Cost Plus World Market has recalled about 300 Stainless Steel Cookware sets due to burn hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

The recalled Stainless Steel Cookware sets were made in India by Kraftwares of Mahalaxmi, Mumbai and were distributed by Cost Plus Inc., of Oakland, California. Continue »

A study of patients exposed to gadolinium contrast dyes at the Mayo Clinic has revealed that hemodialysis patients had a 77-fold higher risk of developing nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), while kidney transplant patients had a 69-fold higher risk of the disease. The NSF study was published in the October issue of the Archives of Dermatology.

NSF is a debilitating disease that leads to excessive formation of connective tissue in the skin and internal organs. It is characterized by high blood pressure, burning, itching, swelling and hardening of the skin. Other symptoms include red or dark patches on the skin; pain deep in the hip bones or ribs and muscle weakness. NSF can progress to the point of causing severe stiffness in joints, and it can lead to death. Continue »

About 10,000 Salomon USA Alpine and Atomic Ski Bindings have been recalled due to unexpected release and fall hazard the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

The defective Salomon Alpine and Atomic Ski Bindings, were made in Romania, imported by Salomon USA, of Ogden, Utah, and manufactured by Salomon SAS, of France. Continue »

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) just issued 22 warning letters to Web site operators as part of its International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), a coordinated, weeklong, international effort intended to curb illegal actions involving medical products.

The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI), in conjunction with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and the Office of Regulatory Affairs, Office of Enforcement, targeted 136 Web sites that appeared to be engaged in the illegal sale of unapproved or misbranded drugs to U.S. consumers. None of the Web sites are for pharmacies in the United States or Canada, the FDA noted. Continue »

More results of Chinese drywall testing conducted as part of the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission’s (CPSC) massive investigation are expected to be released next week. The highly anticipated report will arrive just days before an important lawsuit deadline arrives for some Chinese drywall homeowners.

The next round of test results will address the corrosion of copper wires and other metals in homes with Chinese drywall – whether this is being caused by fumes from the wallboard, and whether the corrosion of wiring poses a fire hazard. The CPSC is also expected to release results of tests done on indoor-air samples collected from about 50 U.S. homes with Chinese drywall. Continue »

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced that a malfunctioning fuel monitoring system probably led to the massive explosion at a Caribbean Petroleum Corporation facility near San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The October 23 blast endangered the lives of thousands and ignited an immense blaze that fed on jet fuel, bunker fuel, and gasoline stored at the facility. Plumes of thick, black smoke filled the air with hazardous contaminants, including carbon monoxide and sulfur; winds spread the toxins throughout San Juan and adjacent municipalities, exposing thousands and displacing over 1,500 people. The situation was no better for those forced to remain inside with windows closed to keep out the toxins. Continue »

Vicks Sinex nasal spray is being recalled in three countries because of potential bacterial contamination. According to a recall notice issued by Proctor & Gamble, the recall includes three lots of Vicks Sinex nasal spray sold in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany. The bacteria, B. cepacia, has been found in a small amount of Vicks Sinex nasal spray from the recalled lot sold in the States, the notice said.

The three lots of Vicks Sinex nasal spray being recalled are:

United States: Lot # 9239028831; Product Name: Vicks Sinex Vapospray 12-Hour Decongestant Ultra Fine Mist, 15 ml., Nasal Spray

United Kingdom: Lot # 9224028832l; Product Name: Vicks Sinex Micromist Aqueous Nasal Spray Solution, 15 ml

Germany: Lot # 9224028833; Product Name: Wick Sinex Schnupfenspray Dosiersystem, 15 ml

Continue »

It seems as if we’re always writing about the issue of dangerous, deadly children’s hooded sweatshirts and jackets sold in violation of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations. Sadly, another recall is being announced.

In this case, about 17,000 Youth Hooded Sweatshirts and Jackets are being recalled by Century 21 Promotions, Inc. due to strangulation hazard. The recalled Youth Hooded Sweatshirts and Jackets were manufactured and imported by Century 21 Promotions, of Seattle, Washington. To date, no reports of incidents or injuries have been reported. Continue »

A fatal bus crash on I-90 in Minnesota killed two women and injured more than a dozen others. According to a report on StarTribune.com, it could be weeks before the cause of the bus accident is known.

According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the bus crash occurred about 3:20 p.m about2 miles west of Austin. The bus crossed the median and the westbound lanes. It ended up in the ditch, where it flipped over, landing with the door side down. There was no construction going on in the area of the accident and weather was not a factor. Continue »

A large recall of Perfect Flame SLG Series Gas Grills has been initiated over fire and burn hazards, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced. The recall involved about 663,000 Perfect Flame SLG Series Gas Grills in the United States and about 1,700 in Canada.

The Perfect Flame SLG Series Gas Grills were imported by L G Sourcing, Inc., of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina and were manufactured by Lucas Innovation Inc., of China. The recall was implemented because the burners can deteriorate, causing irregular flames and the lids of some models to catch fire, posing fire and burn hazards to the consumer. To date, the firm has received about 40 reports of fires from the burners deteriorating and about 23 reports of the lids catching fire. The firm is aware of one report of an eye injury requiring surgery and 21 incidents of minor burns to the hands, arms, or face. Continue »