Recall of the Week: King International Shoulderflex massager due to strangulation hazard

By Rita R. Robison

In cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, King International LLC is recalling its Shoulderflex massager due to a report of a strangulation and death. Consumers, retailers, and catalog sellers are being advised to immediately stop using Shoulderflex massagers and throw them in the trash.

About 12,000 Shouderflex massagers sold between 2003 and 2011 are being recalled. The devices were sold at a variety of stores, including Relax the Back; in catalogs, including Lifestyle Fascination; and through online retailers, including Amazon.

King International advises consumers to stop using the massagers and to dispose of the massagers’ components separately so that it can’t be put together again and used. Throw away the power supply separate from the massager unit. Remove the massage fingers and dispose of them separately.

King International also advises retailers and catalog sellers to take similar action.

King International it is initiating the voluntary recall program as part of its commitment to safety, the company said in a statement. Although King International warned consumers never to wear a necklace when using the massager to avoid entanglement, a strangulation and death has been reported.

For additional information about the King International recall, call 503-524-7046, visit www.shoulderflex.com, or write to King International, P.O. Box 2384, Beaverton, OR 97075.

The company’s announcement didn’t say whether consumers could get a refund for the recalled shoulder massager.

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

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist