The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Recall of the Week: Gas grills by One World Technologies due to fire and burn hazards

By Rita R. Robison

One World Technologies is recalling about 87,600 gas grills in the United States and 1,400 in Canada.

The regulator on the grill can leak propane gas, which can ignite, posing fire and burn hazard to consumers, the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

The firm is aware of 569 reports of regulators leaking propane gas. No injuries have been reported.

The recall involves STOK Island and STOK Quattro gas grills:

• The STOK Island has a round grill base and two burners. “STOK” is written on the grill cover and a label on the bottom of the grill stand.

• The STOK Quattro gas grill is a rectangular, four-burner grill. “STOK” is printed on the grill’s lid.

To identify whether a specific Island or Quattro grill is included in the recall, look at the grill’s regulator. The recalled grills have regulators on them with the model number “AZF” on the front and a date code between 1046 and 1143 on the back of the regulator.

Manufactured in China, the grills were sold at Home Depot stores nationwide and, in Canada, at Direct Tools Factory Outlet stores nationwide from March 2011 through February 2012 for between $79 and $350.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled grills and contact One World Technologies for a free replacement gas regulator for the grill, the company and commission advise.

For additional information, contact One World Technologies at 800-867-9624 between 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.stokgrills.com.

For details on other recalls, see www. recalls.gov.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

New consumer product safety database provides valuable information on hazardous products to consumers, safety agency

SaferProducts.gov, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s consumer database that allows people to share and access safety information about the products they own and consider buying, is celebrating its first year anniversary.

Consumer organizations – the Consumer Federation of America, Kids In Danger, and Consumers Union – conducted an analysis of the reports published in the database through January 2012.

The consumer groups supported the creation of the database and think it’s an important tool to educate consumers about product safety hazards and improve the commission’s ability to identify and act on problems in the marketplace.

In the analysis of the first 10 months of reports, it’s clear that the database is working as intended, giving consumers a place to report and review reports, the groups said in a statement. Of the more than 6,000 reports, consumers submitted almost all.

The reports products ranged from kitchen appliances to cribs to shoes to lighting products. The largest group of reports is about kitchen products, 37 percent, especially appliances, 33 percent. Reports about children’s products, including toys and nursery items, made up15 percent of the complaints.

“Our analysis of the database shows that consumers and the CPSC now have access to useful information about many types of consumer products – information that was not available to the public before,” Rachel Weintraub, director of product safety and senior counsel at Consumer Federation of America, said in a statement. “Consumers are no longer completely left in the dark about product safety and have access to lifesaving information.”

Concerns had been raised about the lack of information in the reports, but the additional information in most reports makes it possible to accurately identify the product involved.

Shredding paper was my best consumer experience this week, while dealing with my electrical utility was frustrating

By Rita R. Robison

My paper shredder works now, which makes me happy. However, talking to my electrical utility is less than inspiring.

My best: Getting my paper shredder to work

Years ago, I bought a paper shredder from Office Depot. It’s never worked very well. Twice, I’ve taken it back to the store to see if they could show me how to get it to work. Both times, the sales associates were able to get it to run. The second one showed me a lever that needs to be in a certain position for the shredding to occur.

When I got home, I figured it out and shredded lots of paper. I was extremely happy. I shredded about a third of the recycling bin full of paper I needed to do.

However, I had a problem. When I was shredding receipts, I put too many in. It jammed the shredder.

I left it for a couple of weeks, but finally couldn’t stand the paper shredder on my dining room table or the recycling container in my rec room.

I got out a skinny fork to scrape out the jammed receipts, then a skewer. Finally, I used one of the ends of a large paper clip. It worked.

I finished the bin full of paper and dumped the shredded paper into my recycling barrel.

What a great accomplishment. I’m glad I persisted for years. I paid about $65 for the shredder and didn’t want to spend money another one.

My worst: Having a missing check

When I received the bill from my electrical utility, it said I owed twice the amount of my monthly payment plan. When I called about it, the company said my last check hadn’t been received.

The investor-owner utility’s service has declined since a foreign conglomerate purchased it. So I asked the sales associate whether the company lost my check. She was indignant, saying it wasn’t possible.

Maybe I misplaced the check before I mailed it. Maybe it was lost in the mail. However, it’s possible the utility lost it.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Tassimo single-cup brewers and Tassimo espresso T discs due to burn hazards

By Rita R. Robison

BSH Home Appliances Corp. is recalling about 835,000 Tassimo single-cup brewers in the United States and an additional 900,000 in Canada. 

