Hiccups » recall

RECALL: Infant Tylenol recalled due to bottle problems

hiccups — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:32:23 +0000

When your child is sick, a nonprescription medicine is sometimes all that is needed to help your young one get better.

But some parents have encountered challenges of trying to understand dosing information as well as defective bottles that were supposed to help ensure correct dosage.

Read the following Associated Press story for more information on this nationwide recall:

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Johnson & Johnson is recalling all infant Tylenol on the U.S. market because some parents have had problems with newly designed bottles — just introduced three months ago — that the company had touted as a big improvement to make measuring the correct dose easier.

Instead, some parents have complained that a protective cover on the top of the bottles meant to limit how much liquid pain reliever could be drawn into a plastic syringe didn’t work correctly. When those consumers inserted the plastic syringe, it pushed the protective cover, or flow restrictor, into the bottle.

J&J’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare, plagued by about 25 product recalls since September 2009, said Friday that it is recalling all 574,000 bottles of a grape-flavored version of the liquid medicine on the market. The product, which was distributed nationally, was introduced in November.

It’s one of the first nonprescription medicines reintroduced after all the recalls and an ongoing factory shutdown have kept most of McNeil’s medicines off the market for well over a year, costing the company well over $1 billion in lost revenue, plus many millions for ongoing factory improvements.

The new infant Tylenol bottle comes with a plastic syringe that’s to be inserted into the flow restrictor at the top to help measure the right dose. The syringe has an opening in the tip but no needle. Consumers are to insert the tip of the syringe into the flow restrictor, turn the bottle upside down and then draw out the right dose. That’s then squirted into the baby’s mouth.

McNeil changed the design to make it easier to get the dose right and to limit spillage if the bottle is knocked over, McNeil spokeswoman Barbara Montresor said. The prior version had an open-topped bottle and a dropper with a flexible bulb at the top, similar to a turkey baster.

McNeil is part of the consumer health business segment at J&J, which is based in New Brunswick, N.J. The company’s prescription drug and medical device divisions each have issued at least two recalls in the last couple years.

Drop-side cribs are outlawed

hiccups — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:53:23 +0000

A drop-side crib.

According to a story by The Associated Press, the government Wednesday officially outlawed drop-side cribs. This move comes after millions of recalls and 30 infant deaths in the past 1o years.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reached a unanimous decision to ban the manufacturing, sale and resale of drop-side cribs, which have a side rail that moves up and down. Hotels and day care centers also would be prohibited from using these types of cribs.

To read the full story, click here.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Similac issues voluntary recall of formula

hiccups — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:43:38 +0000

Similac has announced a voluntary recall of certain powder formulas for infants. According to the company, a review has detected that the formula may contain beetles and their larvae.

To get more information or to find out if you have the forumla on the recall list, click here. You can also call (800) 986-8850 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for information.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Have a Shrek glass from McDonald’s?

hiccups — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:06:43 +0000

If so, you’ll want to stop using it immediately and go to www.mcdonalds.com/glasses to get refund information. About 12 million of these collectible glasses have been sold since May for about $2 each.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of these “Shrek Forever After 3D” glasses after cadmium was found in the designs printed on them.

For the full recall report, click here.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Check your medicine cabinet

hiccups — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:06:22 +0000

In case you haven’t heard, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, in conjunction with the FDA, has issued a voluntary recall of 43 children’s medicines. Among them are brands Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. And chances are, if you have kids, you have one or more of these at home.

So for the safety of your children, and for peace of mind, take a few minutes and clean out your medicine cabinet. Go to the website links below to get all the information you need on what to do with these medicines. The FDA is recommending the use of generic brands for now.

For a full list of products recalled, click here.

For frequently asked questions about this massive recall, click here.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Simplicity and Graco cribs recalled

hiccups — Sat, 01 May 2010 21:15:40 +0000

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision this week announced the recall of Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames and the voluntary recall of Graco-Branded Drop Side Cribs Made by LaJobi.

The cribs were recalled due to suffocation and entrapment hazards.

Simplicity crib recall

For the Simplicity cribs: The crib’s tubular metal mattress-support frame can bend or detach and cause part of the mattress to collapse, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged, entrapped or fall out of the crib.

CPSC received a report of a 1-year-old child from North Attleboro, Mass. who suffocated when he became entrapped between the crib mattress and the crib frame in April 2008. CPSC is aware of 13 additional incidents involving the recalled cribs collapsing due to the metal mattress- support frame bending or detaching.

The recalled cribs were sold at Walmart, Target, Babies ‘R’ Us and other stores nationwide for between $150 and $300. Consumers should contact the store where the crib was purchased to receive a refund, replacement crib or store credit.

This recall involves ALL Simplicity cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames. Due to the fact that simplicity and its parent company are no longer in business the CPSC has limited information about the number of cribs sold and exact model numbers. Thus model numbers include, but are not limited to the following:

Aspen 4-in-1: 8755
Chelsea Deluxe 4-in-1 Convertible Sleep System: 8324
Graco 4-in-1 Ultra Sleep System: 4600
Graco Aspen 3-in-1: 8740
Simplicity Crib and Changer Combo: 8994
Simplicity Ellis Deluxe 4-in-1 Convertible Sleep System: 8676
Simplicity Nursery-in-a-Box Convertible Crib: 8910

Simplicity has been the subject of almost a dozen recalls since 2005 ands its cribs and bassinets have been linked to 13 deaths. Previous recalls included all Simplicity dropside cribs.

