Recalls in June 2014

Wolf Steel of Ontario, Canada, is recalling about 3,000 Napoleon GD3200-P and GD3200B-P propane gas fireplaces.

The pressure from the ignition of the propane gas can cause the glass front to break, posing a laceration hazard.

The company has received one incident report occurring in Canada where the glass shattered resulting in cuts to the face and neck that required medical attention. No incidents were reported in the U.S.

This recall involves the GD3200-P flush glass front and GD3200B-P with a bay window, propane gas fireplaces. The fireplaces are black and approximately 33 inches tall and 31.25 inches wide with gold accent designs on the top and bottom of the outside of the product.

The model number GD3200-P and GD3200B-P can be found in the center of the rating label. The rating label is located on the base of the fireplace behind the lower louvered access door.

The fireplaces, manufactured in Canada, were sold at Hearth Fireplace specialty stores nationwide from August 1992, through May 2001, for about $1,500.

Consumers should stop using the recalled fireplaces and contact their local Napoleon Fireplace Hearth Dealer to arrange a service call to have a free upgrade kit installed on their fireplace. The upgrade kit must be installed by a qualified gas appliance technician.

Consumers may contact Wolf Steel toll-free at (866) 539-2039 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Over the years researchers have found traces of the chemical in both humans and the environment. Some scientists have said the chemical can adversely affect the human reproductive process.

Now, in three studies, researchers say they have found other BPA-related health issues.

Prostate problems

A study at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) has, for the first time, linked BPA to prostate problems in men. Researchers say the endocrine-disrupting chemical appears to reprogram the developing prostate in males, making it more likely to develop precancerous lesions later in life.

“By using two novel models of human prostate development involving embryonic stem cells, this study is the first to show that low doses of BPA can actually reprogram human fetal prostate tissue in a manner that raises the risk of prostate diseases as men age,” said the study’s presenting author, Esther Calderon-Gierszal, a PhD student at UIC.

Calderon-Gierszal says BPA disrupts the way the body processes hormones by mimicking the hormone estrogen. Previous research into adult prostate stem cells and animal models found that exposure to BPA increased the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Breast cancer risks

Meanwhile, researchers at Duke University say they have found that BPA appears to increase the proliferation of breast cancer cells. They report that the chemical, at levels normally found in the human blood system, could not only promote growth of an aggressive breast cancer cell but also diminish the effectiveness of treatments for the disease.

“We set out to determine whether routine exposures to common chemicals such as those in plastics, pesticides and insecticides could influence the effectiveness of breast cancer treatments,” said corresponding author Gayathri Devi, Ph.D., associate professor of surgery at Duke. “BPA was one of the top chemicals to show growth stimulatory effects in breast cancer cells.”

In their study the researcher found that among the chemicals they analyzed, BPA caused breast cancer cells to grow at a faster rate in both estrogen-receptor positive and estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer cells.

Just as disturbing, it lowered the efficacy of FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs used to treat breast cancer, notably lapatinib.

BPA substitute

Replacing BPA with the common substitute Bisphenol S (BPS) doesn't appear to resolve health issues either. A study led by Hong-Sheng Wang, PhD, from the University of Cincinnati, found BPS may have similar toxic effects on the heart as previously reported for BPA.

While some “BPA-free” products contain no bisphenols, some contain the substitute BPS. Wang says this may pose a problem for consumers.

“There is implied safety in BPA-free products,” he said. “The thing is, the BPA analogs — and BPS is one of them — have not been tested for safety in humans.”

Wang said exposure to BPS rapidly increased the heart rate of female rats. Under some conditions it also led to arrhythmias — heart rhythm abnormalities — far greater than in the control rats that did not receive BPS.

Previous health studies of BPA have yielded mixed results. Earlier this year researchers at the University of Missouri determined that daily exposure to low levels of BPA by pregnant primates could cause fetal abnormalities in their offspring.

While U.S. regulators have been slow to rein in use of BPA, Canada and several other countries have classified it as a toxin.

Julie Vos, of New York is recalling about 324 Julie Vos women’s scarves.

