Bloomington Personal Injury Lawyer - Defective & Dangerous Products

Fireworks are fun, but also cause injury

Fred Schultz — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:44:57 GMT

Fireworks are as much a part of our 4th of July celebrations as picnics and parades. I know that my family incorporated a good fireworks show into our festivities. While the 4th of July weekend is past, it is not too late to keep in mind that fireworks can be very dangerous. Many people still have leftover fireworks to shoot off over the remainder of the summer months, so please remember that fireworks injuries are real, and can have last effects.

Thousands of people were treated in emergency departments in 2006 for injuries sustained from fireworks.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), most fireworks accidents occur between June 16th and July 16th. Even small fireworks which are considered by many people to be harmless can cause injuries. Sparklers account for one-third of all injuries to children under the age of 5 years. Also, firecrackers were associated with 1,300 reported injuries in 2006. It is especially important to supervise children at all times when using fireworks, as their natural curiousity can place them in harm's way and they may lack the physical coordination necessary to properly handle sparklers or firecrackers.

So, enjoy the remaining summer months and have fun with your leftover fireworks. But please, please remember to use fireworks in a safe and responsible manner.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Fred Schultz

Topps Beef Burgers Recalled for E. Coli Contamination

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:53:14 GMT

Topps Meat Company announced a voluntary recall of more than 300,000 pounds of ground beef tainted with E. Coli O157:H7, after receiving over 22 reports of illness.

The recall was announced this week after the CDC said 21 people across eight states had become ill after eating burgers that may have been contaminated with E. coli.

According to the CDC, two cases in New York and one in Florida have been confirmed and linked to the recalled burgers, while 18 other cases are still being investigated.

Six people became ill in New York, three of which required hospitalization, according to state health officials.

Consumers are advised to discard any recalled Topps Burgers they may have in the house or return them to the store of purchase for a full refund.

According to the USDA, the recall affects 331,582 pounds of frozen beef patties that were distributed in the New York City area and across the country. They were produced in June or July and carried the phrase "Est. 9748" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

E. coli symptoms include: diarrhea (often times bloody), abdominal cramps and nausea. Very young patients and those with compromised immune systems are at a risk for kidney failure.

For more information on this topic, please visit our section on E. coli Lawsuit Information.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Barbie Accessories Recalled for Lead Hazard

Chrissie Cole — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:56:38 GMT

Mattel announced a voluntary toy recall of 675,000 Barbie accessory toys, made in China, due to the surface paints on the toys containing excessive levels of lead.

This toy recall involves several Barbie accessory toys that were manufactured between September 30, 2006 and August 20, 2007. A full list of recalled Barbie toys can be found on Mattel's website. The date and product codes are printed on the largest piece of the toy sets.

Consumers should take the recalled toys away from small children immediately and contact Mattel for more information about receiving a free replacement toy.

This is Mattel's third toy recall, for more information please visit our section on Mattel Toy Recall Information.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

CPSC Investigating Fisher-Price Toy Recall

Chrissie Cole — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:20:26 GMT

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is investigating whether Fisher-Price alerted them as quickly as it should, about lead paint found in over 1.5 million toys manufactured in China, that were part of the worldwide recall announced last week.

Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the commission, told The Associated Press on Monday that it was conducting "an active and open" investigation into the timing of Fisher-Price's disclosure. He declined to provide details, including when Fisher-Price notified authorities of the problem.

Fisher-Price, a division of Mattel Inc., has cultivated an image as role model for careful control of its manufacturing in China. However, the company's record in timely reporting of defects is checkered: Fisher-Price was fined $975,000 in March for not notifying authorities quickly enough about a choking hazard in a toy from its popular Little People product line. In 2001, it paid $1.1 million for a similar infraction regarding safety defects in its Power Wheels toy vehicles.

Under federal law, companies are required to alert CPSC within 24 hours of discovering a dangerous product defect. The required information needs to show that the defect violates federal safety standards, or poses a risk of serious injury or death.

Fisher-Price originally announced a recall of the toys on Wednesday. Popular toys included in the recall are Elmo, Diego and Big Bird, due to excessive amounts of lead.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

378 People Sick after Taste of Chicago Food Fest

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:56:06 GMT

As of Friday, there have been 278 reported cases of people becoming ill after eating hummus at the Taste of Chicago food festival believed to have salmonella bacteria contamination, the health department said.

The Chicago Department of Health has confirmed 32 reported cases of illness caused by salmonella poisoning. Officials expect that number to increase after they receive pending test results. Twelve people have been hospitalized to date, officials said.

Officials said, cucumber salad was the only dish connected to the salmonella outbreak. All reported illnesses came from people that ate at the Pars Cove Persian Cuisine booth.

The health department ordered Pars Cove to stop serving hummus until further notice. The restaurant is cooperating with the health department's investigation.

It was the first confirmed outbreak of a food-borne illness associated with the Taste of Chicago in at least 20 years, the health department said in a release. The 10-day outdoor festival, which ended Sunday, brings out food from more than 70 restaurants and concerts.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

FDA Recalls Veggie Booty Snacks

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:17:43 GMT

An ongoing foodborne illness outbreak, since March, is now coming to light and the FDA warns consumers to discard any Veggie Booty snacks they have in their home.

