Today's Consumer: News you can use

TURKEY HAM RECALL

Louis Rich of Northfield, Ill., is recalling one day's production of two Louis Rich Turkey Ham products that may contain the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. There have been no reports of illness associated with either recalled product.

The two recalled products are 8 oz. Louis Rich Smoked Turkey Ham, with the code date EA NOV 10 P2310, and 8 oz. Louis Rich Smoked Chopped Turkey Ham, with the code date EA OCT 31T P2310. The code dates are located on the upper right corner on the front of the package.

Less than 2,000 cases of these products were distributed nationally, and the Louis Rich Smoked Chopped Turkey Ham should no longer be in stores, since it is now past its shelf life date.

Consumers who have purchased either of the two recalled products should not eat them and should return the packages to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, they can call 1-800-433-9363 from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight ET or visit the company's Web site at louisrich.com/specialreport.

No other code dates or other Louis Rich products are part of the recall.

UL WARNING

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. of Northbrook, Ill., is warning that an outdoor electrical yard stake made in China and sold in the United States under the name "Homemaster" may present a shock and fire hazard.

This electrical yard stake has not been evaluated by UL for outdoor use and is not authorized to bear the UL Mark. UL said the plastic enclosure of the Homemaster yard stake may break and allow water to leak onto live electrical parts, posing fire and shock hazards.

The Homemaster outdoor electrical yard stake bears a label with model number "HMPSS-3" and a manufacturing date code of "00/10."

UL encourages consumers to stop using this product and return it to the place of purchase. UL has identified Menards as one retailer selling this yard stake; however, others may also carry the product.

For more information, consumers can call Homemaster Corp. at (732) 542-8400.

(Web site: ul.com)

SAFEGUARDING YOUR HOME WHILE AWAY

Millions of Americans plan to travel during the upcoming holiday season, according to AAA.

"No matter how far or for how long families travel, safeguard your home while you're away," says David Oliver, president and executive director of Lowe's Home Safety Council. "Burglary incidents tend to increase in December, while people are out shopping and bringing home valuable gifts for holiday giving."

To help reduce the risk of your home being burglarized, Lowe's Home Safety Council provides the following basic home security measures:

1. Make sure every external door has a sturdy, well-installed deadbolt lock. Key-in-the-knob locks alone are not secure.

2. Secure sliding glass doors by installing locks or placing a broomstick or dowel in the inside track to jam the door. To prevent the door from being lifted off the track, drill a hole through the slide doorframe and the fixed frame. Then insert a pin in the hole.

3. "Pin" double-hung windows by drilling a small hole at a 45-degree angle between the inner and outer frames, and then insert a nail that can be easily removed in the event of a fire.

4. Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer in all entry doors so you know who is at the door before opening it.

5. All outside doors should be metal or solid wood. A good lock on a weak door defeats any effort to improve your locking system. If your doors don't fit tightly in their frames, install weather stripping around them.

6. Burglars avoid bright lights. Install outside lights and keep them on at night, or install motion detector lights that only turn on if a sensor detects movement after dark.

7. Keep your yard clean. Prune back shrubbery so it doesn't hide doors or windows. Cut back tree limbs that a thief could use to climb to an upper-level window.

8. If you travel, purchase timers that will turn lights on and off in different areas of your house throughout the evening. A consistently dark house signals an empty house.

9. Manage your mail. Call the post office to stop delivery while you are on vacation or have someone collect it.

10. For added protection, ask a neighbor or friend to watch over your house while you're gone.

(Web site: loweshomesafety.org)

ONLINE SHOPPING TIPS

USATODAY.com is providing tips to help online holiday shoppers stay merry this year. According to a recent Omnibus survey, more than 25 percent of consumers will be searching for gifts online this year -- half of which expect to spend between $100 and $300. USATODAY.com has the following suggestions to make these experiences fun and hassle-free:

-- Seal the Deals. Take advantage of sites that notify you of big sales.

-- Watch the Clock. Avoid last-minute stress by shopping now. That way, you will be sure to find the gift you want in-stock, you'll escape exorbitant express shipping fees and your packages will get there on time.

-- Look for Shortcuts. If you are shopping for gifts, but don't have a particular store in mind, check out Web sites that provide a collection of good options in one location.

-- Read the Small Print. Research an online merchant's return policy before you buy something online. Look for sites that put their customer service contact information up front and make it easy to return things.

-- Keep It Safe. It is just as important to keep your personal belongings safe when you are shopping online as it is when you are shopping in a store. Make sure you shop from a vendor that posts its privacy policies online and offers you options about the use of your personal information.

(Web sites: shop.usatoday.com, usatoday.com)