In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, LTD Commodities Inc. of Bannockburn, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 33,000 Snowman Holiday Porcelain Lanterns. These snowman lanterns can crack or catch fire because of excessive heat from the tea light candles used to light them. LTD Commodities has received 18 reports of the snowman lanterns cracking or catching on fire, including one about a consumer who suffered a burn to her finger.

The recalled Holiday Porcelain Votive Lanterns are shaped like a snowman and have a white body, brown tree-limblike arms, an orange nose and a black hat. A votive tea light candle illuminates the snowman from inside and can be seen through holes in the body, the face and hat. The lanterns’ product code number is HVO-MAN 102723-01, and a label on the bottom of the snowman reads, in part, “WARNING: This item becomes extremely hot during use” and “MADE IN CHINA.” LTD Commodities sold these lanterns through their mail-order catalogs between September 2001 and November 2001 for about $4.

Consumers should stop using these lanterns immediately and contact LTD Commodities toll free at (866) 736-3654 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. CST Monday through Friday for information about returning the product for a full refund.

Flora-Lite Co. of Clearwater, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 7,500 strings of Rice Lights Christmas lights. The lights’ wires can be easily pulled out of the plugs and light sockets. The lights could pose electrocution and electric shock hazards to consumers and could pose a fire hazard. The Rice Lights are 22 feet long with 140 nonreplaceable miniature lights on each string. They have multicolor bulbs with green wire, clear bulbs with white wire, or clear bulbs with green wire. The fused plug reads “TING SHEN,” and “TS-20.” The lights have a push-button control box that allows for eight different lighting effects, including “CHASING FLASH,” “SLOW FADE” and “STEADY ON.” There is no mark of an independent testing laboratory. The packaging is a green box that included the writing, “Rice Lights,” “Flora-Lite Co., Clearwater, FL” and “Made in China.” Specialty garden stores nationwide sold these Christmas light sets from June 2001 through December 2001 for about $20.

Consumers should stop using these recalled light sets immediately and return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. For more information, consumers should call Flora-Lite Co. at (800) 411-7381 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 50,500 Candele glitter candles. The glitter on the candles can ignite, posing a fire hazard. Walgreens received one report of the glitter on the candle catching fire. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

The pillar candles were sold in two sizes, 3 inches high and 6 inches high. The candles are coated with glitter and come in red, green and gold. The recalled candles have one of the following item numbers printed on a label affixed to the bottom of the candle: 642413, 642423, 642424, 642409, 642410 and 642411. Walgreens stores nationwide sold the candles from August 2001 through December 2001 for between $3 and $4.

Consumers should stop using the candles immediately and contact Walgreens for a refund. For more information, consumers should contact Walgreens toll free at (866) 241-0105 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.walgreen.com

The volunteers at COMBAT’s Maine Center for the Public Interest wish all our friends, members and readers a safe and happy holiday season.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT/The Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. For help or to request individual or business membership information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.