Ultrex Thermal/Double Wall frying pans

CPSC Recall #03-069 — January 13, 2003

Recall Summary

Recall Number03-069
Recall DateJanuary 13, 2003
Remedy TypeDispose, No Remedy Available
Units AffectedAbout 8,700
ManufacturerInnova Inc., of Davenport, Iowa

Where It Was Sold

HSN LP (Home Shopping Network) sold the pans nationwide from October 2001 through September 2002 for between $20 and $50 individually and between $150 and $300 as a set.

Product

Ultrex Thermal/Double Wall frying pans

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Innova Inc., Davenport, Iowa, voluntarily recalled to replace about 8,700 Ultrex Thermal/Double Wall frying pans. The pans can explode or separate when preheated, used on high heat, or used for frying, which can pose a serious burn hazard from hot oil or food contents spilling onto consumers.Innova had received 16 reports of these frying pans exploding, including two consumers who received burns from hot oil and eight reports of property damage.The pans were manufactured in China and include an 8-inch omelet pan with stick handle and lid, an 8-inch fry pan with stick handle and no lid, a 9 1/2-inch fry pan with buffet handles and lid, and an 11 1/2-inch deep chicken fryer with stick handle and helper handle and lid. The outside of the pan is stainless steel and the inner surface has a black, non-stick coating. The pans have "DESIGNED IN THE USA, GOURMET QUALITY, ULTREX DOUBLE WALL, STAINLESS STEEL, INNOVA INC., DAVENPORT IA" engraved on the bottom.HSN LP (Home Shopping Network) sold the pans nationwide from October 2001 through September 2002 for between $20 and $50 individually and between $150 and $300 as a set.Consumers should stop using the frying pans immediately and discard or destroy the product. The firm is no longer in business, and a remedy is no longer available.

Hazard

The pans can explode or separate when preheated, used on high heat, or used for frying, which can pose a serious burn hazard from hot oil or food contents spilling onto consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Innova had received 16 reports of these frying pans exploding, including two consumers who received burns from hot oil and eight reports of property damage.

Remedy Instructions

Firm no longer in business. Recall remedy no longer available. Discard the product. Do not donate or resell.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available 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, No Remedy Available) 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.