| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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| September 24, 1987 |
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| Release # 87-056 |
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General Mills Stops Sales Of Cheerios With "Powerball" Premium
WASHINGTON, DC -- In conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, General Mills is warning parents who purchased 15 and 20 ounce size boxes of Cheerios containing a free "Powerball' premium, to keep the premium away from children approximately three years of age or under, or to discard it. General Mills has also voluntarily halted shipments and is taking immediate steps to remove packages containing the "Powerball" from wholesale and retail channels.
General Mills said the ball was reportedly involved in the accidental choking death of a one-year-old child. Four other incidents involving balls in the mouths of young children that did not result in injury were also reported to the firm.
Approximately ten million boxes of cereal with the "Powerball" have been sold since May 1987. Another estimated five million boxes are currently either on retail shelves or in the control of General Mills or its distributors.
General Mills reports that the ball, which is similar in size and other characteristics to balls sold in retail outlets for many years, is non-toxic and comes sealed in a heavy plastic wrapper. The ball meets all Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations and was designed by the Company to exceed the minimum size requirements in the Commission regulations for toys intended for children under three years of age. The ball was thoroughly tested by independent laboratories prior to acceptance by General Mills as a premium, according to the firm.
The company and Commission caution parents that children of approximately three years of age or under may tend to place small objects like the "Powerball" into their mouths. They urge parents to keep all such items away from small children. General Mills is initiating a consumer education campaign through advertisements and cereal box inserts to educate consumers about this risk. Cheerios cereal continues to be available in packages not containing the "Powerball."
Consumers with questions may contact General Mills at l-800-328-1144 from 7:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m. central daylight time on weekdays.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds consumers that any death or injury associated with any consumer product can be reported by calling the Commission's toll-free hotline at l-800-638-CPSC. The Commission's teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (301) 595-7054. For further information, the media may call R.C. Shulstad of General Mills at 612-540-3745.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.