"Beef-Iron and Wine" liquid dietary supplement

CPSC Recall #94-042 — March 2, 1994

Recall Summary

Recall Number94-042
Recall DateMarch 2, 1994
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units AffectedApproximately 2,000

Product

"Beef-Iron and Wine" liquid dietary supplement

Description

PRODUCT: Approximately 2,000 one-pint bottles of "Beef-Iron and Wine" liquid dietary supplement distributed through health food and nutrition stores nationwide from January 1, 1993 through December 1, 1993 by Metro International Distributors, Inc. PROBLEM: The recalled bottles lack child-resistant packaging. A child could accidentally ingest too much iron at one time, leading to serious illness or death. WHAT TO DO: Return unused portions of the recalled product to the place of purchase for a replacement bottle with child-resistant packaging or for a full refund. For more information consumers may call Metro International Distributors, Inc. at 1-800-851-2342. WASHINGTON, DC -- CPSC, Metro International Distributors, Inc., Carlstadt, NJ is voluntarily recalling its "Beef-Iron and Wine" liquid dietary supplement. Because of its iron content, Beef-Iron and Wine must be sold in child-resistant packaging to comply with the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The recalled bottles lack child-resistant packaging. A child could accidentally ingest too much iron at one time, leading to serious illness or death. The recalled Beef-Iron and Wine was sold in brown plastic bottles with white screw-on plastic caps. Each bottle contains 16 fluid ounces (1 pint) of liquid product with 112 milligrams (mg) of iron per the recommended dose of three tablespoons. The bottle is labeled "Beef-Iron and Wine *** Hematinic *** Alcohol 10% by volume *** 16 FL. OZ. (1 PINT)." The label also reads, "DISTRIBUTED BY METRO INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS, INC., 217 Washington Avenue-A, Carlstadt, N.J. 07072." This recall applies to Beef-Iron and Wine packaged in containers with white conventional screw-on caps. It does not include any other iron-containing products manufactured by Metro International Distributors, Inc. Approximately 2,000 bottles of the recalled iron product were sold to consumers through retail health food and nutrition stores nationwide between January 1, 1993 and December 1, 1993. Neither Metro International Distributors, Inc. nor the Commission is aware of any poisoning incidents due to the Beef-Iron and Wine liquid supplement. However, the Commission is aware of several ingestions and at least 25 deaths since 1990 from other iron-containing products, as reported by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Consumers should immediately return unused portions of any bottles of the recalled Beef-Iron and Wine liquid to the store where purchased. They will receive a replacement bottle with child-resistant packaging or a full refund. Consumers may call Metro International's toll-free number 1-800-851-2342 for more information. CPSC became aware of the packaging problem through its ongoing poison prevention packaging inspection program. CPSC enforces the requirement that any dietary supplement containing an equivalent of 250 mg or more of iron per package must have child-resistant packaging. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's mission is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.

Hazard

The recalled bottles lack child-resistant packaging. A child could accidentally ingest too much iron at one time, leading to serious illness or death.

Incidents & Injuries

Neither Metro International Distributors, Inc. nor the Commission is aware of any poisoning incidents due to the Beef-Iron and Wine liquid supplement.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately return unused portions of any bottles of the recalled Beef-Iron and Wine liquid to the store where purchased. They will receive a replacement bottle with child-resistant packaging or a full refund.

What Should You Do?

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

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 (Refund, Replace) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

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.