The scarves fail to meet the federal flammability standard for wearing apparel and pose a risk of burn injury to consumers.

There has been one report of a shawl catching fire. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Julie Vos women’s scarves. The scarves are 100 percent modal fabric, a type of rayon, and were sold in two prints, Anchor and Sierra. Anchor was sold in three colors, including blue, green and orange. Sierra was sold in four colors, including raspberry/magenta, orange/peach, cream/gray and blue/purple.

The scarves measure 75 inches long by 45 inches wide. Julie Vos is printed on a tag sewn into the back of the scarf.

The scarves. Manufactured in India, were sold at specialty boutiques nationwide and online at www.julievos.com from January 2014, through February 2014, for about $165.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled scarves and contact Julie Vos to arrange to return the scarves for a full refund. Julie Vos will provide a pre-paid postage label for shipping.

Consumers may contact Julie Vos collect at (646) 448-4345 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or by email at info@julievos.com.

Doctor’s Best is recalling lot 3121005 (7379 bottles) of Red Yeast Rice dietary supplement, 600-mg capsules, 120-count bottles.

The product contains undeclared lovastatin, a previously approved drug indicated for the treatment of high cholesterol, making this an unapproved new drug.

Consumers who use supplements containing lovastatin could suffer serious muscle injury, particularly if taking with prescription statins such as lovastatin, simvastatin, or atorvastatin.

The company says it has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

Red Yeast Rice is used as a dietary supplement for lowering cholesterol and is packaged in white plastic bottle with orange flip-top lid, and clear tamper evident outer seal number of units, UPC code 753950001183. The recalled product includes lot 3121005 and expires February 2017.

Red Yeast Rice was distributed nationwide through retail and Internet outlets.

Consumers who have the recalled product should discontinue using and return the unused portion to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact Doctor’s Best at 1-844-717-0190 Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm PDT.

Schnucks Bakery is recalling devil’s food cakes decorated with pecans.

Although pecans are visible on top of the cake (not baked inside), the known allergen was not disclosed on the label.

There have been no reports of illness associated with this recall.

These cakes were sold at all Schnucks stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin.

The following products are being recalled:

• Schnucks Bakery 8” Devil’s Food Cake, UPC: 04131831186, Item: 31-40080
• Schnucks Bakery ½ Cake – Devil’s Food Cake, UPC: 04131831078, Item: 31-40503

These cakes were sold at all Schnucks stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Consumers with a pecan allergy may return the product to any Schnucks store.

Consumers with questions may call Schnucks consumer affairs at 1-800-264-4400.

Fish Family Farm of Bolton, Conn., is recalling milk products and cream because they may be adulterated with peanut and tree nut (pistachio) allergens.

No complaints or illnesses have been reported.

The products were distributed at Fish Family Farm’s retail store in Bolton and at retail stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The following Fish Family Farm dairy products with a sell by date of 6/23/14 are subject to the recall:

• GRADE A WHOLE MILK Pasteurized and Homogenized in a glass half-gallon container
• GRADE A 2% Reduced Fat Milk Pasteurized and Homogenized in a glass half-gallon container
• GRADE A FAT FREE SKIM MILK Pasteurized and Homogenized in a glass half-gallon container
• CHOCOLATE MILK GRADE A PASTEURIZED HOMOGENIZED in a glass half-gallon container
• GRADE A PASTEURIZED HEAVY CREAM in glass pints, quarts, half-gallons

The following Shadow Valley Farms dairy products with a sell by date of 6/23/14 are subject to the recall:

• WHOLE GRADE A PASTEURIZED HOMOGENIZED MILK in a glass half-gallon container
• 2% GRADE A PASTEURIZED HOMOGENIZED MILK in a glass half-gallon container
• FAT FREE GRADE A PASTEURIZED HOMOGENIZED MILK in a glass half-gallon container
• CHOCOLATE MILK GRADE A, PASTEURIZED, HOMOGENIZED in a glass half-gallon container

In each case, the product name is on the container lid and the sell by date is on the top of the bottle.

No other lots or products are affected.

Consumers are urged not to consume these products and to destroy the products or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-860-646-9745.