The threat of a Listeria monocytogenes contamination has caused the recall of yet another product.
This time, the recall was announced by the Salinas, California-based River Ranch Fresh Foods, makers of a number of bagged salads issued to retailers or used by food service establishments. The former was available to customers all across the country in brand names like River Ranch, Hy-Vee, Farmstand, Marketside, The Farmer’s Market, and Shur Fresh. The food service versions of the affected items were also distributed across the country, where they could be found under the brands River Ranch, Promark, Sysco, Fresh n Easy, and Cross Valley.
In either instance, the products could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This poses a serious threat of infection to those with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and young children. Healthy people could also face fever, abdominal pain, or diarrhea if they consume the product. The FDA discovered the health risk during tests at the marketplace level.
Affected items of the aforementioned brands will have a best by date between May 12 and May 22 of this year or a Julian date between 116 and 125. The date can be found on the upper right of the item’s packaging. At this time, no one has reported having any sickness in conjunction with the recalled bagged salad.
Following an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a recall has been initiated regarding a sport utility vehicle that poses a fire risk.
The automobile in question is the 2010 Jeep Wrangler. Around 68,000 units are affected by the recall. The issue was discovered by engineers at both the NHTSA and Chrysler. After careful study, it was determined by such persons that the vehicle’s skid plate is to blame for numerous complaints that had begun coming in about the Wranglers suddenly and without warning catching fire.
This plate is designed to shield the vehicle’s automatic transmission when the driver goes off-roading. However, it has been determined that debris can latch onto this plate while in use. This debris can then suddenly burst into flames, posing a threat to the occupants of the vehicle.
At some point this month, if it hasn’t happened already, affected consumers can expect to receive some sort of notification from Chrysler regarding the issue. Owners should then be able to bring their vehicles in to receive a repair that consists of the installation of a skid bar in place of the defective plate. Concerned persons are being advised to get in touch with the NHTSA or Chrysler.
Consumer Reports, who provided the details of this story, has rated the 2012 Wrangler lower than most other vehicles in terms of safety.
At the request of the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Parker Trailer Sales Incorporated has issued a recall for seven of its trailers due to a possible defect that can lead to unexpected brake failure. The Parker Trailers affected by this recall were distributed for sale in model year 2012 under the following model numbers: HP7720, GNTD9635, GNTD9633, GNTD9630, GNTD9632, and GNTD10240. The Dexter brand electric hydraulic brake actuator pumps installed in these trailers may contain defective components that can malfunction rendering the Dexter brand electric hydraulic actuator pumps inoperable. The electric hydraulic brake actuator pumps provide the power source for the affected trailer’s brake systems, so a brake actuator pump malfunction may cause the trailers’ brakes to fail, increasing the likelihood that the trailer could become involved in an accident possibly leading to serious injury or death. Parker Trailer Sales Incorporated plans to begin informing the owners of trailers affected by this recall in mid June of 2012. Consumers in possession of these trailers may return them to their original place of purchase where a licensed technician will make any needed repairs to the Dexter Brand electric hydraulic brake actuator pump at no cost to the consumer. More information on this recall can be obtained by calling the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline and referencing campaign identification number 12V210000 and action number EQ12003. It is illegal under United States law to resell a product under safety recall.
Tiffin Motorhomes Incorporated, at the request of the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has issued a voluntary recall for an estimated 1,250 motor homes built on stripped Ford F-59 and F-53 chasses due to a possible defect in the transmission’s gear shift cable. The gear shift cable installed in certain models of the manufacturer’s Allegro Motorhomes from model years 2010 through 2012 may become detached from the transmission’s control selector arm assembly, which is mounted on the vehicle’s steering column. If the gear shift cable breaks the transmission’s gear shift indicator will not move from first gear position regardless of the transmission’s actual gear selection. The incorrect positioning of the gear selection indicator may create a situation in which the vehicle’s operator is unsure of whether the vehicle is in park or reverse, possibly causing the vehicle to roll away when left unattended. This could result in a collision leading to severe injuries or fatalities. Currently Tiffin Motorhomes is working in cooperation with Ford Motor Company to determine which vehicles are affected by this recall and to inform the owners of these motorhomes of the potential safety issue. Consumers in possession of the affected motorhomes will be able to return them to their original place of purchase, where Ford authorized technicians will replace affected gear shift cables at not cost to the motorhome’s owners. More information on this recall can be obtained by contacting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline and referencing campaign identification number 12V215000.
Paccar Incorporated, at the request of the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has issued a voluntary recall for seven various designs of trailers from model year 2013. These trailers, all Kenworth T680 or Peterbilt 579 vehicles, exceed the requirements for brake timing test results mandated by the federal safety standards regulating air brake systems for trailer circuits equipped with 15 foot coiled trailer lines. The braking distances may be unexpectedly longer than anticipated because of this possible violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121 regulating the “Air Brake Systems” on these vehicles. The issue is due to a possible defect in the service brake air supply hose lines pipes or fittings. This delayed stopping may increase the likelihood the trailer will become involved in a collisions possibly causing severe injury or death. Paccar plans to begin informing consumers of this potential safety issue in July of 2012. Owners of affected Kenworth T680 and Peterbilt 579 trailers can return them to their original place of purchase for a corrective repair. A relay valve remedying the brake time delay issue will be installed on recalled vehicles at no cost to their owners. Consumers seeking more information on this recall may contact either Kenworth (reference recall number 12KWB) or Peterbilt (reference recall number 0512-A), or call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline and reference campaign identification number 12V214000.
