An example of accelerator pedal interference caused by out-of-position all-weather floor mat. (Media credit/Courtesy of NHTSA)

“This is an urgent matter,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “For everyone’s sake, we strongly urge owners of these vehicles to remove mats or other obstacles that could lead to unintended acceleration.”

According to NHTSA, the problem is with the clearance of the actual foot pedal.

Toyota and Lexus vehicles affected by this consumer alert are:

• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2007-2010 ES 350
• 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350

According to NHTSA, in September 2007, Toyota recalled another all-weather floor mat sold for use in some 2007 and 2008 model year Lexus ES 350 and Toyota Camry vehicles because of similar problems.

For more information, call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s hotline at 888-327-4236 or the Toyota Experience Center at 800-331-4331 or the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 800-255-3987.

About 1.5 million silver-colored Durabrand DVD players were recalled August 20, and Wal-Mart expanded the recall September 1 to include pink and purple versions of the same player. About 4.2 million total units are now under recall.

Owners should immediately stop using the players and call Wal-Mart at 800-925-6278.

According to the CPSC, the DVD player’s circuit board can overheat. Wal-Mart received seven reports of fires sparked from overheating causing property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The Chinese-made players were sold exclusively at Wal-Mart stores nationwide from January 2006 through July 2009 for about $29.

Models affected by the recall include the Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, GTI, and Eos built between September 2008 and August 2009.

According to VW, the recall applies to 2009 model year vehicles along with a few of the 2010 model year vehicles.

A faulty temperature sensor on the transmission may trigger false-positive warning lights on the cars, or in some cases the fault may cause the transmission to shift into neutral.

Volkswagen said it will contact owners of affected vehicles. Owners can schedule a free appointment with their dealer to check for and fix the problem.

Customers who have questions or concerns should call the Volkswagen Loyalty Center at 1-800-444-8982.

Didn’t your mom ever tell you not to eat raw cookie dough? It’s got egg and stuff in it.

This is a voluntary recall, and grocery stores around the country have pulled the cookie dough from shelves.

No complains have arisen about eating cooked cookies.

Recalled items include a variety of chocolate chip cookies in tube, tub and bar form and Christmas, Halloween, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, and Easter themed cookies. Though, if you’re seeing Christmas or Halloween cookie dough at your local Stop & Shop, that’s a whole different problem.

The Centers for Disease Control and several state health departments are investigating an outbreak of E. coli infections that might be linked to these products. Throw them away if you have them. If you get E. coli sickness, it will result in cramps, diarrhea, bloody stool, and could cause kidney failure, which is more common in the young and elderly.

The ICX360500 (InCharge for Xbox 360), ICWII200 (InCharge for Wii) controller charges have been forged by a Chinese company called Wellform Industrial Ltd. from Guangdong.

The counterfeit products bear falsified UL Marks for the United States and Canada and have not actually been verified by the UL for safety.

UL doesn’t know exactly when the fake products were made or how many were produced. They appear to be regularly sold on Amazon.com.

Blast reviewed the real charger late last year.

“FDA has advised Kellogg Company that Salmonella was found in one package of Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter,” the FDA said in a statement Monday. “This product had previously been recalled by Kellogg, in one of a series of industry recalls relating to Peanut Corporation of America’s recall of peanut-based ingredients.”

“We apologize to our consumers and customers, and we can’t emphasize enough our disappointment and deep regret about this situation,” said David Mackay, president and CEO, Kellogg Company. “The food industry upholds certain operating standards and we are proud that we exceed these standards in our facilities. Events of the last week suggest there was a breach in this supplier’s process that is unacceptable to Kellogg, our customers and our consumers.”

The FDA has urged customers Jan. 14 to dispose of recalled peanut butter and peanut paste products.

Kellogg has promised an internal investigation.

“Based on our learnings from this experience and consistent with our 100-year commitment to quality and food safety, Kellogg will evaluate its processes to ensure we take necessary actions to reassure consumers and rebuild confidence in these products,” Mackay said.

