"Surprise Party Time Ball" Toy Contains Look-Alike--Drug Capsules

PRODUCT: Approximately 12,000 "Surprise Party Time Balls" imported from Taiwan by Toysmith. The balls contain seven to ten trinket toys. Some of the balls also include a sealed clear plastic packet containing several blue and white or green capsules. Each ball is three-inches in diameter. Each ball is wrapped in multi-colored crepe paper. Some of the trinket toys inside the balls may include nylon cord friendship bracelets and rings, paper packets of dinosaurs and monsters, several round reflectors, animal shapes, chess pieces, and plastic cartoon faces. The balls were sold in boxes labeled in part: "SURPRISE PARTY TIME BALL *** SMALL PARTS INSIDE THE BALL NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS *** MADE IN TAIWAN." A sticker on the ball reads "MADE IN TAIWAN." The balls were sold nationwide from January 1991 through May 1994.

PROBLEM: The capsules inside the balls can easily pull apart or crumble when pressed, exposing a white hard granular substance. The Monroe County, New York, Public Safety Laboratory, at the request of the Monroe County Health Department, established that the contents of the capsules were not drugs and there is no indication that the material is hazardous. While the capsules are not believed to be hazardous, the appearance of look-alike-drugs in a child's toy is inappropriate.

WHAT TO DO: Return the balls to the store where purchased for a refund. Consumers who have questions about this recall may contact Toysmith at (206) 395-3644.

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Toysmith, Kent, Washington, is voluntarily recalling 12,000 "Surprise Party Time Balls" because some of the toys contain look-alike-drug capsules. All of the balls contain 7 to 10 trinket toys. Some of the balls include a sealed clear plastic packet containing several blue and white, or green gelatin capsules similar to pharmaceutical products. The capsules can easily pull apart or crumble when pressed and contain a white hard granular substance. Extensive tests conducted by the Monroe County, New York, Public Safety Laboratory, at the request of the Monroe County Health Department, established that the contents of the capsules were not drugs and there is no indication that the material is hazardous. While the capsules are not believed to be hazardous, the appearance of look-alike-drugs in a child's toy is inappropriate. The issue of the capsules in the balls was brought to CPSC's attention by Judy Braiman, President, Empire State Consumer Association, Rochester, New York. Each ball is approximately three-inches in diameter and consists of a clear or possibly black plastic ball that separates in half. The ball is wrapped in multi-colored crepe paper with a plastic shrink wrap cover. A sticker label on the ball reads "MADE IN TAIWAN." Some of the trinket toys inside the balls may include a nylon cord friendship bracelet and ring, a paper packet of dinosaurs and monsters, several round reflectors, animal shapes, chess pieces, and plastic cartoon faces. The balls are sold in boxes labeled in part: "SURPRISE PARTY TIME BALL * * * SMALL PARTS INSIDE THE BALL NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS * * * MADE IN TAIWAN."

The balls were sold nationwide from January 1991 through May 1994. The balls sold for $1.75. They were imported from Taiwan by Toysmith, located at 6250 South 196th Street, Kent, Washington.

Consumers should return the "Surprise Party Time Balls" to the store where purchased for a refund. Consumers who have questions about this recall may contact Toysmith at (206)395-3644.

Neither CPSC nor Toysmith is aware of any injuries involving the balls. This voluntary recall is being conducted to alert consumers to the look-alike-drug capsules inside some of the balls. CPSC is the Federal agency responsible for consumer product safety. Some 15,000 different types of consumer products fall within CPSC's jurisdiction.