• 2 Mich. residents ill from E. coli, food recalled

    By AP staff
    LANSING, Mich. - Two people in Michigan have become sick from an outbreak of E. coli infections linked to frozen snack foods marketed to children.

    State agencies say the two who became ill are among at least 24 people infected in 15 states.

    An investigation detected E. coli in an open package of Farm Rich brand frozen chicken quesadillas at an ill person's home in New York.

    The Buffalo, N.Y.-based Rich Products Corp. has recalled quesadillas, mozzarella bites, mini pizza slices and other frozen products made in November. The Michigan Departments of Community Health and Agriculture and Rural Development say residents should check their freezers for the recalled products and consult a doctor if they have bloody diarrhea. 

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  • Thousands of hip implants recalled

    By AP staff
    BERLIN - A German newspaper reports that Johnson & Johnson is recalling thousands of hip implants 2 1/2 years after a similar recall.

    Handelsblatt reports that the Adept implants made by J&J's subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics showed a failure rate of 12 percent after seven years. It said some 7,500 of the implants were shipped worldwide between 2004 and 2011.

    Johnson & Johnson representatives in Germany and the United States didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

    Germany's Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices on Thursday confirmed it had received a notice from Johnson & Johnson about the recall.

    In August 2010, J&J recalled two types of DePuy ASR metal hip implants after they were linked to high failure rates. J&J has had more than 30 other product recalls since 2009. 

  • Novartis recalls cough syrups due to cap seal defect

    By Adam Kerlin, Reuters

    NEW YORK - Novartis AG said on Thursday it is recalling 183 lots of cough syrup after discovering the child-resistant feature on some bottle caps was not functioning correctly. 

    The Swiss drug company is recalling 142 lots of Triaminic and 41 lots of Theraflu Warming Relief Syrups manufactured in the United States before December 2011.

    The company said it received four reports of accidental ingestion of the Triaminic syrup. One patient required medical attention but recovered.

    No adverse affects were reported with the Theraflu syrup, but the product is being recalled because it has the same cap as the malfunctioning Triaminic bottles.

    The affected cough syrup bottles were produced at Novartis' Lincoln, Nebraska, manufacturing facility. A consumer complaint last November triggered an internal investigation that led the company to issue the recall.

    Julie Masow, a spokeswoman for Novartis, said 97 percent of the product in question has either been used or already returned.

    Manufacturing at the Lincoln, Nebraska, facility was suspended in December 2011 and has yet to reopen, Masow said.

  • Carrot chips from Bolthouse recalled

    By AP staff
    BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Bolthouse Farms said Friday that it is voluntarily recalling over 5,000 cases of its carrot chips due to a possible salmonella exposure.

    The Bakersfield, Calf.-based food company said that a North Carolina health official detected the possibility of salmonella in a single 16-ounce bag during a routine sampling. Bolthouse Farms said it has not received any reports of consumer illness or other consumer complaints related to this product.

    The company said it is recalling the chips out of an abundance of caution.

    About 5,600 cases of the 16-ounce bags shipped to retail customers in the United States and Canada are being recalled. The chips are labeled as Bolthouse Farms Carrot Chips. On the front right corner of the bags they have listed a best-if-used-by date of Nov. 12 or 13 and an identifying stamp of BF 212 J11UPC 71464 17209 or BF212 J12UPC 71464 17209.

    Consumers who bought these affected products should not eat them and return the product for an exchange or full refund.

    Salmonella is an organism that can cause a foodborne illness, symptoms of which include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.

  • Belfonte recalls some ice cream with peanut butter

    By AP staff
    KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Belfonte Ice Cream is recalling two types of ice cream that contain peanut butter because of the potential of salmonella contamination.

    The Kansas City-based company announced Tuesday that it was voluntarily recalling 56-ounce containers of Home Run Sundae and Mama's Choice Reverse Peanut Butter Pie. The ice cream was sold between April 2010 and October 2012 in retail and convenience stores in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

    The company says the recall was prompted by Sunland Inc.'s recall of everything made in its New Mexico plant after a peanut butter sold at Trader Joe's groceries was linked to a salmonella outbreak.

