Defrost heaters used in grocery store frozen food cases
CPSC Recall #04-163 — June 15, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-163 |
| Recall Date | June 15, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | 16,000 |
| Manufacturer | Heater Manufacturer: Electro-Heat Inc., of Allegan, Mich.Food Case Manufacturer: Tyler Refrigeration, of Waxahachie, Texas, a division of Carrier Commercial Refrigeration Inc., of Charlotte, N.C. |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Grocery stores nationwide use these wide island frozen food end cap cases with defrost heaters to display food items. The cases with heaters were sold by Tyler Refrigeration from the mid-1970s to the present. |
Product
Defrost heaters used in grocery store frozen food cases
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Electro-Heat Inc., of Allegan, Mich. is voluntarily recalling 16,000 defrost heaters used in grocery store frozen food cases. Moisture building up pressure inside the defrost heater can cause it to forcefully eject from the frozen food case, possibly injuring bystanders.Name of product: Defrost heaters used in grocery store frozen food casesUnits: 16,000Heater Manufacturer: Electro-Heat Inc., of Allegan, Mich.Food Case Manufacturer: Tyler Refrigeration, of Waxahachie, Texas, a division of Carrier Commercial Refrigeration Inc., of Charlotte, N.C.Hazard: Moisture building up pressure inside the defrost heater can cause it to forcefully eject from the frozen food case, possibly injuring bystanders.Incidents/Injuries: Carrier Commercial Refrigeration Inc. has reports of four incidents where the defrost heater forcefully ejected, and in two instances, the defrost heater penetrated through the end of the frozen food case. In one incident, a consumer's leg was broken.Description: The recalled defrost heater was used in Tyler's "wide island" frozen food end cap cases in grocery stores. The recalled defrost heaters (which are not visible to consumers) are Electro-Heat Defrost Heater Model 51957100. The Tyler wide island frozen food end cap cases with the recalled heaters are models NCE, NFE, NGE, NCGE, NFJEA, NCJEA, NCJGEA and NFJGEA. The model and serial number is located on the data plate, which is on the front inner panel of the case.Sold at: Grocery stores nationwide use these wide island frozen food end cap cases with defrost heaters to display food items. The cases with heaters were sold by Tyler Refrigeration from the mid-1970s to the present.Manufactured in: U.S.A.Remedy: Tyler will replace the recalled defrost heater with a Cal-rod hairpin style heater in all wide island frozen food and ice cream end cap cases.Consumer Contact: Tyler will contact its grocery store customers to set up appointments for the replacement of defrost heaters in these frozen food cases. For more information, contact Tyler's toll-free number at (800) 992-3744 x804 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit Tyler's website at www.tylerrefrigeration.com.Media Contact: Margaret Gan-Garrison at (860) 674-3370.
Hazard
Moisture building up pressure inside the defrost heater can cause it to forcefully eject from the frozen food case, possibly injuring bystanders.
Incidents & Injuries
Carrier Commercial Refrigeration Inc. has reports of four incidents where the defrost heater forcefully ejected, and in two instances, the defrost heater penetrated through the end of the frozen food case. In one incident, a consumer's leg was broken.
Remedy Instructions
Tyler will replace the recalled defrost heater with a Cal-rod hairpin style heater in all wide island frozen food and ice cream end cap cases.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair 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 (Repair) 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.