CPSC, Cutco Cutlery Corporation Announce Recall of Knife Blocks

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #02522) was formally reported on February 21, 2002. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Cutco Cutlery Corporation, of Olean, N.Y. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 28,000 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: The longest knife in the set when inserted "blade side-up" can protrude through the bottom of the knife block, presenting a risk of laceration injuries to consumers, when the block is carried. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should make sure all knives are inserted "blade side down" and NOT move the block until they contact Cutco for information on this repair. Consumers will receive a brass plate to install on… — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 1 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 24 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.