Products Liability

Salmonella-tainted peanut butter sickens Washington residents

October 5, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Four years after a previous salmonella outbreak tied to peanut butter, it’s happened again, despite stricter industry standards.

A recent recall of Trader Joe’s peanut butter has been expanded to more than 100 products sold nationally in many other supermarkets. The Food and Drug Administration announced that it found salmonella in a New Mexico plant that produces nut butters for national retailer Trader Joe’s and several other grocery chains. The Trader Joe’s peanut butter is now linked to 35 salmonella illnesses in 19 states, including two in Washington. Almost two-thirds of those sickened are children under the age of 10. No deaths have been reported.

Health officials began investigating the peanut butter after at least 12 of those sickened reported having eaten it. The FDA said Friday that Washington state health officials have confirmed the presence of salmonella in a jar of the Trader Joe’s peanut butter found in a victim’s home.

Specialized Bicycle Components Recalls Bicycles Due to Fall and Injury Hazards

September 26, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2012 – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

Name of product: Bicycles

Most luxury cars fail new frontal crash test

August 21, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently introduced a new crash test which revealed disturbing safety deficiencies in many luxury cars. Most luxury-model cars tested failed the new crash test despite high overall safety ratings. Of 11 midsize luxury cars tested only two vehicles, the Acura TL and the Volvo S60, earned good ratings, while the Infiniti G was rated as acceptable

The new test mimics crashes in which the front driver-side corner of a car collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole. A 2009 institute study found these “small overlap frontal” collisions accounted for nearly 25 percent of frontal crashes that result in serious or fatal injury to occupants in the front seat. Another 24 percent of frontal crashes were “moderate overlap crashes, although they likely occurred at much higher speeds than the Institute’s moderate overlap test,” according to the report.

All of the models passed the institute’s standard moderate overlap frontal test in which the impact is spread out over a larger area of the vehicle’s front end.

Sysco beef recalled due to E. coli risk

March 26, 2012 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Sysco Seattle Inc. is recalling 16,800 pounds of ground beef patties due to risk of contamination by E. coli bacteria. The meat originated in Canada, a product of New Food Classics of Burlington, Ontario, and may have been tainted by the potentially deadly bacteria E. coli 0157:H7. The patties were intended for distribution to restaurants in Washington, Arizona, Colorado and Texas. At least one illness has been reported in Canada from the tainted beef. Children, seniors and those with weakened immune systems are most vulnerable.

Victims of E. coli infection resulting from tainted food may have claims against the food’s producers, distributers, and other entities involved.

For more information about this story see http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Beef-patties-recalled-due-to-possible-E-coli-3434061.php#ixzz1qFZ4m1s6

The Dangers of Fake Pharmaceuticals

July 15, 2011 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

You can’t turn on the television without seeing pharmaceutical advertisements offering to fix all that ails you. By marketing directly to the consumer, pharmaceuticals ensure that many drugs are asked for by name, a reality that makes these drugs very profitable. Because these pills are so profitable, those seeking a quick buck attempt to cash in illegally, placing everyone’s safety at risk.

Pharmaceutical fraud often takes the form of tampering and counterfeiting. Each year counterfeiting costs the pharmaceutical industry approximately $30 billion in losses, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Even with advances in technology that fight pharmaceutical fraud, criminals are still finding ways to profit. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)reports that from 2009 to 2010 the rate of drug counterfeiting and tampering rose 11 percent.

Parents: Educate Yourselves about Toy Safety and Recalls

June 24, 2011 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Parents have legitimate reasons to worry about dangerous or defective automobiles, child safety seats and so many other products which come into contact with their kids. Unfortunately, parents need to be cautious even with the very dolls, toy trucks and building blocks that bring their children so much joy. Toy recalls occur much more frequently than any parent would prefer. However, there are ways that parents can educate themselves about dangerous and defective toys which have found their ways into the marketplace.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the federal body responsible for recalling potentially hazardous toys. The CPSC lists every toy that is recalled on its website. From 2006 to 2008, the CPSC recalled 38, 82 and 32 toys, respectively. Most recalled toys put children at risk for lead exposure, burns and choking.

High levels of lead in a child’s bloodstream can have serious health consequences. In 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act was passed to limit the amount of lead in toys and other children’s products. The number of recalls for children’s products manufactured in the United States has diminished as a result.