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Tag: Consumer Product Safety Commission

  • Warning issued for thousands of pressure cookers sold at Best Buy over burn risk

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    A warning has been issued for tens of thousands of pressure cookers, most of which were sold at Best Buy, because they pose a risk of serious injury.

    The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says consumers should stop using Gourmia Pressure Cookers, as the lid can open while it is still pressurized, causing contents to spray out and burn the consumer. The float valve is also difficult to see, which could lead the user to think it is safe to open the lid when the cooker is still under pressure.

    Gourmia Six Quart Pressure Cooker Model GPC625

    U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission


    Additionally, the pressure cooker’s volume markers are incorrect on the inner pot, which can result in consumers overfilling the pot and hot liquids being ejected when the cooker is vented.

    There have been five reports of incidents in which hot contents were expelled from the cooker; four of those caused severe burn injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. At least two lawsuits have been filed by consumers who allege burn injuries.

    The commission says the importer of the cooker and the retailer which sold most of the products, Best Buy, have “refused to agree to an acceptable recall to address this hazard.”

    Consumers are urged to stop using the pressure cookers and dispose of them immediately. 

    The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says about 43,500 Gourmia Pressure Cookers were sold between 2017 and 2020 at Best Buy, other retailers and e-commerce platforms, and cost between $50 and $80. The affected pressure cookers have the model number “GPC625” and a cooking chamber capacity of six quarts.

    In:

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    Riley Moser

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  • Recall of Frigidaire minifridges sold at major retailers grows to nearly 1 million

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    Nearly 1 million Frigidaire-branded minifridges are now being recalled over potential fire hazard risk, as part of an expanded recall issued by a Canadian company last year.

    Curtis International, which manufactures and distributes electronic and appliances, is recalling 330,000 minifridges, adding to the 634,000 minifridges it recalled in July 2024, according to a notice published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Thursday. 

    The government agency stated that internal electrical components in the appliance can short-circuit, causing the surrounding plastic to ignite and posing fire and burn hazards. 

    The recall involves Curtis International 6-can minifridge model EFMIS121, sold exclusively at Target stores and on Target.com from January 2020 through October 2023. The affected minifridges are red and have the word “Frigidaire” printed on the front. Curtis International has received “at least” six reports of this specific model catching fire, according to the recall notice.

    The minifridge model Curtis International is recalling is red and says “Frigidaire” across the front.

    U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission


    The initial recall notice, which involved different Frigidaire minifridge models, documented 26 reports of minifridges smoking, sparking, burning, melting, overheating and catching fire. CPSC said property damages for those incidents totaled more than $700,000.

    The units in the earlier recall were sold at Walmart and Amazon.com. 

    CPSC advises consumers who purchased the model EFMIS121 minifridge to stop using it immediately. They should also unplug it, cut the power cord and write “Recall” on the front of the fridge in permanent marker. When disposing of the minifridge, consumers should abide by local and state regulations, the recall notice says.

    Affected customers can visit www.recallrtr.com/minifridge for a refund. The recall number for the product is 26-199.

    Edited by

    Aimee Picchi

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  • A mom pushed for a toy regulation after her baby died. It hasn’t moved forward. Ex-officials now have a warning.

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    The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is the U.S. agency that works to promote the safety of consumer products, has lost key leadership and staff over the last year. Among them are two former commissioners who say consumers are paying the price for the cuts at the agency.

    For Trista Hamsmith, the safety risks posed by some products are personal. In December 2020, her 18-month-old daughter Reese died after swallowing a button battery she accessed from a remote two months earlier.

    The batteries are tiny, coin-sized and deadly when ingested. It burned through Reese’s esophagus and after months of surgeries, doctors couldn’t save her.

    “I prayed and I prayed, but we didn’t get her back. I got to hold her again, but she was gone,” Hamsmith said, recalling the moment. “She was a baby and her life was taken too soon.”

    Push for better safety protections

    Hamsmith turned her grief into action. She launched a nonprofit and helped pass “Reese’s Law” in 2022, making button batteries harder for kids to access.

    But the law didn’t cover toys.

    Her next push was to get the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, to apply those same standards to toys.

    The initiative stalled this past summer, after President Trump removed three democratic commissioners and reduced the five-member commission to just two, including the May ouster of former commissioner Richard Trumka.

    Trumka blames current leadership at the agency for the holdup.

    “This rule would have simply made toys, the thing that we intentionally put in our children’s hand, as safe as everything else they get their hands on,” Trumka said. “It’s as common sense as you could possibly get and somehow it’s not moving forward.”

    He said it doesn’t make sense.

    “We have a solution to that that’s just completely fallen aside because industry said we don’t want it and the current leadership of the agency capitulated to that,” he said.

    Hamsmith said for parents like her, it’s more than a bureaucratic stalemate.

    “On a level like mine, a story like Reese’s, why this agency is so important, it’s important for child safety. It’s important for the safety of the American people,” she said.

    CPSC commissioner and staffing cuts

    Trumka alleges that in May, the Trump administration illegally removed him and fellow Democratic commissioners Alex Hoehn-Saric and Mary Boyle, and cut critical agency staff.

    He also claims more than a dozen other proposed safety rules have stalled since then.

    “People will be injured and people will die as a result of inaction from CPSC,” Trumka said.

