Recall: Cigarette Lighters Recalled by Halpern Import

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 28, 2000 Release # 00-189

Halpern Recall Hotline: (800) 624-5280 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052

CPSC, Halpern Import Co. Announce Recall of Cigarette Lighters

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Halpern Import Co. Inc., of Atlanta, Ga., is recalling about 350,000 disposable cigarette lighters. These lighters can burn with a high flame and can fail to extinguish, presenting fire and burn hazards.

CPSC and Halpern Import Co. have received one report of a woman who received second degree burns on her chest when the lighter failed to extinguish and ignited her clothing.

The disposable cigarette lighters being recalled are oval-tube- shaped. "TURBO 2000" is printed on the body of the lighter. The lighters have a green, red, blue, black or yellow body and a metal top. A label on the lighter reads "CHILD-RESISTANT DISPOSABLE LIGHTER," "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN," and "MADE IN CHINA." UPC number 0 80692 05010 1 is printed on the back of the lighters.

Tobacco and thrift stores nationwide sold these lighters from June 1999 through May 2000 for about $1.

Consumers immediately should stop using these lighters and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, consumers should call Halpern Import Co. at (800) 624-5280 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.