For more information about the Simplicity crib recall, go to http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10211.html.

Graco crib recall

For the Graco cribs: The drop side hardware can break or fail, allowing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop side detaches, a hazardous gap is created between the drop side and the crib mattress in which infants and toddlers can become wedged or entrapped, posing a risk of suffocation and strangulation.

The Graco cribs were sold at children’s product stores and other retailers nationwide from February 2007 to March 2010 for between $140 and $200.

Consumers should immediately stop using the Graco cribs. But unlike the Simplicity cribs, users of the Graco brand can contact LaJobi to receive a free hardware retrofit kit that will immobilize the drop side.

Model numbers include the following:

Ashleigh Drop Side: 3280142, 3280154, 3280181
Hampton Drop Side: 3080136
Jason Convertible Drop Side: 3290235, 3290254, 3290281
Kendal Drop Side: 3570170, 3570181
Lauren Drop Side: 3250235, 3250242, 3250247, 3250254, 3250281, 3250282, 3150281, 3150282
Rachel Convertible Drop Side: 3300236, 3300281
Sarah Drop Side: 3000135, 3000136, 3000142, 3000147, 3000154, 3000181
Shannon Drop Side: 3010136, 3010154, 3010181
Tifton Drop Side: 3090136, 3270136

For more information about the Graco crib recall, go to http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10212.html.

To receive e-mail updates about recalls especially those related to baby and children products, go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

Three deaths prompt recall of baby slings

hiccups — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:42:44 +0000

One million baby slings made by Infantino have been recalled following the deaths of 3 infants in 2009. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that there is a danger of suffocation with use of these baby slings in children younger than 4 months old.

These recalled slings have been sold in the U.S. and Canada from January 2003 to March of this year. Stores carrying the slings included Walmart, Target, Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory and on the Web at Amazon.com.

I had this exact sling when my son was born. But I had to return it because he was too big to fit inside without it straining my neck. If you have this sling, or know someone who does, don’t take any chances. Contact Infantino to get a free replacement product, like an activity gym or shopping cart cover (which I personally recommend and still use!). Go to www.infantino.com to get replacement information.

For complete recall information, click here.

-Erica Smith

esmith@opubco.com

Two major recalls issued

hiccups — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:21:39 +0000

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced two more major recalls.

Strollers:

Graco has issued a voluntary recall of their Passage, Alano and Spree strollers and travel systems. The hinges on the canopy pose a fingertip amputation/laceration hazard when the canopy is being opened or closed. These strollers/travel systems were sold at Babies R Us, Walmart, Target and other major national retailers.

There are 1.5 million strollers affected by this recall.

To see complete information about this recall, including model numbers, click here.

Cribs:

More than 630,000 Dorel Asia cribs have been recalled. The drop side hardware is faulty, causing it to detach and fall in some cases. There has been a report of one infant death by entrapment/strangulation and other infant injuries have been reported. These cribs were sold in Sears and Walmart stores.

For more information regarding this recall, including pictures and model numbers, click here.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Massive recall of window coverings issued

hiccups — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:16:24 +0000

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today has released a recall of all Roman blinds, roll-up shades and some vertical blinds in homes with children. The report says there is a risk of strangulation to young children.

This recall involves millions of blinds, as the CPSC estimates 5 million Roman blinds and 3 million roll-up blinds are sold EACH YEAR.

Anyone with these types of blinds is urged to go to www.windowcoverings.org or call (800) 506-4636 to receive a free repair kit. In the meantime, the CPSC has issued these important guidelines:

1. Examine all shades and blinds in your home. Be sure there are NO accessible cords on the front or back.

2. Do not place cribs, bed or other furniture close to windows, where children can climb on them and gain access to cords.

3. Make loose cords completely inaccessible.

4. If the shade has looped bead chains or nylon cords, install tension devices to keep the cord taut.

Since 2006, the CPSC has received reports of 5 deaths and 16 near-strangulations. And those are only reported numbers. Please consider this an urgent problem that needs to be addressed if your home has these types of blinds.

For full recall information, click here.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

More than 2 million cribs recalled

hiccups — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:37:19 +0000

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the voluntary recall of more than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs, including almost 150,000 bearing the Fisher-Price logo.

Because of the danger these cribs can impose, such as as suffocation, concussion, bruises and even death, parents and caregivers are urged to stop using these cribs IMMEDIATELY, wait for the free repair kit and NOT attempt to fix the crib without the kit. The drop-side to these cribs will need to be converted to a fixed side.

The drop-side hardward can break or deform, causing the drop-side to detach in one or more corners, creating a space where infants and toddlers can become entrapped, leading to suffocation.

In the Oklahoma City area, these cribs were sold at JCPenney, KMart, Walmart, Sears, Target and online at Amazon.com. Cribs were sold between January 1993 and October 2009 for between $100 and $400.

For the repair kit, call Stork Craft at (877) 274-0277 or go to www.storkcraft.com (although word is the phone line and Web site is on overload right now, but keep trying!!).

To sign up for immediate recall information of children’s products, go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com