Campari disposable butane cigarette lighters

CPSC Recall #87-062 - October 19, 1987

Recall Summary

Recall Number87-062
Recall DateOctober 19, 1987
Remedy TypeDispose
ImporterCampari USA, Inc., of New York, New York

Product

Campari disposable butane cigarette lighters

Description

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Campari USA, Inc., New York, New York, today announced a program to alert consumers to the potential hazards of certain disposable butane cigarette lighters. The lighters in question are labeled "Campari, the smart mixable" on one side of the lighter body and on the other side will say, "Campari, Soda, the classic" or "Campari Grapefruit Juice, the exotic."These lighters were imported beginning in July of 1983 by Campari USA to be used as promotional items and were given to consumers free through liquor sales outlets.Certain of these lighters can shoot up excessively high flames or spew butane without lighting or before lighting. There have been no injuries reported involving these lighters.Since a consumer cannot readily differentiate between lighters which may exhibit the problem and those which do not, the firm is urging consumers who may still have these lighters in their possession to carefully dispose of them. In disposing of the lighters, consumers are warned to do so in such a way that children will not have access to the discarded lighters.The problem with these lighters was first brought to the Commission's attention by the Dade County Florida Fire Department when they received a box of these lighters from an anonymous source. The fire department forwarded the lighters to the Commission. No fires have been reported related to these lighters.To report unsafe consumer products or to receive safety information, call the CPSC toll-free hotline number at 800-638-CPSC. The teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (800) 638-8270.

Hazard

Certain of these lighters can shoot up excessively high flames or spew butane without lighting or before lighting.

Incidents & Injuries

There have been no injuries reported involving these lighters.

Remedy Instructions

Since a consumer cannot readily differentiate between lighters which may exhibit the problem and those which do not, the firm is urging consumers who may still have these lighters in their possession to carefully dispose of them. In disposing of the lighters, consumers are warned to do so in such a way that children will not have access to the discarded lighters.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose 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 (Dispose) 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.