FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2000
Release # 00-147 |
Caterpillar Toy Recall Hotline: (877) 586-1006
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058
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CPSC, Child Guidance™ Announce Recall to Replace Caterpillar Toys
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Child Guidance™of New York, N.Y., a division of JAKKS Pacific Inc., is voluntarily recalling almost 1 million Wiggle Waggle Caterpillar™ toys. Young children can choke on the small balls attached to these toys.
CPSC has received one report of a 5-month-old girl in El Paso, Texas, choking to death after one of the small balls attached to these toys lodged in her throat. CPSC also received reports of two children starting to choke on a ball from this toy.
The Wiggle Waggle Caterpillar™ is a pull toy that plays four songs and various sounds. It has five ball shapes raised from its body on the end of tightly wound coil wire springs. The two smaller ball shapes on the caterpillar's head resemble antennas. The toy is about 10 inches long, and is green with yellow oval wheels that cause it to wobble when it moves. The segments of the caterpillar's body have lights that flash to the music and sounds. "Child Guidance™" and "MADE IN CHINA" are imprinted on the bottom of the toy. "Ages 12 months & up" is written on the packaging.
Toy and discount department stores nationwide sold the caterpillar toys from May 1998 through June 2000 for about $13.
Parents and caregivers should take these toys away from young children immediately. Consumers should send the toy back to the firm to receive another toy of similar value. The firm will pay postage costs. For more information, call Child Guidance™ at (877) 586-1006 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit their web site at www.jakkspacific.com/recall.html.
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.