into the United States from South Africa. In addition, the counterfeit packages examined so far have several misspellings including: “isclinically” “SOUTH AFRLCA” “South African Dental Assoxiation”.
Colgate did not manufacture the fake toothpaste and claims that the health risk of the counterfeit paste is minimal.
Recall Round-Up: The Toy Is Full Of Kerosene And Other Adventures
By 6.15.07
The jewel decorations on the shoes can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Units: About 1,800 Manufactured in: China
1.5 Million Thomas & Friends Toys Recalled Due To Lead Paint From China
By 6.13.07
Way to go, China! You’ve turned our “Chinese Poison Train” into something literal. Good job!
Beef Recall Expanded To Eleven Western States
By 6.11.07
5.7 million pounds of beef distributed by United Food Group may be infected with E. coli. The beef bears sell-by dates from April 6-April 20; though the beef won’t be found on supermarket shelves, it might still be in your freezer.
The recalled products were shipped to stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. They were sold under the brand names Moran’s All Natural, Miller Meat Company, Stater Bros., Trader Joe’s Butcher Shop, Inter-American Products Inc. and Basha’s.
