• 21
  • December
    2011

Glenwood chefs and home cooks alike know that there are many things to be wary of in the kitchen. Points of caution include: sharp knives, hot ovens, salmonella, flaming stoves, boiling liquids, spinning blades, and of course the electrical cords of culinary gadgets and gizmos. But, ice cream scoops? These usually do not top risk lists, unless calories number among your main safety concerns.

However, Colorado holiday dinner hosts and hostesses should take note that a popular ice cream scoop was recalled this week following consumer injuries. The Pampered Chef, based in Addison, Ill., announced a product recall of about 20,000 ice cream scoops because they can cause injuries.

The recall was voluntary, according to a news report, and it was prompted by 16 reports of damage to kitchen items and six reports of injury due to the scoop. Apparently, when the liquid-filled ice cream scoop makes contact with warm water - which is quite common in order to facilitate scooping - the seal and cap at the end of the handle can fly off with significant force.

Thus far, all of the recorded injuries have been fairly minor. Reports included bruises, cuts, and general redness as a result of impact from the caps. However, the risk should not be taken lightly because when an object unexpectedly flies through the kitchen, it could certainly end up in someone's eye or cause someone to trip and fall, among other results. And, of course, even a minor cut in the kitchen can give way to infection.

While this blog entry began light in tone, injuries caused by defective or poorly designed products are no laughing matter. When someone is injured as a result of a defective product, he or she has the right to pursue a products liability case in order to seek compensation for related medical costs and lost wages among other damages.

Before serving ice cream, make sure you are not using a faulty scoop. The ice cream scoop in question was sold under the Pampered Chef name from July to September 2010, according to the company. It cost about $15 and was manufactured by Zeroll Co. of Fort Pierce, Fla.

Source: Reuters, "Ice cream dippers recalled over impact hazard," Ian Simpson, Dec. 21, 2011