Lawsuits you should know about

Infantino LLC has issued a recall of its Troy the Activity Truck toy after 28 people reported plastic beads breaking off. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said there were two reports of young children gagging on the pieces. Health Canada received reports of 15 children putting the beads in their mouths and three of the toys breaking, but no injuries.

Around 40,500 of the trucks are involved in the recall. They were sold in both the U.S. and Canada at such stores as Meijer, TJ Maxx and Marshalls between September 2009 and February 2011 for around $15 each. The model numbers are 153-210, 206-110, and 506-110C. The model number can be found on the underside of the truck. The trucks, which have faces, are blue, red, and yellow with a star, circle, and heart beads on the runners of the truck bed. Intantino is printed on the front of the toy.

If you have this truck, take it away from your child and call Infantino at (888) 808-3111 Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET for a replacement.

Consumers should take the recalled toy away from children and contact Infantino for a replacement. Call the company at (888) 808-3111 weekdays between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Unilever United States Inc. has recalled some jars of its reduced-fat Skippy peanut butter for fear of salmonella contamination.

So far, no one has reported an illness due to eating the peanut butter. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting and salmonella can be fatal in children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

Included in the recall are Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread. The jars are all 16.0-ounces and contain the UPC code of 048001006812 or 048001006782 on the side of the label below the bar code. The recalled jars also have a “best if used by” date of MAY1612LR1, MAY1712LR1, MAY1812LR1, MAY1912LR1, MAY2012LR1 and MAY2112LR1 on the lid of the jar.

The potentially tainted jars were sold in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

If you have one of these jars, throw it away and call Unilever at (800) 453-3432 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. ET for a replacement coupon.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall of alcohol prep pads, alcohol swabs, and alcohol swabsticks manufactured by the Triad Group. The FDA has cautioned both consumers and health care professionals to stop using these products immediately because of possible concerns about Bacillus cereus.

If these products are contaminated with Bacillus cereus, use of them could cause life threatening infections. This is especially true of patients who have recently had surgery or have weakened immune systems.

Recalled products were sold in the U.S., Canada, and Europe in boxes of 100 individual packets under the names of Triad Groups as well as Cardinal Health, PSS Select, VersaPro, Boca/Utilet, Moore Medical, Walgreens, CVS or Conzellin. This includes products marked both “STERILE” and those that are non-sterile.

If you have these products, immediately stop using them. Call the Triad Group Customer Service number at (262) 538-2900 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for instructions on how to return the product. The FDA is also asking health care professionals to report any adverse affects of patients who have used the products.

If you purchased nutmeg from Whole Foods Market just in time for Christmas, you should check the jar. Whole Foods Market has recalled packages of its ground nutmeg sold in the U.S. and Canada due to fears of salmonella contamination.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Frontier Natural Products Co-op packaged the ground nutmeg both for Whole Foods and under their own brand name of Frontier Bulk.

The jars recalled are the 1.92 ounce Whole Foods 365 Nutmeg Ground with the UPC code 0-99482-41931-8 and the lot code of 0321 (located on the bottom of the bottle) and the 16-ounce packages of Frontier Bulk Nutmeg Ground with the UPC code 0-89836-00165-8 and the lot code of 0306.

So far, there have been no reports of illness due to consuming the recalled nutmeg. Salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain and can be life-threatening to children and those with weakened immune systems.

If you have purchased either of these products, you should not consume them. If you have the Whole Foods brand, contact the local store where it was purchased. If you have the Frontier Bulk brand, call the company for a replacement or refund at (800) 669-3275, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday.

Chuck E. Cheese’s has issued a recall of 1.1 million light-up rings given away as part of a promotion due to the small batteries inside. There were reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of one child swallowing a small battery and another child shoving a battery up his nose although no injuries were reported. The rings were given to many parent-teachers associations. The company is also recalling 120,000 pairs of Star Glasses, which also contain small batteries. The glasses were given away during birthday parties.

The rings were made in China, came in many different colors, and are 1 1/8 inches wide with a black elastic band. They were given out between April 2009 and June 2010.

The glasses are 5 1/2 inches wide, 2 1/2 inches tall and say “Chuck E. Cheese’s” on the side. They were given out between April 2010 and August 2010.

If you have either of these items, you should take them away from your child immediately. The rings may be returned to Chuck E. Cheese’s for a refund of $1, four game tokens, or a soccer promotional cup with four tokens. The glasses may be returned to Chuck E. Cheese’s for a refund of $4.99 or a “Flashing Hands” prize. Contact Chuck E. Cheese’s at (888) 778-7193 or visit its web site for more information.

Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa has recalled 380 million eggs for fear that they may contain salmonella. The eggs were shipped to 17 states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas where outbreaks have occurred.

The eggs were sold under the names of Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Bayview, NuLay, Sun Valley, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps in six, 12, and 18 egg cartons. The suspected tainted egg packages are marked with the plant numbers 1026, 1413, and 1946, all beginning with the letter P and are followed by the Julian dates of between 136 and 225.

So far, at least 300 people in the states listed above have been sickened after eating the tainted eggs. That is four times the normal cases reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Salmonella can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and fever and can be fatal in certain cases.

The CDC is asking consumers to examine the packaging of all eggs purchased, especially those bought between May 16 and August 13.

Fresh Express has recalled several of its bagged lettuce products for fear of an E.coli contamination. Previously, Fresh Express romaine lettuce bags were recalled in May because of suspected salmonella poisoning. Both illnesses cause gastric distress, with more severe consequences for the young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

The bags involved in the recent recall are the Fresh Express romaine-based bags with the expiration date of July 8 – 12 with an “S” in the product code. While no illnesses have been associated with this recall, Fresh Express is asking consumers to throw away the products if they have them in their refrigerator. Because the products are past the expiration date, no refund will be offered. Also, because the expiration date has passed, chances of still purchasing these recalled bags at a retail store are almost impossible.

Consumers with questions about the recalled products should contact Fresh Express at 1-800-242-5472 between Monday and Friday from 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. ET.

The Tylenol recall has been expanded.  McNeill, the manufacturer of the product has expanded the list of recalled products.  If you have the recalled product in your home you should stop using it immediately and contact the company for a refund.

Format for this list:  Product Name, Lot Number, UPC Code

BENADRYL® ALLERGY ULTRATAB™ TABLETS  100 count ABA567 312547170338
BENADRYL® ALLERGY ULTRATAB™ TABLETS 100 count ABA574 312547170338
CHILDREN’S TYLENOL® MELTAWAYS BUBBLEGUM  30 count ABA544 300450519306
MOTRIN® IB CAPLET 24 count ACA003 300450481030
MOTRIN® IB CAPLET bonus pack 50+25 count ACA002 300450481764
MOTRIN® IB TABLET 100 count AFA060 300450463043
TYLENOL®, Extra Strength  EZ TABLET 225 count ASA206 300450422378
TYLENOL®, Extra Strength  EZ TABLET 50 count ABA005 300450422507
TYLENOL®, Extra Strength  COOL CAPLET 24 count ABA566 300450444240
TYLENOL®, Extra Strength  CAPLET bonus pack 24+12 count ACA025 300450444318
TYLENOL®, Extra Strength  CAPLET 50 count AFA018 300450449078
TYLENOL®, Extra Strength  CAPLET 50 count
(included in Day/Night Pack) ABA168 300450444530
TYLENOL®, Day & Night Value Pack (contains Extra Strength CAPLET 50 count
Lot # ABA168 & UPC 300450444530) AEC005 300450527103
TYLENOL®, Day & Night Value Pack (contains Extra Strength CAPLET 50 count
Lot # ABA168 & UPC 300450444530) AFC005 300450527103
TYLENOL®, Day & Night Value Pack (contains Extra Strength CAPLET 50 count
Lot # ABA168 & UPC 300450444530) ADC002 300450527103
TYLENOL®, Extra Strength RAPID RELEASE GELCAP 24 count ACA024 300450488244
TYLENOL®, Extra Strength RAPID RELEASE GELCAP 225 count AJA119 300450488251
TYLENOL® PM CAPLET 24 count ACA005 300450482242
TYLENOL® PM CAPLET 24 count ADA259 300450482242
TYLENOL® PM GELTAB 50 count AFA100 300450176509
TYLENOL® PM RAPID RELEASE GELCAP 20 count ACA004 300450244208

You can visit the company’s website www.mcneilproductrecall.com or call 888-222-6036 for information on how to obtain a refund.

Author’s note:  I had several products in my home that were recalled previously by the company.  McNeil was very efficient in providing me with a refund of the purchase price.  The process is very easy and I received a refund in a timely manner.

Approximately 66,000 pounds of ground and tenderized steak bison meat has been recalled by Rocky Mountain Natural Meats of Henderson, Colorado. It is believed that the meat may contain a dangerous type of E. coli.

The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said that five cases of E. coli O157:H7 occurred in Colorado between June 4 and June 9 with the suspected culprit being the bison meat. E. coli O157:H7 can be fatal, especially to the young and elderly, and can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and possibly kidney failure.

The meat, produced between May 21 and May 27, was sold to retail establishments all over the nation and to food service distributors in Utah and Arizona.

Although the use by date has passed, the Food Safety and Inspection Service fear that some consumers may have frozen the tainted bison. The products under recall are:

16-ounce packages of Great Range All Natural Ground Bison (sell- or freeze-by date of June 21, 22, or 24)
16-ounce packages of Nature’s Rancher Ground Buffalo (sell- or freeze-by date of June 22)
16-ounce packages of The Buffalo Guys All Natural Ground Buffalo 90 Percent Lean (with the lot number of 0147)
12-ounce packages of Great Range Brand All Natural Bison Steak Medallions (sell- or freeze-by date of June 23 and 24)
12-ounce packages of Great Range Brand All Natural Bison Sirloin Steaks (sell- or freeze-by date of June 20, 23 and 24)
15-pound boxes of Rocky Mountain Natural Meats Inc. Bison 10 oz. Sirloin Steaks (which went to restaurants and bear a Julian Code of 0141)

Consumers with the recalled meat should contact Rocky Mountain Natural Meats at 1-800-325-4164 or visit their web page for more information.

Tri-Union Seafoods has issued a recall of some of its cans of Chicken of the Sea Tuna due to a problem with the seals.

The recalled cans were sold between February and May in California, Colorado, Indiana, Maine, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wisconsin. The only cans involved in the recall have the UPC code of 4800000262 and the best by date of 2/10/2014. Also double check for the product codes of 7OA1E ASWAB, 7OA2E ASWAB, 7OA3E ASWAB, 7OA4E ASWAB, 7OA5E ASWAB, 7OAEE ASWAB or 7OAFE ASWAB. If you have a can of white tuna that doesn’t have the exact UPC code, best by date, or product code, it is safe to eat.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that no reported illnesses have resulted from eating the canned tuna, but the cans are being recalled because the seals didn’t meet the normal standards.

If you have any of the recalled cans, call the FDA at 1-877-843-6376 for more information on a full refund.