Recalls in May 2013

H & M Hennes & Mauritz, L.P., New York, N.Y., is re-announcing the recall of its children’s water bottles. Some 2,900 bottles were contained in the original recall, which was made in September 2012.

The company says another 200 were sold after the initial recall, and Consumer Product Safety Commission Media Affairs Director Scott Wolfson tells ConsumerAffairs that prompted the re-announcement.

The water bottle's spout can break off, posing a choking hazard to children. The company has received one report of an incident in England of the water bottle spout breaking off in a child's mouth as the child was drinking from the bottle. No injuries have been reported.

The 16-oz. water bottles are pink plastic with a crackle design or blue plastic and flip-top lids in coordinated pink and blue colors. "H&M Sweden" and "www.hm.com" are embossed on the bottom of the bottle.

The recalled products were manufactured in June 2012 and contain the manufacture date in an embossed date clock on the bottom of the bottle. The inner circle on the clock contains the number 12 with an arrow between the two numbers. The arrow points to the number 6 in an outer circle of numbers.

The water bottles, manufactured in Italy, were sold exclusively at H&M stores with children's departments nationwide from July 2012 through March 2013 for between $1.50 and $5.

Consumers should immediately stop using the water bottle and call H&M to receive a prepaid mailer to return the bottle. Upon receipt of the returned bottle, consumers will be mailed a full refund plus a $25 H&M gift card.

Consumers may contact H&M toll-free at (855) 466-7467 daily from 7 a.m. to 12 midnight CT.

LL Bakery of Torrance, Calif., is recalling all White Farm Enriched White Bread, Butter Farm Enriched White Bread, and Italian Cream Danish.

The product labels fail to declare the allergen milk in the whey powder listed in their ingredient statements. People with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a life threatening allergic reaction.

LL Bakery has segregated its entire inventory of the effected products and is notifying and warning consumers and customers not to consume them.

• White Farm Enriched White Bread is a 16 oz. loaf with square shaped slices. The label is white with blue and green lettering, and red design accents. The LL Bakery Logo is on the bottom left corner.
• Butter Farm Enriched White Bread is a 16 oz. loaf with square shaped slices. The label is white with brown and green lettering, and red design accents. The LL Bakery Logo is on the bottom left corner.
• Italian Cream Danish pastry is braided and has yellow creamy swirls and sliced almonds. The label is white with black lettering and a tan colored border. The LL Bakery Logo is on the bottom left corner.

Consumers in possession of these products should not eat them; instead return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers may call Kiyo Kamiyama at 310-516-1918 for further information.

Lea Industries of High Point, N.C., is recalling about 63,000 panel, loft and bunk beds.

The bed’s side mattress support rails can break, posing a fall hazard. There have been 22 reports of incidents involving the recalled beds in the U.S. since 2009 and one in Canada. Two injuries were reported. In a 2009 incident in Madison, Wis., an 11-year-old girl was placing a fitted sheet on the top bunk when the child, mattress and bed supports collapsed on her 6-year-old sister in the bed below. The 6-year-old was treated at a hospital emergency department for a head injury involving a cut to her face.

This recall involves the side rails on 34 different Lea children’s bed collections, including loft, bunk and panel styles in twin, full and queen sizes. The wooden beds were sold in various wood finishes and paint colors, including black or white. The beds have two side mattress support rails connecting the headboard to the footboard and slats or a Bunkie board to support the mattress. Item numbers and purchase order numbers included in this recall are listed below. The date code, rail item number and purchase order number are located on a white label on the inside of one of the side rails. Date codes between August 2008, and March 2013, shown as 8-2008 through 3-2013, are included in this recall. Platform beds manufactured since 2010 are not included in this recall. Recalled bed names, item numbers and purchase order numbers include:

The beds, manufactured in China and Vietnam, were sold at Direct Buy stores and furniture stores nationwide, and online at Amazon.com and various other websites from August 2008 through March 2013 for between $400 and $3,000.

Consumers should immediately stop using the beds and contact Lea Industries to receive free replacement side rails for the beds.

Consumers may contact Lea Industries toll-free at (888) 770-7116, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Avon Products of New York, N.Y., is recalling about 54,700 microwave popcorn makers

When cooked too long, the popcorn can overheat in this popcorn maker and ignite, posing a fire or burn hazard to consumers. The company has received 20 reports of the popcorn makers overheating, including two incidents involving fires that resulted in damage to microwave ovens. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Avon’s Microwave Popcorn Maker sold in the U.S. with item number 474-105 in Avon’s brochures and website. The recalled plastic popcorn maker consists of a clear tub and a yellow vented lid. The tub is 6 inches high and measures 7.5 inches in diameter and has three feet at the base. “DO NOT REMOVE WITH BARE HANDS. HOLD UNIT WITH GLOVES” is molded into the plastic of the lid and “USE IN MICROWAVE OVEN ONLY” is molded into the underside of the bowl. “Made in Taiwan” is printed on an adhesive label located on the underside of the bowl.

The popcorn maker, manufactured in Taiwan, was sold through independent Avon sales representatives and online from October 2012, through February 2013, for about $13.

