Is microwave popcorn safe?

From the AP:

The smell of buttery microwave popcorn can be intoxicating. But can it also be dangerous?

The question took on new significance recently when a doctor alerted federal regulatory agencies that a Colorado man who ate at least two bags every night for several years had "significant lung disease" similar to that seen in some microwave popcorn workers.

The illness - the first suspected case in a consumer - was linked to the man's habit of inhaling fumes from extra-buttery microwave popcorn, which contains the chemical diacetyl. The additive gives foods a buttery taste and has been linked to severe lung disease in some microwave popcorn and flavor plant workers.

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Fisher Price Recalls Go Diego Go Boat Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

On October 25 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boats

Units: About 38,000

Importer: Fisher-Price Inc., of East Aurora, N.Y.

Hazard: Surface paints on the toys contain excessive levels of lead, which violates the federal standard prohibiting lead paint on children’s toys.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The toy is an orange and yellow boat that squirts water. Cartoon character Diego is in the driver’s seat. “Fisher Price,” product number K3413, and a date code between 137-7HF and 223-7HF are marked on the toys.

Sold at: Retail stores nationwide from June 2007 through October 2007 for about $15.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Fisher-Price in order to receive a free replacement toy. Consumers need to return the recalled toys to Fisher-Price.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Fisher-Price at (888) 299-0579 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.service.mattel.com

Children’s Toy Rakes Sold at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Recalled

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Children’s Toy Rake

Units: About 16,000

Importer: Jo-Ann Stores Inc., of Hudson, Ohio

Hazard: Surface paint on the handle of the rake can contain excessive levels of lead paint, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled children’s rake has a green handle with a yellow duck head attached to the handle. The rake has seven purple tines, also known as teeth. The rake is about 24 inches long. “Robbie Ducky™ Garden Collection Rake” is printed on a tag attached to the handle.

Sold exclusively at: Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores nationwide from January 2007 through September 2007 for about $7.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy rake away from children and return it to any Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Jo-Ann Stores Inc. toll-free at (888) 739-4120, option 7, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email the firm at guest.services@jo-annstores.com, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.joann.com

RC2 Recalls Knights of the Sword Toys

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Britain’s “Knights of the Sword” Series Toys

Units: About 800

Importer/Distributor: RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill.

Hazard: Surface paints on the toy knights contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The three recalled silver knight toys are mounted on red horses sold individually in see-through blister cards. “Britains” and “Knights of the Sword” are printed on the top of the card in the packaging. The recalled toys include a mounted silver knight on a red horse with an axe; a mounted silver knight on a red horse with two hands on a raised weapon; and a mounted silver knight on a red horse with a lance.

Sold at: Specialty toy stores nationwide from April 2004 through March 2006 for about $8.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take these recalled toys away from young children immediately and contact RC2 to receive a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact RC2 toll-free at (866) 725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at http://recalls.rc2.com

Target Recalls Children’s Toy Gardening Tools and Chairs Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Happy Giddy Gardening Tools and Children’s Sunny Patch Chairs

Units: About 350,000

Importer: Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Manufacturer: Starite International Ltd., of Taiwan

Hazard: The surface paint on the recalled gardening tools and chairs contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall includes the Happy Giddy Gardening Tools and the Sunny Patch Children’s Chairs.

Gardening tools: caterpillar trowel with an orange and multi-colored handle; kitty cat broom with pink flowers and green handle; pink and green cultivator with a solid green tool portion and pink flowers on the handle; orange and green wood handle hoe and rake with orange flowers; pink and green shovel and trowel with pink flowers; green, orange and light blue snail push broom; multi-colored trowel, hoe, rake with orange on the tool body; multi-colored shovel with solid red on the shovel and eyes on the top of the handle; red and blue owl shaped broom with bristles painted blue, with yellow and black large eyes on the face.

Children’s Chairs: multi-colored children’s Sunny Patch chairs with a giraffe, monkey, and elephant on the back. The cloth seat and back are striped in orange, yellow, green and blue. The chameleon, butterfly and lady bug chair are not included in the recall.

Sold at: Target stores nationwide from August 2006 through August 2007 for between $3 and $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the products away from children and return the item to the nearest Target store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 pm. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.target.com

RC2 Corp. Recalls Additional Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Various Thomas and Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys

Units: About 200,000 (1.5 million other Thomas & Friends railway toys were recalled on June 13, 2007)

Importer/Distributor: RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill.

