Sterno Portable Butane Stoves

CPSC Recall #11-070 - December 15, 2010

Recall Summary

Recall Number11-070
Recall DateDecember 15, 2010
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 37,500
ImporterThe Sterno Group LLC, of Des Plaines, Ill.
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Sporting goods stores and other retail stores nationwide
including Puerto Rico
from September 2009 through September 2010
and to restaurants and restaurant supply stores from August 2006 through September 2010 for between $20 and $30.

Product

Sterno Portable Butane Stoves

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, The Sterno Group LLC, of Des Plaines, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 37,500 Sterno Portable Butane Stoves. The stove's "on-off" valve can fail to close completely when turned to the "off" position, causing butane to leak from the stove. This poses a fire and burn hazard to consumers.Name of Product: Sterno Portable Butane StovesUnits: About 37,500Importer: The Sterno Group LLC, of Des Plaines, Ill.Hazard: The stove's "on-off" valve can fail to close completely when turned to the "off" position, causing butane to leak from the stove. This poses a fire and burn hazard to consumers.Incidents/Injuries: Sterno has received one report of a stove failing to completely shut off. No injuries have been reported.Description: The recalled portable butane stoves have model numbers STO6001 and 50006. The single burner stoves are black and measure about 14 inches wide x 12 inches long x 4 inches high. They use an eight-ounce butane canister as the fuel source. "Sterno" is printed on the front of the stove. The model number and UPC 0-27371-50006-9 or UPC 0-76642-06001-6 is printed on the stove's packaging.Sold at: Sporting goods stores and other retail stores nationwide, including Puerto Rico, from September 2009 through September 2010, and to restaurants and restaurant supply stores from August 2006 through September 2010 for between $20 and $30.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled portable butane stoves and contact Sterno for instructions to return the units to Sterno for a free replacement stove. Do not return the stoves to the place of purchase.Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Sterno toll-free at (877) 478-3766 between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.sterno.com.

Hazard

The stove’s “on-off” valve can fail to close completely when turned to the “off” position, causing butane to leak from the stove. This poses a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Sterno has received one report of a stove failing to completely shut off. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled portable butane stoves and contact Sterno for instructions to return the units to Sterno for a free replacement stove. Do not return the stoves to the place of purchase.

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.