    Belfonte says Sunland notified its peanut butter blend supplier that their products could be contaminated with salmonella. Belfonte has received no reports of illnesses caused by its ice cream.

    Details of the recalled products: 

    —Belfonte 56oz Rectangular Carton, Home Run Sundae, UPC code 83057-91023

    —Belfonte56oz Rounded Square Container, Mama's Choice Reverse Peanut Butter Pie, 83057-17033 

  • Graco recalling classic wood highchairs due to fall risk

    By Melissa Dahl, NBC News

    Graco is voluntarily recalling its Classic Wood Highchairs after reports of children falling from the chairs, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Tuesday afternoon.

    So far, Graco has received 58 reports of the highchair seats loosening or detaching from the base. In nine reported cases, children have fallen from the highchairs as the seat separated from the base of the chair. The kids have suffered bumps, bruises and scratches, and at least one child in Canada suffered a concussion as a result of a fall from the highchair. 

    About 86,000 highchairs in the U.S. and 3,400 in Canada are being recalled by Graco, in cooperation with the CPSC and Health Canada. 

    If you own one of these chairs, stop using it immediately. (It's also illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product, the release from the CPSC reminds.) 

    Here's more important information on the recall from the CPSC:

    Description: This recall involves all Graco brand Classic Wood Highchairs sold in three wood finishes. The high chair has a top seat, bottom leg assembly and removable tray. The high chair is sold with a beige fabric seat cover. Model number 3C00BPN, 3C00BPN TC, 3C00CHY, 3C00CHY TC, 3C00CPO or 3C00CPO TC is printed on a label on the underside of the seat assembly.

    Sold at: Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory and other retail stores nationwide and at Target.com and Walmart.com and other online retailers between September 2007 and December 2010 for about $130.

    Manufactured in: China

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled high chairs and contact Graco for a free repair kit.

    Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Graco at (800) 345-4109 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and, or visit the firm's website at www.gracobaby.com

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  • FDA expands dog food recall over possible salmonella contamination

    By msnbc.com staff

    Diamond Pet Foods is expanding a voluntary recall to include puppy food over possible salmonella contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    The latest recall, announced Monday, covers Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods in Gaston, S.C. The puppy food was distributed in the following 12 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

    This is the third voluntary recall for the company this month. On April 6, the company recalled Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice dry dog food made over possible salmonella contamination. On April 26, the company expanded the recall to its Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light formula dry dog food.

    So far, no dog illnesses have been reported, the FDA said.

    Pets infected with salmonella can become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting, according to the FDA. Infected pets can also pass the illness on to other animals or humans. Pet owners also can contract the illness from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after handling the pet food.

    For more information about the recall, see www.diamondpetrecall.com. 

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  • Deadly shoulder massager relaxes, strangles

    The ShoulderFlex massager was recalled this summer following the death of one woman, but it is still available for sale at some online sites.

    By Linda Dahlstrom, TODAY

    If you think you’ve found the perfect gift for Grandma, and it happens to be a ShoulderFlex massager, buy her something else quick. It turns out to be a device that can lull users into a relaxed state -- and then strangle them.

    The Food and Drug Administration issued an alert on Wednesday warning that hair and necklaces can get caught in the massager and cause strangulation. One person has died and another nearly did, according to the FDA.

    Dr. Michelle Ferrari-Gegerson, a 37-year-old Florida woman, was found dead by her husband last Christmas Eve after her leather necklace got tangled in the device, reported the Miami Herald.

    “The ShoulderFlex Massager poses serious risks,” said Steve Silverman, director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in a statement. “Consumers should stop using this device, health care providers should not recommend it to their patients and businesses should stop distributing and selling the device.”

    The device was recalled in August, but the manufacturer, King International, went out of business and the FDA discovered that it didn’t properly alert stores that sell the massager. A quick Internet search reveals that the product is still available at several online web sites.

    The FDA is so concerned about the device that it recommends not just throwing it away, but dismantling it before you do so that no one else could ever use it. “The massage fingers should be removed and disposed of separately from the device,” according to the alert. “The power supply should be disposed of separately, as well.”