90,000 battery packs recalled due to fire risks

The U.S. government has issued an urgent recall for nearly 90,000 Velvet Caviar MagSafe wireless battery packs due to a fire risk. Consumers are advised to stop using these products immediately. The affected battery packs, which are 5,000 mAh portable chargers, were sold from November 2022 to October 2024. They can overheat and have caused multiple fires, leading to reports of 10 minor injuries. Velvet Caviar, known for its trendy phone accessories, sold these chargers for $65 on their website and Amazon. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) identified the recalled units by the brand name "Velvet Caviar" on the front and the model number ZHX-PB21 on the back. Customers can request a free replacement on the company's website, but some have shared dissatisfaction online about receiving standard black chargers instead of their colorful ones. Users are also reminded not to throw these battery packs in regular trash or battery recycling bins due to fire hazards. The power banks are currently listed as unavailable on Amazon. This recall is part of a series of actions by the CPSC over recent months, including various other recalls affecting many consumers.