The plastic disc, or T Disc, that holds the coffee or tea can burst and spray hot liquid and coffee grounds or tea leaves onto consumers using the brewer and onto bystanders, posing a burn hazard.

The company said it has received 140 reports of incidents with the brewers spraying hot liquid, coffee grounds or tea leaves onto consumers, including 37 reports of second-degree burn injuries. One incident involved a 10-year-old girl who received second-degree burns to her face and neck and had to be hospitalized.

The recall involves Tassimo brewers with the Bosch brand name and Tassimo Professional brewers. The brewers use plastic T Discs that are filled with coffee or tea to brew hot drinks. “BOSCH” and “TASSIMO” are printed on the front of the brewers. “TASSIMO PROFESSIONAL” is printed on the front of the professional model. 

The Bosch-brand brewers were sold in black, white, anthracite, gray, silver, red, titanium, and white/gray colors. The Tassimo Professional brewers were only sold in black.

The model number and date code are located on the bottom of the brewer. No other Tassimo brewer is included in the recall. 

Manufactured in Slovenia and China, the brewers were sold at department, mass merchandise, and home improvement stores nationwide and on various websites, including www.tassimodirect.com, from June 2008 through February 2012. The price was $100 to $250. The Tassimo Professional model was sold directly to hotels and food service providers, and the company is contacting them directly.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Tassimo brewers and contact the firm to order a free replacement T Disc holder for the brewing mechanism, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

For additional information, visit www.tassimodirect.com/safetyrecall to order a free replacement T Disc holder or contact the firm at 866-918-8763 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET Saturday.

In a separate recall, Kraft Foods Global Inc. is recalling Tassimo espresso T Discs, about 2.1 million packages in the United States and an additional 1.9 million in Canada.

The recalled espresso T Discs can become clogged and spray hot liquid and coffee grounds onto consumers and bystanders during or after brewing, posing a burn hazard.

The company has received 21 reports of incidents of hot liquid and/or coffee grounds spraying onto consumers and bystanders, including four reports of second-degree burn injuries. One injury involved 2-year-old girl from Canada who received second-degree burns to her face.

The recall involves Gevalia, Maxwell House, and Nabob brand espresso T Discs. The T Discs are plastic discs filled with coffee that are inserted into Tassimo coffee makers to brew single cups of hot espresso drinks. They were sold in packages of eight or 16 espresso T Discs.

 

T Discs with codes ending with 11213 through 12020 are included in this recall. The code is printed on the T Disc’s foil lid and on the side of the package.

No other T Discs are included in this recall.

Manufactured in the U.S., the T Disks were sold by department, mass merchandise, home improvement, and other stores nationwide and on various websites, including www.tassimodirect.com, from August 2011 through February 2012. The cost was $8 to $11 per package.

Consumers should stop using the recalled espresso T Discs immediately and contact the firm for a full refund, the company and commission advise in a statement.

For additional information, visit www.tassimodirect.com/safetyrecall or call the firm at 866-918-8763 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET Saturday.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Standard light bulbs changed, not banned, as of Jan. 1

By Rita R. Robison

On Jan. 1, new standards took effect that make incandescent light bulbs 25 to 30 percent more efficient. Incandescent light bulbs aren’t being banned, they’re being changed so they’re more energy efficient.

The new light bulbs will cut consumer’s energy bills and reduce emissions from power plants because less energy will be consumed, according to the Consumer Federation of America. 

“Contrary to reports, incandescent light are not being banned, they are simply becoming more efficient,” Mel Hall-Crawford, director of the federation’s Energy Projects, said in a statement. “And consumers will have expanded choices, but will need to understand them so that when they go to the store they can buy the product that meets their needs best.”

A guide to help consumers understand the lighting choices they have under the new light bulb law is available from the federation and Consumers Union.

Called “How Many Tips Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb?” the two-page guide offers information to make selecting a new light bulb simpler.

