CPSC And Dakin Inc. Urge Consumers To Remove Small Pom Poms

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dakin Inc. of Woodland Hills, Calif., is warning consumers that the pom poms on approximately 66,500 of their "Big Top Playmates" toys can detach, posing a choking or aspiration hazard.

CPSC is aware of ten incidents in which pom poms separated from the toys or children under one year old ate pieces of the pom poms or placed the pom poms in their mouths. No injuries were reported and no medical attention was required.

The "Big Top Playmates" series features a variety of products based on circus animals. This corrective action affects bear, bunny and elephant soft fabric dolls (item no. 40319), bottle hugging dolls (item no. 40321), finger puppets (item no. 40320), crib attachments (item no. 40335), dolls attached to the musical mobile (item no. 40324), and ring shaped rattles with soft plush animal head and feet (item no. 40325). The products are decorated with pink, yellow and blue trim with small pom poms that measure .5 inches.

The products' hang tags include the item number and product name and reads in part, "THE FRASER COLLECTION, DAKIN, INC. San Francisco, CA, Product of China."

Dakin Inc. distributed 66,500 "Big Top Playmates" products nationwide from February 1994 through April 1995. The products sell for $5.00 to $15.00 ($50.00 for the mobile) in approximately 3,800 specialty, toy and department stores.

Consumers are urged to immediately cut the pom poms from the products and discard them. Consumers who have questions about this corrective action may contact Dakin Inc. toll- free at (800)227-6598 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST.

"Big Top Playmates" products currently on store shelves are being modified and should not have pom pom trim.