7 Recalled Products That May Surprise You

Fewer things are more irritating than receiving a damaged or defective product. While one of a manufacturer’s primary goals is providing functional items, occasionally a factory or design error will prompt a product recall. While some of these recalls are preemptive, others are the result of horrifying accidents caused by unanticipated or overlooked defects. Here’s a list of ten recalled products you may not have known about.

1. Easy-Bake Ovens

These little toys have been a staple in many American childhoods for more than 50 years. You may have played with one yourself. What you might not know, however, is that easy-bake ovens sold in stores across the United States are newer models implemented after two massive recalls in February and July of 2007. The first recall was issued after no fewer than 29 reports of children getting their hands and fingers caught in the device’s front-loading door. Of the 29 who were injured, 5 suffered burns. Hasbro released a free retrofit kit for all existing products that weren’t returned, but another 249 incidents were reported later that year, including 16 incidents of second- and third-degree burns. One child’s burns were so severe that she had to have part of her finger amputated.

2. Excedrin

While many people are familiar with the Tylenol Scare of 1982, fewer have heard about the 1986 deaths of 2 people who took Extra-Strength Excedrin. Two bottles tainted with cyanide were found in the same grocery store in Washington, prompting Bristol-Myers, the manufacturers, to recall all Extra-Strength Excedrin products in the Seattle area.

3. Poké Balls

In late 1999, when Pokémon was in its heyday, Burger King released 57 types of Poké Ball toys for use in their kids’ meals. The Poké Ball split into two halves, creating a space for small toys. Later in December, a 1-year-old girl suffocated after half of a ball covered her nose and mouth. A little more than 10 days later, another 1-year-old almost suffocated in the same way but was rescued by her father. Burger King finally recalled more than 25 million Poké Balls.

4. Kit Kats

In April 2007, Nestlé recalled all of its Caramel Kit Kat Chunky bars and Kit Kat Cookie Dough Chocolate bars after several people found pieces of hard plastic inside the chocolate. While no one was injured by the defect, Nestlé decided to voluntarily recall the products before anyone choked on the inedible material.

5. Baby Formula

Many were surprised by the 2010 recall of 5 million containers of Similac infant formula, but Abbott Laboratories, its manufacturer, voluntarily recalled the product after realizing the batch may have been contaminated by beetles. Warehouse beetles are common anywhere dried grains and other foods can be found. While they pose no real health risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that small insect parts and larvae could irritate an infant’s digestive tract and cause lack of appetite.

6. Books

In 2013, Hachette Book Group recalled 70,000 children’s books. In these books, the metal rod holding in small beads at the top of the book were easily detachable. Not only were the beads a choking hazard, but the rod could also cause lacerations to kids using them.

7. Airbags

Airbags were mandated in most manufactured cars in order to reduce the chances of skull fractures and brain damage in the event of an accident. However, one of the manufacturers of airbags, Takata, had to recall 34 million airbags in 2015 after it was discovered the metal airbag inflators exploded at high pressure and launched shrapnel at car occupants. Takata faced severe criticism, as they knew about the faulty inflators and their potential for injury since 2004. At least 11 deaths and 184 injuries occurred in the United States as a result of the product.

Keep an eye on the news and check on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for updates on the latest product recalls. If you’ve been injured as a result of a faulty product, contact one of our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys to discuss your case. We offer free no-obligation consultations.

Categories: