Press Releases

For Immediate Release
March 11, 2005

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 385-6686
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Firm’s Media Contact: Chris Mitchell (203) 877-0025

CPSC, Applica Consumer Products Inc. Announce Recall of Black & Decker® Brand ProBlend® Blenders

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.)

Name of product: Black & Decker® brand ProBlend® blenders

Units: About 500,000

Manufacturer: Elec-Tech International Co. Ltd., of China. Applica Consumer Products Inc., of Miramar, Fla., made and sold these blenders under the Black & Decker® brand.

Hazard: The blades can weaken or break during use while making frozen beverages. A broken blade presents a risk of injury if taken into the mouth or swallowed.

Incidents/Injuries: Applica Consumer Products Inc. has received reports of 18 incidents of broken blades associated with this problem. No injuries have been reported.

Description : The recall includes Black & Decker® brand ProBlend® models BL5000, BL5900 and BL6000. The recalled ProBlend® products are 5-speed, 550-watt blenders with 48-ounce marked glass jars. Each model has a die-cast, brushed stainless steel base bearing the name “Black & Decker.” The model number is located on the bottom of the product.

Sold at: Retailers nationwide from December 2003 to January 2005 for between $40 and $60.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact Applica Consumer Products Inc. to receive a free replacement blade assembly.

Consumer Contact: Call Applica Consumer Products Inc. toll-free at (800) 385-6686 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.regcen.com/blenderrecall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

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Black & Decker® and plus Black & Decker® are registered trademarks of The Black & Decker Corporation (Towson, MD); used under license by Applica Consumer Products, Inc.