    The CPSC was created by Congress as an independent agency with five bipartisan commissioners, meant to be free of political pressure.

    “CPSC is a health and safety organization,” said former CPSC chair Hoehn-Saric. “You want organizations like that to be focused on the facts and focused on the science because we’re trying to keep people from dying. You don’t want politics to come into those decisions.”

    The ousted commissioners allege their removal was a violation of the law and are fighting in court to be reinstated.

    CPSC maintains stance on firings, safety regulations

    In a statement, the CPSC maintains the president’s firing of the three commissioners was done lawfully and “has had no impact on the CPSC’s mission to protect American families from unsafe products.” 

    But in September, the agency was down to one commissioner after Republican Dougg Dziak resigned.

    With a single commissioner, Trumka said protections can’t be passed.

    “We have quorum requirements that to pass a rule, you need two commissioners. They have one,” he said. “It shows they have no intent to pass new rules to protect the public against problems that are coming up.” 

    The CPSC denied they are hindered and said rulemaking and enforcement is ongoing.

    When asked about the stalled battery rule, the CPSC said it “…measures success based on how many unsafe products it keeps out of the hands of American consumers, not the number of regulations it enacts.”

    The Toy Association, a trade association for the toy industry, told CBS News that while it is not resistant to stricter rules around button batteries, current science, it argues, hasn’t shown flaws in the current standards or that new proposals would make it any safer.

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  • These two products sold at Walmart are being recalled over safety concerns

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    Two products sold by Walmart — one of which had also been available on Amazon.com — are being recalled over potential safety issues, according to joint notices published Wednesday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

    Ozark Trail Tabletop 1-Burner Butane Camping Stoves

    One of the recalled items is a tabletop camping stove from outdoor equipment brand Ozark Trail. The CPSC warned that the stove can explode or catch fire, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers.

    About 201,000 dark green Ozark Trail tabletop stoves that were sold at Walmart are being recalled. The items contain the model number BG2247A1 and have an orange “Ozark Trail” logo printed on the front. 

    The product was sold in Walmart stores nationwide and on Walmart.com from March 2023 through October 2025 for between $8 and $45 each, according to the CPSC.

    The government agency said the Taiwan-based manufacturer, China Window Industry Co, has received 26 reports of the camping stoves exploding or catching fire, 16 of which included injuries such as second-degree burns.

    Customers should stop using the product immediately and return it to Walmart for a refund, the agency said. The recall number is 26-120.

    Outdoor Master children’s helmets

    The CPSC issued a separate recall on Wednesday for about 24,300 children’s helmets because they don’t comply with certain safety requirements. The government agency said the helmets can fail to protect the user in the event of a crash, risking a potentially deadly head injury.

    Two models, sold online at Amazon.com and Walmart.com from June 2024 through February 2025 for between $20 and $32, are covered by the recall. 

    The first model, OM-TD BIKE, is a blue helmet with a dinosaur print and has black padding, black straps and a black buckle. That item was sold in children’s size small (S). 

    The second model, OM-KSKB, is described as “deep green” with black padding, yellow straps and a black buckle and was sold in youth size small (S).

    The recall notice says consumers should immediately stop using the recalled helmets and contact manufacturer Outdoor Master for a refund. The recall number is 26-122. No injuries associated with these products have been reported so far.

    Edited by

    Aimee Picchi

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  • Rad Power Bikes’ e-bike batteries pose a serious fire risk and shouldn’t be used, agency warns

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    Some batteries that power a popular brand of e-bike pose a fire hazard that can cause serious injury or death and shouldn’t be used, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said in a notice Monday. 

    The commission is warning customers to immediately stop using lithium-ion batteries that power e-bikes made by Seattle, Washington-based Rad Power Bikes. The batteries can ignite and explode, causing serious injury or death, the agency warned.

    Rad Power Bikes said it disagreed with the agency’s warning. 

    “Rad Power Bikes firmly stands behind our batteries and our reputation as leaders in the e-bike industry, and strongly disagrees with the CPSC’s characterization of certain Rad batteries as defective or unsafe,” a Rad spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News. 

    The batteries that pose a fire hazard are model numbers are RP-1304 and HL-RP-S1304, according to the CPSC. They are particularly vulnerable to catching fire when they are exposed to water and also to what the commission describes as “debris.”

    CPSC said it has received 31 reports of the batteries causing fires, including 12 reports of fires that caused property damage. Cumulatively, accidents related to the batteries have caused roughly $734,500 in property damage, it said, adding that some of the incidents took place when a battery was neither charging nor in use.

    CPSC is urging consumers to immediately stop using the batteries, which it said should be removed from the e-bikes and disposed of in accordance with local disposal procedures. It added that Rad Power Bikes has not agreed to recall the products.

    Rad Power Bikes added that its bikes are equipped with batteries that it says “meet or exceed rigorous international safety standards.”

    Rad said it tested its batteries at independent third-party labs, which confirmed that the batteries met the industry’s highest standards. 

    “Our understanding is that the CPSC does not dispute the conclusions of these tests,” a Rad spokesperson added in a statement to CBS News. 

    Rad also pointed out that all lithium-ion batteries can catch fire if they are improperly charged or mishandled, and that Rad advises against misusing them in its customer safety guides. 

