Recalls in September 2008

September 25, 2008
Razor USA is recalling about 30,000 Dirt Quad Electric Powered Ride-On Vehicles. The control module for the throttle can fail and cause the electric ride-on vehicle to unexpectedly surge forward, posing a risk of injury to the user or a bystander.

Razor has received 60 reports of the vehicles unexpectedly surging forward, including two reports of injuries.

This recall involves Razor Dirt Quad electrically powered ride-on vehicles. Product ID numbers included in the recall begin with 103110-01 or 103110-02. The product ID numbers are located on the bar code affixed to the right step of the vehicle, on the charger and on the retail packaging. Product ID numbers beginning with 103110-03 or later are not included in this recall.

The vehicles, made in China, were sold by authorized dealers nationwide from August 2006 through September 2007 for about $400.

Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact Razor for a free replacement controller.

For additional information, contact Razor USA at (800) 813-3155 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.razor.com/recall.

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

Pottery Barn Kids is recalling about 20,000 children's metal water bottles. The sip top on the water bottles can pull off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The metal water bottles are about 9 inches tall and have a black rubber pull up sip top. The following water bottles are included in this recall. The style number and Pottery Barn Kids are printed on a white sticker on the bottom of the water bottle.

The bottles, made in Taiwan, were sold at Pottery Barn Kids stores nationwide, Pottery Barn Kids catalog, and online at www.potterybarnkids.com from January 2007 through August 2008 for about $10.

Consumers should take the recalled water bottles away from children immediately and return them to any Pottery Barn Kids store for a full refund. If purchased through the catalog or online, contact Pottery Barn Kids to receive a full refund.

For additional information, contact Pottery Barn Kids toll-free at (877) 800-9720 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or visit the firms Web site at www.potterybarnkids.com

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

September 3, 2008
Empress Arts is recalling about 130 children's sweaters with drawstrings.

Children can get entangled in the drawstrings that can catch on playground equipment, fences or tree branches.

In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstring in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. From 1985 through 2007, CPSC received reports of 27 deaths and 70 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of childrens clothing drawstrings.

The cotton knit sweaters are cream colored with a blue stripe at the wrists and waist, a blue ball on the hood, and blue buttons. There is a drawstring through the hood with pom-poms at the ends. The sweaters were sold in childrens size 2T under the brand name Empress Arts. Empress Baby is sewn into the sweaters tag.

The sweaters were sold at specialty childrens stores nationwide from August 2006 through April 2008 for between $28 and $45. They were made in China.

Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweaters to eliminate the hazard.

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