Pizza Stones Safety Alert by Pfaltzgraff

Description

Pizza Stones Safety Alert by Pfaltzgraff NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:Ken Giles July 14, 1997 (301) 504-7052 Release # 97-157 CPSC, Pfaltzgraff Issue Safety Alert Concerning Pizza Stones WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Pfaltzgraff Co. of York, Pa., is warning consumers about a potential fire hazard with about 123,500 Pfaltzgraff pizza stones and deep dish pizza stones. If consumers use oil on the stones and clean them using a 550 degrees Fahrenheit oven or using the oven's self-cleaning cycle, as currently recommended in the instruction booklets accompanying the stones, the stones can catch on fire. Pfaltzgraff is providing consumers with new instruction booklets for the safe use of the pizza stones. The revised instruction booklets will inform consumers of the following: Use the stones only for making pizza or bread. Do not cook at temperatures exceeding 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Clean the stones by placing them on the bottom rack of a 425 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 4 hours and scouring them, after cooling, with baking soda. Pfaltzgraff has received two reports of pizza stones catching on fire due to incorrect cleaning instructions. No injuries were reported. The Pfaltzgraff pizza stone and deep dish pizza stone are made of unglazed clay, which is designed to give a characteristic "brick oven" quality to pizza and bread. The pizza stone is a flat disk about a half inch thick and 13 inches wide. A floral design and "Pfaltzgraff USA" are molded into the bottom of the stone. The deep dish pizza stone is a pie plate about 2 inches deep and 11 inches wide. "Pfaltzgraff USA" and "Baking Stone" are molded into the bottom of the stone. Pfaltzgraff outlet stores and department stores nationwide have sold both pizza stones for about $20. The pizza stone has been sold since 1993 and the deep dish pizza stone has been sold since 1995. Consumers should destroy the instruction booklets accompanying the pizza stones immediately. Consumers can receive new instruction booklets by calling Pfaltzgraff at (800) 999-2811 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday. Consumers who want to return their pizza stones for a full refund should call Pfaltzgraff to obtain shipping instructions.