P&G recalls Vicks nasal spray after bacteria found

  CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Procter & Gamble Co. is recalling some 120,000 bottles of Vicks Sinex nasal spray after the company found bacteria in some samples during routine testing.
  Spokesman Tom Millikin describes the voluntary recall as a precaution after small amounts of the B. cepacia bacteria were found in the over-the-counter product at the German plant where it's made.
  Millikin says no illnesses have been reported. He says the bacteria could harm people with chronic lung problems or weakened immune systems.
  Three lots of the spray sent to stores in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom are being recalled.
  The company, which is based in Cincinnati, says it has informed regulatory authorities in the affected countries.

  (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)
  Posted 1:58 PM on November 19, 2009

Leggo my Eggo! Kellogg fights waffle shortage

  ATLANTA (AP) -- Dear Kellogg: Leggo my Eggo!
   Kellogg Co. says there will be a nationwide shortage of its popular Eggo frozen waffles until next summer because of interruptions in production at two of the four plants that make them.
   The company's Atlanta plant was shut down for an undisclosed period by a September storm that dumped historic amounts of rain in the area.
   Meanwhile, several production lines at its largest bakery in Rossville, Tenn. are closed indefinitely for repairs.
   Company spokeswoman Kris Charles says it will take until the middle of 2010 before shelves around the country are stocked at pre-shutdown levels.
   Already customers are noticing near-empty Eggo shelves on the freezer aisle at many grocery stores. They are lamenting the shortage on blogs, Twitter and Facebook.


  (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)
  Posted 4:53PM on November 18, 2009

Toys described as safest ever

  NEW YORK (AP) -- The chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commssion asserts: toys sold in the United States are safer than ever.
  Inez Tenenbaum appeared at a toy safety event at the giant Toys R Us store in New York's Times Square. She says new federal laws passed since the recalls of lead-painted Chinese toys have increased safety.
  So far this year, there have been fewer than 40 toy recalls, about a quarter as many as last year. Tenenbaum credits increased enforcement at US ports of new standards for imported toys.
  She says her office has been working closely with toy importers and manufacturers in China, where about 80 percent of US toys are produced.

  (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)
  Posted 3:54PM on November 17, 2009

T-Mobile resumes sale of Sidekicks after data loss

  NEW YORK (AP) -- T-Mobile USA is selling Sidekick phones again, more than a month after a server meltdown caused contact numbers, pictures and other personal information to disappear from many of the phones.
  Since then, Microsoft Corp. -- which runs the Sidekick servers -- managed to restore most of the missing user data. T-Mobile gave $100 gift cards to affected customers.
  The Sidekicks listed for sale on T-Mobile's Web site Tuesday are now slightly cheaper than before. For instance, the top-of-the-line LX model is now $150, down from $175.

  (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)
  Posted 9:52 AM on November 17, 2009

Vonage to settle investigation involving 32 states

  NEW YORK (AP) -- Internet phone service provider Vonage Holdings Corp. has agreed to pay $3 million to 32 states to settle an investigation into some of its business practices.
  In a filing Monday with the Securities Exchange Commission, the company says it also agreed to provide refunds to affected customers.
  Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden says his office received complaints from consumers who said they found it difficult to cancel their service with Vonage amid pressure from the company to keep their accounts.
  Maine's attorney general, Janet Mills, says Vonage will revise what it discloses regarding offers of "free" services, money-back guarantees and trial periods.
  Holmdel, N.J.-based Vonage says there was no finding of any wrongdoing or violation by the company.
  ------
  Besides Idaho and Maine, the other states participating in the settlement are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
 
  (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)
  Posted 4:15 PM on November 16, 2009