Productopia | Rita Colorito

Food allergies make up only 10 percent of allergies among dogs and cats -- symptoms include pets scratching and itching their ears, head, neck and forelegs -- but they can be the most frustrating and expensive allergies to manage. If your pet suffers from food allergies, your best bet is a hypoallergenic diet. But getting your pet on the right one takes some time and testing. Fortunately, there are a slew of commercial hypoallergenic brands available, including some that are cheaper (and better, say some experts and consumers) than the prescription brands. Read more

Air bag problems plagued both Honda and Toyota recently: Honda recalled some 750,000 2009-2013 Pilot SUVs and 2011-2013 Odyssey minivans as a result. Toyota recalled various makes and models, though a much fewer number, at just 3,235 vehicles.

The largest recall this week goes to Hy Cite, for 1.7 million pots and pans of Royal Prestige 9-Ply Thermal Wall Cookware, which can collapse while in use. And 75,600 Perfect Resistance Bands, by Implus Footcare, sold exclusively at Walmart were recalled because they can snap off, posing an injury hazard.

For these and other recalls, read on. Read more

We don't think of our furniture as a health hazard, save for maybe the sharp corners of a kitchen table. But several studies have shown that the materials used to make furniture -- from the formaldehyde used in wood adhesives, to the chemicals used in upholstery --  can cause long-term health issues, including respiratory problems, developmental delays, and fertility issues. 

The latest such study, by researchers at Duke University and the University of California at Berkeley, found many sofas contain a toxic flame retardant linked to cancer, hormone disruption and neurological problems. Overall, 85 percent of the 102 polyurethane-foam sofas tested were treated with flame retardants known to be toxic or that lack information about their health effects. Forty-one percent contained cancer-causing chlorinated Tris (TDCPP), a flame retardant banned for use in children's clothing in 1977. Seventeen percent contained the chemical pentaBDE, which has been banned worldwide since 2004.  Researchers even found toxic flame retardants in sofas labeled as eco-friendly. Read more

So far it's been a quiet week for recalls, but the few recalls announced are massive in size and scope, particularly for car manufacturers GM and Subaru, with nearly 700,000 recalled vehicles between them. But Fisher-Price tops that number, with some 800,000 Infant Sleepers recalled because of potential exposure to mold.

For the details on products, as well as the weekly food recalls, read on. Read more