OFFICIALS have recalled a kitchen basic sold at Walmart after reports of the devices catching fire.
Shoppers have been warned to immediately unplug the device after complaints of melting and overheating.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the minifridge – on sale for $40 – has caused property damage totaling more than $700,000.
The recall was announced at the close of July with a warning: “The internal electrical components of the minifridges can short circuit, leading to the ignition of the surrounding plastic casing, thus posing risks of fire and burns.”
The recall affects more than 600,000 units.
Customers will be offered a refund for the Curtis International minifridges with serial numbers EFMIS129, EFMIS137, EFMIS149 and EFMIS175.
They can be found on a label on the back of the minifridge, whioch was sold in black, blue, green, white, yellow, red, pink and silver.
Officials advised: “Consumers should cease using the recalled minifridges right away and adhere to the instructions provided at www.recallrtr.com/minifridge to obtain a refund.”
“Consumers should unplug and cut the power cord and write “Recall” using a permanent marker on the front door of the unit.
“Consumers should dispose of the recalled minifridges in accordance with local and state regulations.”
The fridges were sold at Walmart and on Amazon between January 2020 and December 2023.
It comes as a pair of heated socks have been recalled over the risk they can cause burns.
The item was sold at major retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, and Home Depot.
They were on sale for anywhere between $80 and $130.
Federal safety chiefs issued the recall on August 7.
Meanwhile, the manufacturer Hans Kissle is recalling a pasta salad product after containers were mislabeled as potato salad.
The recall was issued over an undeclared ingredient – wheat.
How to handle product recall
FOOD Safety experts insist that shoppers shouldn’t panic if they’re affected by a recall, as many are harmless.
However, consumers should take each warning seriously and follow the necessary steps to protect themselves.
Oftentimes, food manufacturers issue recalls as a precautionary measure, so there likely isn’t a foodborne illness hiding in your pantry.
However, even if the recall is merely a precaution, shoppers should always stay safe and not consume the affected items.
Experts advise people to keep a product closed if it hasn’t been opened, and never feed it to a pet or donate it to food banks.
Anyone who has handled or opened an affected item should wash their hands thoroughly with warm water and soap for 20 seconds.
Read the recall closely for specific instructions on how to get rid of the food item.
Typically, the brand will ask consumers to return the recalled product to the store where they purchased it for a full refund.
Sometimes shoppers will also be asked to throw it away so that no one else can eat it.
Source: FoodSafety.gov
And, officials at the Food and Drug Administration warned how this ingredient could cause some consumers to experience an allergic reaction.
The item was sold at Stop and Shop locations in states such as Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
And, batches of cookies sold at Target were recalled over fears they may have been contaminated with wood.
