Recall: The Holmes Group Inc. Recall of Slow Cookers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 5, 2004 Release # 04-193

Firm's Hotline: (800) 299-1284 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, The Holmes Group Inc. Announce Recall of Slow Cookers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Rival Slow Cooker

Units: 1.8 million

Manufacturer: The Holmes Group Inc., of Milford, Mass.

Hazard: The handles on the base of the slow cookers can break, posing a risk of burns from hot contents spilling onto consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC has received 45 reports of handles breaking, including 14 reports of consumers who reported burn injuries from the hot contents.

Description: Only Rival Crock-Pot® slow cookers with model numbers 3040, 3735, 5025, 5070 and 5445 manufactured before May 2002 are included in the recall. The model number is printed on the UL label located on the bottom of the base. The recalled Rival slow cooker has a removable ceramic bowl that sits inside of a metal base. The Rival logo is printed on the front of the unit above the control knob. The bases are round or oval in shape and were sold in various colors and designs. A date code is stamped onto the plug at the end of the power cord attached to each unit. The first two digits represent the week of manufacture and the last two digits represent the year of manufacture. Any plug with a date code from 0199 (1st week of 1999) to 1802 (18th week of 2002) is included in this recall.

Sold at: Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target and additional discount department stores nationwide from January 1999 through May 2002 for between $15 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact The Holmes Group to receive instructions on receiving a replacement base.

Consumer Contact: Contact The Holmes Group at (800) 299-1284 anytime or visit the firm's Web site at www.rivalrecall.com