July 11, 2001
Atico International USA
Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 198,000 electric
percolators. If the thermostat fails, the plastic housing of the percolator can
overheat and melt while in use, posing a fire hazard. Atico has received six
reports of fires as a result of overheating with these percolators resulting in
minor property damage to kitchen counters and cabinets. There have been two
reports of minor burns to the hand.
The recall includes Atico's Kitchen
Gourmet Automatic 10 Cup Percolator and Prinetti Electric 10 Cup Percolator. The
white plastic percolators have gray bases. The Kitchen Gourmet Automatic 10 Cup
Percolator is decorated with three red flowers on the front. The Prinetti
Electric 10 Cup Percolator is plain white with "Prinetti" written on the front.
Drug and discount stores nationwide sold these percolators from January 1996
through January 2001 for about $10.
Consumers should stop using these
percolators immediately and call Atico International toll free at (800) 645-3867
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for information on how to
receive a refund.