Action: The process used when a product is recalled

Response: We're not sure what you mean by "so long," but your question offers the opportunity to take a quick behind-the-scenes look at how recalls usually are announced.

Caren Epstein, spokeswoman for the supermarket chain, said the company was notified on the morning of Nov. 15 by its supplier that product it had made for another customer had tested positive for E. coli 0157H7.

The Georgia-based Shapiro Packing Co. assured Kash n' Karry that all the raw materials used to make its products had tested negative. However, Kash n' Karry nonetheless decided to be particularly cautious and issued its own recall of all ground beef products that were produced between Nov. 7 and 14.

Within hours, a press release was sent to the Associated Press wire service, the quickest way to get the information to the media, which in turn could alert the public.

By that evening, area TV stations were broadcasting news of the recall. The same information was published in the St. Petersburg Times the following day, Nov. 16.

Recent recalls

The following products, distributed nationwide and in Florida, were recalled between Nov. 15 and 21:

About 410,000 toy attachments of baby walkers by Kolcraft Enterprises Inc.; the flower toys on the baby walker's tray can detach from the stems, exposing sharp edges and posing a laceration hazard. Affected walkers were sold under the brand names "Tot Rider" (model numbers 14303-AC, 14303-CC and 14401-OT) and "Carter's" (model numbers 14303-LB, 14303-UE and 14304-LJ). Remove the detachable toy bars or music center toy trays on these walkers. Call toll-free 1-888-695-9988; Web site: www.kolcraft.com.

About 4,500 Sulley with Boo plush dolls sold exclusively at the Disney Store nationwide; Boo's doll hair has ponytail holders that could detach and pose a choking hazard. The recalled 12-inch doll is a blue monster named Sulley that is holding a 6-inch girl doll named Boo. Both are characters in the 2001 animated film, Monsters, Inc. Remove and discard the two pink ponytail holders and two rubber bands from the Boo doll's hair, or return the item to any Disney Store for a full refund. Call toll-free 1-800-566-3161 between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. weekdays; Web site: www.disneystore.com. The recall does not involve the dolls sold through the catalog or other retail outlets

12-ounce cans of Girl Scout Chocolate Covered Raisins and 7-ounce bags of Ashdon Farms Chocolate Covered Raisins by Ashdon Farms; some packages may contain a mixture of chocolate covered peanuts and chocolate covered raisins, posing the risk of serious or life-threatening reactions to people with allergies to peanuts. The two recalled products were distributed nationwide through direct sales by Girl Scouts, schools and similar fundraising activities. The 12-ounce Girl Scout Chocolate Covered Raisins are marked with the code date 2283A10 on the bottom of the can. The 7-ounce Ashdon Farms Chocolate Covered Raisins are marked with the code date 2305A6. Contact organization from which product was purchased for replacement. Call (262) 832-8201.

About 6,000 men's hooded, zip-up sweatshirts, manufactured by Trends Clothing Corp., by Target; the fleece fabric on the inside of these sweatshirts fails to meet federal mandatory standards of fabric flammability. Affected are the Physical Science-brand, heather-gray, hooded sweatshirts in sizes small through XXL, with a full-zippered front and "P87" embroidered on the left chest. Return to store where purchased for refund. Call toll-free 1-800-440-0680.

About 2,250 junior-size compound bows, sold under the model names Warrior and Buckmaster/Warrior, by Bear Archery LLC; the limbs of these bows can break during use, causing impact injuries. Call toll-free 1-800-342-4751 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays; Web: www.beargoldeneagle.com.

All ground beef products sold between Nov. 7 and 14 at Kash n' Karry Food Stores by Shapiro Farmer's Market; possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. Sell-by dates for the recalled product extend through Nov. 15. Return to store where purchased for refund.

Sources: SafetyAlerts at www.safetyalerts.com; Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov, toll-free 1-800-638-2772; Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov.; USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at toll-free 1-800-535-4555; government food safety information at www.foodsafety.gov; National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's Auto Safety Hotline, www.nhtsa.dot.gov/hotline; toll-free 1-888-327-4236.

- Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

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