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The company has stated that they have not received any complaints or reports of illness as a result of the contaminated dog food. The report states that twenty-six states have been affected by the recall. Anybody that purchased the recalled dog food can return it to the store from which they bought it and get a full refund.

Salmonella can not only affect animals but also people. In this instance, the contaminated dog food becomes the source from which the dogs get sick and then pass the illness on to their owners. There are several symptoms that can affect both animals and humans alike including vomiting, stomach pain, fever, and diarrhea. The recall from the Natural Balance company is exactly the kinds of preventative measures a company should take in order to ensure the safety and health of their consumers.

In a statement by Walmart after the initial post by the AP, it has stated that they will remove the jewelry immediately.  The jewelry was exclusively made for Wal-mart, the world’s largest retailer.  According to reports, Wal-mart Stores Inc. learned about the cadminium danger in the jewelry in February but did not remove the items.  Wal-mart representatives told the Consumer Product Safety Commission that it would be too difficult to test products that are already on the shelves.  How many of the items have already been sold was undisclosed.  There was no mention of whether or not the bracelet charms by Fashion Acessories would be removed.  The Miley Cyrus jewelry hit stores in December.

Long term exposure to cadminium has been linked to kidney failure and bone softening.  It is also a known carcinogen, which can hinder brain development in children the same way lead can. The danger of the jewelry is not with being worn, it is if the jewelry is put into the mouth.  Since the Miley Cyrus Jewelry has such a high appeal with the younger demographic, the concerns are mounting.  It is important for manufacturers to test products being distributed, especially when the products are for children.  Retailers need to be more aware of the dangers of the products and pull them from the shelves as soon as a concern arises.  The safety of the consumer is never something to postpone or ignore.

For more information on product recalls, visit the US Consumer Products Safety Commission. 

For additional information on product recalls and product liability issues, visit the Solomon & Relihan Product Liability information page.

According to the Houston Chronicle, 24-year-old Michael Patrick Jacobs died on April 18, 2009 after being Tasered for 54 seconds.  Jacobs had a history of mental illness and his family called the police when he began acting aggressively.  The police used the Taser to subdue him, even though he was unarmed. 

The city did not admit wrongdoing in offering the settlement, but Brian Eberstein, the family's attorney, said, "This is the city's recognition that there are serious and significant issues with respect to the policies and training of the department that need to be fixed and that the use of this weapon as a tool for compliance, which is basically how the city of Fort Worth uses it, is something that they need to carefully look at."

Tasers have been a controversial police tool since they began being used by police departments.  This study by Amnesty International documents Tasers' lethal capability and abuse by police and other authorities.

If someone is wrongfully injured or killed by a Taser or other such device used by police, both the police department and the product manufacturer may be found liable.  For more information on this, visit Solomon & Relihan's Product Liability information page.