Underwriters Laboratories — the “UL” you see on virtually all your mechanical or electronic products — has issued warnings about two foreign-made cables, saying they bear UL-approved markings but were not actually evaluated for safety.

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.

John Guilfoil is the editor-in-chief of Blast: Boston's Online Magazine. He can be reached at guilfoil.j@blastmagazine.com.