Product recalls this week include pull toys, umbrella strollers, dog and cat food

Recalls this week: pull toys, umbrella strollers

The best recalls are those made before defective products cause injuries or illness. That’s the case with some announced this week by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

More than 2,000 pull toys with wooden parts that can break or come loose and pose a choking hazard were among this week’s recalls. Also recalled were umbrella strollers that might amputate a child’s fingertips as they’re unfolded. No related incidents have been reported in either case, but there were reports of injuries related to kids’ lamps and wind chime toys recalled this week.

Here’s a list of some of the items recalled this week.

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PULL TOYS

DETAILS: The recall involves Pull-A-Long Friends Toucan, Pull-A-Long Friends Alligator and Pull-A-Long Friends Sharky, made in Thailand and manufactured by Manhattan Group LLC of Minneapolis. The items were sold at gift and specialty stores nationwide, online and through catalogs from September 2009 through January.

WHY: The toys have wooden parts that can break or come loose, posing a choking hazard to young children. No incidents or injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 2,400 in the U.S. plus 400 in Canada.

FOR MORE: Call 800-541-1345; visit www.manhattantoy.com or www.cpsc.gov.

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UMBRELLA STROLLERS

DETAILS: Recalled were all Britax “Blink” single umbrella strollers, made in China and imported by Britax Child Safety Inc. of Charlotte, N.C. The strollers were sold online and at child product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide in the U.S. and Canada from July 2009 through this month.

WHY: The stroller’s hinge poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to a child when the stroller is being unfolded or opened. No injuries or incidents have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 14,000, plus another 900 in Canada.

FOR MORE: Call 888-427-4829; visit www.BlinkRecall.com or www.cpsc.gov.

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DOG AND CAT FOOD

DETAILS: Nature’s Variety is recalling some Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for dogs and cats. The recall involves different forms, including chicken medallions, patties and chubs, with a best if used by date of Nov. 10, 2010. The products were distributed in retail stores and online in the U.S. and in Canada.

WHY: The products could be contaminated with salmonella. Contaminated pet food can infect animals as well as people who have not handled the products properly. The company received one customer complaint linked to a lot not affected by the recall. There have been no reported pet or human illnesses linked to the recalled lot, according to the Lincoln, Neb., company.

HOW MANY: One lot.

FOR MORE: Call 800-374-3142.

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WIND CHIME TOYS

DETAILS: The recall involves wind chime toys manufactured in China and distributed by Tiny Love Inc. of New York, N.Y., and the Maya Group Inc. of Huntington Beach, Calif. They were sold at Toys “R” Us, Walmart, Target, Buy Buy Baby and TJ Maxx stores around the country between February 2002 and February 2010.

WHY: They can come apart and expose sharp metal rods. The company has received five reports of babies pulling chimes apart to expose the rods, including one report of a 24-month-old boy puncturing his cheek.

HOW MANY: About 600,000, plus an additional 200,000 recalled in Canada.

FOR MORE: Visit www.tinylove.com or www.cpsc.gov.

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KIDS’ LAMPS

DETAILS: The recall targets the Discovery Kids Animated Marine Lamp with model number 1627121 or 1628626 and the Animated Safari Lamp with model number 1627124 or 1628626. They were manufactured in China and imported by Innovage LLC, of Foothill Ranch, Calif. They were sold at mass merchandisers, department, drug and hardware stores nationwide, online and through direct sales from July 2009 through January 2010 for about $10.

WHY: A defect in the lamp’s printed circuit board can cause an electrical short, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. Innovage says it has received nine reports of incidents, including seven reports of lamps catching fire, one involving smoke inhalation injury to a child and three involving minor property damage.

HOW MANY: About 360,000 units.

FOR MORE: Call 888-232-1535 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday; visit www.lamprecall.org; e-mail info(at)lamprecall.org.