Recalls: Babies and Kids
November 17, 1988 Release # 88-098 Toy Firm Recalls Disney Baby Play Gyms WASHINGTON - Illco Toy Company, USA, Inc., of New York is voluntarily recalling some of its "Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Baby Play Gyms" because buckles and loops may dislodge from the straps and, along with an attached rattle, may present a choking hazard to young children. This recall applies only to gyms with plastic or unstitched fabric straps. Gyms having fabric straps that are stitched in two locations are not being recalled. The freestanding activity center for infants, gym no. 8722, has four tubular-shaped supports and a crossbar with three fabric or plastic straps suspended from the crossbar. Each strap holds a toy, namely Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and a disc-shaped baby rattle with a mirror on one side. The baby gym sold nationally for about $17.00 in 1987. Illco and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said some parents have complained about buckles coming off unstitched fabric straps on gym sets. CPSC tests have shown that buckles may also come loose from plastic straps. The buckles and loops of the gym are small enough to be ingested by an infant. In addition, the mirrored rattle may break into small parts and may present a potential choking hazard if it comes off the strap. Consumers having a gym set with plastic or unstitched fabric straps holding the figures and rattle to the crossbar should immediately take the toys away from infants and toddlers and request replacement straps, buckles, and rattles by writing to the Consumer Service Department, Illco Toy Company, 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010 Read more.
July 14, 1988 Release # 88-051 Importer Recalls Water Toys; Toy Snake WASHINGTON, DC - Beachcombers International Inc. of Fort Myers, Florida is voluntarily recalling water toys and a squeaking toy snake because they may pose choking and lead poisoning hazards to young children. The imported toys recalled by Beachcombers International are: - "Big Mouth Fish, Hippo, and Frog," plastic wind-up water toys labeled "MASUDAYA 1976 Made in Hong Kong;" some 8,000 toys were sold nationally for about $2 each. - "Devil Fish," an eight-inch wind-up toy in the shape of a fish which was imported from Hong Kong and sold for $2 in New Jersey and Virginia. - "Lively Squeaking Snake," a plastic cobra snake some 21 inches long from China which sold nationally for $1. Consumers should immediately take the toys away from children and return them to the retail store for a refund of the purchase price. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said both water toys have small parts, which may present a choking hazard to young children; the toy snake contains an excessive amount of lead in the surface coating. The violations were discovered by U.S. Customs' agents and CPSC inspectors during routine import surveillance at the Port of Miami. Consumers desiring additional information may call Beachcombers International at 1-813-731-2111 Read more.
