Recalls: Babies and Kids
Johnson & Johnson Crib Toys Case Settled NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 1986 Release # 86-065 Johnson & Johnson Crib Toys Case Settled Washington, DC -- The U.S. Consumer Product-Safety Commission and Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company announced today that the company and the Commission staff had entered into a consent agreement resolving a pending CPSC action relating to three of the company's toys -- Soft Triplets, Piglet Crib Gym, and Triplets marching Band. These toys have a common design consisting of three cloth dolls held together by short pieces of elastic with a plastic ring at each end. In a complaint filed May 30, 1986, the Commission staff alleged that when the toys were used as crib toys, babies could get caught and possibly strangle themselves on the toys or on strings used to hang them across cribs and playpens. The Commission had received reports that the toy or strings used to hang it in a crib had been involved in two deaths, one in October 1984 and one in December 1985. Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company contended that the toys were safe when used as directed, and that instructions were provided with the toys warning of this risk of strangulation. Today's settlement puts I an end to this litigation. As part of the agreement settling the suit and in accordance with its long-standing policy, Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company is offering consumers a refund of the purchase price for these toys when returned to the company. To obtain the refund, consumers should either call the company toll free at 1-800-262-2232 or return the toys directly to: Soft Triplets Refund Offer Stratmar Station PO Box 7422 Bridgeport, Connecticut 06650 (Include your name and address) Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company will be announcing the refund in notices in Parents, American Baby, and Baby Talk magazines in posters sent to pediatricians and retailers, and in letters sent directly to all known mail order customers of the toys. About 1.6 million Soft Triplets toys were distributed from 1979 through March of 1986 nationwide at a cost of about $6.50. Approximately 63,000 Piglet Crib Gyms were sold from 1982 to 1984 and 4,000 Triplets, Marching Band toys were sold 1985 through mid-March L985, both at retail stores for an average of $8.00. For more information on the refund offer, consumers can call Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Company at the number indicated above or the CPSC's toll-free number at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (301) 595-7054. Read more.
Bassinet Repaired by Badger Basket NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR RELEASE July 22, 1986 Release # 86-44 Repair Program To Prevent Injury From Bassinet Collapse Announced Washington, DC -- In cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Badger Basket Company of Edgar, Wisconsin, announced a voluntary repair program for certain bassinets produced prior to 1982, due to the possible collapse of their leg braces. Bassinets produced after 1982 incorporate a leg brace of another design and are not affected. The Commission and Badger have investigated 7 instances in which the braces connecting the foldable legs to the bassinet collapsed. The Commission believes that serious injury can occur to an infant resting in the bassinet, if the leg brace were to collapse. The bassinets are wicker in style and the mattress pads may contain the name Badger Basket on the tag which says "Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law". Only those bassinets produced and sold prior to 1982 are affected. Satisfactory design changes were implemented by the firm in 1982. Additionally, production after 1983 contains a date code (indicating the month, day, and year of production) on the bottom of the bassinets which clearly distinguish the new-style leg brace from the old (See drawings below). An estimated 500,000 bassinets may have been produced from 1958 to 1982. While the staff does not believe all pose a risk injury, depending upon the amount of the use, the potential may exist for a leg brace failure. Owners of the Badger Bassinets are urged to take the following action: During use of the bassinet, ensure that leg braces are locked in the open position. Periodically check the leg braces especially if the bassinet has not been used for a time and has been folded up in storage. Consumers who own Badger Bassinets produced prior to 1982 should contact the Company for a free repair kit. To obtain the free locking rings and instructions for installation, owners should send the tag that reads " Under Penalty of Law This Tag Is Not To Be Removed Except By The Consumer" from the mattress pad identifying Badger Basket with their name and address to Badger Basket Company, Edgar, Wisconsin 54426. If the Law Tag has been removed, contact the firm for a drawing of affected leg braces to assist you in the identification of leg braces which should be repaired. Repair Program To Prevent Injury From Bassinet Collapse Announced Under laws administered by CPSC, an estimated 325 million potentially hazardous products have been called back from the marketplace and consumers since 1937 (when CPSC was created). Most of these were voluntarily recalled by manufacturers who established programs to repair or replace the products, or to refund the purchase price. Repair Program To Prevent Injury From Bassinet Collapse SOME BADGER BASSINETS MAY NEED REPAIR KITS. Badger bassinets produced before 1982 may collapse due to failure of the leg brace, so the firm is providing looking rings to correct the problem. Consumers should remove the mattress label "Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law," and send to Badger Basket Company, Eager, Wisconsin 54426, together with name and address for free repair kit. Bassinets produced after 1982 do not have the problem, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Read more.
