Alaskan Hair Saddle Pads
CPSC Recall #74-073 - October 31, 1974
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 74-073 |
| Recall Date | October 31, 1974 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 5,000 to 10,000 |
| Manufacturer | Perforated Pad Company, Woonsocket, Rhode Island |
Product
Alaskan Hair Saddle Pads
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 1) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with the Perforated Pad Company today warned consumers, particularly horse owners, that 5,000 to 10,000 "Alaskan Hair Saddle Pads" sold nationwide since January could be contaminated with anthrax spores.The saddle pads, which utilized imported animal hair, retailed for between $7 and $9. The pads were manufactured by the Perforated Pad Company, Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The saddle pads are about three-quarters to one-inch thick with cotton duck quilt on one side and exposed short coarse grayish-black colored animal hair on the other side. They range in sizes from about 26 by 28 inches to 30 by 30 inches. The pads may bear a three-by-five inch blue label on the quilted side that includes the name of the manufacturer and one of six style numbers: 238, 238R, 500, 500R, 832 and 832R. Consumers who own one of these saddle pads should place the product in a sealed double plastic bag and call a local or state health department for disposal instructions. Consumers should not attempt to sterilize the pad, incinerate it, or throw it away because of the risk of further contamination. Perforated Pad Co. has voluntarily agreed to refund the price of the pads to all purchasers. Consumers who bought one of these pads should contact the retailer from whom it was purchased to arrange for a refund. The Commission was alerted to the possibility of anthrax contamination by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services following the death of a horse in the state and the subsequent deaths of numerous animals on a private game ranch who were fed the infected horse meat. Anthrax is an acute bacterial disease which can be fatal for humans if untreated. It can be transmitted from a product bearing the anthrax spores through skin contact, inhalation or ingestion of contaminated foods. Anthrax infection is not contagious from one person to another. The disease, for humans and animals, may start with a blister or pustule and can develop into a depressed area of dead tissue with a dark crust. Fever and other symptoms may not appear until the disease is severe. This warning is being issued in the interest of the public health and safety and in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control which is under the Public Health Service in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The Commission is continuing its investigations to determine whether the contaminated animal hair has been sold to other manufacturers by the importer and used in the production of other products.
Hazard
Alaskan Hair Saddle Pads sold nationwide since January could be contaminated with anthrax spores.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission was alerted to the possibility of anthrax contamination by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services following the death of a horse in the state and the subsequent deaths of numerous animals on a private game ranch who were fed the infected horse meat.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who own one of these saddle pads should place the product in a sealed double plastic bag and call a local or state health department for disposal instructions.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund 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) 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.