    Rad added that it had hoped to work with the CPSC to help its customers upgrade to the company’s “Safe Shield” batteries, which incorporate new technology, at a discounted rate. Rad said the commission’s request that Rad either offer replacement batteries or refunds to all consumers would put it out of business.

    The batteries cost $550 alone, or between $1,500 and $2,000 when sold with e-bikes.

    Rad did not indicate how many products are affected by the CPSC’s notice when asked by CBS News. 

    The batteries were sold with the following Rad Power Bikes e-bike models on RadPowerBikes.com, at Best Buy stores and other bicycle retailers across the U.S.:

    • RadWagon 4
    • RadCity HS 4
    • RadRover High Step 5
    • RadCity Step Thru 3
    • RadRover Step Thru 1
    • RadRunner 2
    • RadRunner 1
    • RadRunner Plus
    • RadExpand 5

    Edited by

    Aimee Picchi

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  • Fake Labubu dolls pose safety hazard to kids, Consumer Product Safety Commission warns

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    Viral plush toys called Labubus are taking over the internet, but it has also inspired counterfeits. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the fraudulent dolls can break apart easily and are small enough to lead to choking hazards.

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  • Why Howard U. is pushing underserved communities to swim – WTOP News

    Why Howard U. is pushing underserved communities to swim – WTOP News

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    “Sixty-five percent of African Americans have limited or no swimming ability, and we drown at three times the rate of our white counterparts,” Howard University’s Nick Askew said, referencing a 2023 Consumer Product Safety Commission report on fatal and nonfatal drowning reporting.

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    Why Howard Univ. is pushing underserved communities to swim

    “The Battle of the Burr” is one of the biggest swim meets in the country, pitting D.C. universities Georgetown and Howard in a local rivalry matchup this Saturday.

    However, for Nicholas “Nik” Askew, the director of swimming and diving at Howard University, the swim meet is more than a competition. The sold-out event, which will feature a watch party in the Bison’s basketball arena in Burr Gymnasium, is another chance to remind people of the lack of water spaces for underserved communities.

    “Sixty-five percent of African Americans have limited or no swimming ability, and we drown at three times the rate of our white counterparts,” Askew said, referencing a 2023 Consumer Product Safety Commission report on fatal and nonfatal drowning reporting.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report released in May, there are about 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths every year in the United States, with significantly higher rates among people of color. The data also says about 55% of U.S. adults have never taken a swimming lesson, with only 37% of Black people saying they had taken classes.

    The information is shocking to Askew, who jumped into the pool at an early age and swam competitively in high school. He started at Howard University in 1996 as a dual-sport athlete as a swimmer and tennis player. He became the swim team’s captain and became a six-time conference champion in the pool.

    However, he understands the history of African Americans being forced out of bodies of water and the lack of water spaces in urban settings. He joined the Pool Safety program over the summer and recorded a PSA on the history of African Americans in water spaces and why people of any age should learn to swim.

    According to its website, Pool Safety was launched by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to teach people the simple steps to save lives and develop a national education campaign to reduce drownings.

    “Drowning is known as the silent killer, and because not a lot of people really talk about it, there’s not a lot of news about it, but the stats are out there,” Askew said.

    As the NCAA’s only Division I swimming and diving team at a historically Black college, Askew said there a measure of responsibility to be a visible representation for African Americans and other people of color who may be apprehensive in getting in the water.

    Events like the Battle of the Burr are a starting point. The dual, men’s and women’s competitions are a one-of-a-kind competition for the athletes from the two high-profile universities and the spectators who experience it.

    “Being able to look at the pool deck and see people who you can see yourself as, is important because that allows you to start thinking ‘that space is for me,’” he said.

    One of the first things Askew encourages is learning water safety and proper protocols when in a body of water, regardless of if it’s a pool or the ocean. He encourages families to take also advantage of resources in their communities, including free or low-cost classes at local YMCAs, parks and recreational organizations.

    “Water is a therapeutic space, so you may not want to be a competitive swimmer, but you can do aqua aerobics, aqua cycling,” he said. “You can just come in here for just therapy alone and just tread water as part of the therapy, and it’s calming. So, it truly is a space for everyone, at every age.”

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Jose Umana

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  • ZLINE expands recall of potentially deadly gas stoves to include replacement or refund option

    ZLINE expands recall of potentially deadly gas stoves to include replacement or refund option

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    ZLINE is expanding a recall of 30,000 gas ranges to provide consumers the option of a replacement range or refund.

    Recalled in January, the gas stoves may emit dangerous levels of carbon monoxide — a colorless, odorless gas — when in use, putting consumers at risk of serious injury or death from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

    Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Breathing in high levels of carbon monoxide can cause you to pass out and may be fatal. 

    ZLINE, a family-owned company based in the U.S., issued this latest recall expansion after attempts to repair the gas ranges proved unsuccessful.

    “After the recall was announced, ZLINE received 131 reports that the repair was not completed successfully and that the ranges were still emitting dangerous levels of carbon monoxide,” the CPSC notice stated.

    Manufactured in China, the recalled ranges were sold in three sizes: 30 inches, 36 inches and 48 inches, the recall notice shows. Consumers can identify their unit’s model number by checking a label on the back of the gas range, according to the manufacturer. 

    Consumers of affected ranges should immediately stop use of the gas oven compartment and contact the manufacturer for a free inspection, replacement range or refund, the CPSC said.  

