This week in safety: Pet food recalls

Three brands of pet food have been recalled in recent days including two kinds of dog food and one of cat food. Premium Edge recalled two varieties of cat food after some pets became sick. The foods were found to be lacking in Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1. Symptoms displayed by the affected cats were "neurological in nature," according to the company's press release, including tremors and weakness. The recalled foods were Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat (RAF0501A22X 18lb., RAF0501A2X 6 lb.) and Premium Edge Hairball (RAH0501A22X 18 lb., RAH0501A2X 6lb.)

The dog food recalls were made by Wysong and Nutro. Wysong recalled five lots of dry dog food made in June and July because it was contaminated with mold. Wysong, which sells "natural" pet products said the problem with the food "stems from unusually high heat and humidity on those summer dates ... combined with a malfunctioning moisture checking device." The recalls includes Wysong Maintenance (lots 090617, 090624, 090706, 090720) and Wysong Senior (lot 090623).

Nutro recalled three kinds of puppy chow that may contain pieces of a plastic hard hat that fell into the production line. The food was distributed through Petco and Petsmart stores in the West and included Nutro Ultra (UPC 79105 51313, 4.5 lb. and UPC 79105 51315, 30 lb.) and Nutro Natural Choice Chicken Meal, Rice and Oatmeal Formula Small Bites Puppy (UPC# 79105 23050, 5 lb.)

More safety news
Insurers drop drywall victims
The Wall Street Journal
At least two home insurers in Florida have begun dropping policyholders who filed claims for property damage linked to drywall imported from China. Disputes with insurance companies are increasing as a growing number of homeowners file claims for property damage. Read more ...

CPSC staff calls for mandatory ROV standards
The Wall Street Journal
The Consumer Product Safety Commission staff has recommended that the agency set mandatory rules to regulate recreational off-highway vehicles, signaling that regulators may seek to take a tougher line on consumer-safety issues under the Obama administration. Read more ...

The sleep tight fight
The Vancouver Sun
The pervasiveness of the debate over whether parents should sleep with their baby is evident in the intensity and the immediacy of the response to a new study in a well-respected medical journal that looks at infant mortality trends. Read more ...

Schools await a U.S. report on artificial turf
Philadelphia Inquirer
When John Murray was shopping for an artificial-turf field for his school, he found a wealth of information. The piles of documents he gathered, however, did not include a federal report that might answer widening concerns about toxic chemicals found in the ground-up tires that provide the turf's cushioning. That's because the report doesn't exist--yet. Read more ...

$13.5M awarded over fan that caused fire fatal to boy, 7
Philadelphia Daily News
Four years after a fire ignited by a faulty floor fan killed a 7-year-old Germantown boy, his family found some solace this week when a jury walloped the fan manufacturer, Lasko Products Inc. of West Chester, with a $13.5 million verdict. Read more ...

Saratoga school district reverses bike ban, with conditions
WNYT.com
A local school district changed course on its policy against kids biking to class. The Saratoga Springs School Board announced the new policy after months of controversy over its ban against biking to school. School officials said the former ban was for safety reasons to keep students off of busy streets. Read more ...

Don't miss these recalls
After the death of a diver in California, S.I. Tech has recalled 65,000 diving air hoses for dry suits because an insert can dislodge and restrict the diver's air flow. The company has received six additional reports of hose inserts dislodging. Made in Sweden, the hoses were sold at diving equipment retailers and distributors nationwide from July 2006 through February 2009 for about $45.

This dry suit inflation hose connects a diver’s dry suit to the air supply and allows for the pumping of air into the suit to set up a positive pressure arrangement that helps  keep it watertight. The hose contains an air flow restricting insert that may be either black, blue or green in color. The batch code is stamped on the threaded metal end of the hose. Owners should visit the firm’s Web site for more information.

More recalls

• 9,400 Model year 2009 Electra bicycles (front trays and baskets can come loose)
• 150,000 Quantum Realspace pro 9000 series mesh chair (seat backs can detach)
• 5,000 Schwalbe Ultremo R bicycle tires (layers can separate)
• 200 Model year 2009 Zero X and Zero MX off-road motorcycles (faulty throttle)
• 1,400 Milbank single meter sockets (can short out)