A New York company called Zemco Industries has recalled 380,000 pounds of deli meat that it distributed to Walmart under the Marketside label, because it might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Although nobody has reported any illness and healthy people aren’t usually in danger, listeriosis can kill old people, infants, and others with weak immune systems. [More]
safety
California Says Some Bouncy Castles Have Too Much Lead In Them
By 8.17.10
California’s Attorney General, Jerry Brown, has filed a lawsuit that claims too many inflatable structures used at kids’ parties come with high levels of lead in the vinyl–“sometimes dozens of times the federal limit,” reports the New York Times. One of the defendants said the lawsuit was a “witch hunt,” and warned that it would have a chilling effect on what the Times calls the “bounce-house industry.” [More]
Kids Could Be Getting Salmonella From Pet Food
By 8.9.10
No, it’s not what you’re thinking, parents are not feeding their kids pet food. Instead, a new study finding a link between salmonella contaminated pet food and children posits that the kids might be touching affected animals or their pet food dishes, and then putting their hands in their mouths. [More]
Should AC Caps Be Redesigned So Teens Stop Huffing The Refrigerant And Dying?
By 8.5.10
“My husband came home and saw someone hunched over by the AC unit. He basically said, ‘What are you doing?’ and when he did that and touched my son, he fell over. And when he fell over, he made this strange sound like the air was coming out of his lungs,” said a woman who is now the president of UPROAR, United Parents to Restrict Open Access to Refrigerant. [More]
Toddlers And Spray Bottles Full Of Bleach Are An Irresistible Combination
By 8.2.10
Know what toddlers love? Spray bottles full of bleach. A new study shows that despite the fact that injuries from household cleaning products have decreaed by almost half since 1990 — spray bottle injuries are remaining steady. The most common product to injure kids under 6? Bleach. [More]
Five Things To Do Before Losing Your Wallet
By 7.24.10
Look, it’s going to happen eventually. Whether it’s pickpockets or carelessness, you’re going to lose your wallet. When you do, you’ll be glad you took these five steps to make recovery simple and painless. [More]
More Subpoenas For Toyota! This Time It's Steering Rods
By 7.20.10
Five years ago Toyota had a problem with their steering rods. Now a federal grand jury would like to see records relating to whether or not the company notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the problem in a timely fashion, says the WSJ. [More]
Enjoy The Ride: Vibrating Seat Could Enhance Driver Safety
By 7.18.10
You’re driving along, happy as can be, rocking out to some Journey, when suddenly, you feel a vibration against your body. Feels kinda good but oh no, wait, that’s a signal that there’s a car approaching on your left side so watch out and don’t get in an accident. Sound enticing — er, interesting? You’re in luck! Engineers at Yale are working on just such an invention. [More]
Recent Recalls
By 7.14.10
The products were recalled recently for being hazardous. Mr. Skully says, watch out! [More]
Government Wipes Out Geese Population In Brooklyn To Ensure Airplane Safety
By 7.13.10
In what has come to be known as “Sully’s Revenge” (by me, just now), wildlife biologists herded about 400 geese from Brooklyn’s ginormous Prospect Park into cages last week, then “took them to a nearby building where they were gassed with lethal doses of carbon dioxide.” [More]
Know Your State's Fireworks Laws
By 7.4.10
How did America’s birthday become synonymous with blowing sh*t up? We assume it has something to do with Francis Scott Key — or maybe it’s just that a lot of people think blowing sh*t up is really, really cool. But you probably don’t want to spend July 4th in jail, so you may want to learn a little about the hodgepodge of state fireworks laws — or just skip the DIY stuff and let someone else burst their bombs. [More]
Here We Go Again: This Time The Toyotas Have Defective Engines
By 7.1.10
Toyota says that 270,000 cars worldwide, including Lexus sedans, have potentially faulty engines. NHTSA says that the company has not formally notified the agency of a recall, but a supposedly reputable Japanese newspaper says that the company plans to inform government agencies of the issue on Monday. [More]
Something New To Worry About: Getting Impaled By Rogue Beach Umbrella
By 6.30.10
We’re all about safety, so we feel obligated to let you know that at any time you could be impaled by a flying beach umbrella. Cover your body with Kevlar at all times. That’s what one Ocean City, Maryland beach-goer should have done if she was really serious about safety. Her reckless lack of body armor resulted in a beach umbrella sticking out of her leg. [More]
Kid Finds Box Cutter In Peanut Bag
By 6.30.10
Anyone working in the Barcelona Nut Co. peanut factory lose a box cutter? A North Carolina teen has found it, blade extended, in his bag of nuts. [More]
35,000 Bottles Of Scope Recalled For Defective Caps
By 6.28.10
If you have a 1-liter bottle of Scope Original Mint Mouthwash that you bought sometime since January 1st, you might want to test the cap. If it twists off without needing the sides pressed in and it’s a got the number 4 stamped onto the bottom, Procter & Gamble would like to replace it, please. [More]
Pilots Bristle As American Airline Tells Them To Fly With Less Fuel
By 6.26.10
Extra fuel is joining peanuts and magazines on the list of things American Airlines wants to ditch at the gate. The airline announced plans this week to save cash by using “scientifically precise” computer models to load less fuel. If pilots want more, they’ll need to submit a request in writing. [More]
VIDEO: What's So Dangerous About Drop-Side Cribs?
By 6.24.10
So 2 million drop-side cribs were recalled this morning, but what is it about drop-side cribs that leads to can lead to baby entrapment, even death? What should you do if you own a drop-side crib? What’s the deal with the immobilizer devices? How do you test it to make sure its safe? Can I fix the crib myself? The CPSC answers these questions and more in a new video released this morning: [More]
2,000,000+ Drop-Side Cribs Recalled
By 6.24.10
The CPSC recalled over 2 million drop-side cribs from seven firms today, due to reports of falling and entrapment. The makers are: [More]
