With 12 months of staying at home, working at home, schooling at home, and illness and economic strife to contend with, it’s understandable that many of us have been feeling our stress levels rise. Additionally, the combination of working at the kitchen table, binge watching Netflix all weekend, and generally being less active has resulted in more back and muscle pain for many of us. According to The New York Times, a 2020 survey from the American Chiropractic Association found that 92 percent of chiropractors said that patients reported more neck pain, back pain, or other muscle issues since lockdowns began. However, if you’ve been coming up with your own ways to cope while your local chiropractor, masseuse, or sports therapist is closed for business, you need to be careful of one method in particular. This week, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a recall on a popular heat massager due to a serious fire risk. Read on to find out what the brand and issue is, and for more recalls to be aware of, check out If You Have This Condiment at Home, Throw It Away Now, FDA Says.
The massager recall announcement, which the FDA posted on Jan. 28, relates to Wahl’s Deluxe Heath Therapy Massager, Model 4212. The issue has arisen because of a fault in the connection between the massager unit and the heat attachment that can overheat, causing smoke or a spark, which can lead to a fire hazard.
Anyone who owns one of these recalled massagers is advised to stop using it immediately and contact Wahl at 800-767-9245 or email at techsupport@wahlclipper.com. Under the terms of the recall, the company will arrange for a free return of the massager unit, with a full refund plus an additional $10 payment for the inconvenience.
The massager is hardly the only recent product to be the subject of a recall. Read on for other items you may have at home that've been recalled, and for another product that could be a problem, know that If You're Eating This for Breakfast, the FDA Says Stop Immediately.
1 | Oakshire Brewing beer
skynesher / iStockWhile we normally would think a hangover is the biggest risk beer poses, one can in particular is the source of danger of a different kind. Oakshire Brewing has voluntarily recalled one kind of beer—the brand's 16-oz. cans of Theme From the Bottom: Mango Raspberry Cheesecake Smoothie Sour Ale—because it has "visible signs of refermentation," which could cause the can to rupture.
The affected beer was sold online and through Oakshire Brewing's taproom between Jan. 16 and 18. "Before disposing of any cans… please put on protective gloves and a face shield (or goggles and a mask)," the brewing company warns. Then, they suggest placing the cans in a closed box and throwing them away outside. And for more goods that've gone bad, know that If You Have This Meat in Your Fridge, Throw It Away Now, USDA Says.
2 | Think! oatmeal
ShutterstockBad news for anyone kick-starting their new year by switching to some healthy oatmeal for breakfast. On Jan. 28, the FDA reported that the Farmer's Market Berry Crumble flavor of think! brand of oatmeal products was recalled as it may contain undeclared tree nuts. These are one of the most common allergies, and can trigger reactions as severe as life-threatening anaphylaxis.
The oatmeal products in question were sold in individual bowls with a UPC Code of 753656711836 or in a case of six bowls with a UPC Code of 753656712338, all with best by dates of Oct. 15, Oct. 16, Oct. 19, Oct. 20, or Oct. 21, 2021 stamped on the bottom of the package. If your oatmeal matches that description, the FDA says don't eat it and instead, return it to your point of purchase for a full refund. And for more another morning staple that's been recalled, If You Have This Coffee at Home, the FDA Says Get Rid of It Now.
3 | Bob Evans Italian sausage
BooostedAWD/iStockApproximately 4,200 pounds of Bob Evans Italian Sausage was recalled after “thin blue rubber” was found in some of the meat, the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Jan. 21. The affected sausage comes in 1-pound packages and has a use by/freeze by date of Jan. 31, 2021. The lot code 0352 is also printed on the package. FSIS says the recalled sausage “should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase." And for the latest recall news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
4 | Premium pepperoni Hot Pockets
MSPhotographic / ShutterstockThat Hot Pocket you’re about to put in the microwave could be filled with something far more dangerous than sauce, meat, and cheese. On Jan. 15, the FSIS reported that Nestlé Prepared Foods, Hot Pockets' parent company, announced the recall of approximately 762,615 pounds of Premium Pepperoni Hot Pockets due to potential contamination with plastic and glass. According to the recall notice, one customer reported a “minor oral injury" due to the presence of the dangerous foreign objects.
The affected Hot Pockets have best-before dates of Feb. 2022 and the lot code 0318544624, 0319544614, 0320544614, or 0321544614. If there's a box of the recalled Hot Pockets in your freezer, the FSIS recommends throwing them away or returning them to your point of purchase for a refund. And for more items to remove from your kitchen, check out If You Have These Chips at Home, the FDA Says Check Them Immediately.
