Lotus Designs, Inc., the paddling apparel manufacturer and an affiliate of Patagonia, Inc., is voluntarily recalling its Mildwater PFD. This style is also sold as the Fishing PFD and Patagonia Fishing Vest. Although there have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to the use of Mildwater PFDs, the company has chosen to take proactive steps in conducting this voluntary recall in order to eliminate any potential risk of danger to consumers, including an accidental drowning if a PFD should not provide the minimum level of buoyancy required by UL Standard 1123. Lotus Designs is asking customers and dealers to please return these vests for a full refund to-US returns: Lotus Designs Returns, 8550 White Fir Street, Reno, NV 89523; Canada returns: Patagonia International, Inc., C/O CDEC, 800 Rue Sud, Cowansville, Quebec, J2K 2Y3.

The recall is issued due to the possibility that Mildwater PFDs may not comply with the 15.5 pounds of buoyancy as outlined in Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) standards. The style numbers at issue include the following: Mildwater PFD-Style Number L1085; Fishing PFD-Style Number 82770; Patagonia Fishing Vest-Style Number L1155. Dates of manufacture for these PFDs range from September 2003 to December 2005.

Lotus Designs is working closely with UL to remedy the situation, and is posting a notification on its website, issuing a notification letter to individual mail order, retail and Web customers with exchange and return instructions. U.S. dealers are also being issued exchange and return instructions, and the company is providing an informational poster to all of its dealers and hanging this poster in its own retail stores.