By Linsey B. Knerl

As you pack up the holiday cheer and head to the mall to take advantage of the drastically-reduced Christmas merchandise, be aware that some holiday products have been recalled. A recent set of warnings and actions may affect some of the nifty displays sitting on your fireplace mantle. Do you have these products in your home?

Hallmark has recently recalled their Jumbo Snowman Snow Globes. The decorative globes, sold at Hallmark Gold Crown retailers from October through November of this year, cost about $100 each. There have been two reports of the globes causing fire to nearby objects, as the glass on the globe acts as a magnifier to light. (Remember what happens to little ants that get caught in the glare of a magnifying glass?) Unless you want similar things to happen to your curtains or wallpaper, return it to your local retailer for a full refund. The recall affects model number 1XAG5093 and UPC code 795902066666. (Pictures of the recalled globe can be found at the official Consumer Product Safety Commission website.)

Candle-powered carousels from Gardener’s Supply have been recalled. I remember having a similar decoration in my home growing up. Even then, it didn’t seem like a good idea. This particular item is made from pine wood (not metal like the one I remembered) and it can catch on fire. Specifically, the candle holder placement on the base of the decorations has been placed too close to the structure – the fans, trees, and little cut-out deer could go up in flames at any time. (Three reports of fires have been noted, but no injuries at this point.) These items should be returned to the store where they were purchased for a full refund, or they can be mailed to Gardeners Supply Returns, 5 New England Drive, Essex Junction,VT 05452. For more information, see the full recall at CPSC.gov.

G&J Cocoa Stocking Stuffer items recalled due to possible melamine contamination. It looks like Santa left a little more than coal in some folks’ stockings this year… with a recent recall of cocoa items designed to be given as gifts, there is also a scare of melamine to be worried about. Sold at both Big Lots and Shopko during September and October of this year, only a few of the samples have tested positive for the contaminant. You should still check your items against the list at the FDA website, just to be sure.

Because many holiday decorations are made from lead, you will also want to be diligent in checking your year-after-year items for recalls. (Sometimes things get recalled in the off-season, and they may go unnoticed with all your decorations packed away.) The best way to see if any of your items have been recalled is to check the CPSC website for past recall alerts. You can search by category, or by keyword. Try searches for “holiday” “Christmas” or “winter” for all of the alerts that have been issued for the past few years. Most of the alerts contain full-color photos to help you determine if you are harboring a recalled product.