[Recalls Page]

June 2000 Recalls and Product Safety News

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kellogg Company, of Battle Creek, Mich., is recalling 837,000 toy cars, that were packed inside some Kellogg's cereal boxes. The tires can detach from the wheels of these cars, posing a choking hazard for young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Whitehall-Robins Healthcare, of Madison, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 475,000 teething rings. When bent, these teething rings can fit into an infant's mouth and trigger a gagging reflex. This poses a risk of vomiting, which could result in choking and aspiration.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Galoob® Toys Inc., of San Francisco, Calif., is recalling about 8.9 million Sky Dancers® flying dolls. Galoob® was purchased by Hasbro in 1998. The hard plastic Sky Dancers® dolls can fly rapidly in unpredictable directions, and can hit and injure both children and adults.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Today's Kids, of Dallas, Texas, is recalling about 103,000 spinning ride toys. The center column can break, causing a child to suddenly fall backward or be hit in the face by the broken column.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tanaka America, of Auburn, Wash., is voluntarily recalling about 7,500 hedge trimmers and 1,400 augers. The fuel tank vents on these products can leak, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Apollo Presentation Products, of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 30,000 portable light boxes, used to view film, slides and transparencies. The light boxes have loose wires and lack adequate grounding, presenting fire, electrocution and shock hazards to consumers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) held a press conference July 28,2000 on the National Mall to demonstrate the dangers of sparklers and some illegal fireworks, including M-80s and salutes. Improper use of fireworks or use of illegal fireworks can result in deaths, blindings, amputations and severe burns.

To prevent burn injuries, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges parents to make sure their children's sleepwear is either flame-resistant or snug-fitting. Loose-fitting T-shirts and other loose-fitting clothing made of cotton or cotton blends should not be used for children's sleepwear. These garments can catch fire easily, burn rapidly, and are associated with nearly 300 emergency-room-treated burn injuries to children each year. Children are most at risk from burn injuries that result from playing with fire (matches, lighters, candles, burners on stoves) just before bedtime and just after rising in the morning.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ace Hardware Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill., is recalling about 22,000 Ace-brand shingling hatchets. The heads on these tools can detach when in use, striking the user or a bystander and causing serious injury.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Vtech Industries LLC, of Wheeling, Ill. is recalling about 34,000 toy baby phones. The toy phones have a ball-shaped antenna which can detach, presenting a choking hazard to young children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today new safety standards for window guards that will help parents protect their children from window falls. The industry standards developed at the urging of CPSC ensure that guards are strong enough to prevent falls and that those for single family homes and the lower floors of apartment buildings can be opened easily for escape in the event of a fire.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Jetmax International Ltd., of Stamford, Conn., is voluntarily recalling to repair about 48,000 children's rocking chairs. The rear legs of the chair can separate from the rocker's base causing it to collapse, and the child seated in the chair can fall.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Graco Children's Products Inc., of Elverson, Pa., is recalling about 31,000 Tot Wheels® Entertainer® Activity Center infant walkers for repair. These walkers can collapse unexpectedly during use and injure infants.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today released results of tests on crayons after concerns were raised about asbestos in some popular brands. CPSC found a trace amount of asbestos in two Crayola crayons made by Binney and Smith and one Prang crayon made by Dixon Ticonderoga. However, the amount of asbestos is so small it is scientifically insignificant.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ace Hardware Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill., is recalling about 87,000 vinyl window blinds. These blinds contain lead exceeding government guidelines, and do not have required labeling warning they contain lead.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Playtex Products Inc., of Westport, Conn., is voluntarily recalling about 1.8 million Classic Patterns "Cherubs" and Soft Comfort latex pacifiers. Because the latex is aging faster than normal, the nipple can detach from the shield, presenting a choking hazard to babies.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Federated Department Stores Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio, is recalling up to 50,000 children's robes purchased for use as sleepwear. These robes, when used as sleepwear, fail to meet federal flammability standards for children's sleepwear. The standards require sleepwear, including robes, to be flame resistant, and if the garment ignites, the flame must self-extinguish. Failure to meet the flammability standards presents a risk of serious burn injuries to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Promotional Resources Group of Companies Inc., of Topeka, Kan., is voluntarily recalling about 105,000 Bug Zapper toys. The balloon tongue on this toy can detach, posing a choking and aspiration hazard to young children.

Jordache Ltd., of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 5,400 FUBU brand sweatshirts. The sweatshirts, which fail to meet federal mandatory standards for fabric flammability, could ignite easily and present a serious risk of burn injuries in violation of the Federal Flammable Fabrics Act.The Associated Merchandising Corp. (AMC) of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling 9,500 infant girls' cargo skirts. The snaps on the panty of these skirts can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

S-B Power Tool Co., of Chicago, Ill., is recalling about 920 BOSCH Angle Grinders, which are often used to sand or polish marble or metal. Some grinders were shipped without the side handle, which is used to control and guide the tool. Mervyn's California, of Hayward, Calif., is recalling about 1,200 children's plastic picnic sets contained in clear bags. The paint on the bag contains high levels of lead that violates the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and other applicable Federal Authorities, Bombardier Recreational Products and Bombardier Motor Corporation of America are conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain 2000 model year DS 650 ATV model 7404. The firm reported a potential problem with the balljoint circlip, which could cause the ATV wheels to become unstable resulting in serious personal injury.