Defective Household Products

November 23, 2015

Report: 355,000 Cans of SpagehettiOs Recalled

When we think of food poisoning and product recalls, were are normally thinking of a bacteria or virus capable of making a consumer sick. This was the case with the recent ice cream recalls in which listeria was found in many of the ice cream products shipped to stores across the county. We also saw one recent case where the maker of children’s applesauce recalled its product, because safety inspectors discovered mold growing in some of their production units. However, in that case, it should be noted that the mold was allegedly not harmful to humans, but was considered a problem nonetheless, which is why the company voluntarily recalled their applesauce packets.

However, biological contamination is not the only problem that could cause a food product to be recalled. According to a recent news feature from Fortune, Campbell’s is recalled around 355,000 cans of SpagehettiOs due to safety concerns. In this case it is not a foodborne illness that is causing problems, but rather the discovery of what the company is calling a potential choking hazard, as there have been pieces of red plastic in some cans. Continue reading

March 4, 2014

Safety of Testosterone Replacement Products Called Into Question

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Middle aged men and older men in the U.S. are being prescribed testosterone replacement therapy in ever increasing numbers. Low testosterone can lead to impaired sexual function, fat distribution problems, weakening bone density; and perhaps even a higher risk of heart disease.

Products like GlaxoSmithKline’s Testim; Eli Lily’s Axiron, and AbbVie’s AndroGel are three of the testosterone replacement products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Unfortunately, manufacturers of some of these products have found themselves accused of hiding risks. AbbVie, for example, has been sued because men who used AndroGel claim they experienced unexpected side effects due to the low-T treatment. Several of the plaintiffs experienced heart attacks, while others had strokes.
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January 23, 2014

Massachusetts Children Die In Lane Hope Chest

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Two Massachusetts siblings were killed after being trapped in an old hope chest and officials are using this incident as a sad reminder of the risks associated with dangerous and defective products in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Oftentimes, recall information never makes it into our homes and these products are never addresses and removed, still posing serious risks to our families.

“The majority of children’s products that are recalled remain in use,” said Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids in Danger.

As a matter of fact, officials believe that only 30 percent of defective products are ever properly repaired or returned to the manufacturer. Unfortunately, defects are not familiar to the consumer eye until it’s too late. In the recent incident, 8- and 7-year-old siblings were trapped in an old chest, manufactured by Lane Furniture Company back in 1939, and it could not be opened from the inside. Back in 1996, more than 10 million of these chests were recalled by the company. This recall came after the company received nearly 10 incident reports in which children were stuck inside and suffocated. Officials with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and officials with the company sent out another recall in 2000, after receiving reports of two additional fatalities and two near-deaths, according to NBC.
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