Here are the three choices available to consumers:

• Halogen incandescent – These look like the older bulbs, but use 25 to 30 percent less energy and can last up to three times longer. A new 72 watt energy-saving incandescent bulb, which replaces the old 100 watt bulb, will cost about $1.50 but each one will save about $3 over its lifetime.
• Compact fluorescent lamps – CFLs are the best value. They use about 75 percent less energy than older bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. A $2 CFL saves up to $50 over the bulb’s lifetime.
• Light-Emitting Diodes – LEDs will last up to 25 years, based upon usage of three hours a day, and save 75 percent, or more, in energy costs. However, they cost more than the other choices. Even though LEDs today cost about $25 per bulb, they’ll still save around $150 over their 25-year lifetime. As they become more widely used, it’s expected their prices will go down.

Many consumers have expressed concerns about using CFLs after learning that they contain small amounts of mercury and require special cleanup if they break in the home, such as cutting out the square of carpet where the CFL broke.

The consumer light bulb brochure has this advice:

Even with the small amount of mercury, CFLs actually reduce mercury in the environment because they reduce the amount of mercury produced by power plants. Intact and in use, CFLs release no mercury. However, like nearly everything else in your house, they need to be properly recycled and cleaned up, if broken. Many retailers recycle CFLs for free.

Go to http://www.epa.gov/cfl for more information.

The guide also offers information on bulb brightness, color, dimming, and recessed lighting: 

• Watts are a measure of the energy used, not the brightness the bulb gives off. If consumers are trying to replace their old 60 watt incandescent bulb with a bulb that gives off the same amount of light, they should look for one around 800 lumens.
• Consumers should look for 2700 to 3000 K light bulbs, if they want bulbs to match the color of older, traditional incandescents, often described as “warm white.” Light color is measured on the Kelvin temperature scale. Lower K numbers means more yellow light and higher K numbers mean whiter or bluer light. For a whiter light, look for 3500 to 4100 K and for a bluer light, look for 5000 to 6500 K.
• Not every LED or CFL bulb is dimmable. Check the packaging for information on this.
• Pear shaped or spiral CFL bulb shouldn't be used inside a recessed ceiling can. They won’t shine the light down. Instead, choose an LED, CFL, or halogen reflector or flood light.

Since traditional 100 Watt incandescent light bulbs won’t meet the new light bulb standards, they’ll no longer be available at most stores.

Also see the U.S. Department of Energy’s “New Lighting Standards Begin in 2012” for more information.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Wolfgang Puck combination grill/griddles sold by HSN due to overheating and electrical shock hazards

By Rita R. Robison

W.P. Appliances Inc. is recalling about 27,000 Wolfgang Puck Electric Reversible Tri-Grill/Griddles.

A defect in the electrical wiring of the electric grills/griddles can pose a risk of overheating, melting, and an electrical shock hazard to consumers, W.P. Appliances and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

The firm has received four reports of electrical shock and two reports of melted plastic housing.

The recall includes Wolfgang Puck brand combination electric grills/griddles with dual thermostatic controls and model number BRTGG010. The grills measure about 14.5 inches in width, 11 inches in depth, and 6.5 inches in height.

The model number is located on an ETL/Intertek foil sticker label affixed to the bottom of the unit. The stainless steel grills/griddles have "Wolfgang Puck Bistro Collection" stamped on the front of the unit next to the control dials. They feature a stainless steel handle used to compress the top and bottom grill plates.

Manufactured in China by YouO Electric Appliances Co. Ltd., the combination grill/griddles were sold exclusively by The Home Shopping Network nationwide, HSN's telephone ordering system, and online at www.HSN.com for about one week between April 30 through May 6. The price was about $100.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled combination grills/griddles and contact W.P. Appliances for instructions on returning the grills/griddles for a full refund, the company and commission advise.

For additional information, contact W.P. Appliances at 855-666-0478 anytime, or visit the firm's recall website at www.brtgg010-recall.com.

For details on other recalls, visit www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Chefmate Blender due to laceration hazard

By Rita R. Robison

Target Corp. is recalling about 304,000 Chefmate 6-Speed Blenders.

While in operation, the plastic pitcher can separate from the blade assembly, leaving the blade assembly in the base and exposing the rotating blades. This poses a laceration hazard to consumers.

Target and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have received 11 reports of the blade assembly separating from the pitcher, seven of which reported serious lacerations to consumers’ fingers and hands, Target and the commission said in a joint statement.

The recall affects all Chefmate 6-Speed Blenders, model BL-10. The model number is located on the bottom of the base.

