Today's Consumer: News you can use

POUND CAKE RECALLED

Golden Chocolate International Inc. of New York has recalled its Raisin Pound Cake because it contains undeclared eggs.

The pound cake comes in 14-ounce and 2-pound loaves and is wrapped in clear cellophane without any codes. It has a shelf life of 7 to 14 days.

The product is being recalled because it may contain eggs that were not listed on the ingredient label, posing a hazard to people with allergies. The problem was discovered by Florida inspectors.

Consumers are advised to return the pound cake to place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, call 718-330-1000.

MILK RECALLED

Guida's Dairy of New Britain, Conn., has recalled its 1 percent low-fat milk in gallon and half-pint containers because they may contain unpasteurized egg yolks.

Guida said a small quantity of egg nog may have been mixed in the milk, with expiration dates of Dec. 8 and 9 and a time code of 8 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.

Consumers allergic to egg yolks are urged to return the milk to place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, call 800-832-8929.

EGGNOG RECALLED

Crossroad Farms Dairy has recalled Kroger and Sealtest eggnog due to inadequate processing.

The products being recalled are half-gallon containers of Kroger Eggnog, Kroger Lowfat Eggnog and Sealtest Eggnog carrying "sell-by" dates of Dec. 3, Dec. 6, Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 12 or Dec. 15, and a plant identification of 18-1080.

The eggnog was distributed to Kroger stores in Indiana; Illinois; Missouri; Coldwater and Sturgis, Mich.; and Defiance, Ohio. The recall also includes Pay Less and Owen's stores in Indiana, and Hilander stores in Illinois. In addition, the Sealtest eggnog was distributed to Jay C Food Stores in Indiana. The products have already been removed from store shelves.

Kroger has not received any complaints of illness related to these products.

Customers who have one of these products in their refrigerators should return it to the store for a full refund or replacement. The eggnog should not be consumed. For more information, customers can call Kroger toll-free at 800-632-6900.

(Web site: kroger.com)

IF IT'S DECEMBER, IT'S TIME FOR THE CPSC'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY DECORATION SAFETY TIPS

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is offering the following decorating tips to make your holiday a safe one.

TREES:

-- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.

-- When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.

-- When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

LIGHTS:

-- Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.

-- Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.

-- Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Make sure the extension cord is rated for the intended use.

-- Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.

-- Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.

-- Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).

-- Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

-- For added electric shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.

DECORATIONS:

-- Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.

-- Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.

-- In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.

-- Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

FIREPLACES:

-- Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.

-- Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

(Web site: cpsc.gov)

MORE HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS FROM UL AND NFPA

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) says cooking has been the leading cause of home fires since 1990. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the NFPA offer these fire safety tips to follow while cooking during the holidays or at any time of the year:

-- Turn off and unplug all appliances when not in use. Periodically check on food being cooked in an oven, microwave, or on the stove.

-- Use caution when using electrical appliances. Never plug more than one high wattage appliance into a single outlet. Check appliances for frayed or cracked cords and make sure to have them repaired by a professional technician if needed. Never stand in or near water when using electrical appliances.

-- Keep young children at least 3 feet away from kitchen appliances when cooking. If you allow older children to cook, supervise them closely and teach them safe cooking practices.

-- Dress appropriately for cooking. Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves and use caution when working near heat sources.

-- Have plenty of fire-resistant potholders and oven mitts ready for use while cooking.

-- Turn handles inward so pots and pans won't be pulled or knocked off the stove.

-- Keep the stovetop clean and clear. Store combustible materials away from heat sources.

-- Save operating instructions for rarely used appliances and reread them before each use.

(Web sites: ul.com, ul.com/consumers, nfpa.org)

'THE YEAR IN SPACE' 2002 CALENDAR

Have a would-be astronaut on your holiday gift list? Consider getting him or her "The Year In Space" 2002 desk calendar, an award-winning 152-page weekly calendar featuring images and information from the past, present and future of space exploration and astronomical discovery.

The weekly schedule of "The Year In Space" is designed for the most daring of arm-chair astronauts: during the week of Jan. 7, for example, they'll join the crew of STS-81 on the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission; a week later, they'll find themselves exploring the Eta Carina nebula at infra-red wavelengths.

Weekly ports-of-call include the International Space Station, a visit to supernova SN1987A, a ride with the astronauts servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, a pit-stop at spiral galaxy M83, a thundering liftoff aboard the Shuttle Columbia, a close-up view of magnetic storms on the Sun, and a fly-by of Jupiter with the Pioneer 10 spacecraft.

"The Year In Space" also includes weekly, monthly, yearly and multi-year calendars, a daily moon phase calendar, an address section, blank pages for notes, and more.

The publisher is donating $1 from each calendar sold through the Web site to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund.

(Web site: YearInSpace.com)