Slow cookers could break, spill hot food.(recalls & safety alerts)(Hamilton Beach, Proctor-Silex products)(Brief Article)

Millions of Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex slow cookers are being recalled because the handle on the base could break, allowing the hot food inside to spill out and burn anyone nearby. The manufacturer has received 4,700 reports of handles breaking, including two instances in which people required medical attention for burns, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The recall involves nearly 3 million cookers that sold for $15 to $45. They came in white or printed designs, and in capacities ranging from 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 quarts.

Owners can call Hamilton Beach or go to its Web site for a free replacement base. There's no need to return the …