    The recall covers roughly 30,000 gas ranges sold online and in person at stores nationwide, including Best Buy, Lowe’s, The Home Depot and The Range Hood Store. The appliances were sold from February 2019 to December 2022 for between $2,300 and $6,900, according to the CPSC’s notice, and include the following model numbers:

    -RG48
    -RGS-48
    -RGB-48
    -RG30
    -RGS-30
    -RGB-30
    -RG36
    -RGS-36
    -RGB-36

    Customers with questions can call ZLINE toll-free at 833-226-1400 from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or send an email to rgrecall@zlinekitchen.com. They can also visit the manufacturer’s website at www.zlinekitchen.com/recalls or www.zlinekitchen.com and click on the banner at the top of the page for more information.

    Elizabeth Napolitano


    elizabeth-napolitano-cbsmoneywatch.jpg

    Elizabeth Napolitano is a freelance reporter at CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and technology news. She also writes for CoinDesk. Before joining CBS, she interned at NBC News’ BizTech Unit and worked on the Associated Press’ web scraping team.

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  • Shimano recalls 680,000 bicycle cranksets after reports of bone fractures and lacerations

    Shimano recalls 680,000 bicycle cranksets after reports of bone fractures and lacerations

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    Shimano is recalling nearly 700,000 bonded 11-Speed Hollowtech Road cranksets because the parts pose a crash risk to riders.

    The recalled bonded cranksets can “separate and break,” causing consumers to crash, a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows. The crankset is the part of the bike that moves the chain as the rider pedals, enabling the bike to move forward, according to the biking website Bike Radar. 

    The Japanese cycling company has received 4,519 complaints of cranksets separating, including six reports of injuries such as bone fractures, joint displacement and lacerations. 

    The recall covers roughly 680,000 cranksets that were sold in the U.S. from January 2012 to August 2023 for between $270 and $1,500, according to the CPSC. The recalled parts were manufactured in Japan prior to July 2019 and sold individually and on bicycles sold by other bike manufacturers including Trek and Specialized, the recall notice shows. 

    The CPSC urges consumers with affected models to immediately stop using the cranksets and contact an authorized Shimano dealer to schedule a free inspection. Consumers whose crank components show signs of bonding separation or delamination during an inspection will receive a free replacement crankset and installation, according to Shimano. 

    Affected Shimano crankset model
    The CPSC urges consumers with affected models to immediately stop using the cranksets and contact an authorized Shimano dealer to schedule a free inspection.

    Shimano.com


    The recall covers the following Shimano 11-Speed Bonded Hollowtech Road cranksets that were manufactured prior to July 2019.

    Affected Shimano crankset model numbers include: ULTEGRA FC-6800, FC-R8000 and DURA-ACE FC-9000, FC-R9100 and FC-R9100-P. The recalled models have printed ‘Ultegra’ or Dura Ace’ logos on the arm. Model numbers can be found on the inside of the crank arm near the backside of the arm where the pedals are attached.

    A two-letter production code located on the back of the crank arm can help consumers identify whether they have an affected model.

    shimano.com


    The affected models also have one of the following two-letter production codes located below the model number printed on the crank arm: KF, KG, KH, KI, KJ, KK, KL, LA, LB, LC, LD, LE, LF, LG, LH, LI, LJ, LK, LL, MA, MB, MC, MD, ME, MF, MG, MH, MI, MJ, MK, ML, NA, NB, NC, ND, NE, NF, NG, NH, NI, NJ, NK, NL, OA, OB, OC, OD, OE, OF, OG, OH, OI, OJ, OK, OL, PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF, PG, PH, PI, PJ, PK, PL, QA, QB, QC, QD, QE, QF, QG, QH, QI, QJ, QK, QL, RA, RB, RC, RD, RE, and RF.

    Consumers with questions can call Shimano toll-free at 844-776-0315 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through Friday.

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  • Costco mattresses recalled after hundreds of consumers reported mold growing on them

    Costco mattresses recalled after hundreds of consumers reported mold growing on them

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    About 48,000 mattresses sold at Costco are under recall after hundreds of consumers reported mold growing on them, the Consumer Safety Product Commission said on Thursday. 

    The mattresses, sold only at Costco stores and on Costco.com, were made by FXI and sold under the Novaform brand name between between January and June of this year. The mattresses were sold at Costco stores in the San Francisco Bay region and the Northwest, as well as online on the retailer’s website, with prices ranging from $150 to $750. 

    Foam inside the mattress could have been exposed to water during manufacturing, allowing mold to develop — a potential health risk to people who are allergic to mold or who have compromised immune systems or damaged lungs. FXI received 541 reports from consumers of mold on the mattresses, according to the CPSC. 

    mattress1-480x480-1-copy.jpg
    Examples of mold on the recalled mattresses, which were sold under the Novaform brand at Costco stores in the San Francisco area, the Northwest and online at Costco.com. Hundreds of consumers had reported mold on the mattresses, according to the CSPC. 

    FXI


    The recalled items are the Novaform ComfortGrande 14-inch and Novaform DreamAway 8-inch mattresses. The first mattress has a blue base with “Novaform” printed in white letters, while the DreamAway has a gray base with “Novaform” in white letters. 

    Costco is also directly reaching out to people who purchased the mattresses to alert them to the recall.

