Baby Toys Recalled Because Of Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, F.J. STRAUSS CO., INC., North Bergen, New Jersey, today announced a voluntary recall of three styles of baby toys because of the danger of choking or suffocation to infants and young children. Since March of 1984, approximately 2,585 dozens of these baby toys have been sold for approximately $2.50 to $5.00 nationwide.

These baby toys are banned under CPSC's Small Parts and Rattle Requirements because they have parts which are small enough to lodge in an infant's throat and cause obstruction of the airway. Neither CPSC nor Strauss knows of any injuries involving these toys.

Three items are involved. One is style #29/2 "Big Barrel", which was sold in a white package with a one piece red barrel on the outside. This toy has two pieces orange, green, white, yellow, blue and red barrels of various sizes that fit into each other. The firm had also marketed a later version of the style #29/2 "Big Barrel" which has five barrels and is not subject to this recall program. This later version was sold in a white package with three open barrels on the outside. The second style is identified as #29/5 "Magic Clown". This toy is a plastic blue and yellow ball with a red colored clown figure sitting on top. The third style is identified as #29/7 "Big Bead Rattle". This toy has six plastic ovals that are strung on a nylon string forming a loop connected to a white plastic handle. All three items were imported from Taiwan.

Consumers should remove these products from use immediately and either discard them or return them to the retailer where purchased for a full refund. Retailers should remove these products from sale immediately and return them to F.J. STRAUSS CO., INC., 3900 West Side Avenue, North Bergen, New Jersey 07047. Anyone wishing additional information may contact F.J. Strauss Co., Inc. at (201) 864-0100 or CPSC's toll free HOTLINE at the following numbers: (800) 638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is (301) 595-7054.