Product recalls this week include pacifiers, window shades, dietary supplements

Recalls this week: Pacifiers, shades, supplements

Children were the safety concern at the heart of some recalls this past week.

Nearly 45,000 pacifiers distributed in California and Texas were recalled for posing a choking hazard. There also was a further recall of Roman window shades and roll-up blinds following a reported non-fatal incident in Washington state.

Here are items recalled this week:

PACIFIERS

DETAILS: The recall is of Karino baby pacifiers made in Mexico and distributed by Antonio Flores of San Ysidro, Calif., at independent grocery stores in California and Texas from October 2009 through March 2010 for about 25 cents. “Karino” is printed on the handle side of the mouth guard, and “Mygra” is printed on one side of the handle. The nipple is filled with corn syrup.

WHY: The pacifier poses a choking and aspiration hazard to young children. The nipple can separate from the base easily, the pacifier handle is too long, the mouth guard is too small and there are no ventilation holes on the mouth guard.

INCIDENTS: None reported.

HOW MANY: About 44,900.

FOR MORE: Visit www.cpsc.gov or call Antonio Flores collect at 619-395-4543 for a refund Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific time.

ROMAN SHADES AND ROLL-UP BLINDS

DETAILS: Smith & Noble of Corona, Calif., has added its name to the retailers joining a voluntary recall announced in December 2009. The recall involves all roller shades that do not have a tension device attached to the continuous loop cord and all custom, made-to-order Roman shades. Brand names include Smith & Noble, Christopher Lowell by Smith & Noble, Jessitt Gold, Shop Blinds and Window Elements.

WHY: Strangulations can occur when a child’s neck gets entangled in either product.

INCIDENTS: A 5-year-old boy in Tacoma, Wash., reportedly became entangled in an unsecured continuous loop bead cord on a roller shade in May 2009. No medical treatment was required.

HOW MANY: About 1.3 million (1,160,000 Roman shades and 115,000 roller shades).

FOR MORE: Visit www.cpsc.gov; call Smith & Noble 877-228-7683; or visit www.smithandnoble.com/productrecallinformation.

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT

DETAILS: J & H Besta Corp. of Hicksville, N.Y., is recalling select 30-capsule bottles of dietary supplement Joyful Slim, because it could contain a chemical, sibutramine, used in weight loss drugs, even though the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of sibutramine for this particular supplement.

WHY: Sibutramine could substantially increase blood pressure and, or pulse rate in some people. This could be hazardous for those with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia or stroke.

INCIDENTS: No incidents have been reported.

FOR MORE: Visit www.cpsc.gov; call 877-547-5468.

BAMBOO TORCHES

DETAILS: Torches, made in China and distributed by Atico International USA Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., were recalled. They were sold at CVS, Rite Aid, Dollar Tree and Deal$ stores from February 2008 through March 2010.

WHY: The fuel canister that holds the torch’s wick has a sharp edge inside its opening. This poses as a laceration hazard when consumers try to remove the wick.

INCIDENTS: The firm has received five reports of people getting cuts on their fingers, including one injury that required stitches. Four of the injuries happened when people tried to retrieve a wick that had fallen into the canister.

HOW MANY: About 324,000.

FOR MORE: Visit www.cpsc.gov; call 866-448-7856.

CORN PASTA

DETAILS: DeBoles Nutritional Foods Inc. of Shreveport, La., is recalling DeBoles Kids Only! gluten free tubettini corn pasta.

WHY: They could contain wheat pasta, which could be hazardous for individuals with wheat allergies.

INCIDENTS: None reported.

HOW MANY: One lot of 8.5-ounce boxes.

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

DETAILS: Good Health Inc. of Canutillo, Texas, is recalling select lots of the dietary supplement Vialipro.

WHY: They could contain a compound that is chemically similar to the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil. This compound could interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease. If this compound interacts with nitrates, it could cause blood pressure to drop to dangerous levels.

INCIDENTS: Not immediately known.

FOR MORE: Call 866-607-0338.