Top recalls for the week of July 8 include blood pressure meds, dog food, Toyota vehicles

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, American Health Packaging, Viva Raw, Toyota, Hatch Baby, Volkswagen recalls overview:

• Who: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, American Health Packaging, Viva Raw, Toyota, Hatch Baby, and Volkswagen recalled products last week.
• Why: The top recalls involve product safety and possible risk of harm. 
• Where: The recalls are effective in the United States; the MGA Entertainment recall is also effective in Canada.

Several popular companies, retailers and manufacturers announced recalls last week for products that may pose a risk of injury to consumers. Here are Top Class Actions’ top recalls for the week of July 8.

Blood pressure med recalls issued over potential failed dissolution

Last month, Glenmark Pharmaceutical and American Health Packaging issued recalls for multiple batches of Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules, USP (750 milligrams), 10 mEq K, due to concerns over failed dissolution tests. These recalls encompassed 114 batches from Glenmark Pharmaceutical and 21 batches from American Health Packaging. 

The capsules are commonly prescribed to manage blood pressure by supplementing potassium levels but were found to have insufficient dissolution rates during testing, according to the recall notices. This issue raises the risk of hyperkalemia, characterized by elevated potassium levels that can lead to serious health complications, such as irregular heart rhythms and potentially cardiac arrest.

The companies distributed the recalled medication across the United States through various wholesale, distributor and retail channels, the recall notices say. Consumers currently using these recalled capsules are advised to consult their health care providers before discontinuing use and promptly report any symptoms that could be related to elevated potassium levels. 

Consumers experiencing any adverse reactions or quality issues should report these incidents to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch program. For additional information regarding the recall process and instructions for returning the affected medication, consumers can contact recall solutions vendors Sedgwick at 1-855-695-8564 or Inmar Rx Solutions at 1-877-883-9273. 

Viva Raw recalls dog, cat food due to potential listeria contamination 

Viva Raw recalled five varieties of dog and cat foods after detecting contamination with listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium posing potential health risks to both humans and pets. 

The FDA website posted the recall July 1. It specifically affects products under Lot No. 21244, including Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground, Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked, Viva Turkey for Cats, Viva Pure Turkey and Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause severe infections in pets and pose risks to humans through handling contaminated products or contact with pets that have consumed them, the recall notice states.

A routine FDA inspection in North Carolina identified samples from Lot 21244 that tested positive for listeria monocytogenes, according to the recall notice. Although the affected products were intended for destruction, Viva Raw discovered some had been inadvertently released from the warehouse. While no illnesses linked to these products have been reported, consumers nationwide should check for recalled batches and contact Viva Raw for a refund.

Toyota issues recall for 145,000 cars due to airbag defect

Toyota announced a recall affecting more than 145,000 vehicles, including models from the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander and Lexus TX550 lines, due to potential issues with the deployment of curtain shield airbags. 

The recall addresses concerns that the driver’s side curtain shield airbag may not fully deploy as designed, potentially leaving a portion of the airbag outside of the window opening if the window is down, the notice states. This could result in the vehicle not meeting specified ejection headform displacement requirements, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.

The affected vehicles, equipped with these specific curtain shield airbags intended to deploy from the side roof rails, include 2024 models of Toyota Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid and Lexus TX350, TX500 Hybrid and TX550 Hybrid +. Toyota assured owners that once a repair solution is determined, it will be provided at no cost. It says it expects to mail letters notifying owners about the recall Aug. 19, 2024.

Hatch Baby announces recall for power adapters due to shock hazard

Hatch Baby initiated a recall of more than 900,000 AC power adapters sold with its Rest 1st Generation sound machines following reports of a potential shock hazard. 

According to the recall notice posted on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website July 3, the plastic housing surrounding the power adapter can detach when removed from a power outlet, exposing the electrical prongs and posing a risk of electrical shock.

Hatch Baby received 19 reports of the plastic housing coming off, including two incidents where consumers experienced minor electrical shocks. The company urges consumers who own these adapters to immediately stop using them and contact Hatch Baby for a free replacement. 

Hatch Baby is notifying registered owners directly about the recall, the notice states. The company sold the affected products online at Hatch.co and Amazon.com, as well as at various retail stores nationwide, including BuyBuyBaby, Target, Walmart, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn Kids and BestBuy, with prices ranging from $60 to $70. 

VW recalls Atlas vehicles due to potential passenger airbag defect

Volkswagen Group of America announced a recall affecting more than 270,000 VW Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles due to potential defects in their front passenger airbags. The recall includes model year 2021-2024 VW Atlas vehicles and model year 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. 

Volkswagen identified a concern with the passenger occupant detection system wiring, which could malfunction and deactivate the front passenger airbag even when the seat is occupied, the recall notice states. This deactivation increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash, prompting the recall action.

To address the issue, Volkswagen says it will conduct repairs at its authorized dealerships, replacing the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness in the affected vehicles at no cost to owners. The automaker also says it  plans to mail recall notification letters to impacted vehicle owners starting Aug. 16, 2024. For further information or questions regarding the recall, affected customers can contact Volkswagen directly at 800-893-5298.

Have you purchased any of the products listed in our top recalls recently? Let us know in the comments. And be sure to check out other top recalls.

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