Recall: Tris-Treated Children's Clothes Enjoined From Sale By F.W. Woolworth

F.W. Woolworth And Co. Enjoined From Sale Of Tris-Treated Children's Wearing Apparel

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 17) -- Robert B. Fiske, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that his office today filed a civil complaint on behalf of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission seeking to enjoin F.W. Woolworth and Company from further sale of children's wearing apparel which contain the flame retardant TRIS. Mr. Fiske stated that the action seeks, among other things, in order directing the company to cease the sale and offering for sale of such children's garments which have been found to be "banned hazardous substances" within the meaning of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.

The complaint follows an order published by the Commission on April 8, 1977 that banned the sale of children's wearing apparel made from fabrics treated with TRIS. The Commission's order indicates that it is based upon studies showing TRIS to be a potential carcinogen in humans.

According to S. John Byington, Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Commission made a nationwide survey of retailers to determine if TRIS-treated garments were still being sold. Chairman Byington said that although most retailers were found to have removed TRIS-treated apparel from their stocks, the survey disclosed that F.W. Woolworth and Woolco Department Stores in the Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Phoenix, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, an Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. market areas were selling TRIS-treated apparel as recently as Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14, 1977.