Sunbeam-Oster Voluntarily Recalls Certain Electric Indoor Grills

PRODUCT: Approximately 4,500 Sunbeam-Oster Household Products' discontinued 1,000-watt electric indoor grills with the gray "Nu-Stone" plastic base. The grills were sold between September 1992 and June 1993. Affected grills have a "1,000-watt" designation and the number "E992" stamped on the portion of the grill's heating element that attaches to the variable temperature control.

PROBLEM: The grill can cause grease fires if users repeatedly grill food containing a high fat content without emptying accumulated grease between batches. The company has received four returns to date due to smoking of the indoor grills; no grease fires or injuries have been reported.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers who purchased the 1,000-watt indoor grills are urged to discontinue use and return them to Sunbeam-Oster for a replacement or a refund (at the consumer's option). For more information, consumers should call 1-800-986-0008.

WASHINGTON, DC -- Sunbeam-Oster Household Products, Schaumburg, IL, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced the voluntary recall of its discontinued 1,000-watt electric indoor grill with the gray Nu-Stone plastic base, which can cause grease fires under certain circumstances. The affected grills were sold between September 1992 and June 1993. The recall does not involve any other Sunbeam or Oster grills or products.

The recall is limited to the 1,000-watt variable temperature electric indoor grills with the gray Nu-Stone plastic base and patented "Griffo" porcelain grid, model numbers 4757 (Sunbeam brand) and 4772 (Oster brand). The Sunbeam brand sold for about $30.00 and the Oster brand sold for about $45.00.

Sunbeam-Oster no longer manufactures the 1000-watt indoor grill with gray Nu-Stone base. Current versions are sold with an 800-watt element.

The company believes that while the product is not defective, repeatedly grilling food containing a high fat content without emptying accumulated grease between batches could cause a fire.

Consumers who purchased the 1,000-watt indoor grills are urged to discontinue use and return them to Sunbeam-Oster, which will (at the consumer's option) either replace the unit with a new 800-watt version of the grill or refund the full purchase price.

To assist consumers, Sunbeam-Oster has established a toll- free number, 1-800-986-0008, which owners of the 1,000-watt indoor grills are urged to call. The company will send prepaid return mailing cartons to indoor grill owners.

About 6,600 indoor grills were shipped to retailers in September 1992 and fewer than 4,500 grills remain in the hands of consumers. To date, the company has received four returns due to smoking of the indoor grills. No injuries have been reported.

The grills being recalled are the 1,000-watt indoor electric grills with a gray Nu-Stone base. Owners of Sunbeam or Oster brand indoor grills can determine whether their grill is being recalled by looking for the 1,000-watt designation and the number E992 stamped on the portion of the grill's heating element that attaches to the variable temperature control.

The Recall Applies Only to 1,000 Watt Sunbeam-Oster Electric Indoor Grills with Gray Plastic Nu-Stone Bases

CPSC is joining in the announcement of this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.