Consumer alert!

Three kinds of window treatments are being recalled because they pose a strangulation hazard to youngsters. About 1 million sets of window treatments are involved in the recalls.
The recalls affect Roman shades sold by Bed, Bath & Beyond and Hanover Direct and roller blinds sold by IKEA.

Blair is expanding an earlier recall of chenille bathrooms and similar chenille products because the apparel, made in Pakistan, doesn’t meet federal fire-resistance standards. About 138,000 more pieces of clothing are included in the recall. At least nine deaths have been related to the garb.
More details and photos, click here.

Haunted House screen candleholders made by Yankee Candle Co. are being recalled because a window pane in the screne scene.
Click here for detals.

Bad Boy off-road vehicles are being recalled because they can accelerate unexpectedly.
For details and photos, click here.

About 1.3 million Handy Switch wireless light switches are being recalled because the receiver for the units, which plugs into a wall socket, might overheat and start a fire.
Details may be found by clicking here.

Plum Organics of Emeryville, Calif., is recalling some of its apple and carrot portable pouch baby food because of concerns over possible botulism contamination.
The product was sold individually throughout the country at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us stores. The recalled product is sold in 4.22-ounce pouches, with a “best by” date of May 21, 2010, and UPC 890180001221.
The company is concerned that the baby food may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition. Consumers should not use these products, even if they appear to be normal, because of the possible health risk.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with the baby food, and no other Plum Organics products are affected, the company said in a statement.
More information is available by calling 888-974-3555 or by e-mailing info@plumorganics.com.

Quantum Realspace Pro 9000 office chairs made by Raynor are being recalled because of a defect that poses a fall hazard to users.
About 150,000 of the chairs were sold through Office Depot outlets.
Details on the the recall may be found by clicking here.

Some Schwalbe bicycle tires have treads that can separate and cause the rider to fall.
For a recall notice, click here.

Living Foods Inc. of Ionia, Mich. is voluntarily recalling alfalfa sprouts in response to a salmonella investigation being done by the Michigan Departments of Community Health and Agriculture. So far, 12 cases of salmonella in Michigan between Aug. 17 and Sept. 18 have been associated with the outbreak.
The sprouts were distributed to retail and food service facilities through wholesale produce suppliers in Michigan. Sprouts affected were sold under the Living Foods label with a sell by date of Oct. 22 or earlier: alfalfa sprouts, 5 lb. box; 1 lb. bag; 4 oz. bag; 4 oz. cup; spicy sprouts, 4 oz. cup; 7 sprout, 4 oz. cup; alfalfa/onion, 4 oz. cup; and alfalfa/garlic, 4 oz. cups.
Living Foods is working with state officials to determine the cause of this problem. To date, neither Living Foods nor state officials have any laboratory test data linking the sprouts to the illnesses or to the microorganism.
If consumers have any of the Living Foods sprouts in their possession, they should be discarded. Wholesale-retailers should remove the product from sale and cease distribution. Questions should be directed to the company at (616) 527-0911.

DeVilbiss is recalling several brands of power washers and some Porter-Cable air compressors because they have a plastic part that can break and injure users.
Details, including brands and model numbers, may be found by clicking here.

Red and blue folding director’s chairs with the name “Garden Treasures” on the packaging and sold exclusively at Lowe’s are being recalled because they can collapse and injure users.
Details may be found by clicking here.

Toyota Motor Corp. said today it will recall 3.8 million vehicles in the U.S. — the most ever — to address problems with a removable floor mat that could cause accelerators to get stuck and lead to a crash. The recall will involve popular models such as the Toyota Camry, the top-selling passenger car in America, and the Toyota Prius, the best-selling gas-electric hybrid.
Toyota said it was still working with officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to find a remedy to fix the problem and said owners could be notified about the recall as early as next week. Toyota spokesman Irv Miller said until the company finds a fix, owners should take out the removable floor mat on the driver’s side and not replace it.
“A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop a vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death,” Miller said.
NHTSA said it had received reports of 102 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck on the Toyota vehicles involved. It was unclear how many led to crashes but the inquiry was prompted by a high-speed crash in August in California of a Lexus barreling out of control. As the vehicle hit speeds exceeding 120 mph, family members made a frantic 911 call and said the accelerator was stuck and they couldn’t stop the vehicle.
The recall will affect 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350.
For more information, consumers can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s hotline at (888) 327-4236, Toyota at (800) 331-4331 or Lexus at (800) 255-3987.

Tylenol is recalling various kinds of its children’s and infant’s medicines because some bacteria was found in the raw material that is used to make some of the medications.
The company says there are no indications that the bacteria found its way into finished products, but it is recalling the products nonetheless. For a list of products and more information, click here.

Quest commercial juice dispensers sold to hotels and food service establishments are being recalled because they might have frayed wiring harnesses that cold contribute to a fire.
For more details, click here.

Wooden bunk beds sold at Big Lots stores can collapse.
They are being recalled for repairs.
Click here for more info.