Skeins of imported yarn
CPSC Recall #76-011 - February 8, 1976
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 76-011 |
| Recall Date | February 8, 1976 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose |
| Units Affected | Approximately 15,000 pounds |
Where It Was Sold
| According to Commission investigators |
| the contaminated yarn appeared to have been offered for sale through many retail outlets over the last year. Some may have been sold by mail order. |
Product
Skeins of imported yarn
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 9) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with Creative Handweavers, Inc., of Los Angeles, California, today warned consumers that they have found skeins of yarn containing animal hair or wool that may be contaminated with anthrax spores. Approximately 15,000 pounds of this affected yarn have been distributed nationwide. The hand-spun yarn, imported from Pakistan and distributed nationwide, utilizes animal materials and retails for between $1 and $2 per skein, and has been imported by Creative Handweavers, Inc., Los Angeles, California, from Safraz Brothers, Lahore, Pakistan. The types of hand-spun yarn include: gray goat; black goat; white goat; white goat/camel; gray goat/ camel; black goat/camel; and 100% camel. The skeins bear no label. The Commission learned of the contamination by the death of a 31-year-old weaver in Morro Bay, California, in late January. Yarn obtained from Creative Handweavers was found in the weaver's home. According to Commission investigators, the contaminated yarn appeared to have been offered for sale through many retail outlets over the last year. Some may have been sold by mail order. Consumers who own this yarn should seal the yarn or products made from it in an airtight double plastic bag and call a local or state health department for disposal instructions. Consumers should not attempt to sterilize the yarn, incinerate it, or throw it away because of the risk of further contamination. 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 mainly through skin contact and in rare circumstances through inhalation. Anthrax infection is not contagious from one person to another. While risk of dangerous human infection is low, the disease can be quite serious. The disease may start with a blister 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, Atlanta, Georgia. The Commission is continuing its investigations to determine whether the contaminated yarn has been sold to other importers. For further information, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission toll-free hotline at 800/638-2772.
Hazard
Yarn may be contaminated with anthrax spores.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission learned of the contamination by the death of a 31-year-old weaver in Morro Bay, California, in late January. Yarn obtained from Creative Handweavers was found in the weaver's home.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who own this yarn should seal the yarn or products made from it in an airtight double plastic bag and call a local or state health department for disposal instructions. Consumers should not attempt to sterilize the yarn, incinerate it, or throw it away because of the risk of further contamination.
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.