Samsonite recalls 250,000 Suitcases after Cancer scare

June 20, 2012

HONG KONG — Samsonite International is recalling 250,000 “Tokyo Chic” suitcases worldwide to replace handles on the bags after a Hong Kong consumer group found high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons linked to cancer.

Commonly found in plastics, rubber and lubricating oil, the traces of compounds were possibly left during manufacturing, the council said. They’ve been known to cause cancer and birth defects in animals.

The council’s tests gave readings for the compounds that were off the charts at 17,960 milligrams per kilogram.

But Samsonite commissioned independent tests from German and Hong Kong laboratories that showed levels were “significantly lower” than the council’s findings.

The luggage maker said that independent tests showed the suitcases posed no health hazard and it was carrying out the recall to allay consumer concerns. It will take about a week to replace the handles on 30,000 still in stock.

“A human being has to eat 100 handles and then you have the probability of one in a billion chance of getting cancer,” said said Ramesh Tainwala, Samsonite’s Asia-Pacific and Middle East president.

In Hong Kong, about 800 people have contacted the company about the suitcases and about 240 have asked for the handles on their bags to be replaced, Tainwala said. Samsonite said there are no legal guidelines for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The council used guidelines set under a voluntary German scheme for its tests.

Source: Strait Times

Category: General health news