The Associated Press is reporting that the Hartz Mountain Corporation has recalled a specific lot of its Hartz chicken-basted rawhide chips for dogs.  There are concerns that one or more bags in the affected lot might be contaminated with salmonella.

The lots involved are two-pound plastic bags of chips with lot code JC23282 and UPC number 3270096463.  The chicken-based rawhide chips were distributed to a national retail customer, Hartz confirmed; Hartz would not name the customer.  Hartz reported that its normal testing through an independent laboratory did not detect salmonella in any of its rawhide products; however, sample testing by another laboratory indicated the presence of the bacteria in a bag of the chicken-basted chips.  “Hartz is investigating the difference in test results and the potential source of the problem.  It said no animals or humans had been reported ill,” according to the Associated Press. (more…)

Cookies made in China are the latest product subject to a US recall due to concerns that they are tainted with the industrial chemical melamine.  Lotte USA, Inc. of  Battle Creek,  Mich., the distributor of the  recalled  Koalas’ March cookies, said in a statement that no illnesses have been attributed to the potentially-toxic cookies.

Melamine is a chemical that has gained notoriety in recent years for its ability to cheat nutrition tests; the chemical was originally designed to make plastics, fertilizer, and fire retardants.  Because melamine possesses high nitrogen contents, it can create the appearance in food of being high in protein and has been used in recent years to falsify protein levels in foods. (more…)

Portable cribs made by Playkids USA of Brooklyn, New York are being recalled following the death of a 5-month-old child.  The baby suffocated to death in August after becoming entrapped between the mattress and the drop side rail of the convertible crib.

The portable crib recall involves 2000 Playkids U.S.A. convertible crib/playpen/bassinet/bed with model number PLK-909. “Playkids U.S.A.” can be found on the packaging and on a label sewn into the side of the crib. The model number can be found on the packaging. The recalled Playkids USA portable cribs were sold in juvenile product retailers in New York from March 2007 through September 2008 for about $100. (more…)

In their final weeks in office, Bush administration officials, are working hard to rewrite a wide variety of federal rules with changes or additions that could prevent product safety lawsuits by consumers and states. As part of the multi-year endeavor, the officials have written language aimed at pre-empting product-liability litigation into 50 rules that govern everything from consumer products to medications. Many feel that this represents another example of the Bush administration’s efforts to protect corporations in the long-running power struggle between business interests, which support such efforts, and consumer groups and trial lawyers who reject them.

Here are some of the examples of rules created to protect industry: The Mattress Flammability rule requires mattresses that burn more slowly; however it prevents suits if a consumer is injured in a fire. The Drug Labeling rule makes the FDA responsible for the wording of label warnings; however, those companies that comply receive protection. The Railroad Safety rule requires stronger construction for rail cars carrying hazardous materials; however suits are prohibited if cars catch fire. (more…)

QFCO, Inc. of Burlingame, California is recalling White Rabbit Candy because of possible melamine contamination.  The White Rabbit candies were distributed to California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington state through wholesale distributors to retail stores.

The White Rabbit Creamy Candy is sold in eight- or 16-ounce packages; all other flavors, including Assorted—Chocolate, Coconut, and Coffee—Red Bean, Coffee, Corn, Lychee, Mango, and Strawberry are sold in seven-ounce packages.  All White Rabbit candy packaging contains a logo of a white rabbit on the front with the words “White Rabbit.”  The recall was implemented when it was discovered that the candies have been contaminated with the toxic chemical melamine.  Anyone who has purchased White Rabbit Candy is urged to return the candy to the place of purchase for a full refund or discard the candy in the trash.  Consumers with questions may contact the company at (650) 697-6633. (more…)

A defective Medtronic catheter used in the company’s implantable intrathecal pain pumps has been linked to the death of one patient.  In June, the company alerted doctors to the problem, but now, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has classified  Medtronic’s catheter safety alert a Class I recall.  Such a recall is defined as a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause injury or death.

Medtronic’s intrathecal drug delivery systems consist of an implantable pump and catheter that deliver small quantities of drug directly into the intrathecal space in the spine.  These devices are used to treat chronic, intractable pain and for the management of severe spasticity of cerebral or spinal origin. The Medtronic catheter recall involves the following models:  INDURA 1P Intrathecal Catheter, model 8709SC, Intrathecal Catheter, model 8731SC, Sutureless Pump Connector Revision Kit, model 8578, and Intrathecal Catheter Pump Segment Revision Kit, model 8596SC.   (more…)

The Chinese tainted milk scandal has finally reached the U.S.  Today, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products by the Taiwanese company, King Car Food Industrial Co. Ltd., due to possible contamination with melamine.   The products are made by Shandong Duqing, a Chinese manufacturer.

The Mr. Brown instant coffee recall comes after melamine-tainted baby formula sickened over 53,000 infants and killed three children nationwide.  But the problems have spread far beyond China, where hundreds of international food makers have set up factories in recent years.  Just today, baby cereal in Hong Kong and snack foods in Japan were added to the list of products contaminated with melamine.  Meanwhile Taiwan reported three children and a mother with kidney stones in the island’s first cases possibly linked to the crisis. (more…)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Regent Sports Corporation of Hauppauge, New York, announced a recall today of the MacGregor Folding Soccer Goals and Mitre Folding Soccer goals.  About 190,000 units are involved in the recall because the fixed knot flexible openings in the soccer goal net can pose a head and neck entrapment or strangulation hazard to young children.  As a matter-of-fact, Regent Sports and the CPSC have received two reports of head entanglement, including the strangulation death of a 20-month-old child who was found with his arm and neck tangled in the soccer goal net.  Consumers are alerted to immediately stop using the recalled soccer goal nets and return them to Regent Sports to arrange for Eeka free replacement net.

Both of the recalled soccer goals have a foldable white frame with a white net that is attached by Velcro strips.  When placed upright, the MacGregor goal measures six feet wide by three feet high and the Mitre net measures eight feet wide by six feet high. (more…)

More dangerous Simplicity cribs are being recalled by major retailers because of a strangulation hazard.  According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the defective Simplicity-brand cribs’ drop side can come off, creating a gap where infants and toddlers can become trapped and be strangled. The CPSC is advising parents to immediately stop using the cribs and find alternative safe sleeping arrangements.

The recall involves 600,000 Simplicity cribs, including the Aspen and Crib N Changer Combo, Gabrielle, Camille, Providence and Shenandoah models. They were sold from January 2005 to August 2008.  The recalled cribs can be identified by the model name, model numbers and date codes. The recalled model numbers include: 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8778, 8810, and 8994. The recalled drop side cribs have a date code, which can be found on a label on the headboard under the mattress support, which ends in 05DH, 05GB, 06DH, 06GB, 07DH or 07GB (examples: 1806 DH or 0507 GB). Only the brand name “Simplicity” can be seen on the label on the headboard.    (more…)

Last month’s massive Simplicity bassinet recall included some sold under the Graco brand name, as well as “Winnie-the-Pooh” models licensed by Disney.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is now urging parents and caregivers to check their bassinets to make sure they are not included in the Simplicity bassinet recall. These defective bassinets have been implicated in the strangulation deaths of two infants.

The Simplicity bassinets with the Graco logo were sold between 2001 and 2004. The Simplicity bassinets with the “Winnie the Pooh” motif were sold between 2002 and 2008. All of the bassinets included in the recall contain metal bars that are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar. (more…)