    How to get a refund or replacement

    The CPSC said consumers should contact FXI for either a full refund or a free replacement mattress, including free delivery of the new mattress and pick up and disposal of the recalled item.

    To get the refund or replacement, consumers should call FXI at (888) 886-2057 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday to talk with a customer service representative. 

    You’ll also need the so-called law tag from your mattress, FXI said. The law tag will determine whether your mattress is covered by the recall, as they were manufactured in FXI’s San Bernardino, California, facility between January 2 and April 30 for the ComfortGrande and between January 30 and April 30 for the DreamAway model. 

    LXI said to check the lawtag on the mattress for the location and date of manufacturer, as only mattresses made at its San Bernardino, California factory during specific dates are part of the recall. 

    FXI


    Mattresses made in other facilities aren’t affected, the company said. 

    FXI, based in Radnor, Pa., designs and manufactures mattresses, pillows and other bedding products, with its brands also including Molecule and SleepInnovations. The company operates 34 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Mexico, according to its website.

    Mattresses that are recalled

    Below are the mattress sizes and models that are subject to the recall. 

    DreamAway 8″ Mattress

     

    ITM/ART #

    Price

    Twin

    1698562

    $160

    Full

    1698564

    $210

    Twin

    1698562

    $150

    Full

    1698564

    $200

    ComfortGrande 14″ Mattress

     

    ITM/ART #

    Price

    King

    1413200

    $700 

    Cal King

    1413201

    $700

    Queen

    1413202

    $580

    Full

    1413203

    $500

    Twin

    1413204

    $400

    King

    1413200

    $750

    Queen

    1413202

    $600

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  • Here are the best ways to keep newborn babies safe while they’re sleeping

    Here are the best ways to keep newborn babies safe while they’re sleeping

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    “Bare is best” when it comes to preparing a crib, bassinet or playpen for a newborn baby to sleep in, consumer product safety advocates advised parents Thursday. That means a firm, flat surface with no blankets, pillows, toys, stuffed animals or any other items apart from a fitted sheet.  

    Extra bedding and other clutter have been linked to an average of 100 infant deaths per year between 2018 and 2020, according to a new report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Risks associated with nursery products are even higher, with more than 160 nursery product-related deaths annually.

    Nearly 60,000 children under age 5 were taken to an emergency room in 2022 because of injuries associated with nursery products, the report found. About 15 young children died every year during that same time period because caretakers placed them in an inclined carrier not intended for sleep, the commission said. 

    “It is important for families to remember that the ways many adults sleep are not safe for young children,” CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric said in a statement. “If your baby falls asleep in an inclined product, move them to their crib, bassinet or play yard.”


    2 more deaths linked to recalled baby recliner

    00:27

    Despite their visual appeal, even soft bedding and plush toys can lead to suffocation or strangulation, Samantha St. John, program coordinator for Cook Children’s Health Care System in Fort Worth, Texas, told CBS News earlier this month. St. John also emphasized that babies should sleep in cribs or bassinets, not on beds with siblings or in parents’ arms. 

    Hundreds of infant deaths, and the ongoing risk of suffocation, has spurred new regulations for infant sleepers and the recall of rockers and many other products. The Food and Drug Administration last year warned parents not to use head-shaping pillows on their infants because the devices “may contribute to the risk of suffocation and death.” 

    The CPSC didn’t share specific brands or products to avoid in its report, but it keeps a searchable database of recalled baby products on its website. In a recent example, a popular baby pillow recalled in 2021— Boppy’s Newborn Lounger —  is now linked to at least 10 infant deaths, the CPSC said in June. 

    Here’s a list of do’s and dont’s for parents and anyone caring for babies to remember, according to the CPSC:

    Do

    • Use products intended for sleep including cribs, bassinets, play yards and bedside sleepers that meet federal requirements
    • Remember that “bare is best.” Nothing but a fitted sheet should be placed in a crib, bassinet or play yard
    • Always place babies on their backs
    • Move your baby to their crib, bassinet or play yard if they fall asleep elsewhere
    • Check the CPSC website for product recalls. 

    Don’t

    • Don’t add pillows or blankets to your baby’s sleep space
    • Don’t allow your baby to sleep in an inclined product with an angle greater than 10° such as a rocker, bouncer, swing or glider.

    Khristopher J. Brooks

    Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.

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  • Generac recalls more than 60,000 portable generators over burn risk

    Generac recalls more than 60,000 portable generators over burn risk

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    Generac is recalling more than 60,000 portable generators over potential fire and burn hazards.

    The recalled generators’ fuel tanks have a valve issue that may cause them to “build up excess pressure and expel fuel when opened, posing fire and burn hazards,” according to a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Generac Power Systems has received reports of 27 overheating incidents, including three severe burn injuries, the Waukesha, Wisconsin-based manufacturer said Thursday. 

    The recall covers roughly 64,000 generators sold at a variety of major home improvement and hardware stores from April 2011 through June 2023 for between $3,300 and $3,650, the recall notice shows. Consumers should immediately stop using the generators and contact the manufacturer for a free repair kit, the CPSC said.  

    The recall covers Generac portable generators with the following unit types and model numbers. 

