Original; see modified release: Xylophone Mallets Recalled by Playwell
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
This is the original of a document that has been modified. To see the modified version, click here
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 1998
Release # 99-009
Company Phone Number: (877) PLAY-WELL CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Nychelle Fleming, (301) 504-7063
CPSC, Playwell Toy Announce Recall of Xylophone Mallets
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Playwell Toy Inc. of Lake
Forest, Calif., is recalling the mallets in approximately
200,000 individually sold xylophones, 150,000 Little OnesTM
Infant three-piece musical gift sets, and 1,800 Little
OnesTM Infant five-piece musical gift sets. The rounded ends
of the xylophone mallets are smaller in diameter than the
1.75-inch standard for small balls. The mallets can get
stuck in the throats of young children, blocking their
airways, and possibly causing death.
CPSC and Playwell Toy are aware of one serious injury
to a 6-month-old baby girl who suffered severe brain damage
when the mallet became lodged in her throat.
The xylophones are mostly white with a red button and
yellow handle. The metal bars on the xylophones are red,
yellow, green and blue, and the mallets are red.
The individually sold xylophones have stickers on them
reading, "PLAYWELL. . . SOUND TOY SERIES." Their packaging
reads, "Music World Xylophone . . . Playwell . . . Item No:
044073."
The three-piece Little OnesTM Infant musical gift sets
consists of a toy xylophone and mallet, an accordion and a
tambourine. The five-piece set consists of a xylophone,
tambourine, harmonica and two maracas. All the instruments
are multi-colored plastic. The sets are packaged in a box
that reads, in part, "Little OnesTM Infant . . . Ages 6
Months and over . . . Hours of musical fun!" Each musical
instrument has "MADE IN CHINA" printed on it.
Target and other retail stores sold the individual
xylophones from February 1996 to April 1998 for about $7.
Kmart stores nationwide sold the three-piece musical set
exclusively from May 1996 to April 1998 for about $10. Right
Start Stores nationwide sold the five-piece musical gift set
from November 1997 to August 1998 for about $24.
Consumers should take these mallets away from children
under 3 years old immediately, and dispose of the mallets.
To receive a replacement mallet, consumers should call
Playwell Toy Inc. toll-free at (877) PLAY-WELL between
10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. PDT Monday through Friday or write
Playwell Toys Inc., 25142 Wandering Lane, Lake Forest, CA
92630.