"This stuff is good for you," says a cartoon character on the company's home page but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat Veggie Booty snack food, marketed by Robert's American Gourmet. The agency says the product may be contaminated with Salmonella Wandsworth, bacteria that cause gastrointestinal illness.

Veggie Booty snacks are generally consumed by children, parents should watch their children and seek medical care immediately if they notice any signs of illness.

The warning was issued based on 52 reports of illness across 17 states, starting in March. The majority of illnesses have occurred in children younger than 10, with most being toddlers. Most of the reports had bloody diarrhea and four were hospitalized.

On June 27, the FDA learned of the outbreak from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which had conducted an investigation of the illnesses with state and local health officials.

Typically Salmonella poisoning causes diarrhea; often with abdominal cramps and fever. Symptoms usually begin within one to four days following exposure. In persons with poor health and underlying conditions and infants, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause a life-threatening infection.

States reporting illnesses include: California (seven cases), Colorado (five cases), Connecticut (one case), Georgia (one case), Indiana (one case), Massachusetts (three cases), Minnesota (two cases), New Hampshire (two cases), New Jersey (two cases), New York (13 cases), Oregon (one case), Pennsylvania (three cases), Tennessee (one), Texas (one), Vermont (three cases), Washington (four cases), and Wisconsin (two cases).

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Toothpaste Recalled for Poisonous Chemical

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:39:10 GMT

Florida company has announced a nationwide recall of toothpaste that was imported from China and distributed to wholesalers. The toothpaste is believed to contain a poisonous chemical.

Approximately 170,000 tubes of toothpaste contain diethylene glycol, a thickening agent used in antifreeze. No injuries or illnesses have been reported to date.

Consumers should stop using the products and discard them or bring them back to their point of purchase for a full refund. The recalled toothpaste has "Made in China" on the label.

The toothpaste brands included in the recall are:
â€¢ Shir Fresh Mint Fluoride
â€¢ Shir Fresh Ice Shir Mint Fluoride
â€¢ Shir Fresh Cool Shir Mint Fluoride

Retailers were advised to examine inventories and notify customers about the recall.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Record-A-Voice Toy Cell Phone Recalled

Christina Cole — Mon, 07 May 2007 23:38:48 GMT

Approximately 300,000 Record-A-Voice toy cell phones have been recalled by Parents Magazine. The toy cell phones contain a part that can become dislodged, posing a choking hazard to small children if swallowed.

To date, the company has received 54 reports of a pin in the flip-top hinge of the cell phone falling out. Only one complaint included an injury. Parents should take the phone away from small children immediately to avoid a choking hazard.

Target stores nationwide sold the cell phones between September 2006 and January 2007. Consumers can get a refund or replacement phone by contacting the manufacturer, Battat Inc, at 800-247-6144.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Faulty Brakes causing Fires in Ford Escapes

Christina Cole — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:28:52 GMT

Ford Motor Company is recalling about 527,000, 2001-2004 Ford Escape model crossovers, due to defective antilock brake systems that can catch on fire.

Incorrectly installed or missing seals on the wire harness can lead to corrosion when water or road salt gets near the electrical connector, according to Ford. The corrosion can cause the ABS warning light to come on and lead to burning or melting of the electrical ABS connector.

The recall excludes hybrid Escape versions.

The Ford Escape catching on fire has prompted several reports to ConsumerAffairs.Com. While Ford reports no accidents or injuries as a result of the Escape fire, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received complaints of at least 50 engine fires connected to the problems and the agency is actively investigating the Ford Escape.

"We have identified a repair, and owners of affected vehicles will be notified soon," said Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Rat Poison found in Recalled Pet Food

Christina Cole — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 01:25:17 GMT

The Indiana Department of Agriculture announced on Friday that rat poison found in pet food that was recalled by Menu Foods last week. A spokeswoman said they could not identify the exact chemical or source beyond stating it was rodent poison.

Menu Foods has confirmed 16 deaths (15 cats and 1 dog) along with many reports of kidney failure, resulting from the affected pet foods. The pet deaths led to a recall of over 60 million cans and pouches of pet food produced by the company, sold through out North America under 95 different brand names.

The recall involved "cuts and gravy" lines of pet foods and did not include dry pet food, according to a press release by Menu Foods.

State Officials would not elaborate on how the rat poison got into Menu Foods now recalled pet food, but there are no criminal investigations at this time.

Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell and at the New York State Food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by Menu Foods and found the toxin aminopterin in two of them. Hooker said they would test individual components of the pet food as well. The early test results were released to give veterinarians a better idea of how to treat sick animals.
"Any amount of this product is too much in food," Hooker said.
Aminopterin, also used as a cancer drug, is highly toxic in high doses. It inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system.
In dogs and cats, it can cause kidney failure, according to Donald Smith, dean of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation into the pet deaths was focusing on wheat gluten in the pet food. Wheat gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but the common ingredient could have been contaminated, the FDA said.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole