Consumer Product Safety Commission

April 2001 Press Releases

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kmart Corp., of Troy, Mich., is recalling about 24,000 MARTHA STEWART EVERYDAY® brand tea kettles. Boiling water can be expelled from the kettle's spout, presenting a burn hazard to consumers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), announced today that Springfield Scientific Supplies Inc., of Springfield, Ore., has agreed to stop the sale of chemicals used to produce illegal and dangerous fireworks. The distributor signed a consent decree of permanent injunction, which was approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Creative Consumer Concepts Inc., of Overland Park, Kan., and Whataburger Inc., of Corpus Christi, Texas, are voluntarily recalling about 330,000 "Whatagear" compass toys. Creative Consumer Concepts Inc. manufactured these toys, which were distributed with kids' meals at Whataburger Restaurants. The clear, plastic lens covers on these compass toys can come off and pose a choking hazard to young children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning flood victims that all gas control valves, electric circuit breakers, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), and fuses that have been under water must be replaced to avoid explosions and fires. Even if these safety devices appear to function after being submerged in a flood, they are unfit for continued use and cannot be repaired. They may eventually fail, causing explosions or fires. Other parts of gas and electric appliances that have been submerged such as fans, motors, electric circuits, and venting systems should be evaluated by a qualified technician for continued safe operation. Entire appliances may need to be replaced.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ASICS TIGER Corp., of Irvine, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 60,000 ear guards used in wrestling. The plastic protective shell of these guards can break when it is hit against a hard surface, resulting in impact injuries to the wrestler's head.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dynacraft Industries Inc., of San Rafael, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 38,000 boys' mountain bicycles. The front-suspension forks on these bicycles can break during use, resulting in serious injury.

The Freddie Mac Foundation and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have teamed up to help parents make their child's first home a safe one through the Safe Cribs for Kids Campaign. According to CPSC's statistics, almost 35 babies die each year from injuries associated with cribs, many of which are older, used cribs that are in disrepair or that predate current safety standards. In response, the Foundation has committed to donate more than 1,000 new, safe cribs to parents in the Washington, DC area who need them, along with parenting information. The CPSC is ensuring that families receive important crib safety information with their new cribs.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), LG Electronics Inc., of Seoul, South Korea, is voluntarily recalling about 100,000 Goldstar, General Electric, and Sears Kenmore portable dehumidifiers. These dehumidifiers have an internal electrical connection that can overheat, presenting a potential fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Disney Store, of Glendale, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 54,000 Princess Ariel (The Little Mermaid) costumes. Fabric used in these costumes can ignite readily and presents a serious risk of burn injuries in violation of the Federal Flammable Fabrics Act.

DFS Group Ltd., of San Francisco, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 65,000 cigarette lighters packaged in souvenir sets with ashtrays, pencils or pens. The lighters being recalled are refillable, electronic ignition lighters and bear location names such as "Hawaii," "Guam," "Saipan," "Las Vegas," "USA" etc.

Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A., of Irvine, Calif., in cooperation with Star Garden Supply Inc., of Pico Rivera, Calif., and TMC Power Equipment Inc., of Monterey Park, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 3,000 ASTRON and TMC backpack blowers.

American Tack & Hardware Co. Inc., of Monsey, N.Y., is recalling about 270,000 on/off switches sold in packages of Westek rope lights. Light Tech, of Grand Rapids, Mich., is recalling about 350,000 on/off switches that were included in cable lights packages.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Atomic Aquatics Inc., of Huntington Beach, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 3,000 scuba regulators. The regulator's first stage spring can break causing restricted airflow, posing a drowning hazard to consumers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is launching a "recall round-up" to rid homes of fire hazards. CPSC is organizing a nationwide campaign to discard hazardous consumer products such as old disposable lighters, frayed extension cords, and recalled products that could lead to a deadly fire. The products on the recall round-up" list have been recalled in the past or were made safer when new safety standards were put into place.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Gladstrong Investments USA, of Hacienda Heights, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 13 million disposable lighters. The lighters' child-resistant mechanisms are frequently ineffective. Young children are able to operate the lighters, posing a fire hazard.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Federated Department Stores, Inc. (Federated), of Cincinnati, Ohio, has agreed to pay an $850,000 civil penalty to settle CPSC charges that it knowingly sold flammable garments as children's sleepwear. In settling the matter, Federated denies the CPSC's charges. CPSC sets national safety standards for children's sleepwear flammability to protect children from serious burn injuries if they come in contact with a small flame. The CPSC charges that the garments sold by Federated did not meet federal safety standards, putting children at risk of serious burns.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tony USA Inc., of Encinitas, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 200,000 Easter egg garlands. The string can break and release the eggs, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Tensor Inc., of Chelsea, Mass., will pay a $125,000 civil penalty. The civil penalty settles allegations that Tensor violated the Consumer Product Safety Act by failing to timely report defects with its 500-watt halogen light bulbs used in torchiere lamps.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Fleetwood EXIM Inc. of Grenada, Miss., is voluntarily recalling about 950,000 disposable cigarette lighters. The lighters have child-resistant mechanisms that do not work. Young children could ignite the lighters, presenting fire and burn hazards.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Cosco Inc., of Columbus, Ind., and Safety 1st Inc., of Canton, Mass., have agreed to pay a total of $1.75 million in civil penalties to settle CPSC charges that they failed to report product defects that caused serious injuries and deaths to children. Under federal law, companies are required to report to CPSC if they obtain information that reasonably suggests that one of their products could present a substantial risk of injury to consumers, or creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. Both companies are subsidiaries of Dorel U.S.A. Inc., of Columbus, Ind.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Midwest of Cannon Falls Inc., of Cannon Falls, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 2,000 novelty candles. When the duck-shaped candle burns, the pooling of wax can ignite the paint on the duck, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.