Sunbeam recalls kettles in safety scare

Sunbeam is recalling a range of electric kettles sold in New Zealand because of a potential risk in their wiring.

Sunbeam general manager Eric Bleakley said in a statement today the voluntary recall of the company's Quantum and Quantum Plus kettles, specifically applied to models KE3560 and KE3860.

They were manufactured in China between March 2003 and this month.

Mr Bleakley said the company had identified a potential risk where internal conductor wires might overheat, melt through the lower external plastic body of the kettle and become exposed.

"The problem is caused by the conductor wires not being crimped to Sunbeam's specification during the manufacturing process," he said.

"The risk of injury is very low, but we recommend anyone who has one of these kettles return it to their electrical retailer for a replacement kettle," he said.

The manufacturing problem had been rectified.

Around 5000 of the affected kettles had been sold in New Zealand.

- NZPA