By Rita Colorito on August 17, 2012 in
Four million Bumbo Baby Seats were recalled because infants can get out of and fall from the seat, incurring serious injuries. An electrical failure and fire hazard caused General Electric to pull the plug on several dishwasher models this week, recalling some 1.3 million dishwashers in all. And food recalls this week proved even gourmet or organic food products offer no immunity to nasty pathogens, such as salmonella and listeria.
Read on for these and other recalls of the last week.
Family recalls
Bumbo International Trust recalled four million Bumbo Baby Seats because babies can maneuver out of or fall from the seat. The company initially issued a voluntary recall of 1 million seats in October 2007, citing the hazards of using the seat on raised surfaces, including numerous incidents of serious head injuries. Since that recall, the company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have known of at least 50 other incidents in which babies fell from a Bumbo seat while on a raised surface.
The recalled seats were sold at Sears, Target, Toys R Us (including Babies R Us), USA Babies, Walmart, and various other toy and children's stores nationwide, and various online sellers, from August 2003 through August 2012. Consumers are advised to stop using the baby seat until they order and install a free repair kit from Bumbo, by visiting this site or calling (866) 898-4999.
If you are seeking a replacement model, check out our report on the Best Reviewed High Chairs.
Kitchen and food safety
GE Appliances recalled various dishwasher models: GE, GE Adora, GE Eterna, GE Profile and Hotpoint Dishwashers, 1.3 million dishwashers total, because an electrical failure in the dishwasher's heating element could lead to a fire hazard. GE has received 15 reports of dishwasher heating element failures, including seven reports of fires, three causing extensive property damage. The recalled dishwashers were sold at appliance dealers, authorized builder distributors and other stores nationwide from March 2006 through August 2009. Consumers are advised to disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it. For all dishwashers, contact GE at (866) 918-8760 for a free in-home repair or to receive a GE rebate toward the purchase of a new GE dishwasher. Consumers should not return the recalled dishwashers to the retailer where purchased, as retailers are not prepared to take the units back. If you want a new dishwasher all together, please consult our top picks.
Check your cabinets for the following food recalls:
- Burch Equipment, expansion of Burch Farms cantaloupe recalls to include honeydew melons to list, potential listeria contamination;
- Clif Bar, mislabeling of 12-pack Blueberry Crisp CLIF Bars and individual mislabeled Blueberry Crisp CLIF Bars in Chocolate Chip CLIF Bar Wrappers with one "Best By" date 17MAR13G3, almond allergy alert;
- Dale T. Smith and Sons Meat Packing, 38,200 pounds of beef products, possible E-coli;
- Fresco Green Farms, fresh cilantro harvested from 7/18/2012 to 7/27/2012, possible salmonella contamination;
- Hummingbird Wholesale, Organic Bulk Pinenuts from Natural Food Retail stores between 3/22/2012 and 8/16/2012, may contain undeclared peanuts, allergy risk;
- Lucky Country, Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Black Licorice with Natural Ingredients, sold in Costco and Smart & Final stores located in California, Arizona, and Utah, elevated levels of lead;
- Menno Beachy, one pint containers of Certified Organic Grape Tomatoes sold in retail stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan between 7/26/2012 to 8/6/2012, possible salmonella risk;
- Missa Bay, various fruit, vegetable and sandwich products containing apples, possible listeria contamination;
- Tomales Bay Foods, partial wheels of: Shepherd's Way; Big Woods Blue, make date: 7/19/2011 to 7/27/2011 and Tumalo Farms, Pondhopper pack date 6/28/2012, possible listeria contamination;
- Two Moms in the Raw, undeclared peanuts in Pesto Sea Crackers distributed from 7/2/2012 to 8/6/2012, allergy risk; and
- Vaqueria Tres Monjitas, undeclared sodium caseinate in pineapple-guava, allergy alert.
Technology recalls
Say ouch! Canon U.S.A. recalled 68,200 EOS RebelT4i Digital SLR cameras because a chemical used in the camera's rubber grips can pose a risk of skin irritation to the consumer. The firm has received one report of a consumer developing a related minor rash. The recalled cameras were sold at B&H Photo, Best Buy and camera and mass merchandise stores nationwide and Amazon.com and other online retailers between June 2012 and July 2012. Consumers may contact Canon U.S.A. at (855) 902-3277 to have replacement rubber grips installed free of charge. Don't get burned when shopping for digital SLR cameras: Read our latest reviews of the top ones on the market today.
Auto Safety
General Motors recalled 9,389 2003-2004 Chevy Express and GMC Savanna vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Water and road contaminants may become trapped in the protective conduit that covers the fuel filler pipe and may cause the pipe to corrode, allowing fuel to leak during refueling. In the presence of an ignition source there is an increased risk of fire. GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a new fuel filler neck, free of charge. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at (866) 694-6546 and GMC at (866) 996-9463.
Additionally, an engine oil leak made Kawasaki recall 4,170 2011-2012 ZX-10R motorcycles. If oil spills onto the rear tire, there is an increased crash risk. Kawasaki began notifying owners on August 8, 2012, and dealers will remove the starter and seal the crankcase, free of charge. Owners may contact Kawasaki at (866) 802-9381.
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