Adventure Playsets recalled for rotting wood beams

About 275,000 Adventure Playsets wooden play sets have been recalled because the plastic-coated wood of its horizontal ladder can rot and weaken over time and pose a fall hazard, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

More than 6,700 additional sets were recalled in Canada by the government organization Health Canada.

The play sets were manufactured in the U.S. and distributed by Adventure Playsets, based in Amarillo, Texas, the commission said.

This recall involves Adventure Playsets wooden play structures with swings, slides, and ladders.

Each set has a horizontal ladder that functions both as monkey bars and as a swing beam, as well as an end ladder coated with plastic.

The instruction manuals for the recalled play sets have the name "Adventure Playsets" and one of the following model numbers printed on the cover: 

-- Bellevue 1-AP048, and 1-AP012 

-- Belmont 1-AP003

-- Dakota 1- AP046

-- Durango 1-AP016 and 1- AP018

-- El Dorado 1-AP016

-- Madison 1- AP006 and 1-AP015

-- Sedona 1- AP002

-- Sherwood 1-AP049

-- Tacoma 1- AP017 and 1-AP051

-- Ventura 1-AP008 

-- Yukon 1-AP052

Adventure Playsets has received more than 1,400 reports of rotting ladders and 16 reports of injuries, which included nine emergency room visits, the commission said.

The Bellevue, Tacoma and Durango swing sets were previously recalled because of a fall hazard and detaching frames, the recall said.

The sets were sold at Toys R Us, Walmart, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Menards and Mill stores across the nation, and online at Walmart.com, ToyRUs.com, Willygoat.com and in the DMSI catalog, the agency said. 

The recalled play sets were sold from January 2004 to December 2007.

Consumers can call Adventure Playsets at (877) 840-9068 for more information or contact the company online at www.adventureplaysets.com.

-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles

Top photo: The Dakota, one of the recalled Adventure Playsets play sets. Bottom photo: A swing beam on a recalled play set. Credit: Consumer Product Safety Commission

Jelly Belly recalls mislabeled jelly beans with peanut ingredients

The Jelly Belly Candy Co. is recalling about 6,000 "49 Flavors" jelly bean containers that contain peanut-butter-flavored jelly beans but don't list peanut butter or peanut flower as ingredients on the label.

The mislabeled candy was shipped Sept. 29 to independent candy stores across the country -- no major chain stores were involved, said Tomi Holt, a spokeswoman for the Fairfield, Calif., company.

The candy was sold in 7.5-ounce cylinder-style packages branded with the Jelly Belly logo and "49 Flavors," Holt said.

The tubes also had white stickers on the bottom that listed one of four product codes: 090925, 090928, 090929 or 091001, she said.

No incidents of allergic reactions from those with peanut allergies have been reported to the company, Holt said.

Consumers with questions about the recall are asked to call Jelly Belly at (800) 522-3267. The company will send customers who bought the recalled candy a new tube of jelly beans.

-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles

Consumer Confidential: Wine, funky flashlights, Google

Here's your whopping-Wednesday roundup of consumer news from around the Web:

• A little vino with your Slim Jim? Our friends at 7-11 say they'll be introducing a low-priced wine in the United States and Japan. Sold under the Yosemite Road brand, the 7-11 wine will cost about $3.99 and will come in chardonnay and cabernet varieties. Heads up, Two Buck Chuck.
• Did you buy your kids a Halloween flashlight from Target? If so, you got more trick than treat. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of the made-in-China flashlights after receiving multiple reports of the devices overheating and even melting. Needless to say, this represents a burn hazard. More than 600,000 such flashlights were sold, so make sure you're not among the owners.
• Google spent more than $1 million lobbying politicians in Washington during the most recent quarter. They grow up so fast, don't they?

-- David Lazarus

Target recalls 610,000 Halloween flashlights after reports of overheating, burn hazard

Target has recalled 610,000 Halloween flashlights sold exclusively at its stores after learning that the lights could heat up, melt and burn hands.

Two types of Halloween-themed flashlights are involved in the recall: mini Halloween flashlights and "standard size" Halloween flashlights sold with stencils, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a recall statement.

The recall was prompted by eight reports to Target of flashlights overheating and melting, including one person burning a hand, the commission said.

The mini flashlights have a key ring on the bottom and were sold in a packs of three colors: black, green and orange.

The packaging is orange and purple and is printed with “mini flashlights" and "3 pack” on the front, as well as “made in China” and “DPCI# 234-02-1813” on back, the commission said.

The standard-size flashlights are black with an orange top and sold with six stencils: a pumpkin, skull and crossbones, ghost, spider, cat and witch.

Target stores across the U.S. sold the flashlights -- $1 for the mini flashlight and $2.50 for a standard flashlight with stencils -- from August to September, the commission said.

The flashlights were manufactured in China by DGI of Warren, N.J., and Tien Hsing of Hong Kong, the agency said.

Consumers should stop using the flashlights and return them to any Target store for a full refund.

