Defective & Dangerous Products

• Dole Foods Announces Bagged Salads Recall in E. Coli Scare

  Courtney Mills | September 18, 2007 9:39 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  Dole Food has recalled certain bagged salads sold in the U.S. and Canada due to samples that tested positive for E. coli bacteria. E. coli is a common form of bacteria that can cause severe food poisoning in people subjected to certain strains of the bacteria. Normally E. coli flourishes when perishable food is left at higher temperatures without the benefit of refrigeration.Dole has augmented...

• Mattel Announces Third Recall on Toys, Includes Barbie Playsets

  Courtney Mills | September 05, 2007 8:49 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  The world's largest toymaker Mattel in conjunction with the Consumer Products Safety Commission recalled some 700,000 Chinese-made toys on Tuesday because they violated federal lead paint standards. These growing problems represent Mattel's third recall in just over a month.Mattel's newest recall covers approximately 675,000 accessory toys of the popular Barbie line that were left untouched in...

• M&J Engineering Recalls Swivels for Scuba Diving Masks

  Jenny Albano | August 29, 2007 10:08 PM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  M&J Engineering, in conjunction with the CPSC, is recalling about 1,500 AGA swivels for scuba diving masks because of potential drowning hazard.The swivel, which is attached to a diving mask, could separate while diving. This will result in a sudden loss of the diver's air supply, causing the diver to engage in emergency ascent. This poses a risk of decompression sickness due to rapid ascent or...

• Mertz Fresh Recalls Spinach Due to Potential Contamination

  Jenny Albano | August 29, 2007 9:54 PM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  Mertz Fresh, in conjunction with the FDA, is recalling bagged spinach because of a positive test for salmonella in some of the products during a routine company test.The spinach is distributed under the label Mertz Fresh, in both retail and food service packages. These include 10 and 16 oz bags as well as 4-2.5 lb. and 4 lb. cartons. The only Mertz Fresh product affected is spinach that bears...

• Sam's Club Recalls Outdoor Torch Lamps Due to Fire Hazard

  Courtney Mills | August 29, 2007 3:00 PM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  A subsidiary of the world's largest retailer has issued a voluntary recall along with the Consumer Product Safety Commission of outdoor oil lamps. Sam's Club is recalling some 138,000 outdoor oil torches because the ceramic head of the lamp can become loose and fall off, spilling torch fuel everywhere. Sam's Club has also received reports of the torch head becoming dislodged and falling off,...

• FDA Issues Recall on Bella Cucina "Death by Chocolate" Cookies with Walnuts

  Courtney Mills | August 29, 2007 1:13 PM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  Bella Cucina of Atlanta, Georgia has issued a recall on certain lots of the company's "Death by Chocolate" cookies. Some of these lots of cookies were commingled with walnuts, although the bags incorrectly state that these cookies contain no nut products.The public should be advised, especially those with life-threatening allergies to walnuts and other types of tree nuts, that certain stores...

• Toy recalls prompt lead poisoning fears

  Staff Writer | August 23, 2007 12:28 PM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  The latest statistics from the Centers from Disease Control (CDC) is that more than 300,000 children in the U.S. are affected by damaging levels of lead in their systems. The most affected are children under 6 years of age. A sad story in The Tampa Tribune tells of Noah, a 4-year-old boy who was recently diagnosed with lead poisoning after an original diagnosis of autism due to his symptoms.The...

• Dangerous clothing from China under microscope

  Staff Writer | August 22, 2007 7:29 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  The latest report, this time from New Zealand, on defective products made in China is that infant's and children's clothing may contain dangerous levels of the chemical formaldehyde, which is known to cause skin and eye irritations, respiratory difficulties, asthma and even cancer. This news and that of the recent, widespread toy recalls affecting huge companies like Mattel and Fisher Price, has...

• Medical monitoring legal debate and toy recalls

  Staff Writer | August 21, 2007 1:27 PM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  An article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal Online discusses the merritts of medical monitoring, a legal theory that is gaining momentum and support, especially in light of the recent and widespread toy recalls. The question is whether families who believe their children have been exposed to dangerous levels of lead in the toys being recalled have the right to sue toy manufacturers even before...

• Mattel Issues 2nd Major Toy Recall - 9 Million Toys

  Courtney Mills | August 14, 2007 10:40 AM | 0 CommentsMontgomery, AL

  America's largest toymaker Mattel has issued a second large toy recall in nearly two weeks, this time for nearly 9 million Chinese-made toys due to lead paint contamination or because of possible choke hazard. The toy manufacturer has singled out quintessential Mattel characters such as Barbie and Batman for recall. The CPSC announced that the Batman, Barbie & Tanner, and 'Polly Pocket'...