Consumers should stop using the popcorn maker immediately and contact Avon to receive a copy of the updated instructions on how to use the microwave popcorn maker safely. The new instructions can also be obtained from independent Avon representatives and on Avon’s website.

Consumers may contact Avon Products at (800) 367-2866 from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Crime statistics are often driven by repeat offenders and it turns out the same is true of food recalls. Nearly three out of four food recalls in the first quarter of the year came from companies that had issued two or more recalls during the period.

The ExpertRECALL Index released today found that more than 73% of recalls documented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) involved companies with two or more recalls. A total of 133 food companies instituted recalls during this period, affecting 9.7 million units of products such as bread and flour products, bagged fruits and vegetables, and frozen entrees.

Many times, the multiple recalls occur because of an issue with an ingredient that is used in more than one product.

“It is not unusual for companies to face more than one recall at a time, driven largely by the fact that ingredients are used in more than one product,” said Mike Rozembajgier, Vice President of Stericycle ExpertRECALL. “However, the ongoing trend of multiple product recalls can complicate the logistics of a recall, making it harder for companies to communicate to consumers and maintain trust in their brand.”

USDA figures added 

For the first time since its inception, the Index includes data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which involve recalls of meat, poultry and egg products.

An analysis of data from the first quarter found that extraneous material was the single largest cause of USDA-requested recalls this quarter, accounting for more than one in four recalls (28 percent). Of these recalls, more than half were the result of traces of plastic found in products. 

Undeclared allergens were the second most frequent cause of recalls reported by the USDA, with a total of five product recalls this quarter.

A recent CDC report on the heightened levels of food allergies in children illustrates how important managing food ingredients and food labeling is. It also points to the need for companies to have a clear and well-rehearsed recall plan ready when issues arise.

Multiple recalls was also a trend echoed in the medical device industry, as close to 40% of companies named in FDA Enforcement reports faced two or more recalls in the second quarter.

The pharmaceutical industry experienced 107 drug and pharmaceutical recalls in the first quarter, an increase of 32% from the previous quarter. Compounding pharmacies continue to show frequent recall activity, with one pharmacy issuing 13 individual events.

Watch out for juice products or other beverages from Juices Incorporated (aka Juices International and Juices Enterprises) of Brooklyn, N.Y.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that the company's carrot and beet juice products have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause botulism, a serious and potentially fatal foodborne illness. FDA says you shouldn't drink them -- even if they don't look or smell spoiled.

Symptoms of illness

Botulism can cause a variety of symptoms including: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision, trouble with speaking or swallowing, difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation. Anyone who has these symptoms after drinking these products should seek immediate medical attention.

Although previously distributed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, Juices Incorporated products were recently found in retail establishments and restaurants in the New York City area, and consumers may have moved the products beyond this region.

Affected products

The following Juices Incorporated juice products pose a particular concern for Clostridium botulinum contamination:

• Carrot Juice Drink
• Carrot & Beet Juice Drink
• Carrot & Ginger Drink
• Double Trouble Carrot Punch
• Ginger Beet Juice
• Beet Juice Drink

The products are packaged under the brand names Juices Incorporated, Juices International and Juices Enterprises.

A history of legal action

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint for permanent injunction against the owners of Juices Incorporated back in 2010 after FDA inspections revealed continuing violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, including insanitary conditions at the Juices Incorporated facility.

Under a January 3, 2011 Consent Decree, the company's owners are required to stop manufacturing and distributing any articles of food, including all juice products and other beverages, until they correct the food safety deficiencies and insanitary conditions at their facility.

On June 21, 2012, an Order to Enforce Consent Decree was issued after the owners failed to comply with the requirements of the Consent Decree.

FDA investigators recently confirmed that Juices Incorporated and its owners continue to manufacture and distribute juice products and other beverages in violation of the Consent Decree and the Court's Order to Enforce Consent Decree.  

Health & Life, Co., LTD, is recalling 242,892 EZ Breathe atomizers, Model #EZ-100.

The atomizers have the possibility of a manufacturing defect that results in a quarter-inch diameter washer becoming dislodged, which potentially could result in a choking hazard. No injuries have been reported to date.

The EZ Breathe Atomizer can be found in these three presentations:

1) Packaged in the Asthmanefrin Starter Kit, NDC 0487-2784-10.  Each Asthmanefrin Starter Kit contains 10 vials of Asthmanefrin® medication that are manufactured by Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp. and one EZ Breathe Atomizer.

Affected Asthmanefrin Starter Kit Lot #'s: R2029A, R2029B, R2039A, R2042A, R2045A, and R2047A.

2) EZ Breathe Atomizers Model # 100  
Affected Atomizer Serial Number Ranges:

3) Replacement Medication Cup
Affected Lot #'s: 120902, 120903 and 120904  
(lot numbers are found on the medication cup packaging)

Nephron Pharmaceuticals is notifying its distributors and customers by either direct mail, email or telephone and is arranging for the return of all recalled Atomizers. The company distributed EZ Breathe Atomizers contained in Asthmanefrin Starter Kits nationwide to drug wholesalers, pharmacies and individuals.

Consumers who have the affected products should stop using them and contact the EZ Breathe Atomizer Recall Customer Care Center at 1-855-413-8920, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm EDT, for return and replacement at no charge.