GE has recalled 62,000 of its GE Profile front-loading washers because the washer's basket seam can separate during the final spin cycle and break the machine's top panel posing a hazard. GE has received 19 reports of baskets separating, including 10 that resulted in top panel breakage. No injuries have been reported.

Today Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, asked the Consumer Product Safety Commission to take steps regarding the dangers posed to children from single-use detergent packets. Since the beginning of the year, poison-control centers have received almost 3,000 calls regarding exposure to single-use laundry and dishwasher detergent packs involving children five and younger.

Boutique food chain Trader Joe's has issued a nationwide safety recall for its Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter, said the Food and Drug Administration. The concern over possible salmonella contamination in the 16-ounce jars of the peanut butter staple underscores the need for the Food Safety Modernization Act—a toughened safety bill whose implementation has been stalled by the U.S. government for the past nine months, says Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports.

Haier America Trading has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $850,000 to resolve Consumer Product Safety Commission allegations that the company failed to report a defect involving its blenders that resulted in nearly 60 incidents and an injury to a consumer's hand.

An article out last week about organic food argued, among other things, that while organic meat does have lower levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria than conventionally raised meat, that really doesn't mean much since bacteria are killed during cooking anyway. Our response: Hogwash.

A recall of nearly 500,000 window blinds from Blind Xpress in Linovia, Mich., has been issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The horizontal and custom-made vertical blinds have cords that can strangle young children, warns the federal agency.

A new review of previous research on organic food is getting a lot of media attention for concluding that the published literature "lacks strong evidence" that organic food is significantly more nutritious than conventionally grown food. But news reports covering the findings may be oversimplifying or distorting what the study really found, according to our in-house experts, and consumers shouldn't be misled into believing that there isn't a benefit to paying more for organics, particularly for certain populations.

More than 600,000 single-serve coffeemakers have been recalled by Mr. Coffee in the U.S. and Canada because a build-up of steam in the coffeemaker's water reservoir can force the brewing chamber open, spitting out hot coffee grounds and water. There have been 61 reports of burns to consumers' faces, upper torsos and hands and 164 reports of the brewing chamber opening due to steam pressure, according to the recall notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

GE Appliances has recalled about 1.3 million of its GE, GE Adora, GE Eterna, GE Profile, and Hotpoint dishwashers because an electrical failure in the heating element can pose a fire hazard.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation recalled 795,000 Kenmore dehumidifiers because the units can overheat, smoke, melt and catch fire, posing a fire and burn hazard. Sears has received 107 reports of incidents, including three smoke inhalation injuries and more than $7 million in property damage.

The Food and Drug Administration says not to eat cantaloupes from Burch Equipment in North Carolina because of possible Listeria contamination. Burch Equipment shipped 580 cases of whole cantaloupes on July 15, to New York and Maine.

Alltrade Tools has recalled about 45,000 Kawasaki cordless drills because the trigger switch can short and generate excessive heat, posing a burn hazard. Alltrade has received 33 reports of incidents, including one minor burn injury.

Dole Fresh Vegetables has recalled 1,077 cases of bagged salads because of a possible Listeria risk, including Kroger Fresh Selection bagged lettuce products and Walmart's Marketside bagged lettuce products.

Flushmate, a division of Sloan Valve Company, has recalled 2.3 million Flushmate III Pressure-Assist Flushing Systems in the U.S., and 9,400 in Canada because the system can burst at or near the vessel weld seam releasing stored pressure. The flushing system is installed inside a toilet tank, and the pressure can lift the lid and shatter the tank.

Big Lots has recalled about 70,500 portable space heaters and portable oscillating space heaters because they can overheat and melt, posing a fire or electric shock hazard.