The blender consists of a six-inch tall, white electrical base with five, white speed-selector buttons labeled 1 through 5, one gray button labeled “Pulse/Off,” and the word “Chefmate” in black letters on the front; a clear plastic pitcher with a handle with U.S. and metric volume measurement markings; a white plastic lid with a removable clear plastic lid stopper; and a white plastic blade assembly with two angled, stainless steel blades.

Manufactured in China by Select Brands, the blenders were sold only at Target stores nationwide from September 2007 to February 2011 for about $14.

Consumers should immediately stop using the blenders and return them to any Target store to receive a full refund, Target and the commission advise.

For additional information, contact Target Guest Relations at 800-440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit their website at www.target.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Hamilton Beach toasters due to fire hazard

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Hamilton Beach Brands Inc. is recalling about 300,000 Hamilton Beach classic chrome 2-slice toasters.

The toaster’s heating element can remain energized indefinitely when an item is placed in the toaster. This may ignite the contents, posing a fire hazard if the toaster is near flammable items.

Hamilton Beach has received 15 reports of toasters that didn’t pop-up as intended, including three reports of minor damage to kitchen cabinets, the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a joint statement. There were no reports of injuries.

The Hamilton Beach recall involves model 22600 toasters with specific series codes. These series codes begin with the letters C or D, and have the format of CXXXXBI or DXXXXBI, where XXXX is a four-digit number ranging from 0190 through 5290. The model number and series code are printed on the bottom of the toaster.

The toaster has a chromed steel exterior, a front control panel with a rotary toast shade selector and function buttons arranged in an arc, a front removable crumb tray, and Hamilton Beach printed across the front of the toaster.

Manufactured in China, the toasters were sold at mass merchandisers; department, grocery, and home center stores nationwide; and online retailers from February 2008 through June 2011 for $30 to $40.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled toasters and contact the firm to receive instructions on how to obtain a free replacement toaster, Hamilton Beach and the commission advise.

For additional information, contact Hamilton Beach at 800-379-2200 anytime, or visit the firm's website at www.hamiltonbeach.com.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Lasko box fans due to fire hazard

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Lasko Products Inc. is recalling about 4.8 million box fans.

An electrical failure in the fan's motor poses a fire hazard to consumers, Lasko and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced in a statement.

Lasko has received seven reports of fires associated with motor failures, including two house fires and one barn fire resulting in extensive property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The recall involves Lasko box fans with model numbers 3720, 3723, and 3733 and Galaxy box fans with model number 4733 that have date "2002-03" or "2003-04" stamped on the bottom of the metal frame. "Lasko" or "Galaxy" is printed on the front of the fan. The model number is either stamped or printed on the bottom of the fans.

Manufactured in the United States, the fans were sold at mass merchandisers nationwide from July 2002 through December 2005 for between $12 and $25.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled fans and contact Lasko to receive a free fused plug safety adapter.

For additional information, contact Lasko toll free at 877-445-1314 anytime or visit the firm's website at www.laskoproducts.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Wine bottle openers sold by QVC due to laceration hazard

About 159,000 wine bottle openers distributed by Sunbeam Products and sold at QVC are being recalled.

Wine bottles can break when opened with the recalled opener, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.

Sunbeam has received 52 reports of wine bottles breaking while the opener was being used, including 22 reports of injuries. Injuries include lacerations to the hands.

The recall involves the “skybar Air Pump Wine Opener” model number NBSKWA2600. The wine bottle opener was sold as a four piece set in the following colors: gray, blue, red, or silver and black-colored in a black storage box.

“skybar” is printed on the side of the wine bottle opener. Model number NBSKWA2600 is printed on the bottom.

Manufactured in China, the wine openers were sold at QVC retail and employees stores nationwide, QVC’s televised shopping programs, and online at www.qvc.com and www.skybarhome.com. At a price of $30 and $60, the wine openers were sold from November 2010 through December 2010.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled wine bottle openers, the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advised in a joint statement.

Consumers who purchased the wine bottle openers at a QVC store should return them to any QVC store for a full refund.

Consumers who purchased the wine bottle openers through QVC’s televised shopping programs or at www.qvc.com were mailed instructions for obtaining a refund. Consumers haven’t received the instructions should contact QVC.

If the wine openers weren’t purchased through QVC, contact Sunbeam for information on obtaining a full refund.

Contact QVC at 800-367-9444 between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET daily or visit the firm’s website at www.qvc.com. Consumers can also contact Sunbeam toll-free at 888-759-2279 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.skybarhome.com.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist