Possible Salmonella contamination prompts pet food recall

          ST. PAUL, Minn. – Due to possible Salmonella contamination, Florida based, Jump Your Bones, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Jump Your Bones brand name Roo Bites (Cubes). The pet treats were distributed nationwide and through online retailers. To date, there are no reported illnesses related to this product.

There is a human risk of contracting Salmonella from handling contaminated products or from contact with infected pets. Consumers who purchased the Roo Bites (Cubes) should immediately stop feeding it to their pets and either dispose of them or return the product to where it was purchased for a full refund.

Symptoms of human infection include diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps and fever. Symptoms usually begin within 12 to 72 hours after exposure, but can begin up to a week after exposure. Salmonella infections usually resolve in 5 to 7 days, but approximately 20 percent of cases require hospitalization. In rare cases, Salmonella infection can lead to death, particularly in the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.

Salmonella infections in pets vary and can include diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and sluggishness. Other pet symptoms include decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected pets can also appear healthy, but still be carriers of Salmonella, which can lead to human infection. Please contact your veterinarian if your pet has consumed Roo Bites (Cubes) and exhibits any of these symptoms.

The affected Roo Bites (Cubes) are sold in Boutique Bags and online stores with the following UPC codes: 63633010041 on 2.82 oz. (80g) bags, which include .32 oz. samples. For information on this recall, please call (888) 249-6755, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has confirmed major pet food distributors in the state did not distribute the product, but are conducting further trace back of the contaminated product and warn of possible online distribution of the affected pet treats.

MN Dept of Commerce Urges Families to Sign Up for Dangerous Product and Toy Recall Alerts

SAINT PAUL, MN – Concern over hazardous chemicals in children’s products and toys has grown in the past several years. In order for Minnesota families to stay informed of potentially dangerous products, the Minnesota Department of Commerce urges parents to stay vigilant about product and toy safety, and hazardous chemicals, and to sign up for product recall alerts. Families then can receive immediate alerts on recalls without having to monitor the news.

“We want families with infants and children to be safe from dangerous products and toys in Minnesota,” said Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman. “We will watch for dangerous children's products and toys in the marketplace, and families need to stay alert when it comes to product safety and recalls.”

There are several proactive steps consumers can take to ensure that their homes are free from potentially dangerous products. The Department of Commerce recommends selecting age appropriate toys, observing manufacturer’s warnings regarding safety hazards and monitoring use when necessary. Consumers can also create a toy inventory and record relevant information (manufacturer, serial or model # and purchase dates) to help identify the toy in the event that it is recalled.

Smartphone users can install the RECALLS.GOV mobile application to keep vital safety information in the palm of your hand. The app allows consumers to type in a product’s name to learn immediately whether that product has been recalled due to a safety concern. Photos of recalled products and tips for what to do with recalled products in your home are also available through the app.

In 2013, there have been three different toy recalls, along with numerous baby and child care products. There are several different sources that consumers can rely on for information regarding recalls. Consumers can visit the Commerce Department’s website for an updated list and toy safety tips. Additionally, the Department recommends that consumers sign up directly to receive email alerts from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

2013 Product Recalls:

3/5/2013 Disco Lights Recalled

2/26/2013 Monster High City Motor Scooters

2/26/2013 Hello Kitty City Motor Scooters

2/7/2013 EVO Strollers

2/6/2013 Play Yard Sheets

1/31/2013 World Imports Recalls Bunk Beds

1/31/2013 Kringles Toys and Gifts Recalls High Powered Magnets

1/30/2013 Million Dollar Baby Dressers

1/30/2013 Natart Chelsea Dressers

1/15/2013 Bugaboo Strollers

1/15/2013 Circo Girls Fleece Pajamas

1/15/2013 Children's Two-Piece Pajama Sets

1/8/2013 Fisher-Price Rock 'N Play Infant Sleepers

Consumers can also sign up for alerts at:

· http://www.recalls.gov/

· http://www.saferproducts.gov/Search/default.aspx

· http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/javascripts/widgetrss.html

Visit the Commerce Department’s website for a list of all recalls, and information related to recalls, helpful tips on toy safety and additional resources for parents. Consumers that are concerned they are in contact with a potentially hazardous product should file a report with the CPSC. Instructions for reporting a product via phone, email, or postal mail are included on their website.

Consumers with further questions can contact the Commerce Department’s Consumer Help Line at (651) 296-2488 or (800) 657-3602.

Questions or consumer complaints can also be directed by email to consumer.protection@state.mn.us or by mail to Minnesota Department of Commerce, 85 7^th Place East, Suite 500, Saint Paul, MN 55101.

Reusable Bags Recalled Throughout the U.S. and Canada Due to Excessive Levels of Lead

Washington, D.C. – The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, is pointing to a recent recall of reusable bags as another unintended consequence of "feel good" policy making. Recalls of reusable grocery bags by companies such as Sears Canada, CVS, Winn Dixie, Wegmans and lululemon athletica due to elevated lead levels demonstrate the negative outcome of policies meant to restrict consumer choice. When consumers are pushed to buy reusable bags they often purchase cheap, fabric-like polypropylene bags that contain excessive levels of lead and bacteria.

According to a new Opinion Research Corporation poll commissioned by CCF, 56% of Americans are not “at all aware” that their reusable grocery bags may contain lead and bacteria, which explains why—according to the same poll—68% of reusable bag owners have either never washed their bag or only washed it once in the last year.

Some reusable shopping bags sold or given away by stores throughout North America contain lead levels above what is allowable by many state laws. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) has called on federal and state regulatory agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate a report showing that nearly half of all reusable bags tested exceed the limits set by many state laws on toxins in packaging. In addition to calling for a federal investigation, Senator Schumer stated, “When our families go to the grocery store looking for safe and healthy foods to feed their kids, the last thing they should have to worry about are toxic bags.”

“Demonizing, taxing, or banning plastic bags—as they have in some cities across the country—is a perfect example of knee-jerk, feel-good regulation that brings with it myriad unintended consequences,” said CCF Senior Research Analyst J. Justin Wilson. “Politicians often respond to activist-driven junk science by demonizing, banning or taxing products without giving any thought to what people will use instead. Now recent research demonstrates that some of these bags contain lead and can be a breeding ground for bacteria. In the end, the new alternative can end up being worse than its replacement. It’s no surprise we’re seeing retailers like Sears and Wegmans recalling their reusable bags because they contain lead.”

The Center for Consumer Freedom has been running ads in major newspapers and online. The text of the ad reads:

What your family needs to know about reusable bags imported from China

Did you know that many reusable bags imported from China frequently have excessive levels of lead? China is the number one supplier of reusable bags in the United States, sending almost 3 billion bags to date and an additional half a billion into our homes each year. Recent investigations by the Tampa Tribune and consumer protection groups uncovered high levels of lead and heavy metals in reusable bags sold by multiple national and regional retailers.

Senator Charles Schumer and other congressional leaders have called on government safety agencies to investigate why such elevated levels of lead are coming into contact with our food and leaching into the environment. Perhaps even more alarming, a University of Arizona study found fecal coliform bacteria and E. coli in some of the bags when not washed after reuse.

For more information visit www.ConsumerFreedom.com. To arrange an interview, call Allison Miller at 202-463-7112.