    Unit Type

    Model Numbers

    GP15000E 

    G0057341
    G0057342
    005734R1
    005734R2

    GP17500E 

    G0057351
    G0057352
    005735R1
    005735R2

    Consumers can find the unit type of their generator printed on both sides of the tank and on the control panel. The model number is printed on a label on the heat shield between the engine and alternator of the generator. 

    generac.jpg
    Consumers can find the unit type of their generator printed on both sides of the tank and on the control panel.

    CPSC.gov


    Consumers with questions can call Generac at 888-391-0503 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday, or online at www.generac.com/GPenhancements or www.generac.com, where they can click on “Important Recall Information” at the top of the page for more information.

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  • New law aims to prevent furniture tip-over deaths

    New law aims to prevent furniture tip-over deaths

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    Protecting kids from furniture tip-over


    New regulations take effect to prevent furniture tip-over injuries, deaths

    02:52

    A new law that takes effect today aims to prevent dressers and other pieces of furniture from tipping over, which can lead to injuries and even death, particularly when small children are involved. 

    Furniture tip-overs caused 234 deaths from January 2000 to April 2022, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of those who died, 199 were children. 

    The “Sturdy Act” forces furniture makers to take new safety measures to ensure that clothing storage units like dressers are less likely to tip on children. The producers will now have to run additional safety tests. The items will be tested for stability, on carpeting, with loaded drawers, and by simulating the weight of children weighing up to 60 pounds climbing, pulling on and interacting with the furniture. 

    However, there’s an important catch: Because the Sturdy Act goes into effect today, that means products manufactured before Sept. 1, 2023, aren’t covered. 

    Consumers shopping for new furniture should ask if it meets the new standards. Another key way to avoid furniture tip-overs is anchoring dressers, TV sets and other large furniture to the wall so children can’t pull them down. As part of the Sturdy Act, manufacturers will have to provide an anchor kit with new furniture. 

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  • Target recalls more than 2 million scented candles after reports of glass shattering during use

    Target recalls more than 2 million scented candles after reports of glass shattering during use

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    Target has recalled about 2.2 million scented candles sold exclusively at its stores because the candles’ glass jars may suddenly shatter while the wick is burning. 

    The recall, issued Thursday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), affects Threshold Glass Jar 5.5 ounce 1-Wick and 20 ounce 3-Wick Candles sold in a variety of scents like Blue Agave & Cactus, Frosted Holly Berries and Pineapple Sage. Manufactured in Vietnam, the candles come in glass jars that can crack or break during use, posing laceration and burn risks, a the recall notice on its website.

    Target has so far received 19 reports of the jars breaking or cracking during use. One such incident caused a minor injury, the CPSC said. Target sold the candles nationwide for between $3 and $12 from February 2020 and July 2023. 

    screen-shot-2023-08-10-at-11-51-13-am.png
    Target has recalled millions of Threshold brand candles sold exclusively at its stores because of laceration and burn hazards posed by the products’ glass jars which may shatter during use.

    Consumer Product Safety Commission


    The recall affected Threshold scented candles with the following item numbers which can be found on the product stickers located on the bottom of the glass jars.

    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Pineapple Sage & Sugarcane -Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0056
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Berry Lemonade & Melon – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0200
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar White Gardenia & Jasmine – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0266
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Charcoal & Black Teakwood – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0268
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Rose Petal & Lotus – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0271
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Peony & Cherry Blossom – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0275
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Pineapple Sage & Sugarcane – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0276
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Woodland Cypress & Bergamot – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0294
    • 20 oz 3-wick Jar Macintosh & Pumpkin – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0562
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Frosted Holly Berries – Threshold. Item number:  054-09-0589
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Harvest Festival – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0679
    • 20oz 3-Wick Jar Macintosh & Pumpkin – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0697
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Merry Berry – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0701
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Christmas Velvet – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0723
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Blue Agave & Cactus – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0743
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Wild Honeysuckle & Lilac – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0774
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Soft Cashmere & Lavender – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-0816
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Candied Almond & Vanilla – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-1164
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar White Gardenia & Jasmine – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-1222
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Lidded Glass Rainwater Lily – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-1442
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Citrus Zest & Aloe – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-1534
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Smoked Cinnamon & Hickory – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-1589
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Golden Orchid – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-1798
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Candle – Apple & Evergreen – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-2225
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Pineapple Sage – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-2682
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Vanilla Pumpkin – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-2683
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Candle Fresh Linen & Sea Salt – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-3080
    • 20 oz 3-wick Jar Cashmere Cinnamon – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-3142
    • 20 oz 3-wick Jar Pine & Juniper – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-3218
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Cinnamon Beignet – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-3233
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Twilight Woods & Amber – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-3888
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Cerulean Surf & Sea – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-3919
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Blue Agave & Cactus – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-3970
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Candied Almond & Vanilla – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-4045
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Apple Blossom & Breeze – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-4079
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Wonder Berry & Sage – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-4722
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Spiced Vanilla – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-5026 
    • 20 oz Lidded Milky Glass Jar 3-Wick – Frosted Vanilla Cupcake Candle – Threshold.
      Item number: 054-09-5706
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Green Mango & Pomelo – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-5711
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Spiced Gingerbread Cookie – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-5888
    • 20 oz Lidded Glass 3-Wick Strawberry & Hibiscus – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-6079
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Pumpkin Spice – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-6795
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Fresh Fraser – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-6993
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Spiced Gingerbread Cookie – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-7437
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Red Mandarin & Guava – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-7504
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Warm Cider & Cinnamon – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-7849
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Water Mint & Eucalyptus – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-7915
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Christmas Velvet – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-8165
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Candle Coconut White Woods – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-8380
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Caramel Latte – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-8559
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Tonka & Vanilla Amber – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-8670
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Berry Lemonade & Melon – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-8758
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Pumpkin Spice – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-8768
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Green Mango & Pomelo – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-8942
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Garden Herb & Cucumber – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-8993
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Pumpkin Woods – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-9017
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Merry Berry – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-9120
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Tangerine Ginger – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-9293
    • 20 oz Lidded Milky Glass Jar 3-Wick – Orange Blossom & Oak Candle – Threshold.
      Item number: 054-09-9306
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Fresh Fraser – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-9690
    • 20 oz 3-Wick Jar Harvest Festival – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-9801
    • 5.5 oz Jar Blue Agave and Cactus Candle – Threshold. Item number: 054-09-8268

    The candles were manufactured in Vietnam and Target has so far received 19 reports of the jars breaking or cracking. One such incident caused a minor injury, the CPSC said. Target sold the candles nationwide for between $3 and $12 from February 2020 and July 2023. 

    Anyone with the candles should stop using it immediately and return it to Target for a full refund, the CPSC said. Customers can also contact Target directly to get a prepaid shipping label to return the product by mail. 

    The company announced a similar recall for the same brand of candle in May, which included the 14-ounce sizes. They too had problems with the jar’s glass breaking.

    Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Target at 1-800-440-0680 or visit help.target.com. 

    Khristopher J. Brooks

    Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.

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  • Otteroo baby neck floats still on sale despite reports of injuries and one infant death

    Otteroo baby neck floats still on sale despite reports of injuries and one infant death

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    A California company that makes baby neck floats has refused to recall the inflatable devices despite safety warnings from two federal agencies and a report of a baby drowning while using the product, Consumer Reports warned.

    Since the Otteroo first appeared on the market, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received 68 incident reports about the inflatable flotation ring designed for babies as young as three weeks. In all cases, the infants had to be rescued by their caregivers, Consumer Reports said. Although many of the infants in the CPSC’s incident reports had no lasting injuries, some required hospital visits, CPR or intubation, according to the consumer advocacy and media organization. 

    An Otteroo neck float helped lead to the drowning death of a 6-month-old infant in Maine three years ago after the child slipped through the neck hole of the device, the CPSC said. A 3-month-old was seriously injured in New York last year in a similar situation, the agency said.

    Otteroo founder Tiffany Chiu said the products are safe with proper parental supervision, telling CBS MoneyWatch that infants can also slip out of other products, such as bath seats. 

    “In any situation in or near water, whether a child is using an Otteroo or not, the potential for accidents exists,” Chiu said. “It could be a child slipping out of a bath seat or even from a parent’s hands. It’s crucial to remember that the key to mitigating such risks is attentive, active supervision.”

    Federal safety warning

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year advised parents not to use any neck float products, and the CPSC has issued a similar warning. The agencies, which cannot force Otteroo to recall its neck floats, note that the devices could deflate and start to potentially tighten around an infant’s neck, risking strangulation.

    screenshot-2023-07-31-at-6-00-35-pm.png
    Federal agencies urge consumers not to use Otteroo neck floats for babies, but the California company that makes them insists that they’re safe. 

    Otteroo.com


    Chiu said any inflatable device that loses air can harm a child.

    “We strongly disagree with CPSC’s statement that Otteroo is defectively designed because it could deflate due to a leak — this is indeed the inherent nature of all inflatables,” she told CBS MoneyWatch. “Unfortunately, CPSC has singled out Otteroo and ignored thousands of other inflatable children’s products on the market, and has imposed an unrealistic and impossible standard that our float should not carry the risk of deflation.”

    Consumer Reports focused on Otteroo because it is the most popular brand of neck float and because of the company’s resistance to issuing a product recall, Oriene Shin, policy counsel for Consumer Reports, told CBS MoneyWatch. 

    Mambobaby, Swimava and other companies also make baby neck floats, but those manufacturers “don’t have the same brand recognition as her products has,” Shin added, referring to Chiu.

    Shin noted that companies often decline to recall a product unless there is definitive proof it is potentially harmful. But that could be dangerous for companies that make baby products. 

    “That means they need to see more babies and children get injured and die, and that’s just unacceptable to me,” she said. “We can’t wait for additional data to hold companies accountable and keep babies safe.”

    Baby neck floats started gaining in popularity several years ago, with photos of the pint-sized swim devices cropping up on social media, prompting one pediatrician to describe the products as “potential death traps” in multiple news accounts. 

    The neck floats are touted by manufacturers as a product that gives babies mobility, but the FDA said the effectiveness of the products has not been established. The agency said floats shouldn’t be used, particularly for babies with spina bifida, spinal muscular atrophy, Down syndrome or cerebral palsy.

    Khristopher J. Brooks

    Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.

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  • Toddler’s death prompts new warning for a popular baby stroller | CNN Business

    Toddler’s death prompts new warning for a popular baby stroller | CNN Business

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    New York
    CNN
     — 

    The Consumer Product Safety Commission reiterated its warning about the hazards of some popular Baby Trend-brand strollers and sharply criticized the stroller manufacturer for issuing “a clearly inaccurate statement” about the safety of its products and the agency’s position on them.

