Electric Shock Hazard Prompts Recall of Electric Smokers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Bradley Electric Smokers
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W.R. Grace Liable for Response Costs at the Libby Asbestos Site
W.R. Grace Liable for Response Costs at the Libby Asbestos Site
By David Dowton, Office of Site Remediation Enforcement
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed a lower court decision holding W.R. Grace (Grace) responsible for $54 million in response costs for the cleanup of the Libby Asbestos Site. The court also affirmed the district court declaratory judgment for future costs and upheld the district court award of indirect costs.
Grace did not dispute that it was a liable party but rather alleged that EPA circumvented regulatory safeguards by conducting the cleanup as a removal action rather than a remedial action. In the alternative, Grace alleged that even if the action was properly performed as a removal, it was inappropriate for the work to exceed the 12-month, $2 million cap for removal actions. Grace also challenged EPA revised methodology for calculating indirect costs (which accounted for slightly more than $11 million of the total costs).
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L.L. Bean Announce Recall of Safety Kits
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Auto Safety Kit, Auto Aid in a Bottle, Winter Safety Kit, and Outdoorsman in a Bottle
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Porter-Cable Announce Recall to Repair Routers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Porter-Cable 890 Series Routers
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Leaf Blowers Sold at Home Depot Recalled for Laceration Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Homelite Vac Attack II Blower
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Congo-Kinshasa Travel Warning
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) Travel Warning
January 20, 2006
This Travel Warning for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) provides an update on the security situation, including upcoming elections. It supersedes the Travel Warning for the Democratic Republic of the Congo issued June 24, 2005.
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in light of past unrest and the potential for unrest in the future. Despite advances in the peace process following the 2003 formation of a transitional government, periodic fighting continues in the provinces of North and South Kivu, Ituri and northern Katanga, and other areas of eastern Congo. Wide-scale civil unrest broke out in May and June 2004, with rioting and looting in many cities, including the capital Kinshasa, and resulted in United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeper and civilian casualties. There were also civilian and police casualties during demonstrations in several areas of Kinshasa in January 2005, in Mbuji Mayi in May 2005, and some instances of civil disturbances related to the extension of the transitional government since June 2005. The challenges of implementing national elections in the first half of 2006 raise the possibility of further civil disturbances over the next several months.
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Nigeria Travel Warning
Nigeria Travel Warning
January 20, 2006
This Travel Warning provides updates on the security situation in the Niger Delta and aviation safety in Nigeria. It supersedes the Travel Warning for Nigeria issued December 1, 2005.
The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Nigeria. The lack of law and order in Nigeria poses considerable risks to travelers. Violent crime committed by ordinary criminals, as well as by persons in police and military uniforms, can occur throughout the country. In recent months, Lagos has witnessed a spike in crime. Some expatriates have been robbed in the outlying Lagos suburb of Lekki. In a working class section of mainland Lagos, an October 2005 clash between police and residents left several dead. Even Victoria and Ikoyi Islands, which are generally safer than other parts of Lagos, have experienced attempted bank robberies, and have seen an increase in smash-and-grab car robberies, including some involving expatriates.
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The Cheese Works Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Sulfites in Sun Dried Tomatoes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Ringwood, NJ — January 9, 2006 — The Cheese Works Ltd of Ringwood, NJ on behalf of the manufacturer Bernardo Jose Quilez is recalling the 5 pound package of Union Rex Spanish Sun Dried Tomatoes because they may contain undeclared sulfites.
The recalled sun dried tomatoes were distributed nationwide in retail stores.
The product comes in a 5 pound bag with any lot number starting with Apr05-Nov05.
No illnesses have been reported to date with this problem.
The Cheese Works Ltd has stopped importing this product until Bernardo Jose Quilez has rectified this problem.
Consumers who have purchased this item are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 973-962-1413.
Whole Foods Market Recalls Whole Catch Lemon Pepper Garlic Hot Smoked Trout
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Austin, Texas) Whole Foods Market is recalling Whole Catch Lemon Pepper Garlic Hot Smoked Trout because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The recall was first announced January 9 but two additional states not previously included in the recall — Nevada and Colorado — may have also received shipments of the product.
The product, distributed by Whole Foods Market, may have reached consumers via stores in the following states: California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
The product can be identified by a label that reads “Whole Catch Lemon Pepper Garlic Hot Smoked Trout.” This item comes in an 8-ounce, green colored package with yellow and white lettering and has a UPC Code of 9948241183. The batch number is 10724701 and the sticker can typically be found on the back of the package.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The recall was initiated after random testing by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Food Safety. Other batches and other varieties of this product are not affected by this voluntary recall. The company continues an investigation as to what may have caused the problem.
Consumers who have purchased this product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Whole Foods Market has contacted its locations holding stocks of this product and has directed Store/Facility Team Leaders to remove this product from the shelves and to destroy it until a new supply becomes available. The recall does not affect any other Whole Foods Market product.
Consumers with questions may contact the company at 512/542-0656.
Scobee Foods Recalls Double Chili Dogs With Cheese Because of Possible Health Risk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Dallas, TX — December 22, 2005 — Scobee Foods, Inc. of Dallas, TX is recalling 364 packages of Double Chili Dogs with Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Double Chili Dogs with Cheese was distributed in Dallas, Texas and Grand Rapids, Michigan through vending machines and convenience food stores.
The product comes in a clear plastic package and contains two individual chili dogs with cheese per package. The product sold in Texas has an orange label with the brand name “Scobee Grill” and the product sold in Michigan has a blue and white label with the brand name “Grill”. All products are labeled as “Net Weight 8oz.” and have a sell by date of 010806 and lot code 335 stamped in black ink in the top right corner of the label.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The recall is the result of a routine sampling program by the Texas Department of State Health Services which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.
Consumers who have purchased Scobee Grill Double Chili Dogs with Cheese are urged to return it to the place of purchase or contact the company for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-888-726-9424.