Cheese Recalled For Listeria, Space Heaters Spark Fires

Space heaters sold by Amazon and certain luxury-brand ranges have been recalled by their manufacturers because they pose fire and burn hazards, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Also in consumer recall news, the grocery chain Aldi is recalling Brie and other soft cheeses because they may be contaminated with listeria. A second recall for products contianing Brie spreadable cheese sold in six states also comes amid concerns of listeria contamination.

Sources for this report are the CPSC, the Food and Drug Administration, and theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Space Heaters Recalled After Sparking 7 Fires

At least seven fires were sparked among 113 reports that GoveeLife and Govee Smart Electric Space Heaters overheated, and one person received a minor injury, according to a recall notice by CPSC Thursday. Some 512,500 space heaters are affected by the recall.

The agency said the space heaters don’t comply with the voluntary industry product safety standard, posing an overheating and fire risk from wireless control features

The space heaters were sold by Amazon, on the Govee website, the company’s home app, and the TikTok Shop from September 2021-2024 for between $30 and $150. Consumers can get a full refund, with instructions for doing so on the CPSC website.

Wolf Dual Fuel Ranges Pose Burn, Fire Hazard

About 44,000 Wolf Dual Fuel ranges with infrared griddles have been recalled because the range can short-circuit if liquids boil over or are spilled and turn on the griddle unexpectedly, posing a burn and fire hazard.

The luxury appliance manufactuter said it has received 36 reports of griddles turning on but no reports of injuries, according to a recall notice Thursday from the CPSC.

The ranges were sold at appliance stores nationwide from August, 2920-September 2024 for between $12,500 and $23,000.

A full list of the recalled ranges is found on the CPSC website, along with instructions on contacting Wolf Appliance Inc. to schedule a free at-home repair. Consumers who have the range should stop using it until repairs can be made.

Cheeses Recalled Over Listeria Concerns

A Pennsylvania-based cheese producer has recalled Brie and other soft cheeses sold in several states because traces of Listeria monocytogenes were found in routine checks of processing equipment.

The complete list of recalled cheeses is found on the FDA website. Most have a “best by” date of Dec. 24, 2024. They were sold at Aldi and other stores in states that include Indiana, Texas, California, Missouri, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

There have been no reported illnesses by those who consumed the cheeses.

More Cheese With Listeria Contamination Potential

Noblesville, Indiana-based CIBUS Fresh is recalling some of its sandwiches containing Glenview Farms Spreadable Brie after it was notified by a supplier that the cheese may be contaminated with listeria.

The potentially contaminated products under the CIBUS Fresh, Jack & Olive, and Sprig and Sprout labels were distributed in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee.

The recalled products include CF/Autumn Turkey, J&O Autumn Turkey and S&S Autumn Turkey sandwiches. Item numbers and UPC codes are found on the FDA website.

Do Any Of These Recalls Affect Your Car?

Certain models of Volkswagen Beetles and Passat cars, Mazda SUVs and Dodge Ram pickups have been recalled, according to the NHTSA.

Volkswagen recalls 115,000 Beetles and Passats: Nearly 115,000 of the vehicles have been recalled because the driver-side airbag inflators may explode, posing a risk of injury, according to a recall notice. The affected vehicles are equipped with Takata airbags, which have been the subject of the agency’s largest and most complex ever product safety recall. Volkswagen dealers will replace the driver-side front airbag module at no charge. Owners of the affected vehicles are being notified by mail.

Affected vehicles are 2017-2019 Volkswagen Beetles; 2017-2019 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles; 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat Sedans; 2012-2014 Volkswagen Passats; and 2017 Volkswagen Passat Wagons.

Mazda recalls 150,000 vehicles with multiple defects: Multiple defects in recent models that may increase the risk of a crash prompted the recall. The affected vehicles are 80,915 model year 2024-2025 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 vehicles.

The defroster, seat belt warning, 360-degree view monitor functions and the PHEV high-voltage battery cooling system may not function properly, according to the recall notice on the NHTSA website. Owners will be notified about the recall by Dec. 30 and get instructions on how to get a repair.

Mazda also recalled 38,926 of its 2024 CX-90 vehicles: According to the NHTSA, “the engine may not restart after the idling stop feature (i-stop) turns off the engine due to a software issue.” When the engine doesn’t restart, crash risks increase, the agency said. Owners should take their vehicles to a dealer, where service technicians will reprogram the powertrain control module and the battery energy control module software at no cost.

Owners will be notified about the recall by Dec. 30 and get instructions on how to get a repair.

Ram recalls 30,000 trucks due to stability control issue: About 33,777 Ram trucks produced between Oct. 13, 2023, and Aug. 11, 2024, may have issues with a damaged part that could cause the speed wheel sensor to malfunction and disarm the Electronic Stability Control, increasing the risk of a crash. The automaker is currently notifying dealers and will send out recall notification letters by mid-December, according to the NHTSA.

Ram dealers will inspect and fix the defect, and replace the bearing rings for free if they are damaged. Owners who have already paid to repair the problem are eligible for reimbursement from the automaker with proof of payment.