Safety - Black & Decker recalls 670,000 coffeemakers

After getting at least 10 reports of second-degree burns, Black & Decker today recalled 670,000 "Spacemaker" coffeemakers in the U.S. and Canada because the brew basket can shift out of alignment causing hot water to overflow. The company has received 282 reports of hot water overflowing including the burn incidents, according to the U.S. and Canadian recall notices.

The Spacemaker coffeemaker has an under-cabinet mount, programmable digital clock/timer, removable water reservoir, and either a 12-cup glass carafe or an 8-cup thermal carafe. Only model numbers ODC440, ODC440B, ODC450 and ODC460 are included in the recall. The model number is on the back of the coffeemaker.

Made in China, the coffeemakers were sold at major retailers nationwide, including K-Mart, Kohl’s, Target, Walmart, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Amazon.com, from March 2006 through March 2009 for between $60 and $80. In Canada, they were also sold at Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, London Drugs, Sears Canada and Zellers.

The distributor, Applica Consumer Products of Miramar, Fla. is asking consumers to stop using the coffeemakers and contact the company for a free replacement brew basket. Call Applica toll-free at (866) 668-4442 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.acprecall.com.

Senator asks Obama to change leadership at CPSC

Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida sent a letter to the White House yesterday asking to president to change the leadership of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

After writing that he'd already discussed the matter with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Nelson's letter identifies his main issue with the CPSC's current approach:

I believe we have a serious problem with the CPSC. More specifically, the agency is doing too little, too late to help residents of Florida and other states who are reporting serious health and safety problems associated with living in homes built with tainted drywall imported from China.

The CPSC has the power to ban future imports or issua a recall on defective or hazardous products. But the commission hasn't take any action.

As the Consumer Reports Safety Blog has reported, the federal government is now ramping up a multi-agency investigation of drywall imported from China that is suspected of releasing sulfur gases believed to be causing corrosion and health problems.

A spokesman for the CPSC told Consumer Reports the agency has been looking into possible defects surrounding drywall imported from China for the last two months and has now initiated a formal compliance investigation.

“The agency is on the ground in Florida in a fact-finding mode,” said CPSC spokesman Joe Martyak. “Our goal is to determine if, and to what extent, there is any safety risk involved with imported Chinese drywall.”

Sen. Nelson, however, wrote that the CPSC's problems go beyond the recent drywall issue:

And this is no the first time the commission has failed to act quickly to protect consumers from dangerous products. When confronted with the issue of Chinese-made toys found to contain extreme levels of lead, it took far too long to act.

For the past three years, the commission has been under the leadership and direction of acting Chairwoman Nancy Nord, who has come under bipartisan criticsm for, among other things, being too cozy with manufacturers. Given her record, it's my belief new leadership is required.

Mr. President, I'm asking you to call on Ms. Nord to resign. I believe that the CPSC needs leaders who will stand up and protect the rights of consumers. It is my hope that you will take action to remove her from office for "neglect of duty" pursuant to Section 4(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 2053 (a)), prior to the expiration of her term in 2012.

Nord was nominated for the CPSC by President George W. Bush and began her term in 2005. The other sitting commissioner is Thomas Moore, who was first tapped by President Bill Clinton in 1995. The third commissioner's seat has been vacant since 2006 when Hal Stratton resigned.

What's in your basket?

Our colleagues at the Consumer Reports Safety Blog have issued their annual warning about the Kinder Surprise egg, a candy egg with a toy inside, which has been banned in the United States since 1997. The product is considered a choking hazard, but that hasn’t stopped gray-market importers from making it available to retailers across the country. This year, you can also learn about another unusual product available in stores: edible Easter basket grass. We think it blurs the lines about what’s safe to eat and what’s not. Read more here.

FDA launches pistachio recall page

As the scope of the pistachio recall grows, the Food and Drug Administration has launched a page on its Web site to keep consumers informed of developments.

You can search recalled pistachio products or browse the list of participating companies.

The welcome note leaves plenty of room for that list to get bigger:

The FDA and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are investigating Salmonella contamination in pistachio products sold by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc, Calif. The company has stopped all distribution of processed pistachios and will issue a voluntary recall involving approximately 1 million pounds of its products. Because the pistachios were used as ingredients in a variety of foods, it is likely this recall will impact many products. In addition, the investigation at the company is ongoing and may lead to additional pistachio product recalls.

The FDA's pistachio page joins a similar one to keep track of the still-expanding peanut product recall.

If you're worried about products in your home, check CR's Safety Blog for more news and recalls. 

Richardson's skiing accident raises questions about helmets

The tragic skiing accident that claimed the life of actress Natasha Richardson has raised questions about safety on the slopes, mostly about helmets.

Skiing, like all sports, has an element of danger. Statistics from the National Ski Areas Association show that the 2007-2008 season had 53 fatalities and 41 serious injuries for skiers and snowboarders.

The NSAA puts the rate of fatalities at .88 per million skier/snowboarder visits.

The same study estimates that 43 percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets in 2007-2008, a 40 percent increase from the previous year.

About 70 percent of children under nine wore helmets in 2007-2008, and 60 percent of kids between 10 and 14 wore them.