Product Recall Roundup

Defective products can cause accidents, injuries and potentially serious illnesses. Product recalls by the company or manufacturer, along with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, are designed to inform the public of hazardous products and provide information on how to return or exchange them and obtain a refund. It is important that people are aware of the recalls of defective products that they may use in everyday life.

The USDA Food and Safety Inspection Service recently ordered a class I recall on almost two million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken due to the chance of bacterial pathogens in the undercooked meat. A class I recall involves a “reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.” The chicken breast strip packages were distributed by National Steak and Poultry and include ready-to-eat chicken strips by Hormel. The packages of chicken were produced between August 20 and November 30 and sold at a variety of stores nationwide. Information on what products are affected and how to identify them can be found on the USDA’s website.

Meanwhile, 2.5 million dehumidifiers have been recalled due to a risk of fire and burn injuries. The manufacturer Gree, along with the CPSC, issued the first recall in 2013 with an expanded list of recalled products in 2014. The humidifiers were sold under various brand names including Frigidaire, GE, and Kenmore between January 2005 and August 2013. Thankfully there have been no serious injuries linked to the 450 reported fires that have caused $19 million in property damage. Affected models and refund information can be found on the company’s website.

In another food recall, two types of hummus sold at Trader Joe’s are part of a voluntary recall by the manufacturer due to concerns about possible Listeria contamination. Listeria is a type of bacteria that causes symptoms such as fever and headaches, along with digestive issues including nausea and diarrhea. While these symptoms are short-term for most people, deadly infections can occur in small children and the elderly. More details on the products can be found on the FDA’s website.

Any recall regarding automobiles also comes with a great deal of concern. Ford recently recalled 680,000 cars over problems with the front seatbelts. The cables for the pre-tension tightening function for seatbelts in some mid-size sedans could break and therefore may not be able to hold a person when the driver pressed on the breaks. This could be extremely dangerous if the car is involved in a motor vehicle accident. The manufacturer has been alerted of two injuries so far from the defect. Certain models of the Ford Fusion (from 2013-2016), Lincoln MKZ (from 2013-2015) and Ford Mondeo (from 2013-2016) will need to have the problem corrected at dealerships beginning next month.

This is only a small number of recalls currently in effect for defective products. The best way to try and keep up is to check the CPSC’s website. If you have been injured due to a defective product, you may be entitled to compensation. Please call the experienced and dedicated attorneys at Finz & Finz, P.C., today.