Search for 3,000 defective cookers

DESPITE repeated warnings the consumer watchdog is still trying track down more than 3,000 defective gas cookers which have been linked to one death here and at least five in Britain.

The National Consumer Agency (NCA) yesterday issued another call to the public in an effort to locate more than 3,000 gas cookers which, in certain circumstances, can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a highly dangerous gas. Colourless and odourless, the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those caused by other illnesses such as a cold or flu. They include unexplained headaches, chest pains or muscular weakness, sickness, diarrhoea or stomach pains, sudden dizziness and general lethargy.

Earlier this month, two teenagers, Neil McFerran, 18, and Aaron Davidson, 18, died in a holiday apartment from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

Despite a major media campaign last year, more than 3,000 of the 7,500 cookers sold since 2003 have yet to be located.

According to the NCA, for certain models of Beko, Flavel, Leisure and New World gas cookers with a separate oven and grill, operating the grill with the grill compartment door closed can cause potentially fatal levels of carbon monoxide to be produced.

NCA chief executive Anne Fitzgerald again called on the public to check their cookers to see if it is one of the models in question.

“The manufacturers have made a number of attempts to date to trace these cookers, however more than 3,000 remain untraced. We are again appealing to all consumers to check their cookers. We are also urging people staying in holiday homes or mobile homes to check the cookers,” she said. “We would also call on landlords or letting agents, who may be renting their accommodation out to students to check the cookers in their premises as many of the cookers involved were entry level models, and may have been purchased by landlords for rented accommodation. We would also urge people to bring this warning to the attention of elderly relatives and neighbours and, ideally, do the check on their behalf.”

The NCA is urging all consumers with gas cookers to:

- Check to see if your cooker is one of the makes/models affected.

- Contact the relevant manufacturer helpline numbers, if you have one of the affected models, to arrange for a free modification.

- Do not under any circumstances operate the grill with the grill door closed, it must always be in the open position.

- Use the cookers in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and do not use them for any purpose other than cooking.

A nationwide leaflet drop by An Post on behalf of the manufacturers who are trying to trace the remaining cookers that have not been inspected and modified is taking place throughout the month of August.

Consumers are advised to check the leaflet, or the NCA website, www.consumerconnect.ie to see which models are affected.

Consumers can arrange for a free safety inspection and modification by calling the following numbers:

- For Beko, Flavel and Leisure cookers, freephone 1800 25 29 25 (9am-8pm Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm Saturday-Sunday).

- For New World cookers, freephone 1800 569 569 (9am-5pm Monday-Friday).