TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's trade ministry said on Tuesday that three fires had been caused by overheating Apple iPod nanos, which it said could be due to a battery defect.
No one was injured in the three fires involving the music players made by Apple Inc but the government said in a statement Apple had reported two other cases where people had suffered minor burns.
Apple officials were not immediately available for comment but the ministry said the firm had said a possible defect in iPod nano battery cells could have caused them to overheat.
The trade ministry said iPod nanos with known overheating incidents were sold in Japan between September 2005 and September 2006.
A semi-governmental body specializing in product safety will look into the cause of the incidents in cooperation with Apple, a trade ministry official said.
"We are not in the position to speculate on the outcome of the investigation. But after several incidents like these, it would be appropriate for Apple to take some measures to raise the public's awareness," the official said.
Photo Copyright Getty Images
Copyright 2008 Reuters. click for restrictions
(UPI) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Mars Petcare U.S. is recalling some Pedigree-brand dog food due to possible contamination.
The FDA said the recall of Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites was limited to bags sold in Albertsons stores in Southern California an
d the Las Vegas areas.
The recalled pet food might be contaminated with Salmonella and should not be fed to pets.
The 20-pound bags of recalled dog food carried UPC 23100 14719, lot code 830BFCAT02 and had "Best Buy Date: 07/2009" printed on the back of the bag.
Pet owners can return the bags to the place of purchase for a refund or contact the company at 877-568-4463 for further information.
© YellowBrix, Inc. Copyright 1997-2008
(UPI) – President George W. Bush Thursday signed into law legislation
that reauthorizes the Consumer Product Safety Commission and expands its
authority. 
H.R. 4040, which Congress approved last month, reauthorizes the commission
for fiscal years 2010-2014, the White House said in a statement.
Among other things the law bans lead and six types of phthalates -- esters of
phthalic acid added to plastics to increase their flexibility -- in toys.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the law "will strengthen our
ability to prevent unsafe toys from being sold, remove from the shelves more
quickly products that are found to be harmful, and increase fines and penalties
for violating product safety laws."
Photo Copyright Getty Images
© YellowBrix, Inc. Copyright 1997-2008
© 2008