    On Thursday, the CPSC and Baby Trend warned consumers about a head or neck entrapment risk on the Sit N’ Stand Double and Ultra strollers (model numbers beginning with “SS76” or “SS66”). The statement said a life-threatening injury could happen between the pivoting front canopy and the armrest or seat back.

    The joint notice came after the asphyxiation death of a 14-month-old whose neck became trapped between the canopy tube and the armrest of a Baby Trend Sit N’ Stand double stroller. The toddler’s father was nearby but unable to see the armrest and canopy clearly.

    A 17-month-old child was also left with neck bruises in a separate incident.

    But in a statement Friday Baby Trend said the strollers are “completely safe when used as intended.” (Baby Trend also said it had joined with the CPSC “out of an abundance of caution.”)

    “This tragic and exceedingly rare accident could have been altogether avoided if the young toddler had not been permitted to climb and play on the stroller, which was not being used as intended at the time,” the company’s statement read.

    In response, the CPSC doubled down on its warning, which had noted that,”The space in front of and behind the strollers’ pivoting front canopy can entrap a child’s head or neck if a non-occupant child climbs on the exterior of the stroller or when a child in the front seat of the stroller is not securely restrained in the seat using all five points of the harness.”

    The warning added: “Entrapment could lead to a loss of consciousness, serious injury, or death.”

    The CPSC and Baby Trend warned consumers to remove and separately store the canopy when not in use, not allow children to play on the stroller, and to secure children in the strollers with the harness.

    The Sit N’ Stand strollers have been sold since 2009, and Baby Trend said over a million have been sold nationwide. They’re found at Baby Trend, Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and buybuy BABY.

    Consumers are encouraged to report incidents to the CPSC or to Baby Trend at 800-328-7363 or info@babytrend.com.

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  • About 100 deaths linked to Fisher-Price’s infant sleepers

    About 100 deaths linked to Fisher-Price’s infant sleepers

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    Dozens more infants have died since Fisher-Price initially recalled its Rock ‘n Play sleeper nearly four years ago, prompting federal safety officials once again to warn families against using the product.

    Fisher-Price originally recalled 4.7 million sleepers in April 2019 after more than 30 infants died from rolling onto their stomach while unrestrained inside the device. Since then, roughly 70 additional deaths have been reported, bringing the total number of infant fatalities tied to the incline sleeper to approximately 100, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Monday.

    “Fisher-Price notes that in some of the reports, it has been unable to confirm the circumstances of the incidents or that the product was a Rock ‘n Play Sleeper,” the CPSC said in a recall notice issued with the company. 

    Anyone with a Rock ‘n Play should stop using it immediately and contact Fisher-Price for a refund, the agency said. 

    Mattel, Fisher-Price’s parent company, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Fisher-Price originally recalled 4.7 million sleepers in April 2019 after more than 30 infants died from rolling onto their stomach while unrestrained inside the device. Since then, roughly 70 additional deaths have been reported linked to the product.

    Consumer Product Safety Commission


    Customers who bought a Rock ‘n Play after Oct. 12, 2018, will receive a cash refund after returning the product, according to Mattel’s recall website. Anyone who bought the sleeper before that date will get a voucher for a different Fisher-Price product. Customers are asked to dismantle the sleeper and send it back to Fisher-Price and the company will pay for shipping.

    A CPSC official blasted Fisher-Price, saying its sleeper recall was inadequate and overly complicated, and pressed the brand to take responsibility for withdrawing the potentially deadly products from the market. 

    “Fisher-Price’s Rock ‘n Play recall was not good enough to remove these products from homes,” CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka said in a statement. “The incentives Fisher Price offered were inadequate to draw in enough consumers, and the hurdles were too many. Now, eight infants have died after the recall, tragically bringing the death toll associated with the product to over 90 babies.”

    A House committee found in 2021 that Fisher-Price ignored warnings about its Rock ‘n Play inclined sleepers, which were on the market for around a decade before the first recall.

    Oriene Shin, policy counsel at Consumer Reports, said sleepers from Fisher-Price and Georgia-based baby product maker Kids2 have become a real threat to infants in recent years. 

    “Fisher-Price and Kids2 have had years to get their dangerous sleepers out of people’s homes and make their recalls effective, but they have utterly failed,” Shin said in a statement. “It is alarming that they haven’t done more to prevent harm with infants’ lives on the line.”

    Kids2 didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.


    New federal safety standard approved for potentially hazardous infant sleep products

    04:32

    The Rock ‘n Play sleepers were sold for between $40 and $149 at major retailers — including Amazon, Target and Walmart — from September 2009 through April 2019. 

    Parents and caregivers should not use inclined products, including rockers, gliders, soothers and swings, for infant sleep and should never leave babies in the products unattended or with bedding material due to the risk of suffocation, the CPSC has said. 

    President Biden last spring signed into law the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which bans the manufacture or sale of padded crib bumper pads and inclined sleep products linked to hundreds of deaths. 

    The newest CPSC warning comes seven months after the agency warned parents against using Fisher-Price’s Infant-to-Toddler Rockers and Newborn-to-Toddler Rockers.

    Khristopher J. Brooks

    Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering business, consumer and financial stories that range from economic inequality and housing issues to bankruptcies and the business of sports.

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