A safety notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission can tell consumers to stop using an appliance without creating the repair, replacement or refund program people often associate with a recall. A recent pressure-cooker case shows why that distinction matters.
In February, CPSC warned consumers to stop using and dispose of Gourmia model GPC625 pressure cookers, saying they posed serious burn hazards. The agency said importer The Steelstone Group LLC, doing business as Gourmia, and Best Buy, which sold most of the units, had refused to agree to an acceptable recall.
That made the notice a product-safety warning rather than a cooperative recall with a CPSC-approved consumer remedy. For owners, the practical difference was stark: CPSC told them to stop using and dispose of the cooker, but the warning offered no free replacement, repair or refund.
What a Voluntary Recall Does
Most CPSC recalls are carried out cooperatively. Manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers can have reporting obligations under Section 15(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act when they obtain information reasonably supporting a conclusion that a product violates an applicable safety rule, contains a defect that could create a substantial risk of injury or presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.
CPSC’s Fast Track Recall Program is one route for companies prepared to move quickly. A participating business must be ready to implement a corrective-action plan, including a consumer-level recall, and immediately stop sale and distribution. CPSC says the remedy can be a refund, repair or replacement.
The agency’s Fast Track guidance says an acceptable corrective-action plan includes a CPSC-approved remedy — a full refund or a fully tested replacement or repair supported by technical documentation — along with public notification and measures to reach the distribution chain. The exact remedy varies by product and hazard.
More Read
SharkNinja Shows What a Recall Remedy Looks Like
A 2025 SharkNinja pressure-cooker recall provides a useful comparison because the hazard was similar but the consumer outcome was different. CPSC and SharkNinja recalled about 1.85 million Ninja Foodi OP300 Series multi-function pressure cookers after reports that the pressure-cooking lid could be opened during use, allowing hot contents to escape.
The May 1, 2025 recall covered models OP300, OP301, OP301A, OP302, OP302BRN, OP302HCN, OP302HAQ, OP302HW, OP302HB, OP305, OP305CO and OP350CO. CPSC said SharkNinja had received 106 reports of burn injuries, including more than 50 reports of second- or third-degree burns to the face or body, and that 26 lawsuits had been filed.
Consumers were told to stop using the pressure-cooking function and contact SharkNinja for a free replacement lid; the air-frying and other functions could still be used. The cookers had been sold through Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Amazon and Target, as well as retailer and manufacturer websites. That specified remedy and a process for obtaining it are key features of the recall.
The Gourmia Warning Came Without a Recall Remedy
CPSC’s Feb. 24, 2026 Gourmia warning concerned about 43,500 six-quart GPC625 pressure cookers sold from 2017 through 2020 for $50 to $80 at Best Buy, other retailers and e-commerce platforms. The agency said the lid can open while the cooker remains pressurized. It also identified a float valve that can be difficult to see and incorrect volume markings that can contribute to overfilling and the ejection of hot contents.
CPSC said it had received five reports of incidents in which hot contents were expelled under pressure, including four cases involving severe burn injuries. It also said at least two lawsuits alleging burn injuries had been filed.
The companies disputed or qualified parts of the agency’s account. Best Buy told CBS Minnesota it had learned of the issue about six years earlier, alerted CPSC and stopped selling the product. It directed purchasers to contact Steelstone for a resolution.
Gourmia separately said it had stopped selling the GPC625 six years earlier and was reviewing the matter. The company said CPSC had not provided it with the underlying data the agency relied on, said the cooker was designed and tested to comply with UL standards and maintained that it was safe when used as directed.
CPSC nevertheless instructed owners to stop using the GPC625 immediately, dispose of it and not sell or give it away. Unlike the SharkNinja recall, the warning listed no CPSC-approved repair, replacement or refund.
A Warning Does Not Mean the Process Is Over
A public warning and a recall are also different regulatory tools. CPSC has used unilateral public warnings when it believes a product presents a substantial hazard and a company is unwilling or unable to conduct a voluntary corrective action. A warning alerts consumers to the agency’s safety position, but it does not by itself create the cooperative remedy program found in a typical voluntary recall.
That does not mean a company can ignore CPSC reporting rules or that a warning necessarily ends the matter. The Consumer Product Safety Act gives the commission procedures for pursuing corrective action, while companies can contest the agency’s findings and proposed action. The procedural path can therefore be slower and more adversarial than a cooperative recall.
How Consumers Can Tell the Difference
CPSC’s recalls and product-safety warnings database labels the two types of notices separately. A recall notice normally identifies a remedy and gives contact information or instructions for obtaining it. CPSC says recall remedies typically consist of a refund, repair or replacement, although the remedy is specific to each recall.
A product-safety warning may instead tell consumers to stop using, dispose of or otherwise avoid a product without offering a company-funded corrective action. Owners should follow the instructions in the specific CPSC notice rather than assuming the word “warning” means the hazard is less serious than one associated with a recall.
For retailers and servicers, the distinction matters too. A cooperative recall normally provides an organized remedy, affected model information and instructions that can be relayed to customers. A warning without a recall can leave fewer formal options for an owner seeking a fix, even when CPSC is telling consumers to stop using the appliance altogether.
