Here are the latest recalls from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). (For complete reports, go to http://www.cpsc.gov). Parents are urged to take all products away from children immediately and to discard or return to the manufacturers according to the following:
Baby walkers:
• Bikepro has recalled 50,000 baby walkers as a preventive measure. The walkers, which fit through standard doorways, are not designed to stop at the edge of stairs, and could cause serious injury or death to a child.
The recalled walkers are intended for babies aged 6 months and up. They are blue, green, pink and yellow, with a musical tray and a thick foamed padded seat. (Some are equipped with stoppers on their sides). The model numbers, located on the outside of each box, are 305, 308RK, 309STP, 384, 386, 388, 388STP, 389STP, 392STP, 393STP, 395 and 399STP. Walkers may bear a label reading, “BEBELOVE”.
Independent discount stores sold these walkers from January 2000-August 2001 for $18-$22. Consumers should stop using the walkers immediately and return them to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, call (800) 261-2559 or visit www.bikepro@yahoo.com. To view a picture of the recalled product, go to http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtm103/03009.html.
• Oriental International Trading Co. is recalling 3,500 baby walkers. As above, these walkers, which fit through standard doorways, are not designed to stop at the edge of stairs, and could cause serious injury or death to a child. No reports of injuries have been received.
The recall involves the “Honey” model walker. Intended for babies 5 months and older, the walkers were manufactured in blue, yellow or pink, with a padded seat and activity tray. Model numbers are 820, 860, 862, and 802. (The model numbers are printed on the seat backs). Independent discount stores also sold the walkers from May 2001-June 2002 for $18-$22. Consumers should return these baby walkers to their place of purchase immediately for a full refund. For more information, call Oriental International at (866) 666-9868 or visit www.bike-stroller.com. To view a picture of the recalled product, go to http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtm103/03012.html.
IKEA teddy bears:
IKEA is recalling 57,000 stuffed teddy bears as a preventive measure, because plastic beads inside could come out of the seams, posing an aspiration hazard to young children.
The recalled 6-inch SNUTTIG Bear Soft Toys are red, yellow, blue and black, with a contrasting color on the nose, ears, and feet. The name “SNUTTIG”, the model number 700-371-56, the manufacturer code 17596, and the words “Made in Indonesia” are all printed on the product label. IKEA stores nationwide sold the bears from August 2001-September 2002 for about $2.
Parents should take these bears away from young children immediately and return them to an IKEA store for a $5 gift card towards another IKEA product. For more information, call (888) 966-4532), or visit www.ikea-usa.com.
To see a picture of the recalled products, link
to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03020.html.
Toy sponges:
Dollar Tree Stores has recalled 280,000 animal toy sponges. The eyes on the toys can detach, posing a choking hazard. There has been one report of a detached piece; no injuries have been reported.
There are three types of sponge animals included in the recall: whales, turtles, and fish. The toys are made of soft terry cloth, with suction cups for attaching to tiled or smooth surfaces. Each has a sewn-in label reading, in part, “Dollar Tree Distribution, Inc.”, “Made in China”, and “RN# 87254”. Dollar Tree, Only One Dollar, Only $1, Dollar Express and Dollar Bills stores sold the stuffed animals nationwide from May 2001-September 2002 for $1. Consumers should return the toy animals to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077 Monday-Friday, or visit www.dollartree.com. To view a picture of the recalled products, go to http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtm103/03010.html.
Stuffed pool animals:
Dollar Tree Stores has also announced the recall of 310,000 stuffed polyester pool animals. The seams on the animals can separate, exposing the polyester stuffing and foam beads, presenting a choking hazard. One ripped seam has been reported, but no injuries.
There are eight types of pool animals involved in this recall: crab, duck, frog, octopus, seahorse, shark, turtle and whale. The brightly colored animals have sewn-in labels reading, in part, “Dollar Tree Distribution, Inc.”, “Made in China”, and “RN# 87254”. Dollar Tree, Only One Dollar, Only $1, Dollar Express and Dollar Bills stores sold the stuffed animals nationwide from April 2002-August 2002 for $1. Consumers should return the toy animals to their place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077 or visit www.dollartree.com. To view a picture of the recalled product, go to http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtm103/03011.html.
Brio caterpillar pull toys:
The Brio Corporation is recalling 1,000 of its Plan Toys pull-along caterpillars. The antenna on the toy can detach, posing a choking hazard. There have been no reports of injuries.
The recalled pull-along caterpillar is bright red and yellow, 7 inches long, made of wood and pulled by a nylon string, with two blue pegs (antennae) protruding about a half-inch from the head. The recalled numbers (0645917, 12142323 and 0724423) are printed on the inside flap of the packaging. Specialty toy stores, Internet retailers and mail order catalogues sold the caterpillar nationwide from January-September 2002 for about $15. Consumers should send the recalled toys to Brio to receive a replacement or refund, including the cost of postage. Send recalled toys to Brio Corp., Safety Recall/Caterpillar, N120 W18485, Freidstadt Road, Germantown, WI, 53022. For more information, call (888) 274-6869. To view a picture of the recalled product, go to http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtm103/03013.html.
Halloween products:
In case you have filed away some recently-bought Halloween products till next October, you might want to be aware of the following recalls made by the CPSC last month:
Jack-O-Lanterns: Target recalled 26,000 $5 ceramic Jack-O-Lanterns because the flame of a candle placed inside could ignite the straw ribbon on the outside, posing fire and burn hazards. The recalled items are shaped like a pumpkin; they are tan, with an opening in the back and a straw ribbon attached to the stem. A label attached to the stem of the pumpkin reads “OCTOBER HARVEST”.
Consumers can return the Jack-O-Lanterns to the Target store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, call (800) 440-0680 or log onto www.target.com. To see a picture of the recalled product, link to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03014.html.
Candleholders: Pottery Barn recalled 11,500 $29 “Scary Tree Tea-Light Holder” Halloween tree tea-light candleholders. There have been reports that some tea-light candles burning in the candleholder could flare up, posing a fire hazard and a risk of burn injuries.
Consumers should return them to the store where purchased for a refund or exchange.
Consumers who purchased the candleholder from the catalog or web site should call to arrange product return and refund, including the cost of postage. For more information, call (800) 699-0449, or visit www.potterybarn.com.
To see a picture of the recalled product, link to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03015.html.
How to report a problem:
To report a dangerous product or product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772. CPSC’s website can also be accessed at www.cpsc.gov. Consumers can report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.
