NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEBurger King Recall Hotline: (800) 661-9173
March 12, 2001 CPSC CONTACT: Ken Giles or Kim Dulic
Release # 01-100 (301) 504-7908
Burger King Media Contact: Kim Miller
(305) 378-7277

CPSC, Burger King and Alcone Announce Recall of Kid's Meal Toys

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Burger King Corp., of Miami, Fla., and Alcone Marketing Group, of Irvine, Calif., are recalling about 400,000 "Rattling, Paddling Riverboat" toddler toys because of a potential choking hazard to young children. The toys were distributed in Burger King Kid's Meals. Metal pins with plastic caps that attach the paddle wheel to the riverboat toy can come out and pose a choking hazard.

Burger King Corp. has received 10 reports that the pin on the toy came out. One child was found with the pin in her mouth. Her father removed it and no injuries have been reported.

Alcone Marketing Group imported the toys for Burger King. The "Rattling, Paddling Riverboat" toys are red plastic boats about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. The captain figure squeaks when it is pushed down. When the boat is moved across the floor, beads in the boat's paddle wheel make a rattle sound. The following words are imprinted on the bottom of the boat, "Sassy, MFG FOR BURGER KING CORP, MADE IN CHINA." The packaging says "Toddler Toys For Kids Under Three Years Old."

Picture of Kid's Meal Toy

Burger King restaurants nationwide distributed the riverboat toys inside Kid's Meals in January and February 2001.

Parents should immediately take the toy away from children and call (800) 661-9173 for instructions on returning the toy for a free, replacement toy. Information also is available at Burger King's web site at www.burgerking.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. For information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call the above numbers or visit the web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/103.html. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.