Product Recalls / Where to go, what to do
Tomato Planters
Name of product: Topsy-Turvy Deluxe Tomato Planters with Stand. Units: About 82,000. Retailer: QVC of West Chester, Pa. Importer: All-Star Marketing of Hawthorne, N. Y. Hazard: The legs on the bottom of the planter can detach when the planter is moved or becomes unbalanced. This could cause the planter to fall and injure bystanders. Incidents/injuries: The firm has received 347 reports of the planters collapsing; 155 consumers have reported injuries including lacerations, broken toes and bruises. QVC has also received reports of property damage caused when the planter collapsed onto nearby items. Description: The Topsy-Turvy Deluxe Tomato Planter with Stand (Item Numbers M16702 and M17499) is an upright planter used for growing tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers. The planter consists of a 16-inch-by-15-inch bag that holds up to 30 pounds of soil and is attached to the top of a 6-foot-tall adjustable pole. Sold through: QVC’s televised shopping programs, its Web site and in QVC’s Studio, employee and retail stores from March 2008 through April 2008 for about $30. Manufactured in: China. Remedy: Consumers who have already set up the planter should immediately take it down by having two adults carefully tip it over on its side. Consumers who purchased the planter through a QVC television program or QVC.com were mailed instructions on obtaining a refund. Consumers who have not received instructions should contact QVC. Consumers who purchased the planter at a QVC store should return the planter to any QVC store to receive a full refund. Consumer contact: Tollfree at (800) 367-9444 from 7 a. m. to 1 a. m. any day or visit www.qvc.com.
Fireworks
Name of product: Oh Chute Parachute with Streamer Fireworks. Units: About 84,250. Distributor: Fireworks Over America of Springfield, Mo. Hazard: The parachutes can become entangled in overhead power lines, causing a shock hazard to users. Incidents/injuries: Fireworks Over America has received one report of entanglement, in which a consumer’s hand was burned and shocked. Description: The recalled Oh Chute Parachute with streamers is a firework item with a light blue cylinder with white clouds. The model name is printed in triplicate on the front of the tube and FOA #2085 is on the lower back of the tube. Sold by: Fireworks stores from April 2007 through June 2008 for about $2.50 each and $8 a box. Manufactured in: China. Remedy: Stop using the product and return it to either the place of purchase or Fireworks Over America for a full refund. Consumer contact: Tollfree at (800) 345-3957 from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m weekdays or visit www.fireworksoveramerica.com.
It’s My Binky Pacifiers
Name of product: It’s My Binky’s Personalized Pacifiers. Units: About 115,000. Importer: It’s My Binky of Henderson, Nev. Hazard: The pacifier button, ring handle and shield with nipple can detach, posing a choking hazard to infants. Incidents/injuries: It’s My Binky has received two reports of the pacifier button, ring handle and shield with nipple detaching. No injuries have been reported. Description: The recalled pacifiers have “Japlo” imprinted on the front of the pacifier shield at the bottom center. The pacifiers were sold in blue, white and pink with various words or designs printed on the button of the pacifier. Examples of text and symbols printed on recalled Japlo pacifiers include but are not limited to the following: Blue (pacifier w/text): Image of a skull (no text), Stud Muffin, Prince Charming, My Mom Rocks, Mute Button, My Dad Rocks, Momma’s Boy, Insomniac, Future CEO, Little Monster, Flirt and Bad to the Bone. White (pacifier w/text): Image of a skull (no text), Stud Muffin, Prince Charming, Princess, My Mom Rocks, Mute Button, Little Monster, Future CEO, Daddy’s Girl and Born 2 $hop. Pink (pacifier w/text): Spoiled, Princess, My Mom Rocks, Mute Button, My Dad Rocks, Insomniac, Future CEO, Flirt, Daddy’s Girl and Born 2 $hop. Sold at: Nordstrom and baby boutique retail stores nationwide and online at www.itsmybinky.com from February 2006 through June 2008 for between $5 and $6. Manufactured in: Malaysia. Remedy: Take pacifiers away from children and return them to the store where purchased or contact the firm if purchased online to receive a free replacement pacifier. Consumer contact: Toll-free at (888) 689-9444 from 11 a. m. to 7:30 p. m. Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.itsmybinky.com or e-mail Danielle Riiber at Danielle@itsmybinky.com.
