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K-Tel Food Dehydrators

CPSC Recall #97-097 — April 7, 1997

Recall Summary

Recall Number97-097
Recall DateApril 7, 1997
Remedy TypeDispose, No Remedy Available
Units Affected75,000

Where It Was Sold

Retail stores and telemarketers sold the dehydrators nationwide from October 1993 to December 1995 for $30 to $40.

Product

K-Tel Food Dehydrators

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), K-Tel International (USA) Inc. of Plymouth, Minn., announced a replacement program for 75,000 food dehydrators. The food dehydrator can overheat, presenting a fire hazard.K-Tel is aware of nine incidents resulting in seven fires. One person was injured by smoke inhalation.The recall program involved the Deluxe Dehydrator with Fan, model no. 80043. The round, white plastic appliance measures 13 inches in diameter with a 3-inch thick base and a gray plastic lid. The base is labeled in part, "K-TEL...Style No. LD 1010..." The base is stacked with five trays with holes in the center. Each tray contains a gray plastic tray on which fruit, vegetables, or meat can be dried.Retail stores and telemarketers sold the dehydrators nationwide from October 1993 to December 1995 for $30 to $40.Consumers who own the K-Tel Food Dehydrator with Fan, model no. 80043, should stop using it immediately. The company is out of business, and cannot be contacted. Please destroy or discard the product.K-Tel has already notified consumers who purchased the recalled food dehydrator through telemarketing. This notice is being issued to inform consumers who purchased the food dehydrator at retail stores about the recall program.

Hazard

The food dehydrator can overheat, presenting a fire hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

K-Tel is aware of nine incidents resulting in seven fires. One person was injured by smoke inhalation.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers who own the K-Tel Food Dehydrator with Fan, model no. 80043, should stop using it immediately. The company is out of business, and cannot be contacted. Please destroy or discard the product.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Dispose, No Remedy Available) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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