Three CPSC Recalls: Viking Toaster, SRAM Bicycle Forks, Ms. Bubble Hooded Jackets

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has just announced <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability">three recalls over shock, crash, and strangulation hazards.  Two of the recalled items were manufactured in China and one was made in Taiwan.

Ms. Bubbles Inc. of Los Angeles, California, is recalling about 55,000 Girls Blue Denim Passport hooded jackets with drawstrings due to a strangulation hazard.  The Ms. Bubbles Girls Blue Denim Passport Jackets were made in China and produced with a drawstring threaded through the hood, a known strangulation hazard to children. The CPSC noted that In February 1996, it issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or becoming entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts.  The recalled Ms. Bubbles Girls Blue Denim Passport Jackets have a white terrycloth underlay lining and drawstring and were sold in children’s sizes medium (7-10), large (11-14), and x-large (15-16) and contain style number BF1400 KP on the hang tag attached to the garment. 

The recalled Ms. Bubbles jackets were sold at T.J. Maxx, J.C. Penney, and Forman Mills stores nationwide from August 2007 through December 2007 and retailed for about $10.  The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately remove the drawstrings from the recalled sweatshirts or to return the defective garment to either the place of purchase or to Ms. Bubbles Inc. for a refund.  Ms. Bubbles can be reached toll-free at (866) 342-3802 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.

The Viking Range Corporation of Greenwood, Mississippi is recalling about 10,000 Four-Slice Electric Toasters due to a shock hazard.  The CPSC announced that wiring within the Viking Range Four-Slice Electric Toasters can loosen and come into contact with the toaster body, which poses a shock hazard.  To date, Viking has received five reports from consumers who experienced a shock when they touched the outside of the Viking Four-Slice Toaster.  Viking Professional Four-Slot Toasters with model numbers VT400WH, VT400BK, VT400GG, VT400SG, VT400BR, and VT400CB are involved in the recall; the toaster contains a label on its underside that states, in part:  “Viking, UL Listed 73D3, Viking Range Corporation, Model VT400 Series.”

The recalled Viking toasters were made in China and sold at culinary products retailers, online dealers, and Viking’s Website from April 2005 through November 2008 and retailed for about $300.  The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately stop using the recalled Viking Four-Slot toasters, unplug the defective device, and contact Viking for a free replacement.  Viking can be reached toll-free at (888) 267-4460 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or at the firm’s Website at www.vikingrange.com.

SRAM LLC of Chicago, Illinois is recalling about 175 bicycles with RockShox Bicycle Forks due to a crash hazard.  The recalled SRAM bicycles use the RockShox Domain 302 and 318 bicycle forks with steel steerers, which were sold for installation on new bicycles and are being recalled because the steerer can crack, which can cause the fork to detach from the bicycle frame, causing the rider to lose control and crash.  The CPSC said one incident with a minor injury has been reported and two other incidents, without injury, were reported outside of the United States.  The recall affects SRAM forks manufactured between March and October 2008 with dates codes 09T8 through 42T8; the date code can be found on the back of the fork crown and on the lower leg.  The RockShox Domain fork was installed on Transition Bottle Rocket bicycles and may have been installed on Rocky Mountain Flatline 1, Rocky Mountain Slayer SS350, and Rocky Mountain Slayer SS396 bicycles, the CPSC said.

The recalled products were made in Taiwan and sold at specialty bicycle retailers nationwide from March through November 2008 for between $1,600 and $3,100.  The CPSC said that consumers should stop using bicycles equipped with these forks immediately and contact their bicycle retailer for a free replacement fork.  SRAM can be reached toll-free at (800) 346-2928 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT, or at the firm’s Website at www.sram.com