Aroma Juice Extractor Recall

Press Release # 02-204

Transcript


TEXT: Redesigned Model ACJ-250

(View of juicer and box to zoom-in on "AROMA" label on juicer and then a side view of the juicer. View of person taking apart the various pieces of the top of the juicer and a close-up on the inside and the model number on the box. View of a hand pointing to the label on the bottom of the juice extractor).

TEXT: Government Laboratory Test of the Aroma Housewares Juicer

TEXT: Sound Bite: Patricia L. Hackett Mechanical Engineer U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

(View of carrot pieces being run through the juicer, then CPSC's Mechanical Engineer demonstrates, as she speaks, the problem that the juicer poses)

CPSC Mechanical Engineer speaks, "The problem that we have heard from consumers deals with the shattering of the plastic cover. It shatters due to the strainer, or basket, which is located inside and is responsible for chopping and making the food into juice. It ends up first shattering and because it is moving at a high rate of speed, once it shatters it impacts the inside of this cover which allows the cover to impact, sending plastic debris."

TEXT: Original-Design Model ACJ-250

(View of CPSC Mechanical Engineer in lab with both original and redesigned juicers)

CPSC Mechanical Engineer speaks, "This is a sample of the original design which was recalled three years ago, and it was recalled for the exact same problem. We had a problem with the covers breaking apart. The biggest difference is the difference in design of the cover. Although this cover is stronger, we're still having a problem with this unit, and that's why we're recalling this one as well. As you can see, this one is a little bit beefier in terms of the amount of plastic being used, it also has a slightly different plastic, it's a bit more impact-resistant than this one, and therefore you can actually tell, it's a different sheen in terms of the plastic."

TEXT: Damaged Redesigned Juicer Sent In By Consumer

(View of Mechanical Engineer with damaged juicers, displaying and demonstrating as she speaks)

CPSC Mechanical Engineer speaks, "When this juicer was being used at the time of the incident, the basket - strainer - was the first thing that broke. It shattered during use and then it broke apart into several pieces as you can see here. Upon breaking apart it impacted the cover, which was on at the time, and broke apart here which caused various pieces of the cover, the plastic of the cover, to shatter and go scattering around the room. This plastic is very sharp especially at the high rate of speed at which it is impacted and breaks. It can definately cause severe lacerations."

TEXT: Damaged Original-Design Juicer Sent In By Consumer

CPSC Mechanical Engineer speaks, "As you can see, it has a simmilar failure mechanism as the newer ones, we're talking about, where the strainer basket breaks apart and causes impact damage to the cover which you can see here. This one has been shattered in several places. We've tried to tape it together to reconstruct it and even with the taping effort, there are several fragmets that are left out that went flying through the room."

TEXT: Aroma Housewares Consumer Hotline (800)278-6266

End.