Exploding "bath bombs, balls and fizzies"

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that at least 13 people have been injured by exploding bath balls, also knows as bath bombs and bath fizzies.

A buildup of carbon dioxide blows the caps off the jars of Spa Factory's Aromatherapy Fountain kits and Spa Factory's Bath Benefits Kits.

Health Canada acknowledged the products were sold in Canada and are in the process of gathering information and will be issuing instructions for consumers regarding the recall. Both agencies agree that comsumers should stop using the products immediately.

These products were sold between August 2008 and January 2009, at Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and toy stores across the U.S. and cost $13 U.S. for the Bath Benefits Kit and between $30 and $50 for the Aromatherapy Fountain.

"The purple caps on the recalled products are found on Spa Factory's Bath Benefits Kit (model 37836), Deluxe Spa Fantasy Aromatherapy Fountain (model 37908), Spa Fantasy Aromatherapy Fountain (model 37837), Spa Fantasy Aromatherapy Fountain (model 54892) and Spa Fantasy Aromatherapy Fountain (model 54857) "

quote source: CBC.ca

The importer of the Chinese product is JAKKS Pacific Inc. of Malibu California and they have recalled 516,000 of the kits so far and are offering replacement caps with vent holes.

CBC.ca goes on to say, "After testing potential solutions, we found that placing two small holes in the caps adequately allows all built up pressure to escape, thereby preventing the caps from flying off," the company said on its website. "

I found the website http://www.jakkspacific.com/ and the Spa Factory section, but didn't find any information about the recall, even when I did several searches on their site using as many key words as I could think of ....

If you've purchased the product or you have questions or concerns'
You may contact the company at — 1-877-875-2557 (toll-free, North America only) or 1-909-594-7771 x560 — Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Pacific Time (GMT – 8), excluding holidays.

You may write to the company at:
JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
21749 Baker Parkway
Walnut, CA 91789

Source: CBC.ca

Canada Garlic Made in China?

After weeks of searching for Canadian garlic instead of the readily available Chinese variety, we were delighted to come across Canada Garlic brand and purchased a 2.2 pound (1 kg) bag.

Today I took a couple of pictures to include in this blog post and discovered that it is actually a product of China.



Here's a bit about Canada Garlic, as posted on their website:
"Canada Garlic is the largest garlic grower, importer, packer, distributor and processor of garlic in Canada." they also state, "Our priority is customer satisfaction and we believe that working hand-in-hand with our customers allows us to better understand and meet or exceed their expectations."

Well, understand this: My expectations are simple. If the product represents itself as a Canadian made or grown item, that is what I am laying my money down for.

A product with the name "Canada Garlic", based in Mississauga, Ontario, with a website called www.GarlicCanada.com, is representing itself as Canadian selling Canadian produce but has the audacity to sell a product of China. I feel deceived, disgusted and outraged that we can't even count on honesty from our produce suppliers.

Buyer beware is the bottom line.

Mailbag Response From Our Readers

January 23, 2009 4:45:11 PM
re: Canada Garlic
http://www.diytrade.com/china/4/products/1774141/Organic_Garlic_Can.html
This didn't come from me but if your interested look more into Canada Garlic. They sell processed product that is "product of Canada" but its all done in China.

February 4, 2009 12:40:32 PM
A reader sent me a message using our contact form, to let me know that I can purchase Canadian garlic from a Saskatchewan company called M & M Garlic. This is their website address: www.MMGarlic.com
Thanks for the information :)

Self Checkout Counters

Self checkout counters, increase the profits to the corporations while reducing their payroll.
Reduced payroll means LESS employees.
Demand more cashiers and say "NO" to the self checkout counters.

Here's how I put my money where my mouth is:
About a month ago, we were shopping at the Tecumseh Road East Canadian Tire store and they had only one cashier working.
The line grew and grew until finally another cashier came up and announced that we could use the self checkout registers. As people slowly moved towards the self checkout, I said, in a voice for all to hear, that we should not cash ourselves out, and should demand they open another cash register.

I continued, "why should we ring our own products through just so the corporations increase their profits and reduce their payroll" . Looking at the cashier, I said, "please tell your managers to open more cash registers because none of us are going to cash ourselves out"

With that, the people who left to check themselves out, returned to stand in our line.
Within minutes, another cashier arrived and opened another register.

One more person had work that day thanks to collective opposition to corporate greed disguised as automation and progress.

Night on the Town

Original title:
Classy Facade Cracks and Shatters

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