Recall on Salt Lamps

Are salt lamps worth the hype?
Photo Courtesy of rainbowdoorways.com

As we jump into the new year we are bombarded with the latest trends that take over the media. Celebrities influence products, you-tubers post “best of the year” videos, and before we know it we become guilty to buying them too. What if you were told the latest product you bought and brought into your home could be putting you at risk, would you still be so quick to buy? The Himalayan Salt Lamps have trolled on social media feeds for months now becoming one of the most controversial items. While others continue their endless love and support for the product, others are refusing to buy them again. 

    The lamps are made of natural crystal salt that was mined in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains as the salt is hundreds of millions years old, containing special properties and high mineral content providing health benefits. How it works is heat from the bulb in the lamps cause the salt to emit into negative ions. The negative ions bond with pollutants in the air (positive ions) and neutralize them. With the negative ions, they begin to combat electro-smog that can be caused by electronic devices such as computers, TV’s, and smart phones; therefore, providing an environment that could relief symptoms such as asthma, allergies and other illness that can be an effect from electronics as such. 

    Seeing a product that supposedly comes with benefits like these, it is easy to see why they have become so popular. No matter the price, excitement, or popularity of the product, it is important to be cautious of what you are buying, even if your favorite celebrity has it. 

    Over the past few months, certain Himalayan Salt Lamps have been recalled. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the dimmer switch and outlet plug that comes with the lamp may overheat and ignite creating a shock and fire hazard. The most common brand being Lumière with 80,000 salt lamps. Reports say lamps that were sold on Amazon under Michaels company are the ones causing the issues. Lamps that were sold between the months of July 2016 to today consisting of The Rock of Gibraltar, Carnival of Lights and Basket of Rocks lamps that were made in Pakistan costing anywhere between $15 and $30 are the ones to look out for. These lamps were sold in black cardboard boxes with a photo of the lamp on the front of the box and the UPC bar code on the bottom. 

    Morgan Bibbee, senior at Concord University has also become familiar with the hot item and had quite a different experience on the subject.“I recently ran into the Salt Lamp from a friend of mine and with all the amazing reviews they had, I knew I needed to get my hands on one! Then last week as I was trying to learn more information on mine, I came across the recall. I immediately looked up which brands they were and can thankfully say mine was not one of them.” Bibbee believes that reviewing any product before you buy is one of the safest routes. “I think we often get too caught up in what’s next, who has what, and where you can get one fast. I suggest before spending your dollar to review all products. At the end of the day that hurts nothing because you really have no idea what some of your favorite idols are trying to sell you.” Researches claim that the lamps on recall are of a different brand and are not the pure Himalayan Salt Lamps. 

    “One of the easiest ways to spot a knockoff to the true product can be prices. You really do get what you pay for,” Bibbee says,“The true salt lamps usually start between $50 to $60 alone as they are weighed and priced for their salt content. Any lamp that you buy that is $25 of less, more than likely cannot be taken for accountability to be the real deal.” 

    Since the recall, the company is working on a solution to fixing this problem. For more information you can contact your local Michaels or go through their website at www.michaels.com and click on “Product Recalls.”