Kerosene-filled balls among items to be recalled

A safety agency has targeted kerosene-filled balls and fire-prone halogen lamps as potentially dangerous

April 8, 1998
Web posted at: 2:43 p.m. EDT (1843 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Several potentially dangerous products will be yanked from store shelves Wednesday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The products -- floating toy balls filled with kerosene, Gerry Clear Choice baby monitors and several models of Honeywell heaters and humidifiers -- could catch fire, according to the commission. The agency already has recalled 30 products this year.

Some worry that consumers are being inundated with recalls -- 300 by the commission last year -- instead of being urged to take responsibility for using products sensibly.

"Every product comes with warnings galore with instructions for use," said Frances Smith of Consumer Alert. "I don't think there's any way we can protect people from misusing products. And in many cases, that's where most of the accidents occur."

While testing and recalling products may be an imperfect process, the CPSC says consumers can help by filling out warranty cards and reporting dangerous products immediately.

CNN Transcript:

• Ann Brown from the Consumer Product Safety Commission discusses the recalls

Related sites:

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• Consumer Product Safety Commission
  • CPSC, Honeywell Announce Recall of Heaters and Humidifiers
  • CPSC, Gerry Baby Products Announce Recall to Repair Baby Monitors

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