Lava Java Microwaveable Beverage Mugs
CPSC Recall #97-182 - September 2, 1997
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 97-182 |
| Recall Date | September 2, 1997 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 44,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Retail stores |
| such as Walmart and Stein Mart |
| and the Veterans' Canteens in Veterans Administration Medical Centers nationwide sold the mugs from July 1996 through January 1997 for about $10. |
Product
Lava Java Microwaveable Beverage Mugs
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Vesture Corp. of Asheboro, N.C., is recalling about 44,000 microwaveable beverage mugs sold under the name Lava Java. When heated in a microwave, the mug can ignite posing a fire hazard, or the mug's hard plastic shell can split open allowing hot thermal material to be discharged from the mug posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers.Vesture Corp. is aware of 14 reports of mugs catching on fire or discharging thermal material. Four consumers have reported being burned from the discharge of thermal material, two of whom sustained second-degree burns. Reported damage from the fires has been limited to the mugs or the microwave ovens.The recalled mug, measuring 5.75 inches high with a 5-inch wide bottom and 3.5-inch wide top, holds a 14-ounce beverage. The mug is made from hard plastic, colored gray, green or burgundy. The base and top of the mug are black. The words "Lava Java" are imprinted into the mug's top, side and base. Usage instructions also are imprinted into the mug's base. "MICROCORETM" is imprinted on the top of the mug's straight-shaped handle.The mug is packaged in a cardboard box that is labeled in part, "Lava JavaTM ...Microwaveable Heated Mug with MICROCORETM." There is a photograph of the mug on the box.Retail stores, such as Walmart and Stein Mart, and the Veterans' Canteens in Veterans Administration Medical Centers nationwide sold the mugs from July 1996 through January 1997 for about $10.Consumers should stop using the mugs immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. Consumers also can call Vesture Corp. at (800) 283-7887 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday to receive a postage-paid return envelope for the mug and a refund by mail.Other Lava Java mugs are not included in this recall. These other mugs can be identified by their curved-shaped handles. The handles of these other mugs do not have the word "MICROCORETM" imprinted on them.
Hazard
When heated in a microwave, the mug can ignite posing a fire hazard, or the mug's hard plastic shell can split open allowing hot thermal material to be discharged from the mug posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
Vesture Corp. is aware of 14 reports of mugs catching on fire or discharging thermal material. Four consumers have reported being burned from the discharge of thermal material, two of whom sustained second-degree burns. Reported damage from the fires has been limited to the mugs or the microwave ovens.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the mugs immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. Consumers also can call Vesture Corp. to receive a postage-paid return envelope for the mug and a refund by mail.
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.
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.