Within a few weeks this summer, federal regulators recalled six very different household products, a gun safe, a gas grill, grill brushes, baby wipes, eye drops, and a shampoo. Each one hides a risk most shoppers would never suspect while reaching for it on a shelf.
The product recalls came from two agencies, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Food and Drug Administration, and the dangers range from a firearm falling into the wrong hands to bacteria that can turn deadly.Â
If any of these items are in your home, a few minutes of checking now could spare your family real harm.
Six Recalls, Six Different Dangers
These products have little in common on the surface, yet each earned a product recall for a hazard that is easy to miss. Here is what regulators flagged.
- A biometric gun safe. Sold on Amazon under the BBRKIN and MouTec names, about 9,100 of these safes can be opened by unauthorized users when the fingerprint lock fails, a frightening risk with a firearm inside.
- A gas grill. Conair recalled its Cuisinart Propel+ Four Burner 3 in 1 gas grill because the tempered glass window on the built in pizza oven can shatter during use, posing a laceration hazard.
- Grill brushes. More than 1.7 million Cuisinart wire bristle grill brushes were pulled after reports that tiny metal bristles can break off, cling to food, and be swallowed, causing serious internal injury.
- Baby wipes. Target recalled its Up & Up Fragrance Free and Fresh Cucumber Scented baby wipes after testing found bacteria that can cause serious infections, including sepsis, in infants and people with weakened immune systems.
- Prescription eye drops. Lupin Pharmaceuticals recalled about 2.5 million bottles of prednisolone acetate eye drops after foreign material was found, a recall the FDA rated Class II.
- A scalp shampoo. Oribe recalled certain units of its Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo after a bacteria that can lead to bloodstream infections and sepsis was detected.
Taken together, the list is a reminder that a product recall can land on almost anything, from the tool in your garage to the wipes in your nursery.
What Ties These Recalls Together
Different as they are, these six product recalls fall into a few familiar patterns. Seeing those patterns makes it easier to understand why each product recall was issued.
The hardware items, the safe, the grill, and the brushes, were flagged by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for defects that can injure through failure, breakage, or detached metal.Â
The health and beauty items, the wipes, the drops, and the shampoo, were pulled under the Food and Drug Administration after contamination or foreign material turned up in testing.
What runs through nearly all of them is the same quiet truth. A product can look and feel completely normal while carrying a defect or contaminant that no shopper could detect on their own.
What to Do If You Own One of These Products
Finding one of these items in your home is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to act. A short checklist keeps you and your family on the safe side.
- Check what you own. Compare the model, brand, and lot numbers on your products against each product recall notice.
- Stop using affected items now. Set a recalled product aside rather than risk one more use.
- Follow the remedy. Each product recall offers a repair, refund, or replacement, with the steps posted on the company or agency website.
- Save your proof. Keep the product, its packaging, your receipts, and a few photos in case you need them later.
If you or a family member already fell ill or was injured by one of these products, see a doctor promptly and hold on to everything connected to the item.
When a Recalled Product Causes Real Harm
A product recall pulls a product from shelves, but it does nothing for the family already hurt by one. When a defective or contaminated product causes injury, Alabama law lets those harmed seek compensation from the companies responsible.
Claims involving a dangerous product generally rest on a few legal theories:
- Manufacturing Defect. The product left the plant in an unsafe condition, as contamination or a broken part can show.
- Design Defect. The product was unsafe by its very design, so every unit carries the same risk.
- Failure to Warn. The company did not adequately alert consumers to a known danger.
These cases can move quickly, and Alabama sets a limited window to file, generally two years from the injury.Â
Our experienced product liability attorneys here at Baxley Maniscalco help Alabama families investigate whether a recalled product caused real harm, and we handle personal injury claims with the care they deserve.
If a recalled product hurt someone you love, a free case review is the place to start.
Questions Alabama Families Are Asking
A wave of product recalls tends to raise a lot of questions at once. Here are answers to the ones coming up most often.
What Products Were Included in This Recall?Â
The product recalls cover six unrelated items: BBRKIN and MouTec biometric gun safes, Cuisinart Propel+ gas grills, Cuisinart wire bristle grill brushes, Target Up & Up baby wipes, Lupin prednisolone acetate eye drops, and Oribe Serene Scalp shampoo.
Why Are the Baby Wipes and Shampoo So Dangerous?Â
Both were found to carry bacteria that most healthy people can shrug off, but that can cause serious bloodstream infections or sepsis in infants and anyone with a weakened immune system. That is why regulators urged people to stop using them right away.
What Should I Do If I Already Used a Recalled Product?Â
Watch for any symptoms, such as infection, irritation, or illness, and see a doctor if something seems wrong. Keep the product and its packaging, since they may matter later.
Do I Have a Case If a Recalled Product Hurt Me?Â
Possibly. If a recalled or defective product caused a real injury, you may be able to recover compensation, and an attorney can review the specific facts and explain your options.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Alabama?Â
Alabama generally gives you two years from the date of injury to file a product liability or personal injury claim. Because deadlines can be shorter in some situations, it is wise to ask early.
These answers cover the basics, but every family's situation is different, so reach out if yours is not addressed here.
Hurt by a Product You Trusted? Let Us Help.
No one expects the everyday products in their home to put their family at risk. If a recalled or defective product caused an injury, you deserve answers and, where the law allows, fair compensation.
Our experienced product liability attorneys here at Baxley Maniscalco are ready to review what happened at no cost and explain your options.Â
Call us at (256) 770-7232 or reach out through our contact form to schedule a consultation today.