Recalls: Toys
Giggle Stick Toys Recalled by CBS Toys NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 1979 Release # 79-056 4 Million "Giggle Stick" Toys Recalled WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 3) -- CBS Toys, a division of CBS, Inc., of New York City, is voluntarily recalling four million units of a toy which may pose a choking hazard to children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced. The toy, called the Gabriel "Giggle Stick", consists of a hollow, yellow plastic tube which, when shaken, produces noises by means of a metal reed fastened inside an interior plastic cylinder. Young children can remove the red end-caps of the toy, exposing the interior plastic cylinder which houses the small reed inside. Some reeds have fallen out of those "Giggle Sticks" designed with open-end caps. Since March, 1979, three children have choked on the reeds, according to CBS Toys. No injuries have resulted. The "Giggle Sticks" have been manufactured since December, 1978, and sold in variety stores nationwide for less than $2. The toys are advertised as suitable for children ages 3 and older. Parents should return the toys to their retailers for a refund or a new "Giggle Stick" which has been redesigned to eliminate the safety hazard. Consumers also can receive a refund or a new "Giggle Stick" by mailing their used ones to: Gabriel Industries, Longmeadow Road, P.O. Box 980, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740. In retail stores, consumers can identify a redesigned "Giggle Stick" by looking for the words, "New, Improved" on the red cardboard flag wrapped around the toy. Read more.
December 8, 1978 Release # 78-102 Mattel Puts Safety Labels On Toys WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 8) -- Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, California, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced that it has initiated a voluntary program of attaching labels on warehouse inventories of certain of its Battlestar Galactica line of space toys. The label states: "Caution: Do Not Point Or Fire Red Missiles Into Mouth Or Toward Face." The small red missiles are sold with Mattel's "Colonial Viper" (No. 25311, "Colonial Scarab" (No. 25341, "Colonial Stellar Probe" (No. 2533), and "Cylon Raider" (No. 2532) space vehicles and each is equipped to launch the missiles. Mattel emphasizes that the products meet or exceed all existing and proposed product safety standards. The action is being taken in response to reports of three accidents involving the products. In each case, a child swallowed or aspirated a red missile, received medical treatment and was released. Mattel and the Consumer Product Safety Commission remind parents that small pieces are found in many manufacturers' toys and games intended for older children. Parents should caution children against putting small objects of any type in their mouths even in fun and should insure that small pieces from older children's toys are kept away from younger brothers and sisters. For further information, consumers may call Mattel toll-free on 800/421-2826; California residents call collect to 213/644-2752. Letters may be addressed to Mattel, Inc. at 5150 Rosecrans Avenue, Hawthorne, California 90250 Read more.
