Today's Consumer: News you can use

FORD RECALLS 1 MILLION VEHICLES

Ford Motor Co. is recalling 1.08 million 2000 and 2001 cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles because the windshield wiper motor switch can overheat, resulting in the loss of wiper function.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the problem is most likely to occur in the intermittent setting, or when snow or ice obstructs the blades from returning to the parked position.

The affected vehicles were manufactured between February and September 2000. Dealers are prepared to replace the wiper motor gear case cover to prevent the overheating problem.

Owner notification letters began going out in August. The models affected include the Taurus, Expedition, Focus, Excursion, F150-F650 series pickups, Continental, Town Car, Navigator and Sable.

LAMPS RECALLED

Emess Lighting Inc. and SLI Lighting Solutions Inc. are recalling 480,000 Twister portable lamps because the bulb can become hot, presenting a burn and fire hazard.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said there have been 12 reports of property damage due to the bulb coming in contact with bedding, carpeting and upholstered and five reports of injuries to consumers, including burns and lacerations.

The lamps are 38 inches tall and have a flexible neck and Looney Tunes or Disney cartoon characters on the plastic shade. Some lamps have no cartoon characters but have black, white, blue green, yellow, red or purple plastic shades.

The lamps were sold in retail stores and through catalogs nationwide between January 1997 and June 2001 for about $18.

Consumers are advised to stop using the lamps near bedding, carpeting or upholstered furniture. For a free retrofit kit, they can call 800-366-2579 or visit the company's Web site at twisterlamp.com.

SOFT RATTLES RECALLED

Sassy Inc. of Northbrook, Ill., is recalling 455,000 soft rattles because the fabric eyes on the rattles can detach, posing a choking hazard for young children.

Sassy told the Consumer Product Safety Commission that the firm had received reports of 129 incidents -- including one in which a child began choking on a detached eye and had to undergo the Heimlich maneuver.

The recalled rattles include the Lily Pad, Bitty Kitty, This Little Piggy, Goo Goo Goldfish, Smoochie Poochie and Crinkly Crown Dragon. They were sold by toy and mass merchandise stores nationwide from August 1999 through mid-October 2001 for about $5.

Consumers are advised to take the toys away from young children and return them to Sassy to receive a free replacement toy. They can call Sassy toll-free at 800-781-1080 for more information or visit the company's Web site at sassybaby.com.

SALAD RECALLED

Mrs. Grissom's Salads Inc. of Nashville, Tenn., is recalling a number of its products because they contain egg yolks that are not listed on the ingredient statement.

The recall involves tuna salad, jalapeno spread or dip, pimento cheese spread, Houchens tuna salad and Houchens pimento cheese spread, which were distributed in Tennessee, Kentucky and northern Alabama. The affected products have expiration dates ranging from Dec. 12 through Jan. 26.

Customers with egg allergies are urged to return the products to place of purchase or call (615) 255-4137 for more information.

CANDY RECALLED

Dinstuhl's Candies of Memphis, Tenn., is recalling 300 boxes of assorted chocolates and assorted chocolate covered nuts because they may contain milk, which is not listed on the ingredient label.

No illnesses associated with the candy have been reported.

The affected candy was packaged in a gold box labeled "Gold Select" and distributed in the Memphis area.

Consumers may return the unopened boxes of candy to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, they can call 901-377-2639.

U.S. MARSHALS SEIZE DIET DRUG

The Food and Drug Administration said U.S. marshals on Wednesday seized unapproved drug products from Biogenics Inc. of St. George, Utah, because the products contain ephedrine hydrochloride but are labeled as a dietary supplement for use in weight loss.

Federal law prohibits the use of drugs in dietary supplements.

Marshals seized about 140,000 bottles of AMP II Pro Drops, valued at $2.8 million.

Biogenics does business as E'OLA International and contracts with Nature's Energy Inc. of Pleasant Grove, Utah, for production. The FDA said inspections of E'OLA's raw materials revealed the purchase of ephedrine HCI, which has been listed as a drug by the FDA since 1948. Additionally, the FDA said E'OLA marketed AMP II Pro Drops as a treatment for obesity, which is illegal.

The FDA said the products also are misbranded because their labeling fails to provide adequate directions for use.

HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS DON'T WORK ON ANTHRAX

Household and institutional disinfectants and disinfectant cleaners are useful for protecting against common colds, flu, food poisoning and intestinal viruses. But they should not be viewed as a defense against anthrax, according to the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA).

"Household disinfectants provide important protection under normal circumstances, but their usefulness would be limited in an anthrax exposure," said Christopher Cathcart, CSPA's president and chief operating officer. "If anyone feels they have been exposed to anthrax, they should immediately move away from suspicious material, notify health and law enforcement authorities and take common sense hygiene measures, such as washing hands and changing clothes."

The recent anthrax attacks have resulted in a flood of inquiries about the effectiveness of over-the-counter disinfecting products. Because of the risk of infection from highly refined anthrax spores and the difficulty of complete decontamination, experts say disinfection in suspected exposures should always be the responsibility of public health professionals.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that it will prioritize the review and registration of products that can be used against anthrax.

(Additional information about the risks from anthrax and other biological agents can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov or 800-311-3435.)