Tide Pods, Tiki Torches, Garment Steamers, Bed Rails: Recall Roundup

ACROSS AMERICA — Millions of laundry detergent packets recalled in the United States because they could be harmful to children. Garment steamers that have led to dozens of burns — including seven second-degree burns. And citronella candles that can break and burn people.

These were just a few of the products recalled this week.

As Patch previously reported, product recalls across U.S. industries reached a five-year high in 2023, according to the latest "State of the Nation Recall Index" report by Sedgwick.

Below is a roundup of major recalls from this week from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Procter & Gamble Recalls 8.2M Defective Bags of Tide, Gain, Ace and Ariel Laundry Detergent Packets Distributed In US Due To Risk Of Serious Injury

Millions of Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods and Ariel Pods liquid laundry detergent packets were recalled this week after federal regulators said the packages could split open and put children at risk of ingestion, or leave others with skin or eye injuries.

About 8.2 million of the products were recalled that were made between September and February.

The products were sold at Big Lots, CVS, Family Dollar, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart, and other major stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and other websites.

There have been no confirmed cases directly relating to this packaging defect. However, the firm received four reports of children accessing the liquid laundry packets, three of which reported ingestion.

Nearly 2M Black+Decker Garment Steamers Recalled Due to Burn Hazard

Two million Black + Decker garment steamers were recalled this week after federal regulators said the steamers could burn users because they can spray or leak hot water during use.

About 1.6 million unites were recalled of the Model HGS011 Easy Garment Steamers. Notably, the recall includes products involved in a previous November 2022 recall.

"There have been continued reports of burn injuries involving units that were repaired as part of the previous recall in November 2022," the U.S. CPSC said.

Since the recall was announced in November 2022, Empower Brands has received over 300 reports of hot water expelling from the recalled steamers, including 82 reports of burn injuries, seven of which were second-degree burns. Additionally, 94 reports involved units that were repaired as part of the original recall or models featuring the updated design, including 19 burn injuries, regulators said.

The steamers were sold at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond and other stores nationwide, including online from June 2021 through February 2024.

272K Adult Portable Bed Rails Recalled Due To Entrapment, Asphyxia Hazards; 2 Additional Deaths Reported After 2021 Recall

Over 270,000 adult portable bed rails have again been recalled after federal regulators said two additional deaths were reported following an initial December 2021 recall.

CPSC initially recalled the Endurance Hand Bed Rails on Dec. 22, 2021, after an 86-year-old man in California became entrapped and died in 2012, reportedly from the hand bed rail, federal regulators said.

"When attached to an adult’s bed, users can become entrapped within the bed rail or between the rail and the side of the mattress. This poses a serious entrapment hazard and risk of death by asphyxiation," the U.S. CPSC said.

Since that recall, two additional entrapment deaths were reported: One in December 2022 in which an 86-year-old man died at an assisted living facility in Connecticut, and a second in August 2023, in which a 99-year-old man died at his home in California.

The bed rails were sold at medical supply stores nationwide and online at www.amazon.com and www.walmart.com from October 2006 through December 2021.

Walmart Recalls Mainstays Electric Mini Choppers Due To Slicing Hazard

Walmart recalled over 50,000 electric mini chopper products this week that were sold nationwide and have slashed at least five people, including two who needed stitches.

The Mainstays Electric Mini Choppers were sold nationwide online at Walmart.com from August 2022 through October 2023 for between $10 and $15, federal regulators said. The units were recalled because the chopper’s blade can activate unexpectedly during assembly or when not enclosed in the container, and cut users.

BJ's Wholesale Club Recalls Citronella Tiki Torches Due To Burn Hazard

BJ's recalled citronella candles last week that could break open or fall off while lit, and that have burned at least two people.

About 90,000 Berkley Jensen Citronella 72-inch Tiki Torches were recalled March 28, federal regulators said. BJ's has received nine reports of the tiki torch top breaking open or falling off, resulting in two burn injuries.

The candles were sold at BJ's locations nationwide and online at www.bjs.com from January 2015 through November 2023 for about $13.