The Associated Press
Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001; 1:39 p.m. EDT

ST. PAUL, Minn. –– With fears of anthrax in the mail running high, postal inspectors in St. Paul have given their colleagues a heads-up that Publishers Clearinghouse is sending out packages of powdered detergent.

"There's nothing to be alarmed about in that package," Inspector Jeanne Graupman said. She added: "Just the timing of it wasn't very good."

The Oxyclean household cleanser is being sent out in 1½-pound packages with the return address 720 Winners Circle, St. Cloud, Minn.

The St. Paul Postal Inspection Service issued an advisory to inspectors Tuesday. Graupman said she sent the memo after postal inspectors got a call from a worried customer who had received a leaky package of the powder.

Chris Irving, senior director of consumer affairs for Publishers Clearinghouse in Port Washington, N.Y., said Oxyclean is being mailed only to customers who ordered it.

Publishers Clearinghouse sells household items in addition to magazine subscriptions.