Focus Products Group International, which owns the West Bend brand name, is recalling several hot cocoa drink makers today. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the small appliances have internal parts that may leach heavy metal lead while making hot cocoa.

There's a huge demand for portable power generators in the aftermath and clean-up from Hurricane Sandy. However 8,600 Champion-branded portable generators, sold exclusively at Costco, pose a fire hazard and are being recalled, warns the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The ravages of Hurricane Sandy may have ruined your medications. Follow this advice from the Food and Drug Administration to make sure the drugs you take are safe:

Whether you're a victim of Hurricane Sandy seeking relief or someone who wants to help out, don't become a victim of fraud.

As survivors of Superstorm Sandy start cleaning up the estimated $20 billion in destruction, homeowners need to prepare for another possible squall—with their insurance company, according to the latest data from the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

If you rely on electricity for home medical equipment like an oxygen tank, ventilator, medical bed, wheel chair, or blood glucose monitor, losing power can be much more than an inconvenience. Your first step should be to call your electric company and fire department to let them know that you have a medical device that needs power. While you wait for power to be restored or help to come, here's some advice from the U.S. Food and Drug and Administration on what else to do:

Floods can contaminate the water you drink, making a bad situation worse. Obviously, the simplest step is using bottled water if you can. If that's not available, follow this advice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

If you lost power during Hurricane Sandy, don't taste the food to see if it's OK. Instead, follow this advice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

You can't control Mother Nature, but you can be prepared when a storm such as Hurricane Sandy hits. Among the many items to have on hand are flashlights and plenty of extra batteries in case the power goes out at your home. LED flashlights are becoming more common, and many use AA batteries.

A report released today by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirms what we've known for some time: that exposure to single-use laundry detergent pods is an "emerging public health hazard in the United States," with young children being most vulnerable.

Investigators with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have opened a preliminary evaluation into 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe sport-utility vehicles after receiving reports that the steering column may come apart, resulting in a complete loss of steering capability.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a safety investigation into the 2005 Honda Pilot sport-utility vehicle after a consumer complained the SUV would suddenly stop without touching the brake pedal.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering a federal safety probe into 2005-2012 Ford Escape sport utility vehicles after receiving a plea from a state consumer agency of stuck electronic throttles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has opened an investigation into two popular Honda models, the 2003-2004 Honda Pilot sport utility vehicles and 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey minivans. The federal safety agency has received numerous complaints of the vehicles rolling away after consumers reportedly parked the vehicles and removed the keys.

Drivers of 2012 Hyundai Veloster sports cars, beware. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received complaints that the car's panoramic sunroofs may unexpectedly break and shower occupants inside the vehicle with glass shards.