Consumer Product Safety Commission

February 2002 Press Releases

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dansk International Designs Ltd., of White Plains, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 190,000 ice cream scoops. A cap at the end of the handle of the scoop can fly off with substantial force, especially if the scoop is immersed in hot water. The metal cap poses a risk of impact injury to nearby consumers.

Thomas Moore, Acting Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), tells an international consumer forum in Orlando, Fla., today that he supports eliminating the cap on civil penalties that the CPSC may seek against industry.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), BikeE Corp., of Corvallis, Ore., is voluntarily recalling about 13,500 BikeE recumbent bicycles. The recumbent seats on these bicycles can crack and break, causing the seat to come off the frame and resulting in injury to the rider.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Roto Zip Tool Corporation, of Cross Plains, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about1.9 million handheld saws. The handles on these saws can separate from the body, causing the operator to be cut.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ingersoll-Rand Company, of Woodcliff Lake, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 458,000 portable air compressors sold between 1983 and 1991. Internal corrosion to the inner wall of the air receiver tank can cause the air tank to unexpectedly rupture allowing pressurized air to suddenly and forcefully escape, posing risk of injury to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Graco Children's Products, Inc., of Elverson, Pa., is providing a new instruction sheet for installing the suction cups on about 8,900 Snack and Activity Trays. The Snack and Activity Trays are sold with detached suction cups that the consumer installs. If the suction cups are not properly attached, they can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Calphalon Corp., Toledo, Ohio, is recalling about 13,000 stainless steel kettles. The kettle's cover traps steam inside of the kettle causing an increase in pressure. This forces hot water to rise and escape through the spout, posing a serious burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Unilever Home and Personal Care USA, of Greenwich, Conn., is voluntarily recalling about 4 million plush Snuggle® bears. The eyes and noses of these bears can come off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), Alpha International Inc., also known as Gearbox Pedal Car Company, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling about 75,000 pedal cars. The paint coating on some of these pedal cars contains high lead levels. CPSC standards ban toys and other children's products containing high levels of lead. Young children could ingest the lead from the car's paint coating, presenting a lead poisoning hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Random House Inc., of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 39,000 copies of Monsters In The Closet children's board books. The snap that secures the book could detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that MTS Products Inc., of Northridge, Calif., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $75,000 to settle allegations that the company failed to report serious defects with its infant carriers. Under the Consumer Product Safety Act, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers must immediately report product defects to the Commission.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Disney Children's Book Group, LLC, also known as Disney Press, of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 5,180 Zowie's 123 children's books. The books have a plastic abacus-like toy attached to the back cover that contains five plastic beads. The beads can separate from the book cover, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), OshKosh B'Gosh, Inc. of Oshkosh, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 21,800 OshKosh B'Gosh newborn girls' garments. The fabric, heat-sealed flowers on the front of the garments can detach after washing, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Applica Consumer Products Inc., of Miami Lakes, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 2.1 million VersaToast™ wide-slot toasters. Applica made and sold these toasters under the Black & Decker® brand. The heating element in these toasters can continue to operate after use, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Honeywell Consumer Products Inc. (HCP), of Southborough, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 450,000 moveable baseboard heaters. The heating element in these baseboard heaters can short-circuit and ignite combustible material under the heater, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), BSH Home Appliances Corp., of Huntington Beach, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 2,460 Thermador brand gas ranges. Hot air is vented below the small oven and causes the metal surface on the door of this oven to get too hot, presenting a burn hazard to consumers.