Safety Issue Prompts Philips to Recall 2 Million Lightbulbs

Dutch lighting and electronics giant Philips said it is recalling nearly 2 million defective lightbulbs in the United States and Canada.

Philips Lighting Division spokeswoman Shai Dewan said the company announced the recall because "glass that is supposed to protect the element could become unglued from the base and cause it to cut out."

The recall concerns the Marathon and Marathon Classic energy-saver compact fluorescent dimmable reflector lamps sold between March 2007 and July 2011 in the United States and Canada.

Dewan said the recall is being undertaken as a precaution following the report of 700 of the lightbulbs failing.

Philips to urged consumers to call a special hotline or visit its website to request a replacement lightbulb.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2011