WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2017/Keurig-Green-Mountain-Agrees-to-Pay-5-Point-8-Million-Civil-Penalty
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced
today that Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., of Waterbury, Vermont, has agreed to pay a
$5.8 million civil penalty to the
government.
The penalty settles charges that Keurig knowingly failed to
report a defect and unreasonable risk of serious injury to CPSC
immediately with Keurig MINI Plus Brewing Systems, as required by
federal law.
Between 2010 and 2014, Keurig received about 200 reports of hot
water, coffee, and coffee grounds spraying out of the
brewers. In more than 100 of these incidents, consumers
suffered burn-related injuries to their faces, hands, and
bodies. Some of these injuries were severe and resulted in
second and third-degree burns.
In addition to paying a penalty, Keurig has agreed to develop,
implement and maintain a compliance program that is designed to
ensure that the company complies with the Consumer Product Safety
Act.
Keurig recalled about 6.6 million MINI Plus brewers in
December 2014. The brewers were sold
at Kmart, Kohl's, Target, Walmart and other stores nationwide and
online at www.keurig.com, www.greenmountaincoffee.com, and
www.keurig.ca from December 2009
through December 2014 for about
$100.
Keurig's settlement of this matter does not constitute an
admission of CPSC staff's charges.
The penalty agreement has been accepted provisionally by the
Commission by a 4 to 1 vote.
Statement by Commissioners Robert S. Adler, Elliot F. Kaye and
Marietta S. Robinson
About U.S. CPSC:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with
protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death
associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products
under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property
damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than
$1 trillion annually. CPSC is
committed to protecting consumers and families from products that
pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work
to help ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys,
cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals –
contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries
associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a
publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a
mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go
online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at
800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing
impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information
at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to
CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
CPSC Consumer Information Hotline
Contact us at this
toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:
800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to
report unsafe products.
Media Contact
Please use the phone numbers below for
all media requests.
Phone: 301-504-7908
Spanish: 301-504-7800
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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission