CPSC, Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc. Announce Recall of Grocery Frozen Food Case Heaters
CPSC recall 04163 · announced June 16, 2004 · Electro-heat · 16,000 units affected
The product
The recalled defrost heater was used in Tyler's "wide island" frozen food end cap cases in grocery stores. The recalled defrost heaters (which are not visible to consumers) are Electro-Heat Defrost Heater Model 51957100. The Tyler wide island frozen food end cap cases with the recalled heaters are models NCE, NFE, NGE, NCGE, NFJEA, NCJEA, NCJGEA and NFJGEA. The model and serial number is located on the data plate, which is on the front inner panel of the case.
The hazard
Moisture building up pressure inside the defrost heater can cause it to forcefully eject from the frozen food case, possibly injuring bystanders.
What to do (per CPSC)
Tyler will replace the recalled defrost heater with a Cal-rod hairpin style heater in all wide island frozen food and ice cream end cap cases.
Notes
Incidents (per CPSC): Carrier Commercial Refrigeration Inc. has reports of four incidents where the defrost heater forcefully ejected and, in two instances, the defrost heater penetrated through the end of the frozen food case. In one incident, a consumer's leg was broken.
Sold at: Grocery stores nationwide use these wide island frozen food end cap cases with defrost heaters to display food items. The cases with heaters were sold by Tyler Refrigeration, from the mid-1970s to the present.
Consumer contact: For more information, contact Tyler's toll-free number at (800) 992-3744 x804 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission public recall data. This page reports official records and is not legal, medical, or repair advice.