Children's watering cans recalled for lead paint

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: Robbie Ducky™ Kids Watering Cans

Units: About 6,000

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

Hazard: The beak of the watering can contains lead in the paint, which violates the federal law prohibiting lead paint on children's toys. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled Robbie Ducky™ Kids Watering Can is yellow with an orange beak and is about 10 inches high by 6 inches wide. "Robbie Ducky™ Garden Collection Duck Watering Can" is printed on a sticker on the bottom of the watering can.

Sold exclusively at: Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores nationwide from February 2007 through August 2007 for about $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the watering can 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 ext. 7 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email the firm at guest.services@jo-annstores.com or visit the firm’s Web site at www.joann.com

Backpack blowers recalled because of 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: Shindaiwa Backpack Blowers

Units: About 22,000

Importer: Shindaiwa Inc., Tualatin, Oregon

Hazard: The muffler’s outer shell can melt allowing exhaust gas to exit from the bottom or back side of the muffler. The exhaust gas may cause damage to the fuel tank creating a possible fire hazard for the user.

Incidents/Injuries: Shindaiwa is aware of one incident where a small muffler fire was involved with no property damage and no injuries.

Description: This recall involves Shindaiwa Models EB8510 and EB8510RT. All models up to serial #7025018 are included. After serial number 7025018, the leaf blower has been upgraded with stainless steel muffler shells. The backpack blowers weight approximately 24 pounds and include Serial Numbers through February 2007 production (S/N 702XXXX) which are located on the side label. These machines are blue with a red label that reads, Shindaiwa.

Sold by: Shindaiwa dealers nationwide from September 2005 through May 2007 for about $600.

Manufactured by: Shindaiwa Kogyo Co., Ltd., Hiroshima, Japan

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the backpack blowers immediately and contact Shindaiwa for the closest dealer location to schedule a free muffler replacement. Consumers who have registered their equipment should have already received correspondence from Shindaiwa about this recall.

Consumer Contact: For more information contact Shindaiwa at (800) 521-7733 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.shindaiwa.com

J. C. Penney recalls chairs for fall 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: Windsor Spindle-Back Side Chairs

Units: About 4,000

Importer: J.C. Penney, of Plano, Texas

Hazard: The wood stretchers can split while in use and the chairs can collapse, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: J. C. Penney has received four reports of chairs splitting and collapsing. One minor whiplash injury has been reported.

Description: This recall involves the Windsor Spindle-Back side chair sets. The set is comprised of four chairs made of solid hardwood. Each chair measures 36 inches high. The backs and legs are painted white and the seat is a natural wood color.

Sold by: Exclusively through J.C. Penney catalog and online stores from April 2006 through June 2007 for about $250 for a set of four chairs.

Manufactured in: Malaysia

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled chairs immediately and contact J.C. Penney to obtain free replacement chairs. Consumers also can return the chairs to their closest J.C. Penney store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact J.C. Penney toll-free at (888) 333-6063 anytime or visit the company’s Web site at www.jcp.com

Mojito Sauce recalled over salmonella concerns

From the FDA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- August 30, 2007 -- Stirrings LLC, of Fall River, Massachusetts is recalling its 3.5 oz packages of Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish (UPC# 80999 00046) with the best by codes 10/27/08, 10/30/08, 11/23/08, 12/01/08, 12/04/08 and 01/03/09 printed on the side of the tin. The recall may involve approximately 5,000 cases of its Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish supplied by Van de Vries Spice Corporation (formerly Atlantic Quality Spice) of Edison, NJ because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Although Stirrings LLC's tests of finished product samples were negative for the presence of Salmonella, parsley powder, one of several ingredients supplied by Van de Vries Spice, tested positive for Salmonella.

The presence of Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail, or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more serious illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e. infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish was distributed nationwide through distributors, retail stores, internet sales and cocktail establishments.

Immediately after Van de Vries brought to Stirrings attention that a parsley powder used in a single lot of Mojito Rimmer product potentially could contain Salmonella based on FDA testing, Stirrings retained expert laboratories, primarily Shuster Laboratories of Canton, Massachusetts to test samples of its Mojito Rimmer product for Salmonella. Testing of 24 samples drawn from the Van de Vries lot of Mojito Rimmer failed to reveal the presence of Salmonella in the Mojito Rimmer product.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Stirrings CEO Paul Nardone explained, "We have removed parsley powder from our Rimmer Cocktail Garnish formula. This ingredient represents less than one half of one percent of the blend and was used primarily as a natural colorant." Nardone further stated, "We have initiated a recall as a precaution and assurance to our customers that we stand behind our product quality 100%."

Consumers who have purchased Rimmer® Brand Mojito Cocktail Garnish with the best by codes noted above are asked to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the Company toll-free at 866-648-8239.

Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban recalled over botulism fears

From the FDA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Bayonne, NJ -- August 29, 2007 -- Everlasting Distributors, Inc. of Bayonne, NJ, is recalling its Blue Ocean Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban 8oz. packaged frozen products because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

Blue Ocean Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban was distributed in New York and New Jersey areas and it reached consumers through retail stores.

Blue Ocean Indian Sardine Tamban comes in an uncoded white styropor foam tray and vacuum packed with a clear plastic bag.

The potential for contamination was noted after routing testing.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Consumers who have purchased the Blue Ocean Smoked Indian Sardine Tamban 8oz. frozen product are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Everlasting Distributors, Inc. at (201) 823-0800.

Metz Fresh recalls spinach

From the FDA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Salinas, CA -- August 28, 2007 -- Metz Fresh, LLC is voluntarily recalling bagged spinach as a result of a positive test for Salmonella found during routine company testing.

The spinach is distributed under the label Metz Fresh, in both retail and food service packages. These include 10 and 16 oz bags as well as 4-2.5 lb. and 4 lb. cartons. The only Metz Fresh product affected is spinach that bears the tracking codes 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314. It was distributed in the continental United States and Canada.

There have been no reports of illness or problems related to this spinach.

Salmonella is a common food borne pathogen that can cause severe illnesses, including fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. While most individuals recover in three to five days without medical intervention, the infection can be life-threatening to young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Consumers with any of these symptoms should call their physician.

Consumers are advised to discard this product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact 831-386-1018.

"Nothing is more important to Metz Fresh than the safety of our consumers, period," said Andrew Cumming, President of Metz Fresh. "As soon as we learned of the presumptive positive test, we directed all customers to hold all boxes of the spinach affected as a precaution. Now, with this positive test confirmation, there is no question that we would recall and destroy all spinach bearing these three codes."

The positive test came during independent lab testing Metz Fresh conducts on all of its products. Through its labeling and numbering system, Metz Fresh has already tracked, located and put 'holds' on the vast majority of the cartons of spinach affected. That spinach will not be released into the marketplace.

While the positive test came from only one sample of many on three packing lines, Metz Fresh has, as a precaution, chosen to recall all of the spinach from the ‘field lot’ packed that day on all three lines.

Metz Fresh is keeping appropriate authorities updated on the status of the voluntary recall.