The scariest thing this Friday the 13th may be the week's long list of product recalls, including several baby products and a frozen-food recall expansion.
The latest list includes:
Pilgrim's Pride Poultry
Items recalled: Pilgrim's Pride issued a recall of 5,176,844 pounds of fully cooked chicken products.
Why: The chicken products may contains pieces of metal. No illnesses have been reported to date.
More details: This recall is the second expansion of the April 7 recall, including more products and a change in distribution area. The initial recall involved consumer complaints of pieces of plastic in the company's chicken nuggets. The investigation into those complaints led to the discovery of more affected products. Some schools have purchased the affected products through the company's commercial channels. Consumers can return the products to the place of purchase for a refund.
Read more about the recall here.
CRF Frozen Foods
Items recalled: Several companies have issued recalls of their frozen vegetable products after CRF Frozen Foods, their supplier, issued a recall of its own. The companies include ConAgra Foods, The Pictsweet Company, Twin City Foods, Norpac Foods and Ajinomoto Windsor.
Why: The frozen vegetables and foods containing these vegetables may be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria infections can lead to serious and potentially fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed CRF last week that seven people had been hospitalized with Listeria infections. Only some of these cases have been confirmed as being connected to CRF products.
More details: Several brands have been affected by the recall, including Kroger, Watts Brothers Farms, Natural Directions and Tai Pei. The frozen foods were sold in supermarkets nationwide, including Trader Joe's and Costco. Consumers can return the frozen foods to the place of purchase for a refund.
Sunflower seeds
Items recalled: After a major supplier recall last week, several more companies have issued recalls of products containing sunflower seeds. The latest recalls include Kroger's broccoli raisin salad, Rucker's Makin' Batch Candies Sweet & Salty Trail Mix, Publix's Cranberry, Nut & Seed Mix and Vending Nut Company's Sunflower Kernel products.
Why: SunOpta, a major supplier of sunflower seeds, recalled its products last week due to a possible listeria contamination. Listeria infections can lead to serious and potentially fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems. No illnesses have been reported to date.
More details: Consumers can return products affected by the recall to the place of purchase for a refund.
Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles
Items recalled: The company issued a recall of 48,500 new vehicles, including the 2016-17 Subaru Legacy and Outback.
Why: The vehicles may have been "improperly built," according to the company's statement. Turning the steering wheel may not turn the car wheels' direction, which poses a serious risk to drivers. Owners are advised not to drive the vehicles until they have been inspected and repaired, if necessary. No injuries or crashes have been reported to date.
More details: The recall includes Legacy and Outback models built from February 29 through May 6. Subaru issued a stop sale of the vehicles on May 9.
Bednest bedside infant sleepers
Items recalled: The company issued a recall of about 500 bedside infant sleepers.
Why: The sleepers do not meet the mandatory federal requirements, posing a fall hazard to babies.
More details: The recall involves sleepers manufactured after July 2014. Bednest will contact all known customers directly, providing a free repair kit by June 15. The sleepers were sold exclusively online at the company's website from March 2010 through December 2015 for between $400 and $500. The affected sleepers were also rented for between $170 and $200.
TwinGo baby carriers
Items recalled: TwinGo issued a recall of around 4,000 TwinGo Original Carriers, designed to carry one or two babies around the wearer's waist.
Why: The carrier's waist buckle can break, posing a fall hazard to children. The company has received 13 reports of the buckle breaking worldwide, including 10 in the United States. No injuries have been reported to date.
More details: The carriers were sold nationwide at boutique stores and online on the company's website and Amazon from December 2014 through May 2016 for around $215. Consumers can contact TwinGo for a free repair kit. A repair video is also available.
Hobby Lobby infant pacifier holder and rattle
Items recalled: The company issued a recall of 12,900 Little Wishes Summer Plush Pacifier Holders and 14,400 Little Wishes Chenille Stuffed Rattles.
Why: Pieces of the pacifier holder can detach, posing a choking hazard. The seams of the rattle can separate, exposing the stuffing and bell inside, posing a choking hazard. No injuries have been reported to date.
More details: The pacifier holders and rattles were sold at Hobby Lobby Stores nationwide from January 2016 through April 2016 for about $5 to $7. Consumers can return the products to Hobby Lobby for a full refund or store credit.
Payless Light-Up Shoes
Items recalled: The company issued a recall of its Jake Lighted Runner light-up shoes.
Why: Payless is investigating a customer claim that the lithium battery inside the shoes sparked a fire.
More details: Payless has removed the shoes from stores pending an investigation, but says it is not a full product recall.
SOS Telecom Dietary Supplements
Items recalled: The New York–based company issued a voluntary recall of several dietary supplements, including Tiger-X, Ninja-X, Ginseng Power-X and Super Samurai-X.
Why: FDA testing found that the supplements contain sildenafil, an active ingredient in erectile dysfunction drugs. The ingredient is not listed on the product labels. The substance can interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, lowering blood pressure to unsafe levels. Consumers with conditions that are treated with nitrates, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease, are at an increased risk.
More details: The supplements were sold through several retailers, including convenience stores and gas stations. In addition to a press release, the company is directly notifying customers via email. Consumers can return the products for a refund.
Read more about the recall here.
Trader Joe's Kale and Edamame Salad
Items recalled: Trader's Joe issued a voluntary recall of 3,763 of its its kale and edamame salads.
Why: The salads may be contaminated with Salmonella. Pearson Foods Corporation, the kale supplier, informed the company that the kale had tested positive for the food-borne illness. Salmonella can cause serious and potentially fatal infections in young children, the elderly or people with weakened immune systems. No illnesses have been reported to date.
More details: The salads were distributed to Trader Joe's stores in 11 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Kansas. The salads were only sold in the Midwest. Customers who have purchased the affected product can return it to a Trader Joe's for a full refund.
Read more about the recall here.
Frontier Co-op Tea
Items recalled: The company issued a voluntary recall of its Organic Hojicha Tea.
Why: The tea may be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can cause serious and potentially fatal infections in young children, the elderly or people with weakened immune systems. No illnesses have been reported to date.
More details: The tea was sold nationwide between December 13, 2014, and April 21, 2016. Consumers can return the product to the place of purchase for a refund.
Read more about the recall here.
United Natural Trading Walnuts
Items recalled: The company issued a voluntary recall of select lots of its walnuts and products that contains its walnuts.
Why: A sample of the product tested positive for Listeria, which can lead to serious and potentially fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems. No illnesses have been reported to date.
More details: The walnuts were purchased from Gibson Farms and sold under brands like Nature's Promise, Woodstock, Market Basket and Woodfield Farms. The products were shipped to retailers and distributors nationwide. Consumers with questions can contact the company's customer service.
Read more about the recall here.
Whole Foods Market Korean BBQ Sauce
Items recalled: Whole Foods Market issued a voluntary recall of one batch of its Korean BBQ Sauce.
Why: Some BBQ sauce bottles contain Peanut Coconut Sauce, which includes peanut and tree-nut allergens that were undeclared on the label. Undeclared allergens pose a serious or life-threatening risk to those with peanut and tree-nut allergies. No illnesses have been reported to date.
More details: The mislabeled product has been removed from store shelves. The sauce was available at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. Consumers can return the product to a Whole Foods Market store for a full refund.
Read more about the recall here.