RECALLS
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2008
Release #08-378 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets: CPSC Urges Consumers To Stop Using Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close-Sleeper” Models WASHINGTON, D.C.
– The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents and caregivers to stop using convertible “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets manufactured by Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa. CPSC has learned that on August 21, 2008, a 5-month-old girl from Shawnee, Kan. was strangled to death when she became entrapped between the bassinet’s metal bars. This is the second strangulation death CPSC has learned of in the co-sleeper bassinets. On September 29, 2007, a 4-month-old girl from Noel, Mo. became entrapped in the metal bars of the bassinet and died.CPSC is issuing this safety alert because SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity Inc.’s assets at public auction in April 2008, has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products. SFCA maintains that it is not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity Inc.
The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under the federal crib safety standard. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.
Due to the serious hazard these bassinets pose to babies, CPSC urges all consumers to share this safety warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure that no child is placed to sleep in a Simplicity convertible bassinet covered by this warning.
The Commission voted, using its new authorities in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, to release this warning upon making a finding that the health and safety of the public require immediate notice.
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Latest Updates Below: Samonella and Ohio River Edible Fish Advisory
FDA STATEMENT
For Immediate Release: July 25, 2008
Media Inquiries: Michael Herndon, 301- 827-9182, michael.herndon@fda.hhs.gov and
Stephanie Kwisnek, 301-827-0955, stephanie.kwisnek@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
U.S. Grown Jalapeño and Serrano Peppers Not Connected to Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers that jalapeño and serrano peppers grown in the United States are not connected with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak.
However, the FDA continues to advise consumers to avoid raw jalapeño peppers--and the food that contains them--if they have been grown, harvested or packed in Mexico.
In addition to domestically grown raw jalapeño peppers, commercially canned, pickled and cooked jalapeño peppers from any and all geographic locations also are not connected with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak.
The FDA is working with state regulatory agencies and food industry groups that represent restaurants, grocery chains and wholesalers to ensure everyone clearly understands this new, more narrow, advisory. The FDA will continue to refine its consumer guidance as the agency’s investigation continues.
The more narrow advisory the FDA is issuing today is based on evidence gathered during a multi-week, intensive investigation conducted in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health authorities in several U.S. states to find the source of the contamination that led to the outbreak. The collective review of the current traceback investigation and harvesting dates, matched with the dates that people became ill, have combined to indicate that the contaminated jalapeño pepper originated in Mexico.
Additional traceback and traceforward information obtained this week has led to the determination that the Agricola Zarigosa produce-distribution center in McAllen, Texas--from where FDA took the positive jalapeño pepper sample--was not the original source of the contamination.
The FDA is continuing to advise that people in high-risk populations, such as elderly persons, infants and people with impaired immune systems, avoid eating raw serrano peppers from Mexico or food made from raw serrano peppers from Mexico until further notice.
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Health and Family Services Cabinet
Public Health, Fish and Wildlife Release Advisories for Ohio River Fish
Consumption
| Press Release Date: | Tuesday, July 29, 2008 |
| Contact Information: | Gwenda Bond or Beth Fisher, (502) 564-6786, ext. 3325 and 4012 |
These advisories are intended to inform the public about the possible risks of eating unrestricted amounts of some fish from the Ohio River. The advisories were issued due to elevated levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and mercury levels found in some species of fish sampled for these substances.
“Women of childbearing age, children and people who consume a lot of fish in their diet are more susceptible to the ill effects of contaminants sometimes found in fish,” said William Hacker, M.D., DPH commissioner. “For this reason these individuals should follow the special population advisory.”
Due to recent tissue samplings of sauger and catfish, the advisory for the Upper Reach of the Ohio River (mouth of the Big Sandy River to Markland Dam) is being modified to one meal per month for the general population and six meals per year for special or sensitive populations. Advisories for the Middle Reach (Markland Dam to Cannelton Dam) and the Lower Reach (Cannelton Dam to Mississippi River) remain unchanged from last year’s advisory.
“Fish are fun to catch, and are a nutritious, low-fat food,” said Benjy Kinman, director of fisheries with the Department for Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Our role is to educate the public about recommended amounts of certain fish they should consume so everyone can make informed decisions.”
The reporting system used by DPH and Fish and Wildlife provides advisories for the general population and a special population, which includes pregnant women, nursing mothers and their infants, and children. Women who may be or plan to become pregnant should also consider the special population advice.
The following are consumption precautions for various tested species in three areas (upper, middle and lower) of the Ohio River bordering Kentucky. In general, if a species is not listed, this does not necessarily mean these other fish species are risk-free to consumers. Rather, it means there is no data available for that particular species.
Upper Reach (Mouth of Big Sandy to Markland Dam )
Species General Population Special Population
Paddlefish (and eggs) 6 meals / year No consumption
Carp 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Channel catfish
(Greater than (>) 21”) 6 meals / year No consumption
Channel catfish
(Less than (<) 21”) 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Smallmouth buffalo 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
White bass 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Drum 1 meal / month 6 meals/ year
White crappie Unlimited 1 meal / week
Hybrid striped bass 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
*Sauger 1 meal / week 1 meal / month
*Flathead catfish 1 meal / week 1 meal / month
Black basses (largemouth, etc.) 1 meal / week 1 meal / month
Middle Reach (Markland Dam to Cannelton Dam)
Species General Population Special Population
Paddlefish (and eggs) 6 meals / year No consumption
Channel catfish >21” 6 meals / year No consumption
Channel catfish <21” 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Carp 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Hybrid striped bass 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
White bass 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Drum 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Sauger 1 meal / week 1 meal / month
Black basses 1 meal / week 1 meal / month
Flathead catfish 1 meal / week 1 meal / month
Lower Reach (Cannelton Dam to Mississippi River)
Species General Population Special Population
Paddlefish (and eggs) 6 meals / year No consumption
Channel catfish 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Carp 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Blue catfish >14” 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Blue catfish <14” 1 meal / week 1 meal / month
Drum 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Hybrid striped bass 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Sauger 1 meal / week 1 meal / month
White bass 1 meal / month 6 meals / year
Black basses
(largemouth, spotted) 1 meal / week 1 meal / month
White crappie Unlimited 1 meal / week
Bigmouth buffalo l meal / week 1 meal / month
In April 2000, a statewide mercury advisory was issued for all freshwater fish from Kentucky waters, including the Ohio River. Women of childbearing age and children 6 years and younger should eat no more than one meal per week of any freshwater fish.
DPH also reminds consumers that proper cleaning, skinning, trimming and cooking can reduce contaminant levels in the fish. Eat only skinless, boneless fillets with as much fat as possible removed. Do not eat the skin, which can contain higher levels of fat. Eggs should be discarded. Roasting, baking or broiling has been found to reduce the levels of PCBs and chlordane more than other cooking methods.
“Cooking does not destroy the contaminants, nor does it lower their
toxicity,” said Guy Delius, acting director for the public health protection
and safety division in DPH. “The heat melts some of the fat in the fish,
removing some of the contaminants at the same time, but do not eat or reuse
the fat and juices that cook out of the fish. Also, remember that cooking fish
will not reduce levels of mercury in fish.”