Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Hazardous items may lurk at home

By Times Staff
Published May 2, 2006

The following products, distributed nationwide and in Florida, were recalled between April 21 and April 28:

-- Selected Trading Corp. of Miami is recalling about 55,000 children's necklaces. They contain high levels of lead, which can cause lead poisoning and health problems in young children. The recalled choker-style necklaces have silver-colored hearts, crosses and clovers that hang on a blue, maroon or black cord. The product's packaging is white cardboard with "In Style'' printed on it. Dollar General Stores sold the product nationwide from January 2003 through December 2005. For more information, call the company toll-free at 1-800-336-6292 or visit www.selected-trading.com.

-- Hoist Fitness Systems Inc. of San Diego also doing business as Body Gear is recalling about 48,000 Hoist Exercise Benches. The bench's front frame assembly (with the foot rest) can fail to lock into place, and users who grab the bench to position themselves may get their fingers trapped between the front and back frame assemblies. Laceration and amputation may occur. Benches with the following serial numbers are recalled: HF-140, HF-142, BG-141, BG-143, HF-4163 and HF-4262. They were sold nationwide at sporting goods stores and specialty stores from February 2004 to January 2006 for $100 to $300. Consumers should stop using the bench and arrange to receive a free repair kit or return the unit for a full refund by contacting Hoist toll-free at 1-866-849-4797, visiting www.hoistfitness.com or by e-mailing benchrecall@hoistfitness.com.

-- Pascal Co. Inc. is recalling about 55,000 bottles of NeutraGard Neutral Sodium Fluoride Anticavity Treatment Rinse mouthwash because the product may be contaminated with bacteria that pose health risks to individuals with weakened immune systems. The recalled products, NeutraGard 0.05 percent Neutral Sodium Fluoride Anticavity Treatment Rinse and NeutraGard Plus 0.2 percent Neutral Sodium Fluoride Anticavity Treatment Rinse, were packaged in clear 16-ounce plastic bottles. Dental wholesalers distributed the product to dental offices worldwide from 2001 through April 2006. For more information, call the company toll-free at 1-800-426-8051 or visit www.pascaldental.com.

-- Sycamore Kids Inc. is recalling about 4,000 Mountain Buggy Urban Single, Urban Double and Breeze strollers because the handlebar can crack or break, causing it to detach and possibly injure young children. The Urban Single strollers have item number U1204-002 and serial numbers 000000 through 015276. The Urban Double strollers have item number U2204-002 and serial numbers 000000 through 009221. The Breeze strollers have item number B1204-001 and serial numbers 000000 through 000191. All were sold at juvenile furniture retailers and baby product stores and by Web retailers nationwide from December 2004 through September 2005. For more information, call toll-free 1-866-524-8805, e-mail supportmountainbuggyusa.com or visit www. mountainbuggyusa.com.

-- Komatsu Zenoah America is recalling 170,000 RedMax Gas-Powered Backpack Blowers because the muffler support bracket can break, creating an opening in the muffler body. Hot exhaust gases could then escape from the muffler and melt the fuel tank or ignite grease, oil or debris around the fuel tank. The backpack blowers have model numbers EB6200, EB7000, EB7001 and EB7001RH on the body along with "RedMax,'' "Zenoah'' and "Komatsu.'' They were sold by RedMax dealers nationwide from December 1996 through December 2005. Consumers should stop using the backpack blowers. For more information, call toll-free 1-866-217-4152 or visit www.redmax.com.

-- Shindaiwa is recalling about 87,000 Shindaiwa Backpack Blowers because the muffler support bracket can break, creating an opening in the muffler body and permitting hot exhaust gases to escape from the muffler and melt the fuel tank or ignite grease or debris around the fuel tank. The backpack blowers have model numbers EB630 or EB630RT printed on the body along with Shindaiwa. They were sold by Shindaiwa dealers nationwide from July 1999 through February 2006. Consumers should stop using the backpack blowers. For more information, call toll-free 1-800-521-7733 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or visit www.shindaiwa.com.

Sources: Associated Press, Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov or toll-free 1-800-638-2772; Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov; USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, toll-free 1-800-535-4555; government food safety information at www.foodsafety.gov; and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

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. Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check. We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

[Last modified May 2, 2006, 06:36:14]