Potentially Dangerous Imported Food Warming Stands - Will Partiers, Retailers, And Caterers Get Burned? By: Del Williams While poorly designed imported wire chafer stands may pose heightened tipping and burn/fire risk over open flames, a domestic design provides a safe, economic alternative. At picnics and parties across America, a danger is lurking that could not only turn celebration to tragedy but also pose a huge liability risk for retailers, caterers, and those involved with hosting events or gatherings. The culprit: poorly designed, imported food warming stands that can tip, fail, or present a burn/fire hazard when used over open-flame fuel cans. Known as wire chafer stands, these wire frames supporting hot trays of food over "keep warm" flames are widely used in the catering industry and increasingly common purchases at party stores and other big box retailers. Their popularity has grown as a way to keep food hot during the party while freeing the host, since guests commonly serve themselves buffet-style. Unfortunately, it has recently been discovered that not all wire chafers are created equal. Many imported wire chafers are cheaply made and of poor design - making them a potential threat to a largely unsuspecting public. "The wire chafer stands were so thin, cheap, and poorly welded that they'd come apart in your hand," says John Cuomo, owner of A World of Food Catering, based in Rockland County, New York, whose long-time supplier had switched to an imported brand. "Under the weight of the food and steam trays, they'd be dangerous. I made my supplier remove them from my place of business." It is a scenario which could quickly put a damper on an event or party. "Picture a Superbowl reveler scraping lasagna from a food tray kept warm over open-flame fuel cans," adds Robert Skvorecz, President of Skorr Products, a Paterson, New Jersey-based wire chafer manufacturer. "He's got one eye on the game and presses a little too hard in the corner and along the side of an imported, narrow-stance wire chafer stand. The entire tray could tip, spilling the contents over him." The burn hazard stems not just from the lit fuel cans or the hot contents of the food tray, but also from the up to 1.5 gallons of boiling water typically kept in a separate steam tray below the food trays for more even warming. For children, whose faces may rise just above table or counter height where wire chafer stands usually rest, the burn risk is worse. Click Here to read the entire article