recalls

Heads up, moms! The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has recently reported three significant recalls:

• Huffy has recalled their Slider Tricycles, exclusively sold at Toys R Us, as the handlebar can loosen and pose a potential crash hazard.
• Multiple retailers have recalled high-powered magnetic balls, Buckyballs. If two or more balls are swallowed, they can cause potentially fatal internal injuries.
• Eight different styles of Carter's infant clothing have been recalled, as the zipper can detach and become a potential choking hazard.

If you've purchased any of the items above, check the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website to determine whether your particular models are included in the recall.

Kroger stores are recalling pet food amid fears that some products may contain aflatoxin, a toxic chemical byproduct that could be harmful to animals. Nineteen states are affected — Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia — and customers are urged to check labels for expiration dates of Oct. 23 and 24, 2011.

Affected brands are:

• Pet Pride Cat Food
• Pet Pride Kitten Food
• Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food
• Kroger Value Cat Food
• Kroger Value Chunk Food

If your pets have supped on this in the past, see what warning signs to look for and read more

• More eggs have been recalled. — Slashfood
• Why the best wine for Thanksgiving is Pinot Noir. — Serious Eats
• Barbara Fairchild talks dessert trends. — Feast
• Hillary Clinton reveals how she and Bill negotiate what to order for takeout. — Huffington Post Food
• Must make: Winter cobb salad. — Cooking With Amy
• Wendy will star in the new Wendy's ads. — Eater
• Chef recommendations: what exactly do they mean? — Grub Street NY
• Learn how to make vegan tofurkey that tastes good. — Chow

For dogs that usually find Blue Buffalo kibble in their bowls (and the owners that put it there), consumers take note. Blue Buffalo company recalled certain packages of its Wilderness Chicken, Basics Salmon, and Large Breed Adult Chicken dry dog foods sold under the "Blue" brand, which have the potential to contain excessive levels of vitamin D.

While not as dangerous as salmonella, it is risky to expose a pet to too much of this nutrient. Pups reacting to excess amounts may show signs of lethargy or exhibit unusually frequent water consumption and urination.

See the exact recalled product names and dates when you read more

If your pet has health issues that warrant special formulas, take note as the latest, voluntary recall affects cat and dog kibble distributed to veterinary clinics and specialty pet retailers. Although the first alert came last week for only the Iams Feline Renal Veterinary Dry Formula, it has expanded to that entire line and a few more from Eukanuba, too.

The specialized foods on this list are:

• Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas for Cats and Dogs
• Eukanuba Dog Dry Naturally Wild
• Eukanuba Dog Pure
• Eukanuba Dog Custom Care Sensitive Skin

Some products made at this facility with "Best-By" dates between July 1, 2010, and Dec. 1, 2011 have the potential for Salmonella contamination so discard the food and contact P&G for product refund information, remember how to report a problem to the FDA, and brush up on your Salmonella facts, too!

Although this warning doesn't affect wet food or treats, get the full list of kibble UPC codes here.

If you treat a pet to any supplements in the form of tablets or powders, check the label — it could be on the latest recall list.

Plagued by another possible Salmonella contamination, the latest FDA recall affects a wide range of items from brewer's yeast and glucosamine joint tabs to vitamins and even pet breath mints! What makes this issue especially tricky is that these items are sold under different brand names at different retailers, so check the UPC codes to be on the safe side. All affected items will show an expiration date of between 1/13 and 6/13, so if you're spotting those dates, take it back to the point of purchase for further direction.

Although we offered a similar advisory back in January, Merrick is now recalling 10 oz. bags of Beef Filet Squares from Lot no. 10084TL7 for a possible Salmonella contamination.

If you still have the resealable package, check for a "Best By 3/24/12" date — those batches may be tainted so return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. To be on the safe side, if you're not sure when you bought the snacks and they look like this, discard and treat your pooch to something else instead.

Luckily no illnesses have been reported yet — the bacteria was caught in a routine FDA surveillance sampling — but be careful when handling the treats (to discard them), remove anything else they could have contaminated, and thoroughly clean any containers, too.