Recalls in June 2011

Husqvarna is recalling about 1,600 yard tractors with the TuffTorq K46LD transaxle. The yard tractor's transaxle can experience intermittent drive failure, posing a risk of reduced or lost braking ability.

This recall involves orange, Husqvarna yard tractors with TuffTorq K46LD transaxle. Yard tractors included in the recall have model numbers YTH23V42LS and YTH24V48LS and serial numbers ranging from 050110A001000 to 123110D999999. The first six digits of the serial number represent a date code. Tractors included in the recall have a serial date range of May 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. Model and serial information is located on an identification plate attached to the underside of the seat.

Husqvarna authorized dealers sold the tractors nationwide from May 2010 through December 2010 for between $2,300 and $2,800. They were made in the USA.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled yard tractors and contact Husqvarna to schedule a free repair at an authorized Husqvarna dealer.

For more information, contact Husqvarna toll-free at (877) 257-6921 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Consumers can also visit the firm's website at www.husqvarna.us

Kashi is recalling approximately 11,000 cases of frozen pizzas, including Mediterranean Thin Crust Pizza, Roasted Vegetable Thin Crust Pizza, and Mushroom Trio and Spinach Thin Crust Pizza, because they may contain pieces of plastic in the crust. No other Kashi frozen pizzas or other products are included in the recall.

The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kellogg with about 60 employees, said that no consumer complaints have been reported. The pizzas were distributed nationwide through U.S. grocery stores.

The recalled products include the following individually packaged pizzas:

• Kashi Mediterranean Thin Crust Pizza packaged in a 12.7 ounce box and marked with UPC Code 1862732905 3 and Best If Used Before date of either May10 12NU, May18 12NU, or May19 12NU;

• Kashi Roasted Vegetable Thin Crust Pizza packaged in a 12.2 ounce box and marked with UPC Code 1862737342 1 and Best If Used Before date of either May09 12NU or May14 12NU;

• Kashi Mushroom Trio and Spinach Thin Crust Pizza packaged in an 11.9 ounce box and marked with UPC Code 1862737344 5 and Best If Used Before date of May17 12NU.

Consumers may contact the Kashi Consumer Response Center at             877.864.3521       from 8 am to 6 pm ET, or visit www.kashi.com.

Quality Bicycle Products is recalling about 100 Civia bike racks. The rack’s mounting bracket can crack or break. When this happens, the rack can fall onto the bicycle’s front wheel, posing a fall hazard to the rider.

The firm has received one report of a rack mounting bracket breaking while the rider was on the bicycle, resulting in minor cuts.

This recall involves Civia Loring bicycle racks. They have black aluminum tubing with bamboo panels and mount to the bicycle’s front fork. The word “Civia” is printed on the rack’s side panels.

Independent bicycle stores sold the racks nationwide from December 2009 through February 2011 for about $175. They were made in Taiwan.

Consumers should remove the rack from their bicycles immediately and contact the store where purchased for a full refund or replacement.

For additional information, contact Quality Bicycle Products toll-free at (877) 311-7686 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at http://civiacycles.com/aftermarketloringfrontrackrecall/

EKSuccess is recalling about 75,000 American Girl Crafts Pearly Beads & Ribbon Bracelets kits. The surface coating on some of the beads contains excessive levels of lead, which is prohibited under federal law.

This recall involves the Pearly Beads & Ribbon Bracelets kit distributed under the American Girl Crafts name with a SKU number of 30-585331. The SKU number is located on the back of the package in the lower right corner. The kit contains 56 pieces. The beads in the jewelry kit are pink, blue, orange and white. Some pink beads have darker pink butterflies imprinted on them. The ribbons in the kit are orange, red, blue and purple.

Michaels Stores and other retailers sold the kits nationwide from September 2009 through June 2011 for about $8. They were made in China.

Consumers should immediately take the recalled kits and any finished bracelets made from the kits away from children and contact the company for a full refund.

For additional information, contact EKSuccess Brands toll-free at (855) 535-2099 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday and between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. CT on Fridays or visit the firm's website at www.eksuccessbrands.com

A number of studies have focused on bisphenol A's (BPA) effect on human reproduction. Now, a new study has added to the data, suggesting the widespread chemical causes lower fertility in mice. The study was presented over the weekend at the 93rd annual Endocrine Society meeting in Boston.

