Recalls in January 2000

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2000 -- A second child has been suffocated by a Pokemon ball container distibuted by Burger King.

T he U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Burger King Corp. are stepping up their recall efforts and urging consumers to immediately destroy and discard the Pokemon balls that were distributed with Burger King kids meals in November and December 1999.

The latest death occurred on January 25, when a 4-month-old boy in Indianapolis, Indiana, suffocated when half of a Pokemon ball that was in his crib became stuck on his face.

In December, a 13-month old girl suffocated in a similar incident. Also in December, an 18-month old girl nearly suffocated. She was saved when her father managed after two attempts to pull the ball half away from her face.

Pokemon balls are plastic, ball-shaped containers between 2.75 and 3 inches in diameter. They pull apart to reveal one of 57 different Pokemon toys inside. The balls were distributed in a variety of colors including red and white, and hot pink. Packaging described them as safety tested and recommended for all ages of children.

Burger King restaurants nationwide distributed the Pokemon balls inside Burger King big kids meals and regular kids meals from early November through December 1999.

Consumers should immediately take the balls away from children under the age of three. They should discard the ball or return both halves of the ball and the clip to a Burger King restaurant for a free order of small fries. Children can continue to use the Pokemon toy that came inside the ball.

As part of the voluntary recall effort, more than 8,100 Burger King restaurants posted recall notices in both English and Spanish. When the recall was first announced, Burger King placed an ad in USA Today, and CPSC broadcast a video news release so local television stations could use video tape showing the danger. CPSC Chairman Ann Brown also announced the recall on the Today Show reaching millions of viewers.

In addition, Burger King worked with the CPSC to send recall notices to 56,000 pediatricians' offices, 10,000 emergency room directors and 25,000 emergency health care clinics across the country. Notices were posted on the CPSC and Burger King web sites, and on web sites frequented by Pokemon fans and parents. Recall notices will be posted on tray liners, carry-out bags and french fry bags as well.

Burger King also will purchase national cable and network television advertisements to alert consumers to the recall. The company also has set up a toll-free hotline number with information about the recall in both English and Spanish at (800) 775-0625.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2000 -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ariens Co., of Brillion, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 27,000 Ariens and Lesco model snowblowers. Fuel can leak from the fuel-line connection, posing a fire hazard.

Ariens Co. has received 30 reports of fuel leaking from these snowblowers. No injuries have been reported.

The recall includes SS322 and SS522 Ariens snowblowers manufactured in 1997 and 1999 with the following model and serial numbers located on the lower handlebar of the unit:

These Ariens snowblowers are orange and have "ARIENS" and "SS322" or "SS522" written on top of the engine cover.

The recall also includes Lesco model LSS522 snowblowers with serial numbers 063699000001 through 063699000402. The Lesko snowblowers are green with a "Commercialpulse" label on the engine cover. The model number and serial numbers are on the lower handlebar of the unit.

Ariens and Lesco retail outlets, hardware stores and home centers, including Home Depot, sold these snowblowers nationwide from July 1997 through January 2000 for $450 to $560.

Consumers should stop using these snowblowers immediately, and return the unit to a local dealer for a free repair. For more information, call Ariens toll-free at (888) 927-4367 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2000 -- Sauder Woodworking Co., of Archbold, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 212,400 computer armoires. The upper doors or upper door components can fall off, causing injury to nearby consumers.

Sauder Woodworking has received 143 reports of an upper door or its components falling off, resulting in 17 injuries, including a broken toe, cuts, scratches and bruises.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC),

The recall involves the Monarch style computer armoire, models 2549 (washed pine finish), 2649 (woodland oak finish), 2749 (classic cherry finish), 8449 (fruitwood finish), and 9649 ( amber oak finish).

The Monarch Computer Armoire measures about 41.5 inches wide, 23 inches deep and 73 inches high with the doors closed. Two upper doors open to reveal designated areas for a printer, monitor, and keyboard. Two lower rollaway doors open to provide additional work surfaces and a file drawer. "Sauder" is imprinted into two metal strike plates, located in the corners of the upper doors. The model number is located on a sticker that the consumer attached to the armoire or in the assembly instruction book.

Department, office and furniture stores nationwide sold these computer armoires from July 1997 through December 1999 for about $450.

Consumers should stop using the computer armoire immediately and call Sauder toll-free at (888) 800-6315 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday to order a free repair kit. The repair kit includes safety brackets for installation on both doors and installation instructions.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2000 -- The Sherwin-Williams Co., of Cleveland, Ohio and Brockway Standard Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., are voluntarily recalling about 3,000 cans of Formby's Conditioning Furniture Refinisher. The product and its vapors can seep or leak from the nozzle base at the top of the can, posing a risk of fire and chemical injuries.

The firms have received one report of an employee suffering minor burns when refinisher vapors ignited in a retailer's distribution center.

Formby's Conditioning Furniture Refinisher, used to refinish wood furniture, is sold individually and as part of Formby's "Introduction to Refinishing Kit." The 32-ounce metal can reads, "Formby's Furniture Workshop" and "Furniture Refinisher" in white lettering on a burgundy and mostly green background. A depiction of Homer Formby appears on the face of the can.

The product can be identified by a code on the bottom of the can written in black ink with one of the following lot number sequences: A961600, A961610, A961620, A961630, A967270 and A969330. Cans with blue ink codes are not subject to this recall.

Discount department, hardware and hobby stores nationwide sold the refinisher from October 1999 through January 2000. The individual cans sold for about $13 and the kits sold for about $16.

Consumers should stop using this refinishing product immediately, and place the product in a well-ventilated area. Since it can leak, care should be taken to keep the product from spilling by always keeping the container upright. Also, do not store near any source of ignition, such as near a gas-fueled appliance.

Consumers should call (800) 523-9299 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for instructions on how to handle and return the refinisher for replacement or a refund.