More than 60,000 citations were issued to California motorists during the state’s Distracted Driving Awareness public safety campaign, which took place throughout the month of April. Of these distracted driving tickets, approximately 57,000 of the citations were issued for violations of the state’s ban on handheld cellphone use while driving. The increased enforcement of distracted driving related traffic violations was the result of a cooperative effort between law enforcement agencies at the state and local levels, more than 250 in total. In 2011, California law enforcement offices issued more than 168,000 citations for distracted behavior while behind the wheel. The state’s Office of Traffic Safety issued a statement declaring an increase in the number of distracted driving citations, up from the 52,000 citations issued for inattentive driving in April of 2011, at least partially due to the increasing propensity for using a handheld communication device while driving prevalent among teenage drivers. According to survey study results cited by the California Office of Traffic Safety, an estimated 18 percent of drivers between the ages f 16 and 25 years old use their cellphones while operating a moving motor vehicle. Internet enabled smart phones are also more prevalent, now comprising more than 50 percent of the cellphones in America, increasing the number of electronic distractions available to drivers. Using a handheld communication device for any non emergency reason without the use of a hands free device such as a Bluetooth transmitter, has been illegal in the state of California since 2008.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in its ongoing partnership with state transportation departments and the commercial trucking industry to encourage safe driving and cycling habits on roads across the country is urging truck drivers to “Share the Road” with bicyclists. The increased number of bicyclists participating in the recent National Bike to Work Day event prompted the public safety information campaign to issue a list of safety tips intended to make highway travel safer for motorists and cyclists. The key issue, according to safety experts is visibility. Truck drivers, no matter how trained and vigilant cannot easily see certain areas in the area immediately surrounding their commercial vehicles. These zones should be avoided smaller vehicles and bicycles are in danger in these areas. According to a representative of the Oregon Trucking Association, one of the campaign’s sponsors, the intent of this effort to inform the public of the dangerous areas to avoid traveling in when sharing the road with a commercial big rig truck is to discourage the kind of unsafe behavior on the part of motorists, cyclists and commercial truck drivers that leads to accidents resulting in severe injuries or deaths. The Oregon Trucking Association’s website offers more safety information including diagrams detailing the areas to avoid when traveling in close proximity to a commercial big rig truck, along with more information on the commercial trucking advocacy organization and its lobbying efforts.
Since the recall of the DePuy ASR hip, the attorneys of PSB have filed almost 200 cases in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of plaintiffs who received this defective product. The design of the ASR hip causes it to fail years earlier than other hip replacements, necessitating revision surgeries, and causing other injuries. PSB brought these cases in California because the lead surgeon designer of the ASR hip, Dr. Thomas Schmalzried, is a resident of LA county, and because a significant number of events involving the hip took place in California. Because of these connections, the cases can be prosecuted in the state courts of California, even when the Plaintiff resides elsewhere.
Recently, the manufacturer of the ASR hip, DePuy Orthopaedics, and it’s parent company Johnson & Johnson, Inc., sought to dismiss one of the earliest filed cases involving a plaintiff who is not a resident of California. The defendants argued that the case (Darling v. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.) should be dismissed and prosecuted in Connecticut, the state in which Mr. Darling lives. While the defendants argued that this would serve the convenience of the parties, the fact is that dismissal of the case would have caused delay, forcing the Plaintiff to wait much longer for his day in court. On May 14, Judge Richard Kramer denied defendants’ motion, and agreed with PSB’s argument that it is appropriate for ASR cases to be prosecuted in California’s state courts. This was a significant victory for patients all over the country who received ASR hips and suffered injury as a result.
If you have questions about the DePuy ASR hip litigation, or any case involving a metal-on-metal hip implant, please contact Peter Polos or Pete Kaufman.
We’ve gotten the government’s stance on how to make sure that you’re staying safe from skin cancer, and now Consumer Reports is offering their two cents on what sunscreen to use and how to apply it.
In an effort to determine what products are best for consumers, the organization tested a total of 18 of the most popular sunscreens on the market. What they found was that the Walgreens Continuous Spray Sport SPF 50 and No-Ad with Aloe & Vitamin E SPF 45 offered protection sufficient to allow them to gain a crucial “Best Buy” designation. However, that’s not to say that other products were exactly slouches. Seven items held up very well against UVA rays, met Food and Drug Administration mandated broad spectrum label specifications, and after 80 minutes of water immersion were classified as excellent against UVB rays.
Two items did not meet the requirements of a wavelength test. These items were the Banana Boat Kids Tear-Free Sting-Free SPF 50+ and the Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Sunblock Sport SPF 45.
Consumer Reports also goes further, offering tips to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck. They recommend that sunscreens should resist water and have an SPF of 30 or higher. They also say that a person ought to use two or three tablespoons of sunscreen, and that spray products should not be used on children until after the FDA has had the chance to investigate risks associated with inhaling such a product.
A law scheduled to go into effect in January concerning the policing powers of the Food and Drug Administration has yet to be enacted, and now some parties are wondering why and pressuring the government to do something about it.
The President signed the Food Safety Modernization Act into law in January of last year, but it has yet to be put into place. Some people think that the reason could be political, since we’re in the midst of an election year. Estimates have pegged the new law as costing about $1.4 billion between now and 2015. The FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods has stated, though, that the process is in the late stages and the new rules will be released shortly.
What exactly are these new rules that are taking so much time to craft? First, the FDA hopes to deal more with preventing food adulteration before items can be released into the market rather than simply responding to safety threats that already exist. In addition, the FDA hopes to gain more field inspectors, and these persons would be responsible for examining imports, greens, and other items that tend to be at greater risk of contamination.
The new rules would provide a basis for further regulation. If reports are to be believed, an unnamed official with the FDA is urging regulators to release the rules quickly. This new urgency was allegedly prompted by worries that the White House Office of Management and Budget slowed down the new rules following a review of the new law.