BPA is a chemical used in many food industry containers. It provides rigidity to plastics, such as water and soft drink bottles. It's also used in the plastic liners of food cans.

Lower sperm count

Researchers at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, injected BPA daily into a group of mice. After two months, they said the mice had lower sperm counts than a control group that received injections of a saline solution without BPA. Compared with untreated controls, mice exposed to BPA produced litters that were 50 percent smaller.

The researchers say the same effects may be showing up in the human population.

“We are being exposed to BPA in our daily lives at a level much higher than the safe recommended exposure,” said the study’s principal author, Surya Singh, PhD, associate professor in the university’s biochemistry department. “In this study, we are trying to explore what the outcome can be if we are continuously exposed to BPA in our routine life.”

BPA-exposed mice received a dose that was twice the daily upper limit of safe exposure recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The mice in the experiment were considered “subfertile” after two months of exposure, but Singh speculates that exposure for more than two months might lead to complete infertility.

“Even short-term exposure to BPA could be dangerous to fertility, but we are still investigating this possibility,” he said.

Adds to evidence

These new research findings add to a growing body of scientific evidence that links exposure to BPA, an endocrine (hormone) disrupter, with numerous adverse health effects, including on reproductive function.

How do humans get BPA in their bodies? A 2009 study by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that study participants who drank for a week from polycarbonate bottles, the hard plastic drinking bottles and baby bottles, showed a two-thirds increase in their urine of BPA. The study was the first to show that drinking from polycarbonate bottles increased the level of urinary BPA, and thus suggests that drinking containers made with BPA release the chemical into the liquid that people drink in sufficient amounts to increase the level of BPA excreted in human urine.

While the food industry has vigorously defended against attempts to ban or regulate BPA, Wal-Mart announced in 2008 that it would stop selling plastic baby bottles that contain BPA and many other retailers have followed suit.

Toyota is recalling some Sienna and Venza vehicles from the 2011 model year. The company said there is a possibility the drive shaft could break because of insufficient heat treatment.

If the drive shaft breaks, the vehicle would lose power without warning, possibly causing a crash.

Toyota dealers will inspect the drive shaft and, if necessary, replace it at no charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-June 2011.

Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

About 10,000 Gripper Shaker musical instruments are being recalled by Woodstock Percussion. The handle can detach from the shaker, exposing a rough edge and posing a laceration hazard. The detached handle also exposes small steel pellets and a plastic plug which pose choking hazards.

The company received one report from a consumer that the handles on two Gripper Shakers detached. No injuries have been reported.

The shakers are plastic musical instruments, 5.5 inches long, with rounded, egg-shaped tops containing steel pellets and open circular handles. They come in blue and green and are sold separately. The marking “B4” is printed on the rounded top of each shaker.

The instruments were sold through Mail-order catalogs, websites and retail stores nationwide between August 2010 and March 2011 for about $5. They were made in China.

Consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact Woodstock Percussion Inc. to receive a $7 refund.

For additional information, contact Woodstock Percussion, Inc. toll free at (866) 543-2848 anytime, via email at safety@chimes.com, or visit the website at www.woodstockpercussion.com

About 35 Beeni Baby Hats are being recalled. A baby can spit up during use, posing an asphyxiation hazard.

The recalled baby hats are made of cotton and spandex. They have two straps sewn to the sides and a removeable plastic pacifier holder. The hat is available in sizes small, medium and large, and in pink, blue, green, flower print, blue stripe and blue print. Model number 125867 is on a tag sewn into the back inner rim of the cap.

The hats were sold at Beeni Baby’s website www.beeni.net from January 2009 through May 2011 for about $25. They were made in the United States.

Consumers should immediately stop using the hats and contact Kahn Enterprises to receive a full refund. Kahn Enterprises will provide consumers with a postage paid label to return the product. The firm is directly contacting consumers who purchased the recalled baby hats.

For additional information, email Kahn Enterprises at info@beeni-kids.com, visit the firm’s website at www.beeni.net or call the firm collect at (612) 310-4053.