CPSC And Charpente Announce Pull Toy Recall

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Charpente Division of Michel & Co., of Culver City, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 12,000 Classic Winnie the Pooh pull toys. Children can choke on the small wooden ball at the end of the toy's pull cord, or strangle on the toy's pull cord.

The five styles of wooden pull toys each feature Winnie the Pooh characters on a wooden cart. The carts' wheels are either natural wood with wooden pegs, or natural wood with pale blue pegs. Each cart has a pull cord at least 12" long, with a wooden ball at the end. A stamp on the bottom of each toy reads in part, "Classic POOH ... Charpente Designs... Based on the 'Winnie The Pooh' works..."

The five styles involved in this recall are Pooh, number 65301, measuring 6.5" long by 4" wide by 11.5" tall; Eeyore, number 65302, measuring 6.5" by 4" by 8.5"; Pooh with Honey Pot and Piglet, number 65303, measuring approximately 7.5" by 4.5" by 9.5"; Pooh and Piglet in Wagon, number 65304, measuring 8.25" by 4.2" by 8"; and Christopher, Pooh and Gang, number 65305, measuring 9" by 4.2" by 8.5".

The toys were imported from Taiwan and sold nationwide from early 1994 to the present in department stores, gift shops and upscale specialty shops. The toys were sold individually for $30 to $35.

Consumers should take the pull toys away from young children immediately and return the toy to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information about this recall, consumers should call Michel & Co., Inc. at (800) 533-7263, or write to the company at P.O. Box 3625, Culver City, Calif. 90231-3625.

CPSC and Charpente Division, Michel & Co., are not aware of any injuries involving this toy. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.