Today's Consumer: News you can use

MORE CORNED BEEF RECALLED

An 11th company has announced a recall of canned Brazilian corned beef, bringing the total number of pounds recalled to more than 2 million.

The latest recall involves 75,000 pounds of corned beef imported by Maple Leaf Foods International of Toronto. The corned beef was packaged in 12-ounce cans and marked "Brasil Inspecionado 3031 S.I.F." The cans may contain edible and inedible beef by-products not listed on the label.

Margaret Glavin, acting administrator of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, said some of the ingredients found in the product are prohibited in the United States. There have been no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

The problem was discovered during a routine FSIS re-inspection at import. Brazilian establishment No. 3031 has been audited by the Brazilian government and de-listed so it can no longer export to the United States.

The recalled beef was produced between Aug. 8 and Aug. 23 and distributed to retail outlets in Puerto Rico. Consumers are urged to return the corned beef to place of purchase. For more information, they can call 416-480-6436.

CANDY RECALLED

Colt Inc. of Nashville is recalling its Truffle Babies and Mighty Marshmallows because the products contain milk not listed on the ingredient label, posing the possibility of allergic reaction in some people.

The Truffle Babies were distributed nationwide to retail stores and the Mighty Marshmallows were distributed to gift basket manufacturers and florists. Truffle Babies are chocolate, peanut butter and almond confections wrapped in one-ounce servings. Mighty Marshmallows are chocolate-dipped marshmallows individually wrapped in clear cellophane with no ingredient statement.

The company said it has received no reports of illnesses associated with the products. For more information, consumers can call 615-251-0100.

FIRE PREVENTION TIPS

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that space heaters, including both fixed and portable heaters, are associated with about 21,800 residential fires every year. About 300 people die each year in fires started by these heaters.

Fuel-burning space heaters also can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and indoor air pollution, because of improper venting or incomplete combustion.

Consumers should be aware that older space heaters might not meet the newer safety standards. The CPSC has worked to upgrade the industry standards on electric, kerosene and unvented gas space heaters. An automatic cut-off device is now required, which turns off electric or kerosene heaters if they tip over. More guarding around the heating coils of electric heaters and the burner of kerosene heaters also is required to prevent fires.

The CPSC worked to upgrade the industry standard on unvented gas heaters, as well, to provide an oxygen depletion sensor to shut off the heater if the oxygen level drops too low.

Here are some CPSC safety tips for buying and using space heaters:

1. Select a space heater with a guard around the flame area or heating element. Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep the heater at least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture, or other flammable materials.

2. Choose a space heater that has been tested and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. These heaters meet specific safety standards.

3. Keep doors open to the rest of the house if you are using an unvented fuel-burning space heater. This helps prevent pollutant build-up and promotes proper combustion. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to provide sufficient combustion air to prevent CO production.

4. Never leave a space heater on when you go to sleep. Never place a space heater close to any sleeping person.

5. Turn the space heater off if you leave the area. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.

6. Have a smoke detector with fresh batteries on each level of the house and a carbon monoxide detector outside your sleeping area.

7. Be aware that mobile homes require specially designed heating equipment. Only electric or vented fuel-fired heaters should be used.

8. Have gas and kerosene space heaters inspected annually.

(Consumers who would like more information can receive a free CPSC booklet, "What You Should Know about Space Heaters," by placing a request at cpsc.gov or by sending a postcard to: "Space Heater Booklet," U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.)

GAS PRICES

A sure sign that spring is just around the corner was seen this week at the gas pump, where prices are starting to creep up again following weeks of steady declines.

Retail prices were expected to begin rising for the remainder of the winter as the economic fundamentals of the market lead some refiners to ease up on production, and environmental regulations require the industry as a whole to prepare to shift production toward summer grades of reformulated gasoline.

"For the next several weeks, motorists can expect to see a pattern of a general trend toward higher prices coupled with occasional price declines," predicted Jeff Spring, a spokesman for AAA in Los Angeles. The auto club said Tuesday that the nationwide average price for regular gasoline was $1.128 per gallon compared to $1.092 last month and $1.477 a year ago.

The direction of price varied in different parts of the nation, AAA said, with prices going up 2-5 cents in the Midwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast while falling similar amounts in the Great Lakes region, West Coast and New England.

Winter is generally the time of year when drivers are content to stay off the road and gasoline demand dips to annual lows. This year, the global economic slump has helped keep a lid on crude prices despite OPEC's efforts to cut production.

Spring is generally a time of substantial price hikes at the pump as the more-expensive summer gasoline mandated by the Clean Air Act reaches the retail level and the summer driving season gets under way.

(Thanks to UPI Chief Energy Correspondent Hil Anderson)