Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex Slow Cookers
CPSC Recall #03-160 — July 16, 2003
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 03-160 |
| Recall Date | July 16, 2003 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | 2.7 million |
| Manufacturer | Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, of Glen Allen, Va. |
Where It Was Sold
| Discount department stores nationwide from January 1999 through December 2002 for between $15 and $45. |
Product
Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex Slow Cookers
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex is voluntarily recalling slow cookers. The handles on the base of the slow cookers can break, posing a risk of burns from hot food spilling onto consumers.Name of product: Slow Cookers Units: 2.7 millionManufacturer: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, of Glen Allen, Va.Hazard: The handles on the base of the slow cookers can break, posing a risk of burns from hot food spilling onto consumers. Incidents/Injuries: The company has received approximately 4,700 reports of handles breaking, including two reports of consumers who required medical attention for burns.Description: The recalled slow cookers were sold under the Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex brand names, which are printed on the front of the base of the unit. The slow cookers are either round or oval, and were sold in solid white and various print designs. They have a capacity of 3.5 to 6.5 quarts. The slow cookers have series codes A through D which are printed on the bottom along with the model number. Brand NamesModel NumbersHamilton Beach33390, 33475, 33575, 33590, 33675, 33690, 33725, 33850, 33860Hamilton Beach / Portfolio33680Proctor-Silex33320, 33320FD, 33325, 33375, 33380, 33625ASold at: Discount department stores nationwide from January 1999 through December 2002 for between $15 and $45.Remedy: Consumers will be shipped a replacement slow cooker base.Consumer Contact: Hamilton Beach toll-free at 800-851-8900 anytime or visit the firm's website at www.hamiltonbeach.com or www.proctor-silex.com.Media Contact: Kirby Kriz at (804) 527-7299.
Hazard
The handles on the base of the slow cookers can break, posing a risk of burns from hot food spilling onto consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
The company has received approximately 4,700 reports of handles breaking, including two reports of consumers who required medical attention for burns.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers will be shipped a replacement slow cooker base.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (Replace) 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.