Hazard: Surface paints on the toys can contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall involves five toys from the Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway product line: the all-black cargo car, toad vehicle, olive green sodor cargo box and all-green maple tree top and signal base accessories. The front of the packaging has the logo “Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway” in the upper left-hand corner. A tracking code may be located on the bottom of some of the products. Toys marked with codes containing “WJ” and “AZ” are not included in the recall.

Recalled Product Name & Tracking Codes

All-Black Cargo Car – Included only in the Brendam Fishing Dock Set. The car is labeled “CARGO CAR” and has either no tracking code or one of the following codes on its undersides: 26833i 28233i 23243i00 24643i00 25343i00 27443i00 32043i00 34743i00 01553i00 04553i00 13353i00 14753i00 15453i00 18353i00 Cargo cars sold in other sets are not included.

Toad vehicle with brake lever – The vehicle is labeled “TOAD” and has the tracking code 16560W00 on its underside.

Olive Green Sodor Cargo Box – The side of the cargo box says “SODOR”, the box was included only in the Deluxe Cranky the Crane Set.

All-Green Maple Tree Top and Green Signal Base Accessories – Included only in Conductor’s Figure 8 Sets.

Sold at: Toy stores and various retailers nationwide from March 2003 through September 2007 for between $10 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled toys away from young children immediately and contact RC2 Corp. for a replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact RC2 toll-free at (866) 725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at http://recalls.rc2.com

BCI Recalls Swing Sets

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Single Post Swing Sets

Units: About 670

Manufacturer: BCI Burke Company LLC, of Fond du Lac, Wisc.

Hazard: The connection on the top beam of the swing set can break, causing the swing beam to collapse, posing a fall hazard to the user. A user or bystander also can be injured by the falling top rail.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received four reports of the swing set beam breaking and one report of child with bruises after falling from the swing.

Description: The recall includes the Single Post Swing Set (model 550-0033) and added bay swings (model 550-0035) with belt or bucket seats. The swings are made with a 2-3/8-inch diameter top beam that is welded to a formed plate on each end to attach to the upright post.

Sold by: BCI Burke or BCI Burke Company representatives from January 2000 through August 2007 for between about $900 to $1500.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the product immediately and remove the existing swings from the top beam immediately. Consumers can re-install the swings once the repair kit is received and installed with the current beam. BCI Burke will contact the owners directly by mail and provide a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Burke customer service at (800) 356-2070 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.bciburke.com (PDF), or e-mail the firm at customerservice@bciburke.com

REI Recalls Children’s Trailer Bicycles

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm named below in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Novara Afterburner Trailer Bicycles

Units: About 5,200

Distributor: Recreational Equipment Inc.(REI), of Kent, Wash.

Hazard: The children’s trailer bicycle can detach from the adult bicycle, posing a fall hazard to children.

Incidents/Injuries: REI has received one report of a children’s trailer bicycle detaching from the adult bicycle. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves the Novara Afterburner trailer bicycle, a single-wheel children’s bicycle that attaches to, and cannot be operated independently of, an adult bicycle.

Sold at: REI stores nationwide from February 2007 through June 2007 for about $160.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the bicycle trailer, visit the nearest REI store or contact REI for a free replacement part, a full refund or credit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact REI at (800) 426-4840 between 4 a.m. and 11 p.m. PT seven days a week, visit the company’s Web site at www.rei.com or contact your local REI store.

Back to Basics Products Recalls Iced Tea Makers Due to Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: IT400 Iced Tea Makers

Units: About 10,000

Importer: Back to Basics Products LLC, of West Bend, Wis. and Bluffdale, Utah

Hazard: The iced tea maker’s components can fail, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: None.

Description: The recalled Iced Tea Maker (Model #IT400) is mostly white and has a 2.5 quart glass pitcher. The recall includes only those products with a date code of CA1307 or CA1307-A. The model number is embossed on the bottom of the unit, and the date code is printed on a small white sticker, which is also on the bottom of the unit.

Sold at: Bon-Ton department stores and hardware stores nationwide, the JCPenney catalog, and Internet retailers from April 2007 through July 2007 for between $40 and $50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using and unplug the recalled iced tea makers immediately and contact Back to Basics Products to receive a free replacement product or refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call the firm at (800) 874-4084 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday; visit the firm’s Web site at www.backtobasicsproducts.com; or e-mail the firm at IT400recall@btbproducts.com