Consumer alert!

Bush Hog off-road utility vehicles are being recalled because they have a throttle cable that can freeze in cold temperatures.
Details are here.

Certain hanging light fixtures are being recalled because the cable that supports the lights can break and might injure consumers.
For details and a photo, click here.

Lake Country lamb feed is being recalled because it contains unacceptably high levels of copper.
Details are here.

United Scientific and American Scientificare recalling various magnets because they have high levels of lead on them.

About 280,000 smoke or smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, mostly built into new homes, are being recalled because they are faulty.
For details, click here.

A U.S. District Court has ordered a Canada-based telemarketing firm to pay a $5 million fine for fraudulently promoting “advance fee” MasterCard or Visa cards on the promise that recipients also would get a free gift, such as a cell phone.
Consumers paid $319 up front and never received the cards or gifts.
More details may be found here.

“Western Rider” push toys sold at dollar stores nationwide are being recalled because they have excessive lead content.
Details are here.

Herbal Science International, Inc. is recalling 12 dietary supplements that contain ephedra, aristolochic acid or human placenta because they might contribute to heart attacks, stroke, kidney damage, kidney cancer or other illnesses.

A list of the products being recalled can be found here.

The Food and Drug Administration said it’s found “hazardous” levels of selenium in Total Body Formula and Total Body Mega Formula, supplements marketed mainly to body buildings. Details are here.

The supplements were the focus of an earlier FDA warning.

Gorton’s Fish is recalling certain packages of crispy battered fish fillets after a Pennsylvania consumer and her daughter each found what appeared to be pills in their fillets.

Here’s the story.

Gorton’s official recall notice is here.

Honda has issued two recalls covering certain models of its Acura.

Some of the vehicles have a wiper design defect that can lead to electrical problems.

Others have a power steering hose that can deteriorate over time from the high heat that occurs under the hood when the car is running.

The two recalls affect about 400,000 cars.

Michigan’s Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) warned Michigan citizens who are behind on their mortgage payments and facing a foreclosure to be on the lookout for foreclosure rescue scams

Foreclosure rescue scams often begin with a scam artist making an unsolicited offer to pay a homeowner’s past due mortgage payments and “rescue” them from foreclosure. The scam artist will have the homeowner sign over the deed to the house and promise them that they can stay in their house as a renter with the opportunity to buy back their home when their finances improve.

Scam artists will then obtain a new mortgage on the house at a higher value than the old loan and keep the difference between the new loan and the old loan. The scam artist has now stolen the homeowner’s equity in the property. Scammers will often walk away from the situation, stop paying the new mortgage and pocket all of the equity. The home will again go into foreclosure and the former homeowner, who is now the renter, will be forced to leave the property and has now permanently lost their house.

“With the foreclosure rate escalating across the country, scam artists are trying to take advantage of vulnerable consumers,” said OFIS Commissioner Ken Ross. “Michigan homeowners who may be facing a foreclosure should avoid any unsolicited offer to save their home through the mail, a newspaper or a telephone call and they should never sign a legal document that has any misleading statements or one that they do not fully understand. These bottom feeders are taking advantage of hard times and should be avoided at all cost.”

If Michigan homeowners believe they may have uncovered a foreclosure rescue scam, please contact OFIS toll-free at (877) 999-6442 or online at www.michigan.gov/ofis

If a homeowner is facing a possible foreclosure and would like professional advice on their situation they can contact one of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) approved housing counselors. For a list of HUD approved housing counselors in Michigan visit: www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm?webListAction=search&searchstate=MI

The City of Monroe has declared a water emergency because its raw water intake line in Lake Erie has frozen shut due to frigid temperatures and sustained winds. Officials advise against any non-essential use of water, such as flushing toilets or doing laundry until further notice.

The emergency affects any community on the Monroe system, such as Raisinville, Monroe, Exeter Townships, Maybee, and the Dundee, Ida and Petersburg areas.

The FBI has issued a nationwide warning about an increase in the type of telephone security scam that was being perpetrated in the Monroe area a few days ago.

The agency reemphasizes that you shouldn’t give out any information over the phone or respond to e-mailed warnings that your account will be closed down if you don’t call a phone number or enter personal financial information online.

Check out the warning here.

Check out the original post here.

Some large cans of Mexican-style chili beans distributed by Gordon Food Service stores, some green beans distributed to a Michigan restaurant and kidney beans sold through Wal-Mart stores outside of Michigan are being recalled by New Era Canning Co. of New Era, Mich. because they might be contaminated by botulism.

Specifics on the recall can be found here.