According to the FDA, products impacted by the Kellogg recall were produced on or after July 1, 2008, including:

• Austin Quality Foods Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter – all sizes
• Austin Quality Foods Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers – all sizes
• Austin Quality Foods Mega Stuffed Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter – all sizes
• Austin Quality Foods PB & J Cracker Sandwiches – all sizes
• Austin Quality Foods Super Snack Pack Sandwich Crackers
• Austin Quality Foods Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers – all sizes
• Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter – all sizes
• Austin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
• Austin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
• Austin Quality Foods Cookie/Cracker Pack
• Austin Quality Foods Variety Pack
• Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers – all sizes
• Keebler Toast & PB’n J Flavored Sandwich Crackers – all sizes
• Keebler Toast & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers – all sizes
• Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies (2- and 3-ounce)
• Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies (2.5-ounce)

First, late last month, UL warned industrial contractors and distributors that a 1000-foot communications cable made by a Hangzhou Xingfa Transmission Equipment Co. Ltd. bears a counterfeit UL Mark for the United States. The communications cable has not been evaluated for safety by UL and is not eligible to bear the UL Mark.

Hangzhou Xingfa is based in Zhejiang Province, China.

The cable displays the following description: KWC RG59/U 20AWG BC (UL) CM E236949 ***FT, which is counterfeit.

Then Friday, a Taiwanese company, Ho Wah Genting Kintron, issued a recall for a standard consumer/home extension cord.

The recall affects 27,000 units of triple-plug receptacle extension cords made in 2004 and shipped all over in 2005. The problem here is that the plastic casing may not be properly secured together, and if it separates it could cause fire or a deadly shock.

The cord’s blue packaging features the description “Snug Plug” in orange lettering.

The company says to return the product where you bought it — but that was three years ago right? Throw it away and buy a new cord.

In this case also, the extension cords were labeled with counterfeit UL-listed marks and do not actually comply with UL’s safety requirements.

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is an independent product safety certification organization that evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems every year. More than 21 billion UL Marks appear on 72,000 manufacturers’ products each year in 99 countries.

The batteries, just like the portable audio and video players they recalled last November, were made in China.

Coby warns that the rechargeable batteries can overheat and catch fire. There have been four reports of fires from the batteries overheating, resulting in what the company called “minor property damage.” No one has been hurt yet.

The batteries were sold with Coby’s TF-DVD 1020 portable swivel-style music and video player. Last year, it was the TF-DVD170 and TF-DVD176 players that were recalled entirely — 12,000 units — because of fire worries.

Recalled Batteries Serial Number Ranges:
DG240043D503000001-1006
DG240006D503000001-400
DG240039D603000001-3000
DG240111D603000001-2000
DG240143D602000001-3000
DG240106D602000001-2000
DG240106D702000001-2000
DG240183D942000001-100
DG240071DB02000001-1400
DG240115D702000001-1726
DG240115D702000001-2500

The products were sold at discount toy and electronics stores for about $170 from May 2007 through this July.

For additional information, contact Coby Electronics toll-free at 866-945-2629 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.cobyusa.com/.

See also: Consumer Product Safety Commission listing.

By the way: In a reporting error. We spelled Coby “Colby” by accident in an early version of this story.

Seven Massachusetts residents joined two from Pennsylvania as the latest victims of a food poisoning outbreak after eating ground beef tainted with E. coli bacteria.

The source of the outbreak was traced to Whole Foods market and beef supplier Coleman Natural Beef, which has been tied to a nationwide recall earlier this summer.

Consumers are being advised not to eat beef purchased at Whole Foods between June 2 and Aug. 6.

Five of the Massachusetts victims were hospitalized but are expected to recover. Victims ranged in age from 3 to 60.

“Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed,” according to a statement by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission.

The Maspeth, N.Y. company sold 12,000 of the units at discount electronics, music, toy, and office supply stores as well as wholesale distributors, the CPSC said. They sold for $140 and $170 respectively.

The products were manufactured in China.

Coby is offering a full refund to all customers. For additional information, call them toll-free at 877-231-9240 or visit the their website at www.cobyusa.com.

The company recalled 15,000 MP-CD475 boomboxes in April for the same reason.