For more information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 or online at www.target.com.

-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles

Photos: The recalled standard-size "Flashlight With Stencil" and "Mini Flashlights." Credit: Consumer Product Safety Commission

Cantaloupe recalled because of possible salmonella contamination

A Northern California grocery chain has recalled cantaloupe sold in its stores after detecting salmonella in the fruit during routine testing.

Raley’s, a chain centered in the Sacramento area but with locations as far south as Salinas and in Nevada, has voluntarily recalled 1,120 cartons of Del Monte brand whole cantaloupe because of possible contamination.

The store said cantaloupe currently on its shelves is not affected.

The chain operates grocery stores under the names Raley’s, Bel Air, Nob Hill and Food Sources.

The affected cantaloupe was sold between Oct. 5 and Friday at those stores in Nevada and Northern California. Stores removed the cantaloupe from the shelves Friday. State officials said there have been no reports of illnesses.

-- Peter Y. Hong

Quantum Realspace Pro office chairs recalled because of fall hazard

The Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced the recall of about 150,000 office chairs because the bolts attached to the seat back can loosen and detach, posing a fall and injury hazard to users.

The Quantum Realspace Pro 9000 Series Mid-Back Multifunction Mesh Chair and Multifunction Mesh Chair With Headrest were manufactured by Comfort Office Furniture and imported by Raynor Marketing. The chairs were sold from May 2006 through August 2009 exclusively on Office Depot's website and in its stores nationwide.

Raynor has received reports of 33 seat-back detachments and 14 injuries involving bumps and bruises. Users should stop using the recalled products immediately.

The recall involves the Quantum Realspace Pro 9000 Series Mid-Back Multifunction Mesh Chair SKU #510830 and the Quantum Realspace Pro 9000 Series Mesh Chair With Headrest SKU #690690. The Realspace Pro Mesh Guest Chair is not involved in this recall.

For additional information and to receive a free repair kit, contact Raynor at (866) 244-8180 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday, or visit the company's website.

-- Andrea Chang 

Hold that tongue!

J.F. O’Neill Packing Co. is recalling 33,000 pounds of beef tongues that still have the tonsils attached. The tonsils can carry the infectious agent for mad cow disease. Plus they’re gross. Here’s the whole release.

--Sharon Bernstein

65,000 diving suit hoses recalled after diver's death in Los Angeles

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall on 65,000 diving suit hoses after a diver died in Los Angeles. The manufacturer, SI Tech AB, has received six reports of hose inserts dislodging, including the one involved in the diver's death.

The hose connects a diver's dry suit to the air supply. The hose contains an air flow restricting insert that may be either black, blue or green. If it dislodges during a dive, the diver's air flow could be restricted, posing a drowning hazard.

The hoses were sold with dry suits and separately at diving equipment retailers and distributors nationwide from July 2006 to February 2009. Consumers should contact SI Tech for a list of batch codes included in the recall. The batch code is stamped on the threaded medal end of the hose. For more information, call SI Tech at (877) 348-3529 or email the firm at recall@sitech.se.

-- Melissa Rohlin

Bikers beware -- Schwalbe tires and Electra bike trays and baskets are being recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall today of Schwalbe tires and Electra bike trays and baskets.

The recall includes Schwalbe Ultremo R tires with the words "Schwalbe" and "Ultremo R" printed on the sidewall. The layers of the tires could separate, causing the inner tube to rupture. So far, no incidents have been reported. The tires were sold from April to May 2007 at specialty stores and on www.schwalbetires.com. For more information, call Moser Enterprises at (888) 700-5860.

The second recall was announced after 15 trays and baskets on 2009 Electra bicycles came loose, causing riders to fall. The recall involves the 2009 Delivery 3i, Holiday 8i and Surf 3i bicycles with front-mounted trays or baskets. They were sold by authorized Electra Bicycle dealers nationwide from October 2008 to August 2009. For more information, call Electra Bicycle Co. at (800) 261-1644.

-- Melissa Rohlin

Mattel reaches settlement over recalls of lead-tainted toys in 2007

Mattel Inc. says it has reached an agreement to settle "virtually all" U.S. claims related to its 2007 toy recalls.

The world's largest toy maker recalled millions of toys that year because they contained excessive levels of lead or had design problems, such as hazardous magnets. Mattel said the class-action settlement was subject to court approval.

"Safety of our products remains Mattel's top priority," the El Segundo-based company said in a short statement Tuesday.

According to a statement by plaintiff law firm Whatley Drake & Kallas, the settlement "provides tens of millions of dollars in monetary relief as well as significant injunctive relief."

Consumers who participated in the recall will receive a check for 50% of the total vouchers they sent in or $10, whichever is greater, the law firm said. Those who did not participate in the recalls but who have a recalled toy or proof of purchase of a recalled toy will receive a check or a voucher in the amount of the price paid for the toy. Click here for additional details.

-- Andrea Chang